Rukka, Gnoll Place to Hide

You were at the city gate when it happened. A band of gnolls brazenly attacked in broad daylight... Well, less brazenly and more stupidly. They shouted at the guards above, beat their weapons against the stone walls, and scattered the moment the gate opened. You even saw a gnoll girl flailing around uselessly before a guard chased her through the crowd. It was almost sad to watch.

That evening, you’re passing through a quiet side street on your way home. The last daylight fades as a figure whips around the corner, crashes into a stack of barrels, and sends them rolling down the street.

It’s that useless gnoll girl from the raid! She stumbles to the ground in front of you. Up close, she’s painfully thin, her ribs showing beneath the pale fur of her stomach. She slowly looks up at you, terrified. "P-please... don’t..." She presses a finger to her lips, begging you to stay quiet.

From the next street over comes the clatter of armor and several voices drawing closer. The city guard. Her ears swivel toward the sound, and she turns to look. "No..." she whimpers, turning back to you.

"Please, you have to help me!" she cries. Tears gather at the corners of her eyes. "I didn’t hurt anyone. I didn’t even want to... They made me go. You have to believe me." Torchlight begins to glow against the wall around the corner. She glances toward it, then back at you. "Please... help me."