Make a Stew

Summary

In a choose-your-own-adventure narrative, the protagonist is tricked and transformed into a pig by an old woman and meets a grim fate in a stew.

Abstract

The protagonist, enticed by the aroma of a hot meal, gathers vegetables from the garden and enters an old woman's hut. Unbeknownst to them, the woman is a witch who, after the protagonist falls asleep, transforms them into a pig. Bound and unable to escape, the protagonist is then unceremoniously added to the witch's cauldron as an ingredient in her stew, leading to their untimely demise. This tale serves as a cautionary segment in an interactive adventure series, emphasizing the perils of trusting seemingly kind strangers in a fantastical setting.

Opinions

The narrative conveys a dark twist on the hospitality trope, where the offer of food and rest leads to danger.
The witch's character is portrayed as cunning and malevolent, taking pleasure in the protagonist's unfortunate fate.
The story underscores the vulnerability of the protagonist, who is lulled into a false sense of security before meeting their doom.
The use of a "YOU ARE DEAD" conclusion indicates a consequence-driven narrative, typical of choose-your-own-adventure stories where choices lead to various outcomes, including deadly ones.
The inclusion of interactive elements, such as hyperlinks to previous parts of the story, encourages reader engagement and decision-making throughout the adventure.

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.)

All images generated using Midjourney.

The smell coming from the kitchen is too good to ignore. A hot meal will help lift your spirits and give you some much-needed energy to search for your family. You harvest an armful of carrots and potatoes from the garden and head back inside the old woman’s hut.

As you enter the dingy hovel, the woman’s voice calls to you from a back room

“In here, sweetie.”

A tiny kitchen dominated by a gigantic black cauldron awaits you in the other room. The old hag stands on a small stool and stirs the simmering soup with a large wooden spoon. Her face lights up with an eager grin when she sees you enter with the vegetables.

“Perfect! Just put those on the counter.” She gestures with her spoon, “Why don’t you take a seat in front of the fireplace? Kick your feet up and relax while I get the stew ready.”

You deposit your offerings and take a seat in front of the fire, easing into the old chair. The smell from the kitchen fills the whole cabin, making your stomach growl. Your eyelids grow heavier and heavier, and before you realize it, you’ve drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

You awaken some time later, face against the dirty stone floor of the witch’s kitchen. You can feel the heat of the boiling cauldron nearby. You try to move, but something feels different, strange. Your arms and legs are held in place, and you are bound so tightly you can’t roll over. You try to call for help, but the only sound that emerges from your mouth is the squealing of a pig.

The witch stands over you and cackles.

“Don’t worry little piggy, dinner’s almost ready.” She looks down on you and laughs, “I couldn’t have made it without you.”

She resumes tending to the cauldron, and you look down to see what the hag is saying is true; you’ve been transformed into a fat little pig, constrained with ropes. Hogtied. You squirm and try to loosen the ropes but it is useless.

“I’m so glad you stopped by.” The witch says as she stoops and lifts you off the ground, “It’s been so long since I’ve had some good pork!”

The witch giggles gleefully as she tosses you into the steaming cauldron. You don’t even have time to squeal before you splash into the boiling broth. It seems a shame that your adventure had such an undignified ending. At least you made a good stew.

YOU ARE DEAD