A Travelers Journey

>>956821
>You're setting up camp out in the open field at night.
"Who knew it'd really be this far?"
>Jena sighs.
>"Well, now that you've decided to stay the course, we'd better get a good nights sleep. Who knows what could happen tomorrow."
>The chill wind blows as you spark the flames for a fire.
"You're really worried about some spooky tales?"
>She's staring at the small flame you've created.
>"They say theres an evil witch who casts spells on the residents. Those townsfolk are scared. And when people get scared, they can get violent."
>You laugh a bit.
"I seem to remember a time when you were scared when I first met you. You were never violent."
>She's quiet for a moment.
>"I think, if I'd had the means to be violent, I would have been."
>You're stunned a bit.
"Jena?"
>Shes grimacing.
>"Forgive me, I've said too much."
"N-no, it's ok.. Do you want to talk about it?"
>"Will, please. I'd like you to drop it."
>You sigh.
"Alright Jena."
>A few moments go by as the flames get bigger.
>"Will, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.."
"It's ok, I know you aren't ready to talk about those things."
>"No, please. It was my fault for even bringing it up. Will you forgive me?"
>You laugh.
"Of course, no need to be so formal about it."
>She cracks a smile.
>"Thanks Will.."

>>957410
>You reach the town of Barnes Hollow.
>You begin to trade away goods for gold.
>"I see you're selling food, spices and paintings."
"Just a little something from the neighboring villages I've accrued."
>The merchant looks around.
>"The curses are getting worse around here. Strange things have been happening."
>You laugh.
>He gives you a stern look.
>"I'm serious!"
"Oh yes, tell me of these strange things."
>This aught to be interesting.
>Jena seems to be curiously looking around the town right now.
>Although you've told her not to wander too far off.
>"Yer a madman if ya don't believe em."
"Funny, thats what I'd say about those that do."
>He grimaces.
>"The daughter of the Mayor little Shirley woke up yesterday with a horses head in place of her own."
>You gasp.
"Someone killed her?"
>"No, someone replaced her face with that of a horse."
>His serious tone seems to lend credibility to what he's saying.
"Any other weird things?"
>"Wagons that move on their own, crashing into people. People going mute or deaf all at once inciting chaos."
"Thats.. Insane."
>"You'd best be careful. Anyways, 400 seems fine doesn't it, for everything?"
"It's a deal."

>>957420
>You shake his hand.
>A better profit than expected.
>And only coming into town with a mere 10, you're at 410 now.
>You walk over to Jena who's talking to a little girl.
>"Ey miss, how come ya ain't got no arms? Did the witch take your arms?"
>"Never had any to begin with. What witch?"
>The girl bounces the ball.
>"The Hollow Trees witch, lives in an old tower out in the woods all alone, those who go never return."
"If they never return how do people know about her at all?"
>The girl shrugs.
>Suddenly a man in thick green plate armor rides up.
"Hmm, a Dahrbor knight out here?"
>Jena speaks.
>"Maybe he's heard about the witch.
>He walks up to the merchant.
>"I am Rogar of the knights of Dahrbor."
>The merchant raises an eyebrow.
>"And what does the old swamp king want with this town?"
>"He would see it rid of ghouls or whatever plagues it. That's where I come in."
>"Aye? Many have tried."
>Suddenly he spots you riding up to you.
>"You there, young man."
"Yeah?"
>"Help me find and slay whatever is plaguing this town, and I'll reward you."

How should I respond?

>>957430
Ehhh? I'm just a merchant passing through. I have no skill at arms and a sick companion to tend to.

>>957727
"Ehhh? I'm just a merchant passing through. I have no skill at arms and a sick companion to tend to."
>He grumbles.
>"50 gold on the table! Come with me!"
"Sorry, but I'm not a mercenary, I'm a merchant."
>He sighs walking off.
>Jena remarks.
>"I was expecting you to take his offer."
"I can't, I have to look after you. I won't leave you all alone in this town."
>Her face is hard to read.
"C-come on, we need to find an Inn."
>"I'm holding you back aren't I Will?"
"Jena its not like that at all. It's a dangerous job. I'm not equipped for some insane witch hunt."
>"I thought you didn't believe in stories."
"Jena I-"
>"Fine, let's rest at the Inn."

>It's later that night at the Inn.
>Jena is missing from her bed.
>You look out the window of the second floor you're on to see her carrying a lantern with her stub arm heading into the woods.
"Damn it all.."
----

>You run down there as fast as you can catching up to her.
>"Jena-!"
>"I won't hold you back anymore, come on."
>You grab her.
"Jena no, come on.. I appreciate the effort, but come on.. I'm not some witch hunting warrior, and you're well.."
>"A cripple? A burden?"
"What has honestly gotten into you? I've never said any of these things."
>"Your life is my life."
"What?"
>"If you go somewhere, anywhere, I will follow."
"Jena, come on, you're being ridiculous."
>"If it's dangerous enough to where you might die, then I'll die too."
>You facepalm.
"What am I going to do with you?"

How should I attempt to sort things out?

Is there any point in going to the woods?

>>957776
Jena, the reason I turned him down wasn't because you're holding me back, its because I'd rather spend time with you than go on a wild goose chase with an unstable guy with a sword.
My time being happy in your company is worth more to me than all the gold in the world.
Because I L-L-Like you alot!

So let me ask you Jena, do YOU want to go witch hunting?
If you want to do this, then we'll go together. But if not then lets leave together.

>>957850
"Jena, the reason I turned him down wasn't because you're holding me back, its because I'd rather spend time with you than go on a wild goose chase with an unstable guy with a sword. My time being happy in your company is worth more to me than all the gold in the world. Because I L-L-Like you alot!"
>She's blushing profusely.
>"Will.. I.. Didn't know you felt that way about me.."
"I've always liked you."
>"L-lets go."
"You really want to go on this witch hunt?"
>"I'm not keen on fighting, but if this witch is causing problems, maybe we can reason with her and get her to stop."
>You sigh.
"Is it really going to be that easy?"
>"I guess we'll see."


>Jena carries the lantern into the woods.
>The woods give off what you'd describe as, an old feeling.
>All over are things like helmets, arrows, or swords covered in moss and foliage.
>It gives you a sense for how much time has passed.
>You pull one of the old mossy swords out of the ground.
>But it crumbles away like nothing.
>It's more rust now than blade.
>"The sticks around here might make better weapons than that would."
>You poke around for a stick finding a decent one.
>It's not much, but at least this gives you some security.
>You continue onward for some time.
>"So where do you suppose this witches tower is?"
"Who can say? Maybe the whole thing was some village myth designed to scare tourists."
>"It all seems too strange for that doesn't it?"
"Indeed. The tales seem too specific to have been fabricated. But then, small towns are always prone to these sorts of things. Superstition, mass paranoia."

>>957982
>You finally find the tower deep within the woods.
>The words echo in your mind, 'those who enter never return'.
>It makes you want to turn tail and run actually seeing the tower for yourself.
The noise of the trees makes it seem like any monster could be lurking behind them.
>The door to the tower is open as you walk inside.
>The inside however is not what you expect, as an entire expanded castle layout seems to be beyond a mere tower entrance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wouRUnqZY4
>You wander around for a bit till you see a girl in a chair.
>Shes wearing what you might describe as a stereotypical witch outfit.
>But she's far too young to be a witch isn't she?"
>Short black hair, green eyes.
>"What brings you to my keep? Not planning to bludgeon me to death with that stick are you?"
>Her voice is..
>Softer than you expected.
>"It's odd that I get two sets of visitors in a day."
>Jena responds,
>"What do you mean? Who came here before us?"
>She laughs.
>"A big burly knight guy."
"Where is he now?"
>"Upstairs in my bedroom taking a nap."
>You and Jena both look at each other in shock.
"You can't be serious.."
>"What? You didn't expect me to kill him did you?"
>She stands up and shrugs.
>"I'm getting too old to kill for fun anymore."
"So he-"
>"I just put a sleeping spell on him. He's quite a handsome fellow. I'll admit, I think I might keep him."
"K-keep him?
>Jena interjects.
>"What have you been doing to the townspeople?"
>She cackles, although her light voice isn't as intimidating as she imagines it to be you think.
>"Just some pranks. No harm really."
"Just pranks?"
>"For years they've been persecuting the witches and magic folk. I figured I aught to show them what a real witch is capable of!"
>Jena sighs.
>"Don't you think that will make the problem worse Miss uh..."
>"It's Sansha, and you two are?"
"Will, and this is Jena."
>She looks over the two of you.
>Her eyes briefly locking intensely with the two of you.
>"W-what are you staring at?"

>>957989
>"I'm discerning your magical potentials."
"Magical potentials?"
>"Yes boy, the potential to do magic.. However, yours is well none. HA, sorry you just don't have any."
>You groan.
>"On the other hand.."
>She stares into Jenas eyes.
>Jena seems uncomfortable.
>"Within these eyes I see it.. Yes.. A great untapped power within.. Power to cause untold destruction the likes of which has not been seen in this world since the days of old."
>"Y-you're kidding me right? I can't do magic, I've never done magic.."
>"Not yet.. But I can unlock your potential for you.."

How should I try and deal with this witch?

>>957994
What do you think Jena?
Do you want to do magic?
Do you think you can keep it a secret from everyone and NOT get corrupted by the power to cause untold destruction the likes of which has not been seen in this world since the days of old?
Do you trust her?

>>958012
"What do you think Jena? Do you want to do magic? Do you think you can keep it a secret from everyone and NOT get corrupted by the power to cause untold destruction the likes of which has not been seen in this world since the days of old? Do you trust her?"
"If.. Theres any way I can be helpful to you.."
>"It will merely take a moment."
>"I.. I want to be useful, I want to unlock my potential."
>"Very well then."
>The witch walks closer.
>"Bend your knees slightly, I can't reach your forehead!"
>Jena does so.
>The witch presses her thumb into her forehead.
>Magical runes of many colors swirl around them.
>Within moments it ceases.
>Jena nearly collapses but you catch her.
>Shes sweating.
"Jena, are you ok?"
>"I.."
>She wheezes a bit.
>"I'm fine Will."
>"She will be weak for the next day or so."
>Sansha snaps her fingers and a book appears.
>She hands the book to you.
>"This book contains all sorts of magic.. Do be warned that at her level, even the most basic of spells will be unbelievably powerful. She may struggle to control it at first."
"Lady, this seems like some real dangerous stuff."
>Sansha shrugs.
>"It's worked for me. All ya gotta do is be smart about it."
"We'll only use it when we need to, right Jena?"
>Her legs seem to give way as her eyes close shut.
"Jena! You witch, what have you done?"
>"I TOLD you, she would be weak at first. I imagine you can manage to take care of her for a few days while she's vulnerable. Normally this sort of thing doesn't happen at all. But given her level, her body needs to adjust to the change."
"What about unlocking my magic?"
>She laughs.
>"You must have a hearing problem. I already told you, you have no potential to do magic."
"Oh yeah?"
>"But I'm not sure why it matters, she's got enough magic to make up for you several times over. You should consider yourself lucky to be a friend of such a potentially powerful sorceress."

>>958120
>You're back in town, Jena has since regained consciousness.
>Although she seems a bit sicklier than usual.
"You'll be alright won't you?"
>"I'll be fine.."
"You.. You didn't have to do that for me."
>She stares at you.
>"I wanted to.. Besides, you can't do magic at all, you need someone who can cast spells for you."
>You roll your eyes.
"I'm a simple merchant, what good are spells and incantations to me?"
>"Well.. If anyone gives you trouble, I can curse them.. Just like back in town right?"

What should I do?

>>958125
Stay in town and nurse her until she gets better.
Meanwhile keep the book safe and hidden and focus on business as usual.
Try to find some trade goods here and plot course for your next stop.