[Open] Mysterious shack in the woods.

A couple miles in to the woods bordering a small village, there is a wooden shack built into a hill with a garden growing a variety of strange looking plants on the right side, and a restless blonde horse in a stable for one on the left side. The door is swinging freely open inviting anyone into its interior. Once inside, one is greeted with a variety of smells of herbs, roots, dirt, and many unfamiliar things. These smells correspond with the plethora of things hanging from the ceiling and mashed into small wooden bowls lining shelves. There's only but a small corner of the room that isn't covered in ingredients, and that corner contains nothing more than a desheveled bed, a fireplace with a pot, and a desk holding an open book and everything one needs to write in it.

This is the page the book is open to...

Bought a stallion to replace shadow, I feel somewhat sorry for the poor bastard that killed her, that's no way to die, on the other hand he deserved every hour of it. Physically the stallion is better, but he doesn't really trust me all that much, and he didn't really appreciate being used as a mule a week ago when we moved to the next town. I am not complaining though, I bought him for much less than he's worth because someone stole his lineage papers from the merchant, which is another good reason to have him around, in case I really need money, this horse is worth quite alot. It is kind of sad though, I only have him around for occasional use, like carrying a kill back to town, or in case I overstay my welcome and have to make a run for it.

I am glad I built this shack out here in these woods for when the local flora is in season for harvest. Even though there's outlaws around these woods, it's always nice to replenish my mixture supplies, and I can usually avoid the outlaws or hear them coming when I'm at home.

I need to make sure the locals don't find out what I am doing out here, so I should keep up with my hunting, even if I don't need to, just so no one starts to wonder why I am rea

A short woman in a patchy dress with a leather knapsack pokes her head into the small shack.

"Hail, tenant of this house! I have come to recruit you to a most worthy cause!!"

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Earlier that day

Magda, the resident crackpot of the aforementioned village, had been brewing some tea for her afternoon meal when strange apparitions had began forming in the steam. She was all too used to her visions, but these were of special interest. They foretold a quest that would change the land of Faywyn forever.

within the hour she had packed the bare essentials and was hiking off into the moorland in search of adventure.

The room is devoid of a presence but the location of the tenant is soon known as she is calls out from behind the visitor.
"What would this entail?"

Hana is standing 20 feet down the path with an arrow notched on to the string but the bow is held relaxed, pointing towards the ground.

Magda glances over her shoulders and lets out an "Aha!" as she spots the lone figure down the hill.

Walking down the hill she begins to speak animatedly, "The king has been murdered and soon enough we are going to be needed in the quest to find his killer!" She exclaims triumphantly, as if the girl before her would understand with perfect clarity.

She closes her eyes for a second and holds her right hand out infront of herself as she takes a step back while saying, "Woah that's, close enough.."
She then presses her lips together and furrows her brow before she asks, "So, what makes you think that I would willing to go on this 'Quest' of yours?"

Magda furrows her brow in confusion, "Isn't this how quests work? The would-be hero is chosen by forces unknown and is led off into a story of daring and adventure?"

She stops walking and plants her staff into the floor.

She raises her eyebrows while shaking her head with a slight tilt.

"I'm no Hero madame, and if you found a killer of kings, I doubt you would last long either."

Magda seems a little disappointed.

"You aren't a hero yet, but you will be." Magda looks to the sky, "The killer of kings will fall, no doubt, and I wish to witness it."

she turns back to the girl in front of her, "What is your name, child?"

Hana looks toward Magda with a decent amount of curiosity as she tentatively states her name, "Hana Kearney.. And yours?"

"My name... you may call me whatever you like. Most call me Magda." She pauses for a few more seconds, deep in thought, "And I have absolutely no idea why..."

She turns towards Hana with renewed vigour, "Hana! You must accept this quest. All of Faywyn stands before you, you can see the whole land, experience new places... it will be a wondrous thing. And you get to avenge the Great-King Raiden."

Hana takes the arrow from the bow and places the bow against the ground to lean on to.
"Suppose I come with you, which is still a very sizable 'if', what is your plan? Have you heard from a messenger, are we going to be meeting up with a party sent by the queen? Do you even have a slightest clue of where to start?"

"That was a lot of questions." Magda says simply, then holds up a thumb, "My plan is to catch the king killer," She extends her forefinger, "No," the middle finger is extended, "Yes!" She cries finally, and shoulders her pack, "We will find like-minded individuals near the capital. They'll be on the run soon, and we need to hurry."

*sigh*
"Well you best be off then. There's no time to lose afterall."
She says in a flat tone as she walks past the woman on her way towards her home.

A sharp glare escapes Iro's gaze.

"You're really giving up the adventure of a lifetime, global recognition, to be a hero of the people?" She asks, puzzled. "Any normal person would jump at the chance to go on an adventure rather than stay at home. Learn new things, experience new sights and the like."

She pauses and lets out a smile, "And heck, there will most certainly be a huge bounty on his head..."

Hana slows down for a moment before drooping her head down as she shakes it while continuing on with a regular pace.

"I don't understand." Magda says, "You want to stay here, isolated from everything, when you're offered the adventure of a lifetime?"

She stop and turns around. The look on her face says she's seen more than enough of a cruel world.
"I don't care for glory, or gold, or any of your grand adventures.. So, yes.. I just want to be left alone..."
She stares into the woman's eyes as she takes a few steps backwards before turning and walking inside.

Magda stares after the girl with a frown on her face. she sees her walk into the darkness of the house.

"I guess I was wrong about you!" She calls into the house, then turns on her heels and walks down the hill, supporting herself with the staff.

https://ksnewgen.forummotion.com/t790-open-gold-glory-and-grand-adventure

[The continuation]