MarleyPop

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 decide to head into a nearby tavern. As the door opens the scent of mead and sounds of boisterous adventures overwhelm your senses. At the back of the tavern, an old hag raises her head and waves you over. You get close and the hag asks, “What brings you to this dingy town?" she 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?))

Ristril looks around first confused who the old lady is talking to. "Me?" Ristril responds energetically. She takes a seat right next to the old lady not noticing just how close she's gotten. "Ugh I have been traveling for DAYS trying to find a nice place to open up my shop" Ristril looks at the old lady for a second to examine her. "You're not some kind of bounty hunter in disguise as a dirty old lady are you?" Ristril stares at the old lady with an eyebrow raised. She scans the old lady for any signs of being a threat and then just before the old lady can respond Ristril continues, "If you're not, disregard the 'dirty' and 'old'. You don't look a day over a 20!" Ristril says to the ghoul of a woman sat next to her. "Anyway like I said I'm looking for a new place to set up my shop" Ristril looks around the bar to make sure no one is eavesdropping then leans in to whisper, "I make poisons." Ristril leans back into her chair and watches to see the old woman's reaction. Only a face of confusion rests on the old lady as she thinks to herself, "Maybe this isn't who I was expecting?" Ristril puts her bag up on the table and starts digging through it looking for something. "I make other potions too but I had to leave my last town because I may have mixed up a bottle of hair growth with some 'everlasting sleep' if you know what I'm saying", Ristril laughs to herself as she keeps searching through her stuff. "Ah ha!" Ristril exclaims as she pulls out a small vial filled with purple liquid. "Can you hold this for me?" Ristril asks but when she looks up she sees the old lady is still as a statue besides here eyes moving around in a panic. "Whats your problem?" Ristril asks unaware of what has happened. The old lady motions with her eyes to Ristril's contents from her bag spilled out over the table. Ristril is confused what the old lady is getting at when she sees a certain orange liquid spilt out of the bottle and into the old lady's lap. "Oh... umm... you should be fine... I think?... I may have accidentally spilt a rather potent paralysis potion on you. Don't worry ill pay to have your rags washed." Ristril says and winks to the old lady. As she starts packing her potions and herbs back into her bag she says, "The potion shouldn't be tooooo strong. I was going to sell it before I had to leave my town. Someone was gonna use it on a dinner party but looks like you've got some unfavorable luck" Ristril chuckles to herself as she uncaps the vial with the purple liquid. "Hey since you wont be doing anything for twoooo maybe three days do you mind if I leave this here?" Ristril says as she stands and places the purple vial in her seat. The liquid in the vial starts to become a thick fog that slowly is seeping from the uncorked top. "Ugh you've been lovely to meet old lady and here's the money for your clothes cleaning. I even added a little more for your help with this next bit." Ristril flips a coin to the old lady forgetting about her paralysis and the coin bounces off the old lady's forehead with a thud. "See ya around!" Ristril says as she puts her hood up and a cloth over her mouth and nose. The purple vial explodes, filling the tavern with smoke and the noise of coughing and confusion. In the cover of the smoke and panic of those inside the tavern, Ristril grabs a few bags of coin from behind the bar, a large cup of mead, and some lamb from a nearby table as she leaves the bar in search of the next place to set up her shop. Now with a full stomach and a heavier coin purse...