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.” Sildras tenses, not expecting the ambush, if it could even be called that. He knew he'd be speaking to someone once he came to the town, but he expected something a little more... formal. Lit. Something. He still makes his best effort for a smile, however, and settles onto the cushion, legs crossed.
"My name is Sildras Teneran," he says, bowing his head politely. "I came here in search of a new life."
A deep breath, and then he continues. "I grew up in a little cave town to the north of here. I was an only child - well, you know how elves are, after all - and I was... my mother's pride and joy, to say the least." He chuckles. "When she got hurt, broke her leg, I was sixteen. My father had already passed after an encounter with bandits, and her injury left me as our sole breadwinner. When her leg didn't heal right, that continued. I'd gather alchemy ingredients outside the town, and she'd make them into potions to sell. We had enough to live on, and we were happy, for a long time."
"One day I was out collecting ingredients when I heard a thunder of hoofbeats going towards our town. I was a coward. Instead of running back to see what the matter was, I hid in the forest and watched as orc raiders stormed our cave, chasing out everyone who could run and taking as much loot as they could collect. My mother, with her wounded leg, wasn't able to run. When the raiders left and I went back to check on her, I found her dead and our home ransacked."
"I couldn't face our neighbors after that - so I packed up whatever rations I could collect and left. That was a year ago, and I've just been wandering since, selling herbs when I really needed money and living off of whatever I could find. But running is exhausting - I want to settle down."
He sighs. "If I deserve it."
