Zenkoh's Adventure

Chapter 2

The next day Zenkoh meets with the blacksmith.

Joon: I never got around to it but my name is Joon.

Zenkoh: Well Joon I guess it's only fair I give you my name. I am Zenkoh Deadfang.

Joon: Yes, I was so startled at you being a gnoll I hadn't even thought to ask.

Zenkoh: Not the first time, I'm used to it.

Joon: Sorry to hear that, anyway here is the promised 100 gold for dealing with the thieves.

Zenkoh: Hopefully you shouldn't have to deal with that anymore, will probably be too scared of getting jumped by a huge gnoll again.

Later on Zenkoh meets up with Maria to tell her about the note and traveling to Havenheights.

After agreeing to start traveling as soon as possible they gather up what they need and start their journey to Havenheights.

Along the way they find what appears to be someone's old hunting spot.

Deciding to stop for the day they set up camp. After getting fully set up Zenkoh starts to cook using a pot over an open flame.

Zenkoh: it's a good thing these dried rations are far more bearable when put in a soup.

Maria: You know, someone wouldn't guess that you would like cooking. What with how big and intimidating you are.

Zenkoh: oh, is that it? I would have figured me being a gnoll would be what does it.

They both laugh at that. Zenkoh had to learn to cope with how the average person viewed gnolls as only aggressive and confrontational. She hated it, but there was very little she could do about it. Although sometimes it worked in her favor since people were less likely to argue with someone they thought might be ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

Later as they were getting ready to sleep for the night Maria was curious about something.

Maria: Zenkoh I don't think you have ever told me why you left your clan.

Zenkoh: Pretty sure I told you it was because I wanted to become an adventurer.

Maria: That can't be it though, right? There has to be more to it than that.

Zenkoh was silent for a moment before giving out a sigh.

Zenkoh: Do you really want to know why I left my clan?

Maria: Yes, so long as you're OK with telling me.

Zenkoh: I had been patrolling the edge of my clan's territory when I noticed a camp that hadn't been there before. Being careful I got close enough to hear someone talking. They were arguing about stopping where they were since they knew that gnoll territory is dangerous. Someone else argued that they were only going to be there long enough to rest and then they would be gone so they should be fine. I have always felt that the reason that gnolls are viewed the way they are is partially to blame on the more aggressive clans, and so I decided that as close to the edge they were that they should be gone before any other patrols find them.

Zenkoh looks a little remorseful for a moment before continuing.

Zenkoh: I should have just told them to leave. A while later I was summoned by the clan leader Varna. She is equal in size to me with gray fur. She told me that one of her scouts had spotted an unknown camp in our hunting grounds. I had thought they were close enough to the edge of the territory that they wouldn't be noticed, that assumption was a mistake. Varna was ordering me to gather up other warriors from the clan and to attack the camp and capture or kill them.