Gnoll Stories
Gnoll Stories
a fantasy story
by Sharpfang'2001
The story is located in the world of AD&D, which is (c) to someone (but I don't remember whom). Warning: Confusing multi-level narration.
Gnoll Stories =============
The old guy was sitting in a corner of The Burping Dragon, one of the stinkiest taverns around. He was listening to the bard who was playing some old ballad. An empty mug was standing in front of the old man. I ordered two mugs of Dragon Breath and sat by his table, placing one in front of him, taking a deep sip from the other. I looked at him closer. He had some of elf features, maybe it was just his looks, but maybe he had some 1/8 or 1/16 of elf blood in his veins. He had short white hair and very short ugly beard on his face. He was stinking a bit.
- I've heard you are the one I should ask if I want to learn about gnolls? - I asked.
He looked at me, at his mug, sniffed it a little and put it down without drinking. He looked at me again, suspiciously.
Another adventurer who want to bash his way through the hyenamen fortress? What reason this time? Did they kidnap your hamster?
Not really. I'm not going to their fortress. I'm just curious about them. - I took a few bigger gulps of my beer, his offense notwithstanding.
What do you want to know? If you want to ask how to kill a gnoll some easy way or who buys gnoll fur, answer one is poisoned meat, answer two is nobody. You could try selling their weapons but you'd be required to wash them first. - Seemingly losing a battle of will with himself he grabbed the mug, took a big gulp and started looking very guilty.
What is what worries you my friend?
Go away, ask the witch that lives east from the town for the poison. Go now.
Sorry, did I offend you in any way? May I do anything for you?
He looked at me with empty eyes. He looked at his mug and then pushed it away from him.
- Yes. Don't buy that poison. Leave the gnolls alone.
I nodded my head.
I didn't really want to know how to kill a gnoll.
So? Tell you what? Wanna know the truth about gnolls, buy me one more beer and come to my hut in the evening. I'm telling stories for kids and there will be many of them there. I will tell about gnolls. For them it will be a fairy tale, for you a true story.
I waved one mug more for the old man and finished my beer while asking him how to get to his hut. After that I went to my room in the inn to sit, rest and meditate to gain a few healing spells. I finished about the sunset, bought a jug of fine wine from the innkeeper and took it to the old man's hut.
The storyteller's home was very neat, nicely furnished, clean, poor but comfortable. Old pillows were scattered over the floor and chairs. Several children were occupying most of them already. I took a comfortable armchair in the corner while the old man sat on his soft, old, worn couch. All the expression of a drunkard was gone, now he was wearing a long, worn nightgown and looked like a nice sweet grandpa. Before starting he filled a cup with the wine from the jug I had left on the table next to him, and taking a very small sip smiled.
Children, this young adventurer behind you asked me especially to tell one special story. A strange legend I took my little part in, when I was young. First, before I begin, tell me, what do you know about gnolls?
They are evil!
They stink!
They have dirty fur!
They have very sharp teeth!
They steal sheep!
And ducks!
And they eat children!
They use axes!
No, halabards!
Smartass!
Dumbass!
Stop calling names each other!
They are always hungry and they never wash themselves.
Okay, okay. Some of that is true, some of that is a lie. Let me tell you a story that started really long time ago. It was a small village, called Norm's Yard, far on the coast. Norm was the founder of the village, a famous adventurer who killed a red dragon... Have I told you that story already?
Yes, he slain a red dragon who went crazy.
The dragon was evil!
And crazy! The dragon was a mad wizard!
But very clever!
Okay children. But... but that's just a different story. The village was where Norm had retired and lived happily to the end of his days, but that was long, long before my story begins.
The village was quite far from major trade routes, far from towns and other villages, in the middle of a wilderness. No wonder numerous evil monsters were roaming the area. A few packs of kobolds, many wolves, and a lot of goblins. The villagers knew how to handle weapons well, but often the beasts sneaked at night into the village, stealing livestock and things. When Norm was alive, he kept them at bay, but as I told you my story starts long after that.
I was in that village by king's order, to recruit all the young people to war, you know that anyway. That village was a surprise for me. As I went there, I saw it prospering at its best, but there were no guards nor soldiers on its streets, instead a lot of gnolls were seen everywhere. Armed, dangerous and not afraid of anyone. And nobody was afraid of them either! As I entered the tavern and ordered my favourite mug of ale, I asked the tavernkeeper about that. He told me that he's new here, but he was told an interesting story by one of the gnolls and that he would repeat it if I buy a jug of ruby wine. I did so and he told me this story.
The gnoll was one of the guards, the protectors of the village. He was clean and didn't smell bad. When asked he told me about his past.
Born in the gnoll village in deep forest he was growing up with other gnolls, savage and evil, as he described that. He kept fighting with the others for food, kept stealing things and getting robbed of them again, so he had changed his poleaxe more times than he could remember.
"It was a very harsh winter that year, and the frost was very strong. People in the village were sitting in their houses, often letting their animals inside so they wouldn't freeze. The gnolls were starving. They couldn't hunt enough prey and they were unable to steal from humans without being noticed. Besides, numerous armed people were watching over the village."
"One night we were sitting, very hungry in our big hut, around the fire in the middle, when our patrol had returned. They were flabbergasted. They told us what had happened."
"They were by the village. They saw a female gnoll in the village. Her shapes were full and round, she wasn't starving. She talked with people. She seemed to be important. They called out to her, and at first she ignored them, then she went towards them, accompanied by two armed humans. She seemed to be giving orders to them. As she got closer, she told the humans to stay, then she came to our scouts. She didn't understand a word from our language, but she saw they were hungry. A moment later she came back with two big chickens and gave (!) them to our scouts."
The tavernkeeper was a baaad guy. Right at that moment of his tale he requested me to buy HIM a jug of ruby ale. I was so curious that I just did it, even though it costed as much as a fine dagger there at that time.
- And so, the gnoll continued his story: "We were all so hungry that we all came to the village. There weren't enough of us to attack, besides our elders remembered the lesson the guards had taught them many winters before well - the tribe still hasn't recovered fully from the results of the raid on the village, which had turned into a gnoll slaughter."
"We came, outside the bows range. It was reezing cold. Our shaman, the only who knew human language, prayed best protective spells onto himself and then, armed with his magical poleaxe stepped towards the village. It stirred a rapid movement among the guards, and really soon the gnoll female came. They talked a lot and he relaxed a bit. Then we waited some as he ordered, and in ten minutes or so we saw a few villagers pulling something in our directions. The wind blew scent of meat into our nostrils and nothing could stop us anymore. It was a heifer, well frozen and nibbled a bit, apparently by goblins. As the villagers saw us, they just fled in terror. And wow, what a feast we had! We were in range of their bows, they could have shot us all, and none of us would even run, not leaving the meat! But they did let us go and take what we couldn't eat."
"At our place the shaman told us about the deal he had with the female. She told us we can come back in a week and we will get a new heifer, but we must bring at least fourty heads of goblins and kobolds, and the more we bring the bigger the heifer would be. If we don't bring the heads, they won't give anything and may even shot at us. Their way of thinking was simple: They can't protect their stock from goblins and kobolds. It would come cheaper for them to kill two or three heifers for us, or even give us those killed by the green ones, than have five or six killed by the goblins till the spring. The fem was a very wise one, and she convinced the humans to trust us."
"That week we were hunting goblins all the time. They were poor as snack and dangerous as rivals so we usually didn't hunt them ever before, but at that time each of us got at least a few heads. We just organised ourselves and attacked them. Kobolds were more tasty but it's half a hour of running before you catch one, never pays in meat, unless it means a piece of heifer too. Finally we brought about sixty heads. Trully royal feast we had. That was a big, old bull they brought us, freshly killed. I guess it just grew so old it couldn't be of any better use anyway."
"The female, her name was Garah, told us the deal stays in order. Fourty heads is one small heifer. More heads - more meat."
"The next week was harder. The little beasts knew we hunt them and were hiding better, running and even setting up traps. One of us fell into an ugly trap that hurt him and caused a bad inflammation of the wound. Our shaman was quite helpless about that, and we were pretty sure the poor gnoll would die soon. But as we gathered well over forty heads and brought them to the village at arranged time, the shaman talked with Garah and she asked to bring the wounded gnoll to the village."
"Over the next week we barely managed to gather fourty heads, we had to hunt much further from the village and seek the goblins where we didn't hunt ever before. Luckily, the winter was apparently losening its grip by that time. The heifer was small, but enough for us all to fill our bellies, and the wounded guy returned to us, healthy, clean and with well filled flanks, apparently fed well. He told us all he had learnt there."
"Garah was a gnoll brought up by humans. For a few years she was the village mayor. As we didn't quite believe it he explained that the ancient hero, founder of the village..." Okay children, do you remember his name?
Norm!
That's right, it was Norm. "He had set the rules how a new village-mayor is chosen. All the people in the village take part in special competitions, both for brains, charisma and wisdom as for strength, dexterity and stamina. And she just won it. The rules stated clearly, that it can be anyone who lives in the village, and the species could not matter. That was a big surprise for all... but they didn't dare to change the tradition"
"Garah was learning our language and customs from the sick one over that week, and she discussed things with him while the priest of the village healed him. We were offered a pact of non-agression. We don't attack them, they don't attack us. Trade pact remains in order, we bring heads of beasts that may be dangerous to the livestock and when we gather fourty we get a heifer. And then there came the latest revolution. If we meet the conditions, that is first wash ourselves, then come unarmed and alone to the village, we may trade in the shop. We may sell skins and buy things. We may even buy weapons, but only with special limitations, like a guard must carry the purchased weapon outside the village and then leave it there for us to pick it up later."
"Since we had some gold we had taken from the goblins, soon we were the best equipped pack around. And having such fine weapons, it turned out really soon that we just can't steal from each other or we become extinct... just like those who didn't understand that principle. Ah, and around that time, we learned it's easier to stay clean most of the time than wash occasionally before coming to the village. We had to stay clean, they just didn't serve stinky gnolls."
"It was quite soon since then until the trade began flourishing. We traded some of our weapons for gold with other tribes, making them pay through the nose as for human standards and since gold was quite useless for them, they considered it a bargain. We also fought a few battles with those who wanted to steal the weapons without paying. Since we took most of their females to our pack, it was really good summer. And as we and humans got used to each others, by the end of fall, when they hire more guards for winter in the town, we got the offer to work for them instead, being paid in food or gold for protecting their farms from wild animals and other dangers. Some of the villagers said it's hiring wolves to protect lambs, but that was the order of the village-mayor and we really knew better than to piss her off. (the few that did, didn't live long enough to learn not to do this again)"
"Instead of being time of hunger and loss, that winter brought profit. Fur traders were coming to buy furs of animals we kept hunting around the village and now armed with bows, it came to the incredible point when it was us selling meat to humans!"
"When the spring came, the farmers decided to keep us as guards, while most of the former guards either left or took up farming. New terrains were converted for farms, people had enough grain and livestock left from winter that the village began really prospering.
- And so it is, until today, two years later, as the hyenamen are the soldiers, rangers, militia and trappers, while the others can take up peaceful life of farmers and traders. They stay good because they want to keep the good impression, and I think they learned it really pays on long term. From myself - the barman added - I can just say it gets even further. See that gnoll in the corner? He has just bought a plough, he wants to start a farm of his own. Others are giggling at him but it seems he won't give up.
After I left the tavern, I went to see the village-mayor in person. And yes, it was still her, the hyena woman, Garah. Taller than many humans, very strong and fit, with that spark of wisdom in her eyes. She promised me to talk with her people and recruit as many soldiers as she could. And besides that, when asked, she told me her own story.
"When wild, hungry gnolls attack a village, the whole tribe fights. I was an infant during that attack. My mother was carrying me in a sack on her back, while raiding the village. She broke into one of the houses, but before she could plunder it, she got killed. It was my new father who killed her, practically in self-defense. Most of my old tribe was slaughtered that day, I heard, and many of the rest starved to death that winter. My human father told me this when I grew up. As my gnoll mother broke into the hut and began snapping her teeth at him, he just stabbed her with his knife several times. The battle wasn't equal, she was just so weak from hunger that she couldn't really fight. He was in shock and he hated that he had to kill her. She was lying dead on the floor, and then I began crying quietly in her sack. At first he wanted to kill me too, but when he raised his knife over me, he just looked at his wife. She shook her head no, and he put the knife away. They couldn't have their own children, so they decided to bring me up as their daughter. At first people in the village were mad at them, then just thought they were crazy, but as time passed and - as they told me - I was the best-behaved kid in the village, the people slowly stopped giving me bad looks and murmuring at my sight. One winter I saved life of one of them and since then they really accepted me as one of them. And one day, when the old mayor gave up his function, according to the old tradition all the citizens of the village of legal age stood to the competitions. I expected to be beaten by many in the intellectual challenges, and by some in the strength-based ones, but I did better than I thought in the mind tests, and while being beaten by some in all kinds of challenges, to the great surprise of everyone I got best total rating."
"There is a rule that allows dismissing mayors from their position by the villagers, after a year of their service, if they aren't good enough. And even though it was terribly difficult during that year, I gained more friends than enemies and so I stayed. It was a few years later when the guards told me about the gnolls coming closer. At that time we had terrible problems with kobolds that kept killing our cows, eating some, just as much as they could, and leaving the dead animal behind. We just couldn't catch them all. Then it was when I got that idea of starting a cooperation, and then it just grew from itself, almost without my attention to the level it has now"
In three days I was ready to march back to the capitol, leading two squads of willing and skilled youngsters who wanted to taste the glory and adventure of war. The first squad was the First Norm's Yard Light Infantry, humans, half- and less-than-half-elves, a few dwarves and even a halfling, but just as their cook. The other squad could be considered elite. First Norm's Yard Gnoll Scout, was just incredible when compared in fight with most of our armies. They weren't really good in field, but when they were in the forest only elite elf squads were able to keep up with them. Uh, but had I fun convincing the generals that the gnolls are useful and trustworthy! But I will never, never ever forget the moment when I marched into the city in front of the regular, armed and dangerous squad of gnolls. I had to explain to the city guards that I'm not their hostage! People were staring at them with dropped jaws. Later they were giggling, but after our elite squad of heavy dwarven infantry was found tied with a rope and completely helpless in the morning after the general training challenges were announced, the giggles turned into fear. The guards in the king's palace were tripled, but the next day the king while waking up found a pretty ring by his bed, with a dedication engraved in it - "Long live the King, from the First Norm's Yard Gnoll Scout." I had a hard time explaining him that they just did it to gain his trust, and that they didn't mean anything bad. Finally the king agreed, but he sent all the guards from the palace to the first front line. And the scouts really fought well in that war. Their deeds would make many good ballads sung by bards... Okay, that's all, children. Go home.
The children began standing up, running away, giggling and playing a Big Bad Gnoll with each other. When the last of the kids ran home, the elder refilled his cup with wine and looked at me.
If that was truth, why don't the bards sing the ballads about them? - I asked.
You are right... A tale for children should be bright and nice. The bards don't sing about those who lost the war, they know better than to risk their necks. The songs are for victorious heroes, not for the victims. I didn't tell you that the glory of the First Norm Scout was short-timed. When returning home, tired with war, the army was attacked by another country, which had prepared for the strike in secret. Tired, wounded and often cut off from their supplies, the army had to surrender. The gnolls fought to the end, but they were just a small squad, they couldn't change the wages of war. All they died in one hopeless battle while trying to hold position on incoming enemy, and not a long time later Norm's Yard was plundered. Just a few humans were killed, but the enemy had no mercy for the gnolls.
I saw a tear in the eye of the old man.
They slaughtered them all. It was soon after Garah married that dreamer who became a farmer. She had a child with him. She begged the invaders to let her child live... and the bastards killed the cub on her eyes, right before killing her.
How do you know that? - I was feeling the deep pain of the elder.
I was there at that time. Shortly after the war I moved into the village and settled there.
Why?
The old man closed his eyes, tears running down his cheeks. - It was a prospering village, almost - he swallowed his tears - almost a town, it was easy to earn money and... and I had a great hope... - the elder broke in tears. - Go, leave me alone! Let me just sink my dreams in that jug of wine tonight. Go! - he shouted, so I just left quietly. For quite a while when going away from the house I kept hearing his weeping.
I subconsciously felt he had hidden something from me. Something that caused him so much pain. I stood by a tree frustrated. I learned much, but not enough. And how to tell him? How to ask him? How to apologise to him? He confirmed my hopes, he helped me to understand more, but he didn't give me any directions on how to do what I wanted. Damn it. Poisoned meat. I just understood how guilty he must have felt while telling me that, wrestling with his need for alcohol. I preferred not to know that ever. In my frustration, I walked to the old tree close by the road, with bark broken and rubbed off where multiple times it was scratched by a carriage taking the bend too sharply. I rested my arms on the tree and unloaded all three charges of Cure Light Wounds I had memorised, into the broken bark. I cursed that the spell couldn't heal wounds on soul. My mind shaped the bark covering the tree, healing its wound. I didn't expect it to work, but it did. And it did more. I heard in my mind one word. "Natasha". It came from nowhere, it meant nothing for me, I didn't understand it, it just rang in my head. I went back to the inn and before going back to sleep concentrated on learning the spells anew, and pondering what the name means.
In the morning I found the old man in the tavern again. He was sinking his worries in a jug of strong, cheap ale. I sat by him without a word. "Natasha", I said quietly. He rose his eyes at me. "Natasha", he repeated. "How do you know? You can't know."
I don't know. Who or what is Natasha?
Go. It's not a place to talk about this. Too many ears. - he urged me to the exit, standing up and leaving the half-full mug on the table. He seemed scared. When we were outside, he led me towards his house. We were passing by the same tree I had healed the day before. When we were passing by it, I told him my story from the previous day. He then stopped and tested the bark of the tree with his fingers. Then he sighed deeply.
You can trust no one! No no no no no one! I kept this in secret from everyone. Nobody knew, No-bo-dy. I was whispering my secret and my tears to that tree, knowing it couldn't tell it anyone. And then you came and it betrayed my secret! A dumb tree! The only being that knew it and could in no way speak, let you learn my secret!
I was standing there, completely confused. Sure if it wasn't me standing there and I would just watch the scene, I'd laugh at myself. But then and there, I just stood with my jaw dropped.
Come. - the man led me away from his house, to a grassy bank of the brook. We sat on the grass. He licked his lips, apparently regretting he didn't take his mug. Then he cupped his hands, took some water from the brook and drank it all. He looked at me with sober eyes.
I bet you didn't buy my story of Garah's child killed as the reason why I cried yesterday so much. That was all true but it wasn't what would make a retired army officer cry so much. Nothing that would turn him into a drunkard.
He made a long pause, looking into the sky. His chin was trembling a little, he was forcing his throat to give out sound.
- Natasha... - he finally spoke - ...was a young gnoll girl. And I was madly in love with her.
He breathed deeply, suppressing a cry. I put my hand on his. I looked into his eyes.
They killed her? - I asked.
And I was watching. And I did nothing to save her.
That was many years ago.
If they tell you time heals wounds, remember, it's bullshit!
Tell me.
Keep that in secret. Swear.
I swear.
It was the "love from the first sight" thing. Well, almost. I caught a glimpse of her filling a bucket with water from the well, when I was coming to Garah's house first time. It was before I even really believed a gnoll could be a village-mayor. And Natasha was one that changed my mind in the matter whether a gnoll can be pretty. While most of her coat was usual shades of grey, with irregular black spots, her muzzle was very fair and spotless. Later that day I learnt she was the barmaid at the inn, and while sitting at my mug of beer I kept watching her. After half a hour I quietly sneaked out to my room and pulled from my bag my special supplies - magic scrolls. I cast detect poison on the mug, but it displayed only less-than-standard amounts of alcohol. I cast dispell magic on myself. I was sure she had cast "Charm person" on me. But to my dismay it did nothing. To be sure it worked, I cast "Bless" on myself, then dispelled it again from another scroll. Dispell worked. Detect magic didn't reveal any magic items on me besides of my standard, and I even swept myself with "remove curse", just in case. All in vain. I couldn't believe that I just fell in love with a gnoll girl!
I was quite shy and I couldn't fully believe my heart. I was thinking about her all the time, but I had no idea what to do. I didn't dare to tell anyone about that. I practically gave up my work, but luckily Garah just took over and did the stuff ten times better than I'd ever would.
Meantime I was sitting in the bar, acting that I drink beer, but in fact just watching her. She wasn't in any way perfect. She was very pretty, but she was clumsy at times. Sometimes she dropped a mug of beer from the plate, sometimes she tripped over someone's sword sticking far behind his stool, once I defended her when she was shouted at by the innkeeper, once in a terribly official voice I lectured one of my escort to respect the other races more, when he was making rude remarks about her. But generally I took care that my attention remained unnoticed by anyone. Unfortunately, by her as well. Before I left with the troops, I managed to exchange a few words with her. When she came to my room to take my sheets and I finished packing my things, I took her hand and said "Take care of yourself, girl. There's someone who loves you, and when this war is over, he will come back."
She looked at me, puzzled and confused, then just said "Yes, mister" and finished cleaning the room. At that time, me being an important officer, her just a barmaid, we just couldn't do otherwise.
The war took my mind away from her, though I still felt the pangs of longing and fear. When the victory was apparent and we had just the few last glorious, victorious battles to fight, I asked the general to be dismissed from the front, since I wasn't necessary anymore. It meant I wouldn't participate in the glory of the victory but it meant nothing to me. First Norm Scout was sent to the other end of the country to observe and report any hostile movement. To their doom, as it appeared later. And as I got to Norm's Yard, she was still there, as fresh and pretty as when I had left her. It was a warm summer. The same day I had arrived, the news came that the enemy surrendered and the war is over. The same evening I met her in the forest. I told her that the one who loves her has returned, as promised. She looked puzzled and asked, "But mister, you are the only one who has returned from the war to our village." And as I nodded, she just stood there, unbelieving. "But mister, you are... I am..." Oh, that was the hard part. "I know all too well. I tried to heal myself, but even the strongest magic can't cure love." "But mister, I almost don't know you! I don't understand!"
She was very clever. She understood well. And she gave it her best shot to let herself fall in love with me. We talked about us for a long time, I adored being close to her, and I was feeling the love waking up in her slowly. Nobody saw us. We both agreed that it's best if it remains in secret if it was to fail. She took a few days off, I just vanished from the village, making a camp not very far away but telling everyone that I go for a week trip somewhere. After three days we kissed each other. Once. Long. With love. From both sides. We both whispered the sacred "I love you". And since her days off ended, she went back to the inn. A day later I returned. That evening we were making plans about where to go to make love for the first time. And the next morning the enemy came. When I woke up, they had taken over the village already. I hid my officer clothes and wore common rags. I didn't take my bag with scrolls with me. I was thinking it would be easier to hide my identity if I don't keep it. Why didn't I take it!? I pondered that moment many times. We stood a chance. Sanctuary on myself. Then on her. Eventually charm person on the enemy leader. Later invisiblity. Mount. And we would be free. But instead, I just stood there, completely helpless and watched as the soldier walks along the row of tied gnolls and cuts their heads off. I watched as they laughed Garah off, as she begged for life of her child, and how they enjoyed her pain while killing it. And then, from one, quick swing of sword, my love lost her life. She looked at me in the last moment, and I didn't dare to do anything. I just stood there, with my teeth clutched, waiting for a miracle, but the miracle didn't come.
And that's it, young adventurer. I learned time doesn't heal wounds. Travels don't heal wounds. Alcohol heals wounds only sometimes and only for short time, but when it ends, it hurts even worse. And learning about gnolls feels like fiddling in the wound, hurts like the hell, but at least feels like I'm doing something that MIGHT help. But what do I do with this knowledge? Sell the darkest pieces of it for a mug of beer. And you, why do you want to learn about gnolls anyway?
I felt like a lump got stuck in my throat. I coughed once, twice, then finally began sticking words together. "I... that is... I mean... There is... I saw... Uhm, yes. I saw a female gnoll. Young and very pretty. Bathing in a lake. Sorry, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I just felt like... you know. I pondered to use Charm Person, but you know that moral hangover you have after that, and I don't really want to force her, or whatever. And I hoped you could teach me some basics of their language."
He looked at me with a mixture of grin, despise and disgust.
First of all, using Charm Person is highly unrecommended. I will show you later, why. Then, without Charm Person, approaching any gnoll without a good weapon and without intention to use it is highly unrecommended. And if you don't want to hurt that gnoll, that makes it even harder. You could use meat with drugs that cause sleep, but you wanted to avoid moral hangover, and hope that knowledge of gnoll language could save your life is very false. That isn't Norm's Yard. You aren't a gnoll. She wasn't brought up by humans. She wasn't taught not to kill on sight. My recommendation is, forget it, boy. And if you can't get over with it, come to my place, I'll give you a leaflet of a whore house where you can meet one gnoll whore, just pay her for a hour and you'll get a minor moral hangover, but it will pass soon, together with your infatuation. Does it sound like a plan?
Not really, but I'll try to remember that. And what was that story with Charm Person?
We stood up and headed towards his house.
- It's the same leaflet. The story is there because it's good for business, but it's all true. The whore house is the kinky type, and the gnoll woman, Rahaja if I recall her name correctly, presents herself as a dominant type, dangerous and wild. Actually, she's not really dominant except if paid to be, and not really dangerous, except if you don't have money to pay for her service. And I bet smoking a pipe contradicts being wild a little as well.
He unlocked the door and let me in. I saw the jug I had brought the day before, empty, broken on the floor. Besides that, the room looked almost the same. He walked to a small bookcase in the corner and after short search he found a small piece of parchment, bent into a four-page booklet. He handed it to me and invited me to sit down and read.
The first page, in big, stylised letters, read "Horny Elf. House Of All Fun. All Kinks For Your Pleasure." After that, a pic of a gnoll head followed and text "Offer for those seeking Dominant Women."
The next two pages were filled with pretty, but narrow handwriting. "I'm a gnoll woman. I'm taller and stronger than most men. I'm probably stronger than you. It's easy to get me angry, and you shouldn't get me angry, unless you want to suffer some bad punishment. I will tell you what I mean by a bad punishment, telling you of the first man I have punished."
"I was just another wild gnoll lass. I liked walking far from my place. One day, I sat by the road, hiding and looking for some defenseless traveller to rob him. Then I heard the release of magic, felt some tingling and when I looked around, I saw a man, just a few steps behind me. A human he was, and there he stood in all his glory, lord and master over my soul, so I wouldn't be able to refuse his wish. He told me to go down to the brook, where he made me lie in water, then he handed me a soap and told me to wash myself. In his glory he seemed so great that I regretted so much that he hates my smell, that I washed myself thoroughly. Then he took his clothes off and told me to come and please him. Before that I saw him casting some spell and felt that tingling anew, his weakening glory and beauty renewed. I obeyed him, first licking his member with long, deep strokes, then as he laid down, I straddled him and took his member inside, riding him slowly and giving him all of myself. I was getting aroused by that too, my feeling was rising and I wanted more and faster, and more violently. I rode him madly and loved the feeling of him coming in me, his semen hitting my inside in warm gushes. Then he suddenly told me to stop and let him go. That was his order and I had to obey, though my body was on fire and I needed the release badly. He stood up and cast his spell once more, but this time I didn't feel the tingling to penetrate me. The charm was vanishing and I saw him not being a glorious hero, but a scared novice wizard, who just came to fuck me and test his spells. I was mad at him for that. At first I wanted to kill him right there, but the heat of my body was way too strong, I needed a male too badly and he was the only one around there. Instead of obeying him, as he told me to go away, I pounced him, pinned to the ground and straddled his loins, then pushed his semi-hard cock into myself. I was riding him, my pleasure still growing, for quite a while, until he came in me again, and became completely limp and useless. But I needed the release so much! And then I got that idea, as I looked at my clit peeking far from my fur. Have you ever seen a gnoll female's clit? It's almost as big as your cock, and it's completely useful. I turned that guy over and stuffed my clit into his anus. That felt GOOD. He wanted to fight, but I closed my jaws on his neck and he didn't get to do anything. I fucked him long, till I came, and then even longer, till I came again. His anus was bleeding a bit, his neck was a mess from my teeth, his face pushed into the mud. When I didn't need him anymore, I just snapped my teeth on his neck and broke it. Then I felt hungry so I made myself a meal of him. And when I remembered how good it felt to have sex with him, I just wanted to fuck a human so badly that I went to the town and took up a job in the House Of All Pleasures, just for the fun I have from it. Come, try me, and don't fail me or you get punished!" Signed: Rahaja. I threw a quick glance at the last page. Just address in the bottom of the page.
Uh, wow. Cool. But I don't quite believe it.
I talked with her, then found that glade she wrote about. Rotten remains of a corpse, a brook, and his clothes nearby. And a spellbook, with "Charm Person" bookmarked. All like in her story. Now, do you see the danger? Charm Person is much less effective when cast on a highly aroused person. You can only twist her psyche using it. And get yourself killed.
So what should I do?
I don't know. Save her life? Besides, I'm not going to satisfy a youngster's kinks.
And what if I said it's more than a kink? That I actually felt more to her?
Then I will tell you I don't know how to help you.
Three gold for a hour. Teach me gnoll language. Two or three hours a day, for a few months, as long as required. And I will think of the rest.
He pondered this for a while, then agreed.
Three months later I found her again.
Hey, sweetheart - I called in the gnoll language from the top of a high rock overlooking a glade in the forest. The gnoll girl was sitting over a hole of some small animal, trying to catch it. She looked at me startled, then decided I was far enough that she could run if I tried anything, and returned to watching the hole. I just sat there and watched her. That cute, round ears and black muzzle making that funny bandit expression that was contradicted by her shiny pretty eyes. Her shape was little of human, she was more like an animal stretched on two legs. She had two very pretty breasts, hidden under a rag bra though. She wore a loincloth too, dirty and soiled, but with those strange metal rings and other pretty elements from copper. And like most gnolls she had several earrings in one of her ears. After a hour or so, she began getting impatient.
What do you want from me? - she shouted to me in gnoll language, as she was getting nervous of me watching her and doing nothing else.
I like you, so I wanted to watch you. - I answered.
Leave me alone!
No way, some palladin could come to hurt you and I wouldn't be near to defend you.
Idiot.
Cutie.
Do you want to fuck me or what?
That too.
Get lost.
I can't, I'm a ranger. Rangers don't get lost.
Just leave me alone and let me catch that ferret.
It just ran away when you didn't look.
You!!!
What about a nice piece of beef? - I waved a big lump of roasted beef in air. I saw she began drooling a bit, but she was scared too.
Give me?
Just come here.
No way! It's a trap!
So I will come to you. - I stood up and began climbing down.
Don't get closer!
I will just leave it down there for you. Then I will walk away and let you have it.
She stood there ready to run. I left the lump of meat on the grass and walked away. I stood in a safe distance. She walked to the meat, cautiously as if it could attack her. She sniffed it.
It's poisoned.
No, it isn't.
Eat it yourself then.
Okay. - I walked towards her. When she saw that, she grabbed the meat and ran away, to the other end of the glade, where she crouched and began gobbling the meat quickly as if to prevent my taking it away from her. When she finished, she turned away and ran into the forest. Uh well. At least she didn't attack me.
The next day I was there again. She was still trying to catch that ferret. This time I went to the base of the rock and told her to come and take the meat from my hands. As she grabbed it with strength, she fell down, not expecting I was really going to give it to her without fight. She ran in terror after that, but she didn't leave the meat.
Third day the scenario was similar, but at least she didn't rip the meat from me.
The fourth day was a change. I was standing there, by that rock, when she walked out from the woods, accompanied with a big male gnoll. Two others came from the sides. I cursed a little, but then I pulled a rope from my backpack and as they rushed in my direction, I casted Hold Person twice. Then, using the rope I tied the males, and put the meat in front of the girl. Then I went away. Before that, I noticed one of the males had a big bad scratch on his side, so I healed it yet before leaving. When the spell expired, I heard the bewildered growls of the males. I guessed she decided to eat the meat first, release them later.
The next day she didn't come. I spent several hours trying to track her, and when I found her, she was crouching and crying, trying to hunt some fish in a stream. She didn't run when I came. I saw some scratches in her fur and didn't even want to think of the mess under it. I touched her and cast healing, without even saying a word. She looked at me, through tears.
They hate me. They hate me because of you. They say I pulled them into ambush. They don't want me back. I will die without them. I hate you
I'm sorry to hear that. You won't die. I will not let you die. Here, have it. Eat. - I handed her a new piece of roasted meat. She began eating it without a word. She didn't run from me.
The wind blew from her to me, and I noticed something that surprised me. When I was tying the gnolls the day before, I had hard time not vomiting at their stench. She wasn't that bad there, but I wouldn't say she smelled nice. And now she was quite okay. Almost no sign of bad smell.
You smell nicely - I said. She looked at me.
You noticed? I washed myself because I thought you'd like it.
You did it for me? Why? You said hate me!
I didn't.
You di... Whatever. - I tried scritching her back and she didn't move away. Then she turned to me and looked at me. Her look stopped on my sword.
Give? - she showed it.
They will take it from you anyway, just if they see it.
I give it, they forgive me. Gruh will kill Lamer and won't be angry on me.
Who is Lamer?
You healed him. Gruh hurt him. Gruh is mad you healed Lamer.
And will he be mad that I healed you?
No if I give him your sword. Gruh is the strongest, but he's stupid.
I don't think I like him. And I don't feel like giving him any weapon would be a good idea.
Would you kill him?
I don't know. I... Yes. He hurt you. I would.
Give me the sword. Tomorrow we will make an ambush. But you will know and you will kill Gruh. Some others will help. Right?
Right. - I handed her the sword and before I could do or say anything, she was on the run. With her long legs, I could only dream of following her.
The next morning, while walking into the forest I cast several protective spells on myself and walked with doubled caution. I had my hand on the handle of a new, shiny, freshly sharpened sword. And just as I expected, quick rush of leaves, a spark of iron and a heavy mass landed on top of me. I was surprised that the enemy got so easily over my "protect from evil," and that I had no way easier time handling him, especially that he was doing extremely well. A punch into my ribs, another straight into my chest, why am I still alive? And then I noticed the enemy was marking his hits. Instead of dying without breath, I was able to pull my sword out of my sheath. I was just about to give a neat swing with the blade over the enemy's face when a thought came to me. Gruh wouldn't do it! The handle went a bit higher and hit the opponent's head, knocking him off me. I marked the hit, but he fell off me unconscious. Uh well, not really, but why should I give him out? I stood up slowly.
Then I felt the protection working finally. My senses sharpened, my muscles tensed and I gave a swing, just the way I wanted to do to my first opponent, but without marking the hit this time. The furry terror was flying at me, tried to parry my hit with his sword (my old sword), and he would, if not the heavy atmosphere of the spell that dulled his instincts, and my blade swung over his jaw and slid onto his throat, cutting it deeply. As I moved aside, he was dead before hitting the ground.
I offered my hand to the lying gnoll who was looking around with caution. He accepted it and stood up. Then I heard muffled voices of gnolls behind the edge of the ravine, then a dull thud and sound of a falling body. I ran up the slope with trembling heart. I saw four gnolls, over fifth lying on the leaves, with his (his, sigh) head bleeding. One of the four had a big club in his paw. My girl was there too. She ran to me cheerfully and hugged me tightly, without any preservations. Ugh, I didn't expect her to be so strong.
- Lamer, you're alive! - she shouted, running to the gnoll who came after me, hugging him, getting me jealous and herself stinky.
But that was not a problem. All the gnolls took a bath half a hour later. And me too. And I helped Johara (that was her name) washing her back. And other parts too. But only wash. For now.
It was evening and I was roasting a big ol' ram over the campfire, watching the five muzzles drip around. Then there was the meal which I will not comment on because of cultural reasons, and then we just sat happily around the campfire and I handed a waterskin of wine around and told them a story.
"My friend told me this story. A story of a dream of one gnoll woman. A dream that came true, and later went to hell. But such a dream can come true again. Listen to the story of Garah, the gnoll woman that grew up among the humans..."
"...And so, guys, do you have any gold gathered? I could buy you stuff for that, under one condition, you stop robbing people. You use the weapons to hunt animals and defend yourself. You don't steal anymore, but you're happy and your bellies are always full."
"...But boss, maybe we do otherwise, you buy us all that stuff and then we rob people and steal stuff from them, then we share it with you? And you pull people into traps and tell us which ones are worth robbing?"
"...But guys, some fuckin'hero will happen sooner or later and will beat the shit of us all."
"...But you will be all sweet and nice and you will tell us when to run."
"...But that just won't work. Shit, this wine is strong."
"...Right. Great stuff. So otherwise, we stay nice and sweet till you tell us to beat the shit outa some sucker. Like some big opportunity, easy stuff, lotta gain. Then we run where nobody knows us and start being sweet again"
"...Damn you Raah, you have too many ideas. And what with the dream of Garah?"
"...We'll be doing that most of the time!"
"...Damn you, begone, evil beast!"
"...Okay boss. Like, we will beat the shit outa that sucker only if he's really evil. Deal?"
"Deal. And give me back that wine. Uh, sorry Johara. I'd love to but that wine was just too strong. I just can't!."
"I can if you want!"
"Do you want to die painfully, Kohrack?"
"Sorry, boss."
"Can you really, Kohrack?"
"Sure, why, Kerice?"
"So show it."
And I just saw the two gnolls doing it in front of all the others, without any preservations. I just had that feeling that they have really little idea of what "moral" means.
In the morning I woke with (surprise, surprise!) terrible hangover. Others too.
Boss, do you know any spell to cure that?
Sorry, that's level 5 priest spell. Can't do that yet. No magic potions either.
So, boss, that's all our gold. Call me crazy but I'll trust you and give it all to you so you go shopping for us.
Dump all the world's gold and bring me some water.
I thought so already. Here you are.
I closed my eyes drinking from the very stinky standard issue wooden gnoll bowl.
Do you guys ever wash it?
No, but we always lick it clean.
I sighed and drank the last drops of water. Then I stood up, looked into the gold bag and shouted "Okay guys! Shopping list!"
Not so loud, I beg you, boss!
First of all: My old sword comes to Johara, after all I gave it to her. Then you. Who wants a bow, who wants a poleaxe, who prefers something else?
And later in the evening I had some work meditating Cure Serious, after my guys extended the limits of playful testing of new toys beyond safe limits. ("Sorry, I didn't know it's so sharp!")
And after the sunset finally I handed out the waterskin with wine (much weaker this time, I took care of it. "...But guys, we would finally end up as a gang of drunkards robbing travelers to get cash for booze." "...I like that idea, boss!")
Then I asked Johara for a walk. She was really happy to be my girl and that I was nice to her. Kerice had been Gruh's woman, but she was very happy to leave the honors of the First Lady to Johara and not have her nose bleeding anymore.
When we got outside the gnoll camp, I headed to the glade where we had met first. I was holding her waist, and we walked happily together, just like two lovers do. We stood there, under the shiny stars. The white moon was full, and the black one covered it partially, making it look like a big, almost closed letter C. The shape shone in the pupils of my lover's eyes. She was tall. Small in gnoll standards, she was a bit taller than me. And I guessed she was quite a piece of a bitch, rubbing her pussy impatiently along my leg. I undid my pants and her bra, then she stretched her legs, standing straight and my face landed between her breasts - uh, she was much taller than me in fact. I took one of her nipples in my mouth and sucked it, licked and nibbled for a while, wrestling with my blouse meantime. Then, surprised I found her pricking my belly with her clit. I finally released my chest from the blouse and naked knelt by her, taking her length into my mouth. I was not a gay, but I was finding this very arousing! She grabbed my head and began moving it along her clit. It was smaller than human cock, thin on the end, thicker by the base, without typical cock features, but very tender and slick. I slipped my hands between her legs and found her warm opening. I probed her very gently and while feeling myself harder with every moment, wondered whether she's not a virgin or gnolls don't have hymen at all, or both.
I just wanted to stand up and take her, but she didn't let me up. She was holding my head tight and raping my mouth, thrusting her hips hard, not letting me go. I guessed the best way to get free would be giving her satisfaction quickly, and began helping myself with her pussy and breasts, using my hand. I kept her clitty harder with my teeth and that brought her suddenly over the edge. A gush of hot liquid washed over my hand caressing her pussy and she sighed loudly and released my head. Oh, I wanted her so much, that I just stood up, embraced her and pulled down, so my cock touched her opening. She suddenly violently kissed my mouth, grabbed my cock and hungrily stuffed its end into her entrance, then lowered herself taking more of it. She wrapped one leg around my loins, pulling herself hungrily onto me, and began riding me. I was helping, but just a little. I was amazed with her lust. She was practically raping me again. Her long clitty was rubbing along my belly, so I took it in my hand and began massaging it gently. She seemed to take as much fun from riding my prick as from fucking my hand, her moves got more chaotic and she began gasping loudly, while speeding up on me and speeding up my hand on her clit, using her own hand. She was holding my shoulder with the other hand, hanging from it. And then I lost my ballance and fell onto her. The hit on the ground drove all my length into her and so, I just held her under me and began fucking her pussy really hard. She moved her hands to her clitty, pleasing herself. Finally I felt my top close, and then she came too, arching her back, opening herself even wider and squeezing my cock hard. Her clit trembled in rapid spasms as if cumming, and that feeling brought me finally over the edge. I exploded into her, sending hot gushes of semen into her and biting into her furry neck. That was violent and strong, and wonderful! After so many efforts, so long waiting, finally I had her... and I loved her. And she loved me too. We smiled and kissed happily, while regaining our breath. As we stood up and headed back to the camp, I promised myself it's not the last time this night. And that there will be many such nights yet.
Two years later, Garah's dream came true once more.
Five years after that, it went to hell again.
But at that time I was together with Johara on holidays in a safe, far country.
. . . . Sharpfang Tue Jul 17 08:32:41 CEST 2001 Yep. Been writing it all night. And yep, got drunk in the meantime.