Your character has just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As they look around, their gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. They 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?
"Oh, forgive my intrusion." Zelda’s cheeks flush with embarrassment. "You’ve been expecting me?" The old hag’s warm, inviting face encourages Zelda to sit, and a sense of ease settles over her as she begins her story.
"I was born 23 years ago in Deepwood Vale, a distant village nestled far from here. My mother, Elanor, was a renowned herbalist, able to heal any wound, while my father, Areon, was a skilled hunter who kept our village well-fed for generations. Despite their busy lives, they cherished me, and not a day passed without comfort and love."
Her face dims with the shadow of old sorrow. "I’m sorry, thinking of them always brings back that terrible day, eleven years ago. But let me start at the beginning. As I grew, my mother taught me the secrets of herbs and tinctures, using them to heal both people and animals, while my father shared his wisdom of the hunt and respect for the land, teaching me to use every part of what we took from nature. Those lessons became my salvation."
Zelda’s voice grows tense, the warmth fading from her features. "One day, a fire broke out in Deepwood Vale, a village built among ancient, magical trees. I still don’t know how it started, but nothing, no magic, no spell, could stop it. Flames devoured everything. My parents hurried me into a pod beneath a tree, explaining it was the only place I’d fit. They used their forest magic to shield the pod, making it impervious to fire or harm. To spare me the pain of witnessing their fate, my mother cast a spell that put me to sleep. It lasted far longer than she intended, ten years."
"When I finally awoke a year ago, I was older, stronger, and I remembered everything. I survived on the knowledge my parents gave me, hunting, making clothes, and treating wounds. But I also discovered a new bond with the forest, plants, and animals. I could sense their feelings and desires. It was as though the very soul of Deepwood Vale lived within me."
She draws a shaky breath. "Two nights ago, I stumbled into this settlement of shacks and cabins, drawn here by something I still don’t understand. And now, here I am. Tell me, why have you been expecting me?"
