Drink the Tea
Pick Your Peril: The Hero of Mudtown
(This is part of a series of choose-your-own-adventure articles. If you want to start from the beginning, click here.)
This poor old woman took you into her home and offered you a place of safety. Refusing to partake in her offer now would be rude. She lifts her own cup and drinks. This convinces you that the tea is safe.
The cup steams as you bring it to your lips. You take a sip and discover with mild disappointment that the tea has no immediate effect. You sit and drink until the last dregs drain from your cup, and your disappointment only grows. The hag’s brew did nothing. A magic elixir would not have been unexpected from your current host.
The woman has been watching you this whole time, smile looking less sinister by the moment. She asks if you’re feeling better. You nod.
“Good, good.” The old woman rubs her hands together and softly cackles to herself. “Why don’t you be a dear and get some vegetables from the garden. We can get a stew going before we search for your family.”
You get up from the ancient chair and exit the hut, stepping out into the fading sunshine. Flat stones form a path from the front door and around the side of the hut, leading to a small garden. You see some carrots and potatoes ready for harvest, their green tops sprouting from the dark soil. As you kneel in the dirt, you take a moment to realize how quiet and peaceful it is.
The wolves that pursued you to this place are nowhere in sight. If there was ever an opportunity to leave the creepy old hag behind, this was it. The people you care about could be in danger, and the thought of wasting time entertaining the old woman makes you anxious.
A tantalizing aroma wafts through the air, emanating from an open window. Whatever kind of stew the woman was cooking up, it smelled delicious! Your stomach growls. You haven’t eaten all day, a bite to eat might not be a bad idea before you resume your journey.
What will you do?