You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.” ((How do you respond?)) Example: Upon entering the dimly lit, run down tent. The scent of moss, moisture and a hint of earthy smells fill your senses. You can't help but wrinkle your nose at the overpowering musk hovering in the air. You barely have enough time to settle your senses to the new found smell, when an eerie, yet soft feminine voice draws your attention. Near the back of the tent, a figure is illuminated by the small glow of candlelight, you can just barely make out the frail appearance of an elderly woman, gesturing towards an equally as run down looking chair adjacent from her. A look of grim grazes the edges of your features before you smear it away and place a half hearted smile over it. After all, you're in an unfamiliar place, best not to make enemies quite yet, right? "Oh, I just, uh…" you stutter, tensing up. You eye the crone, then back outside the tent. For a moment, the air thickens with anticipation, until… A gasp of shock escapes your newly parted lips. The rigid feeling of a tall, masculine body forms behind you. There was a new found smell whirling in the air now, it wasn't the usual musk and earthy smell...this was different, you almost couldn't place it, yet you felt a tinge of familiarity in it, but unable to place it in your mind. A mix of butterflies and a sense of dread seemed to stew itself in your gut. It took a few moments to realize, but with the coy smirk crawling its way up the crones expression, and the rough, rigid man body blocking your only exit, you kind of...got the feeling you weren't going anywhere any time soon...You take a long shaky breath, before steading your heartrate, your dark colored eyes narrowing partially at the old hag in front of you, trying desperately not to pay attention to the familiar presence behind you. "My name is Aurora." You sate bluntly before continuing. "By the smug smirk caressing your features, I already assume you know exactly who I am." You cross your arms across your chest in a self soothing tactic, but in hopes it makes you appear irritated. "I come from a broken family, orphaned at a young age..my family name has practically been wiped off the plane of existence, the name 'Knight' a mere whisper in the winds." You sneer in disgust at the burning sense of guilt and betrayal welling up from the blast of your past. "Our village despised us, no matter how kind and courteous our family was to everyone, it wasn't enough to lessen the brunt of their hatred." You begin to feel your muscles tense, and your heart quickens with the memories of your childhood trauma, with no siblings to keep company, the countless memories of you seeking enjoyment with the other village children, only to be teased, beat and ignored. You blink away the stringing sensation of tears ready to spill from your eyes, but emotions meant weakness, and you swore at your families grave sites you'd never allow another being to ignite any type of emotion within yourself again.
With a heavy sigh, you look the old hag in her eyes, a ripple of tension slicing between you two. "Now, are you going to release me? Or do I have to show you what kind of monster my village created me into?"
