Ilikepotatos700

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?)) Aeris takes a hesitant step further, inspecting the tent cautiously before bringing her gaze back to the hag. Her hand tightens on the leather strap of her satchel across her chest. "Uhm... Ri-Right.. Expecting me." she mutters, her clothes rustling as she sits. taking another cautious glance around. she pulls down her hood, The subtle light of the Suspended candles glint in her Tanzanite eyes. the Purple hue shifting as She brings her gaze down to the table in front. littered with herbs and flowers. The hag shuffles over. silent, waiting for her answer. "My.. Story huh?.." she rests her hands on her knees. "Uhm...I lived on a Farm. I would wake up early in the morn, tend to the animals while my older Brother tended to the fields." a soft smile found her but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "But I always yearned for more... My father was a Mercenary, Often he would come home with heroic Tales of his battles, we would sit by the fire while he told us all about what he did that day." the soft smile faded, her gaze downcast at the fond memory. interrupted by something darker. "sometimes it was nothing at all.. or funny stories with his friends." her hand reached to her upper arm, and her fingers trace a faint scar. barely seen on her pale skin. a deeper story to be told. "it was just the three of us, happy. My brother and father.. were content, but I.." she took a deep breath. her chest heavy with obvious guilt. her grip tightened on her arm. knuckles white with tension. "I wanted more. I wanted to be strong, to fight to protect like my father. I wanted to see the world." her gaze narrowed with subtle anger and self loathing. "one night his friends came, he was needed to fight a group of Vagabonds.. thieves and troublemakers of the like, just down the road." her hand fell back to her knee. "and I foolishly thought it would be a chance for me to prove myself. I was always told to stay put, tend the the animals, help around the farm. but I never listened. I would sneak out.. train with a stick" she chuckled almost bitterly to herself. "I thought that was enough." "that night I followed them. stole one of my Dads daggers, his other swords were too heavy my weak arms." she paused, hesitant to continue. but the hag motioned her hand. urging her to keep going. Aeris took a deep trembling breath in. and sighed. "When it came to actually fighting someone.. I obviously fumbled and failed. they where twice my size and much more skilled with a blade." she looked down at the table. a flower catching her eye. "I cowered, I was too young, too weak. when my father saw me... id never seen him look so scared." her hands balled into fists. clutching the fabric or her pants. "that night he died protecting me. and my brother stopped talking to me." she took another deep breath. "I left home, someone else took me in.. I've been afraid to touch a blade since.." a flicker of doubt crossed her face. a lingering desire to fight. "I- uhm.. I'm only here now because I left again.. I wanted to try and find my own footing." The hag stayed silent. Reaching for the flower Aeris had her gaze on. Before reaching across the table and tucking it behind her ear. her silk white hair falls slightly. "Perhaps you are stronger than you believe. if it is your own footing you desire.. maybe picking up a blade isn't such a bad idea."