An enemy to gnolls was probably a friend to the civilized. Perhaps they would be friendly, or better yet, have a way to help her. With a perhaps misguided optimism, Karlach crossed the bridge and headed north.
It did not take long for her to lay eyes on the perpetrators. Grouped outside the tollhouse were five armor clad adventurers. Having served in the Blood War, Karlach knew how to size people up at a glance. Three humans, two halflings. Three men, two women. Three melee fighters, an archer, and a spell caster. From the looks of their armor, they seemed to be paladins of Tyr. All of this seemed promising.
However, as soon as they spotted Karlach, she knew something was off. There was a knowing look in their eyes. It was never a good feeling to be recognized by strangers. In her experience, it always meant trouble.
"Ah, and like that, she delivers herself!" Their leader stepped forward, a smug blonde human with a mighty greatsword at his back. "After being ambushed by those gnolls, I feared we'd lost your trail for good. Yet here you are!"
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Karlach asked, pushing the worry out of her voice. "Because you're really talking like I should."
"You do not know us, but you know our master," the leader taunted. "Your good friend Zariel sends her regards!"
The tiefling bristled at the mention of her name. "Son of a bitch! What does that whore want with me now?!?!"
"Funny you should ask," he continued. "It's actually a-"
"Quit messing around, Anders!" A female halfling hissed, summoning magic to her fingertips. "Let's just kill her already!"
"No, Trynn!" The leader, apparently named Anders, snapped back. "She's worth so much more to us alive."
"But Zariel said-"
"I don't care what that bitch said!" Karlach snapped, cutting Trynn off. As her temper flared so did her infernal engine. "You won't be taking me dead or alive. All you'll be getting is the business end of my fucking battleaxe!"
As everyone drew their weapons, Karlach allowed her rage to boil out of her. If it was a fight they wanted, they would get one!
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