Slowly, you bend forward, trying to get a better view into the brush. Shock travels through your body. Cold rough metal is pushed against your throat. Something holds on to your shoulder.
(Can you clarify if the stab had connected?)
You are not hurt yet. Something is behind you, grabbing your shoulder and holding sharp metal against your throat ready to slice it. You hear irregular breath close to your right ear.
"I think we can work something out. I'm sure you've heard, I don't mean any harm and just trying to find my way back to town."
You hear how whatever is behind you exhales a violent burst of air. If you had to interpret it, it might have been a form of laughter or a sound of relief, you can't really tell.
"Are you being hunted down by somebody?"
The grip tightens. The rough metal edge is about to break your skin. Then there is a sound. A bell faintly ringing, somewhere in the distance. The grip loosens. You hear fast breathing.
Use the opportunity to break grapple. If successful, use quarterstaff to push against the person and create distance between him and the protagonist. "We don't have to do this."
Noticing this window of opportunity, your body moves on it's own. Forcefully pushing your elbow back, hitting something behind you. Hearing a gasp. Wresting itself out of the grip. /1
As you spin around you see a man before you. He is slightly bent over, recovering from your hit. His arms hang limp. In one hand you spot a dagger. He seems roughed up. /2
His simple clothes are full of mud. His arms are scratched and there is dried blood on his face. The only contrast you spot is the white in his eyes as he looks at you. /3
You try to calm him down. His eyes flicker. He lifts up his dagger holding his stomach with his other hand. Then you hear it again: the faint bell sound echoes through the forest. /4
In an instant the man looks up into the sky, forgetting that you are there. His arms go limp. He shivers. You notice that he is wetting himself. /End
You tilt your head. The sky is as grey as it was when you left this morning. You don't notice anything besides that it's getting darker. You look down. The man is on all fours. /1
He seems to be looking for something in the mud. Making his way towards the tent. You hear him mumble frantically. His dagger lies on the ground. /End
Inspect the dagger and secure it on myself, then confront the man. "What is going on? Are you alright?"
You seem to regain your composure. You pick up the dagger. It's a common dagger, doesn't look like it has been used in combat. The quality is alright but it's dirty. /1
As you approach the man to talk to him, he ignores you, apathetically crawling towards the tent. You start to understand some words that he is mumbling. "... be purged ... life" /End
Seems to be religious ramblings. Can the protagonist recall a specific prophecy involving purgings?
What on earth is this guy rambling on about? Purging? The only time you remember hearing this word was when uncle told you the stories about Reginald the Righteous.
Leave the confused man be, return to the cart and pass by/move around the tent.
You decide that this man is a lunatic and best be left alone, now that you have his dagger. As you return to your cart to venture forwards you see the man sprint into the forest.
Press on the journey across the overgrown fork, resting the quarterstaff on the cart and inspecting if anything else has been lost before continuing.
Thinking about the surreal encounter, realizing you could've been hurt, you venture forth into the thicket pulling your cart. The difficult terrain is slowing you down significantly.
