WW1’s Claw Attack (F): 1d20+9 = 11 (Miss)

WW3’s Claw Attack (W15): 1d20+11 = 30 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+3 = 4 Slashing

WW3’s Claw Attack (W14): 1d20+9 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+3 = 7 Slashing

WW3’s Bite Attack (W14): 1d20+7 = 27 (Crit)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+7 = 12 (Normal Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 6 Piercing

The battle before the gate continued, with no answer in sight to Vestele’s question. The werewolf attacking Frostmane didn’t appear to be overly inclined to speak, either. Despite his wounds, the werewolf still charged into the fray once again, and swiped at the winter wolf. Once more, he failed to hit more than air.

The charmed werewolf, however, was FAR more effective in the business of wolf-killing. Her first stroke slaughtered the heavily injured wolf between her and Siora, and her next two blows viciously ripped a second wolf to pieces, as she ended up ripping the beast’s throat out with her mouth. When she turned to look at Siora, it was like seeing a puppy expecting treats after playing fetch.

Wolf 1’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 14 (Miss)

Wolf 4’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 7 (Miss)

Wolf 5’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 18 (Miss)

Wolf 12’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 11 (Miss)

WW1’s AoO (M): 1d20+9 = 26 (Miss)

W1’s Ref Save: 1d20+5 = 25 (Success – Half Damage)

W4’s Ref Save: 1d20+5 = 7 (Fail)

WW1’s Ref Save: 1d20+6 = 13 (Fail)

W5’s Ref Save: 1d20+5 = 16 (Fail)

W12’s Ref Save: 1d20+5 = 6 (Fail)

Breath Damage: 4d6 = 15 Cold

Recharge: 1d4 = 4 rounds

Frostmane jumped back once again, and once again the runts of Malar were unable to so much as scratch him. The winter wolf chuffed with an evil look in his eye, and breathed in once again. One of the wolves, wary now, managed to hide behind its packmate, and thus avoided the brunt of the breath attack. The rest of his victims were not so fortunate, however, and died. The ice dropped from the werewolf’s corpse as it shifted back to a human guise for the last time.

Wolf 9’s Attack (M): 1d20+5 = 9 (Miss)

Wolf 11’s Attack (M): 1d20+5 = 7 (Miss)

Wolf 13’s Attack (M): 1d20+5 = 22 (Miss)

Wolf 16’s Attack (M): 1d20+5 = 12 (Miss)

Yelping in fear, the one survivor of Frostmane’s breath turned and ran, hoping to escape with its life. The other wolves, stuck in a melee with myself and the ‘traitor’ werewolf, looked uneasy. Well, as uneasy as animals can. Their attacks were not nearly enough to take me down, however.

Wolf 9’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 17 (Miss)

Wolf 11’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 7 (Miss)

Wolf 13’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 16 (Miss)

Wolf 16’s AoO (M): 1d20+5 = 9 (Miss)

Melinda’s attack (W11): 1d20+10 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8 = 4 bludgeoning

Hellrime Blast: 3d6 = 12 Cold

With the last werewolf left alive being friendly, for the time being, I slid my silver dagger back into the sheath on my belt, and went back to what I was best at. Fanged maws failed to touch me as I summoned the frozen power at my command once again. And as I brought my fist down upon the wolf at one end of the group surrounding me, I was once again pleased to see bloody ice erupt from the creature’s skull, killing it.

Siora’s Attack Roll (W16): 1d20+5 = 23 (Crit)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+5 = 21 (Confirmed Crit)

Damage: 2d6+4 = 11 Piercing (+2 Vile)

With two of the three wolves within reach of her dispatched, thanks to her newfound friend, Siora turned her attention to the wolf closest to her. With a yell, the Beguiler thrust forward with her enchanted rapier, and the tip of the blade passed through one of the wolf’s eyes, and down, exiting through the creature’s throat. When she withdrew her blade, the wolf was very much dead.

Vestele’s Attack (W13): 1d20+5 = 22 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 7 piercing

Vestele, not wishing to shoot into a melee, and not having great wounds to tend to, stepped forward, into her sister’s cloud of ghostly sentinels. Striding up to the remaining pair of wolves, she brought down her morningstar upon the wolf closest to her, striking it upon the shoulder. The wolf yelped in pain, but still stood.

WW3’s Claw Attack (W13): 1d20+9 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+3 = 4 Slashing

WW3’s Claw Attack (W13): 1d20+9 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+3 = 6 Slashing

WW3’s Bite Attack (W9): 1d20+5 = 10 (Miss)

The female werewolf slashed twice with her claws, rending the injured wolf into bloody chunks. Stepping over the broken body of the fallen wolf, she bit down, but missed the final wolf. That wolf was clearly looking for the slightest opening to run, but it was clever enough to understand that running in the current situation would not help it any.

Frostmane’s Attack (W9): 1d20+14 = 29 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 16 piercing

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 1 Cold

Frostmane took one look at the fleeing wolf, but decided it wasn’t worth it. Instead, he turned, and easily bounded through the spectral sentinels, to reach the last wolf. Its concerns about escaping were ended, permanently, as the massive wolf’s head bit down upon the lesser wolf, and ripped such a massive chunk out of the creature that only the back legs and from the shoulders forward remained. The creature’s torso was simply… gone.

As Frostmane howled to the blood moon in triumph, he also let out a challenge that could be heard far throughout the Moonwood. No doubt the wolves we were hunting would be expecting us, now that we had announced our presence. That was, of course, both good and bad. Bad because we would lack the element of surprise, but good because they would be focused on us, which would probably give the town a bit of a respite from their attentions, and increase our reputation with them.

Your party has defeated or driven off:

Werewolf Warrior x3

Wolf x16

Melinda gains 1838 XP.

Frostmane gains 375 XP.

Vestele gains 375 XP.

Siora gains 375 XP.

You have Leveled Up!

You are now Level 7.

22507 / 28000 XP to level 8.

+1 BAB

+0 Fort, +0 Ref, +1 Will

HD: 1d8 = 3

+1 Balance, +1 Bluff, +2 Concentration, +1 Perform (Dance), +1 Tumble, +1 Use Magic Device

Warlock Abilities

Eldritch Blast damage increased by +1d6 (4d6)

Icedawn Invoker Abilities

Frostfire (Sp): At 2nd level, the Icedawn Invoker can invoke Frostfire. These icy flames deal no damage, and otherwise act as the Faerie Fire spell, with a caster level equal to their Invocation caster level. They can use this ability 3 times per day.

The rush of experience earned by defeating the attack on the town was coupled with the notice that I had gained a level. My abilities were steadily growing stronger, for which I was glad. But, looking up at the bloody moon above, I couldn’t help but feel that we were all going to need more power before this was through.

“Come on, Ninette. Don’t you want to be friends with everyone? There’s no need to stay fuzzy like that, now is there?”

Hearing Siora’s voice, I dismissed the post-battle notifications, to see her trying to convince the female werewolf to change back to her human form. I took a moment to look at her. She was leaner than the other werewolves had been, and smaller. It was plain to see that she was female, since she had the swelling of breasts upon her chest, but they were not particularly large. Moreover, the wolf appeared to be in pain.

“C-can’t. Hurts! Angry. Moon angry! Hurts! Rip and tear. Makes better.”

I looked at Siora. “Keep talking to her. I’ll get help. This could be important.” She nodded, but kept the rest of her attention on the werewolf.

Spreading my wings, I was up and over the ramparts in no time, and quickly found Captain Sweetling on the wall near the gate, standing next to Celaena and Umphery. Landing next to her, I said, “Captain, we have a bit of a situation. Siora managed to charm one of the werewolves, but there is some outside force causing the wolf pain, trying to drive it into a rage. I’m pretty sure that this could be an important clue. Do you have anyone that can magically soothe emotions, at least long enough for us to speak with her?”

It was Celaena who answered. “Our only bard left with one of the merchants, trying to get help. Unfortunately, he was one of the ones who the Captain trusted with the remains of her fallen comrade, so you know his fate. But I have some herbal mixtures that soothe both man and beast.”

Sweetling shook her head. “Magical enchantment or no, I’m not opening the gates. We don’t have anywhere we can hold a werewolf without it causing havoc in the town, if the enchantment slips, or is overpowered. And I didn’t see any arrows fly during that fight. Which means the archer may still be out there.”

I nodded, and said, “Which is why we wanted to question them outside the walls. As for the archer, I agree that they still might be out there, but I don’t think they are.” I took a breath, and continued, “The way the werewolves and wolves fought? It wasn’t natural. They were being driven, almost mindlessly, to attack.”

Sweetling was the first to understand what I was getting at. “Ah. Yes, the bastard may have sent in the troops like disposable pawns, to see what ye were made of. In which case, he’s likely long gone, running off to report to his master, whoever that might be, about the failure.”

Celaena frowned. “At any rate, I will venture over the walls. A single werewolf, even with the archer’s support, if it comes, would not be able to overcome me, not with Melinda and her friends nearby. One of us should be on hand to hear what the werewolf has to say.”

With that settled, I flew back to the others, while Celaena simply jumped gracefully down from the walls. Making our way back to the group, I called out, “I brought Councilor Celaena to chat with our new friend. Any change?”

Siora shook her head. “No. Ninette is fighting against the rage, and my spell helps by making us friends, but that will only last a few hours, and then she’ll be back under the influence of whatever is causing this.”

Celaena started at the name, her eyes wide. “Wait, did you say this wolf’s name was Ninette?” When Siora nodded, the elven druidess sighed deeply, her eyes filled with pity. “I see. Ninette was the name of Farmer Gobert’s eldest. After they were attacked, we started bringing the townsfolk inside the walls at night, but we thought the missing people were dead.”

Ninette looked over to Celaena, eyes wide, her face pitiable. “M-miss Cel! Hurts! Help!”

The elf nodded, and reached into her bag, pulling out a stoppered bottle. “Drink this, young one. It will soothe you, for a time.”

The wolf hesitantly took the alchemical brew, and drank it, shuddering slightly at the taste. Still, whatever was in that draught, it went to work quickly enough. Her shoulders began to relax, and she began to speak more clearly, even though she still didn’t turn back to human form.

Celaena turned a kindly gaze on her, and said, “Ninette, you’re Gobert’s child, yes? We had feared you were all dead. Can you tell us anything about what happened?”

Since I was reborn in this world of magic and fantasy, there have many things that I thought were patently impossible, and yet I witnessed them with my own eyes. I’ve seen undead, talking wolves, and felt the touch of an actual goddess. And, still, I was not prepared for the sight of a werewolf, standing taller than I was, suddenly break down into tears, sobbing on an elven druidess’s shoulder.