May 4, 2015 3:00 pm
It is a warm summer day. The sun shines down from a clear blue sky. A few cotton puff clouds float lazily high above the forest treetops. Below the trees the sunlight dapples the ground. Forest life is present in droves, beetles scurry along the ground, ants busily gather food for their queens and their brood. A fox lopes between the trees searching for a meal, a group of squirrels chatter high above its head in an ancient oak.
Along a well traveled path, we see a young woman. A human woman who has only this season reached the age of majority. Her lush auburn hair is held back by simple twine and a small wild flower garland she has put together as she walked the path. Her dress is homespun. Simple and plain, it is however sturdy and clean, a testament to its craftsmanship and care. The young woman whistles snippets of a half remembered tune as she walks the path. On her arm she carries a basket, covered by linen cloth. Her bundle bulges under her arm and she shifts it occasionally to keep the weight from straining one arm or the other. A bee trundles up to the basket and attempts to investigate, but is thwarted by a gentle showing from the girl and the shifting of the basket.
The woman comes to a stream, a little wiser than a full stride length, and carefully steps on the larger stones placed to ease crossing. She has reached a small cottage, her apparent destination. She knocks but does not wait for, or receive, a response before entering the structure. Inside, the hut is dimly lit and the air is somewhat musty. The curtains are drawn and the hearth is cold. The woman places the basket on the modest table in the center of the hut and takes a look around. The hut is well appointed and divided into three rooms. The main area has a large comfortable chair and several other pieces of furniture. Five could be seated to chat and be warmed by the modest fireplace on a chilly night. The second room serves as the kitchen. A small oven and wash tub take up a good portion of the room. The rest of the space is filled with shelves holding a nearly impossible amount of bottles, jars, vials, and bundles of dried herbs. Tucked away in the corner is a small half-door that leads to a larder and storage for food stuffs that could spoil. The last room is a bedroom. The fireplace passes through into this room as well to provide warmth to the occupants as they slumber. A pile of threadbare quilts and blankets sit atop the thin but soft looking mattress on the small bed under a small open window that is also covered by curtains.
The hut is in minor disarray, looking as though some careless individual had been living here. There are bottles and canisters strewn about, obviously not in their proper place. The remnants of a meal or two remain on plates. One on the floor near a large comfy chair, another on a side table. When the woman opens the curtains to let the sun's light in, notes of dust dance across the beam of light. A slight smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she gazes out into the forest. She does not see the gray figure that rises from the bed and shambles toward her.
The gray figure extends a thin, gnarled, bony hand toward the woman as it shuffles forward. Slowly and silently the apparition advances on the girl. The skin on the outstretched hand is pale and leathery, cracked and calloused from years of wear and work. It is a stark contrast to the soft pink flesh of the young woman's shoulder and neck it is reaching out for. As the fingers touch the woman she let's out a sharp cry of surprise and turns quickly to face the gray being.
"Oh! Marta, you startled me." The gray figure, named Marta, is a thin worn woman of advanced, but not ancient, age. Her hair, once waves of gold woven with silver, now hangs limp and unkempt. It frames a face that once was lovely, though average beauty, now lined and wrinkled. Her thin lips are colorless and wide on her face. Marta's sunken eyes are rimmed with dark circles. The once bright green is somehow faded. Her gaze is long and unfocused, staring but unseeing. Marta removes her hand from the young woman's shoulder and looks past her into the trees outside.
[b]"How are you today? Have you eaten yet? Can I get you anything?" the young woman inquires of the older. "Who...? Marta weakly responds.
A look of concern comes over the young woman. "Marta, its me Sarah. Sarah Clairmont. I've come to check on you and help you clean up a little? I've brought your groceries from the market." With this response, Mart gives no indication that she has heard it, she stares out the window vacantly for a moment, then turns and shuffles over to the large comfy chair.
Sarah sighs, then begins working. First she makes Marta a meal of honey cakes and a few sausages. Then she sets to the task of cleaning and setting things right. Several times she has to remind Marta to continue eating when she finds the older woman just sitting with the plate in her lap as she stares out the window.
((Ooc - I would like each of you to describe what your characters are doing now. For those not from Barrelwaight, you can't tell why but you have all been drawn to this place. You see Sarah approaching Marta, the Mindbending Witch's hut and can get close enough to see the whole scene described unfold from hiding if you wish. Just give a bit of detail about what the familiars would do here. Chocokiko I left Coco out of my description to give you as much freedom as possible. Coco can be in the hut, or wherever you want in this scene. Also, if I need to edit any description of the hut or Marta (including need name - I couldn't find one in your posts or description - just let me know.))
Along a well traveled path, we see a young woman. A human woman who has only this season reached the age of majority. Her lush auburn hair is held back by simple twine and a small wild flower garland she has put together as she walked the path. Her dress is homespun. Simple and plain, it is however sturdy and clean, a testament to its craftsmanship and care. The young woman whistles snippets of a half remembered tune as she walks the path. On her arm she carries a basket, covered by linen cloth. Her bundle bulges under her arm and she shifts it occasionally to keep the weight from straining one arm or the other. A bee trundles up to the basket and attempts to investigate, but is thwarted by a gentle showing from the girl and the shifting of the basket.
The woman comes to a stream, a little wiser than a full stride length, and carefully steps on the larger stones placed to ease crossing. She has reached a small cottage, her apparent destination. She knocks but does not wait for, or receive, a response before entering the structure. Inside, the hut is dimly lit and the air is somewhat musty. The curtains are drawn and the hearth is cold. The woman places the basket on the modest table in the center of the hut and takes a look around. The hut is well appointed and divided into three rooms. The main area has a large comfortable chair and several other pieces of furniture. Five could be seated to chat and be warmed by the modest fireplace on a chilly night. The second room serves as the kitchen. A small oven and wash tub take up a good portion of the room. The rest of the space is filled with shelves holding a nearly impossible amount of bottles, jars, vials, and bundles of dried herbs. Tucked away in the corner is a small half-door that leads to a larder and storage for food stuffs that could spoil. The last room is a bedroom. The fireplace passes through into this room as well to provide warmth to the occupants as they slumber. A pile of threadbare quilts and blankets sit atop the thin but soft looking mattress on the small bed under a small open window that is also covered by curtains.
The hut is in minor disarray, looking as though some careless individual had been living here. There are bottles and canisters strewn about, obviously not in their proper place. The remnants of a meal or two remain on plates. One on the floor near a large comfy chair, another on a side table. When the woman opens the curtains to let the sun's light in, notes of dust dance across the beam of light. A slight smile tugs at the corner of her mouth as she gazes out into the forest. She does not see the gray figure that rises from the bed and shambles toward her.
The gray figure extends a thin, gnarled, bony hand toward the woman as it shuffles forward. Slowly and silently the apparition advances on the girl. The skin on the outstretched hand is pale and leathery, cracked and calloused from years of wear and work. It is a stark contrast to the soft pink flesh of the young woman's shoulder and neck it is reaching out for. As the fingers touch the woman she let's out a sharp cry of surprise and turns quickly to face the gray being.
"Oh! Marta, you startled me." The gray figure, named Marta, is a thin worn woman of advanced, but not ancient, age. Her hair, once waves of gold woven with silver, now hangs limp and unkempt. It frames a face that once was lovely, though average beauty, now lined and wrinkled. Her thin lips are colorless and wide on her face. Marta's sunken eyes are rimmed with dark circles. The once bright green is somehow faded. Her gaze is long and unfocused, staring but unseeing. Marta removes her hand from the young woman's shoulder and looks past her into the trees outside.
[b]"How are you today? Have you eaten yet? Can I get you anything?" the young woman inquires of the older. "Who...? Marta weakly responds.
A look of concern comes over the young woman. "Marta, its me Sarah. Sarah Clairmont. I've come to check on you and help you clean up a little? I've brought your groceries from the market." With this response, Mart gives no indication that she has heard it, she stares out the window vacantly for a moment, then turns and shuffles over to the large comfy chair.
Sarah sighs, then begins working. First she makes Marta a meal of honey cakes and a few sausages. Then she sets to the task of cleaning and setting things right. Several times she has to remind Marta to continue eating when she finds the older woman just sitting with the plate in her lap as she stares out the window.
((Ooc - I would like each of you to describe what your characters are doing now. For those not from Barrelwaight, you can't tell why but you have all been drawn to this place. You see Sarah approaching Marta, the Mindbending Witch's hut and can get close enough to see the whole scene described unfold from hiding if you wish. Just give a bit of detail about what the familiars would do here. Chocokiko I left Coco out of my description to give you as much freedom as possible. Coco can be in the hut, or wherever you want in this scene. Also, if I need to edit any description of the hut or Marta (including need name - I couldn't find one in your posts or description - just let me know.))
