Thanks to our actions by the gates, the night’s attacks came to an early end, meaning that we were all able to sleep, and, in the case of the twins, properly regain the spells that had been cast the night before. Breakfast was the same inoffensive rations conjured by our gear and water from our enchanted waterskins, as it had been since we left Northport, but that was fine. Unlike the townsfolk, we did not need to worry about the potential for starvation.

Once breakfast was done, we checked our gear once again, and prepared to head out. Aw we left, the twins took on their normal, elven appearances, instead of their natural, demon-touched form. If they appeared like ‘normal’ adventurers, then the creatures we came across would focus more on Frostmane and I, who were better able to stand our ground in a melee than they were.

Because we had to leave the horses behind, our pace was slowed. The terrain slowed us even more. According to the map, it was a walk of almost twelve miles through the woods to get to the wolf caves. It would have been a half-day’s travel, even at the twins’ speed, on open ground. And we made good time along the banks of the Moonwater Lake. But, once we went into the forest itself, we had to slow our pace, because there were no trails or roads going where we were headed.

I was not accustomed to forests in this world, but, in my last years in my old life, I had been held captive in a cabin in the woods. This forest was, for lack of a better word, wrong. It was too quiet, even with a group of adventurers moving through it. The creatures that had inhabited it had doubtless fled if they were able. Probably displaced by the Blood Moon’s effects.

Only once did we encounter anything in the woods. In a clearing, we found an ancient-looking stone golem, with moss and ivy growing upon it like a cloak. At first glance, it may have looked like a statue untended for generations, but the bones in the clearing spoke of something different.

Vestele was the first to speak. “Those skeletons, there’s beasts in there, certainly, but not all. Some of them look human.”

Frostmane nodded slowly. “Human, and elves, and orcs. They look like old bones. And that sword in the ground is almost completely rusted.”

The fact that so many of the skeletons looked to be smashed with blunt force gave enough clues as to how the residents of this idyllic, yet macabre, setting came to their end that I did not see any need to push our luck. “Let us give this clearing a wide berth. I don’t think any of us truly wish to fight a golem if we don’t have to. There don’t seem to be any skeletons outside the clearing, so that should be safe.”

As we moved, the golem’s head tracked us, visibly turning to watch us. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t give me a scare. After all, we could attack it all day long, and I doubt we’d even be able to scratch that thing. Thankfully, the golem did not react to our presence more than simply following us with its eyes as we skirted the clearing, careful to not set foot inside it.

When we had passed the clearing, Siora sighed, and said, “I’m glad that worked. I would guess that some mage had it as a bodyguard, back when the Orcs attacked this place, or in some earlier battle. If so, then if its master’s last command was to hold against all comers…”

I nodded. “Then nothing in the forest would be able to take it on. And golems famously are immune to most magic, and difficult to harm without adamantine weapons. It could have even been sitting here since the Great Troubles cast the gods from their planes temporarily.”

About an hour after we put the golem’s clearing behind us, Frostmane growled softly. “I can smell the wolves clearly now. The scent is thick here. We’re close to their den.”

I had been around Frostmane long enough to detect the tone in his voice. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“The scents are… mixed. Normal wolves, I can smell plenty of them. And the scent of werewolf, too. But there’s something else, another kind of wolf. Dire wolf, I think. I have only come across their kind a couple times in the mountains. The goblins always preferred worgs.”

Carefully, we followed Frostmane, moving as quietly as we could. Which could be summed up as ‘well, at least they tried’. None of us were masters of stealth, after all. Even Frostmane was more the type to find a good spot for an ambush, and then strike without mercy. Actually sneaking around was not in our skill sets.

We soon found the cave the wolves laired in. The opening was not terribly large, enough that Frostmane could fit without squeezing, but not much more than that. The stone looked unworked, which probably meant this was a natural cave. That meant we were less likely to come across traps… in theory.

Frostmane led the way into the cave, with the rest of us on his furry heels. The cave was in twilight, lit only by what sunlight could make it from the entrance, but that did not matter to us. All of us were quite capable of fighting in the dark. But so were the wolves.

There was a short run from the cave’s mouth, before the path curved off to the right. In front of us, however, there was a large cavern. As we came to the entrance of the cave, we could see that there were, indeed, wolves in the cave. It looked as though they had been sleeping the day away, in preparation for the night. But they were most definitely awake, now!

Initiatives

Frostmane

Werewolf Warriors x3

Wolves x12

Vestele

Siora

Melinda

Frostmane’s Breath Weapon: 4d6 = 13 Cold

Recharge: 1d4 = 4 Rounds

Wolf 1 Reflex Save: 1d20+5 = 17 (Fail - Dead)

Wolf 3 Reflex Save: 1d20+5 = 17 (Fail - Dead)

Werewolf 1 Reflex Save: 1d20+6 = 25 (Success)

The wolves were ready for us, but Frostmane was quicker than they were! He bounded forward and to the left, and unleashed his breath weapon upon two wolves and a werewolf in its hybrid form. The wolves shuddered, and fell to the ground where they stood, but the werewolf merely roared in anger at the assault.

Werewolf 1’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 21 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 22 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 21 (Miss)

The trio of werewolves, enraged at the temerity of a wolf, even a winter wolf, to attack them, rushed Frostmane, intending to bring the big wolf down. Their claws slashed out with savage brutality. Unfortunately for them, the most they accomplished was to scratch against the winter wolf’s icy armor.

Wolf 2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+3 = 17 (Miss)

Wolf 4’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+3 = 19 (Miss)

Wolf 5’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 23 (Miss)

Wolf 6’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 10 (Miss)

Frostmane’s Attack of Opportunity (W7): 1d20+9 = 24 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 17 Piercing

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 1 Cold (Dead)

Wolf 9’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 17 (Miss)

The wolves moved in, mostly following in the werewolves’ tracks, and trying to encircle Frostmane. Their attacks did nothing to the wolf, most failing to even nip at his armor. One wolf tried to slip around him, to try and attack him from the flank, and was rewarded with Frostmane’s jaws chomping down upon its body with enough force to crush the wolf’s spine, killing it instantly.

Two wolves, however, decided to slip past Frostmane on the other side, and came at me. Compared to the massive wolf, I must have looked like a far easier target. They tried their best, but could not land a blow on me as I danced aside.

Vestele’s Attack (W4): 1d20+6 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 3 (Bludgeoning)

Vestele, shield in hand, stepped up beside me, blocking the wolves from a path to her sister. Her talents lay elsewhere, rather than in a melee, but she did not shrink away from the fight. Her morningstar smashed down upon the wolf closest to her. It may not have been enough to even seriously wound the beast, but it was most certainly aware of her now.

Siora’s Attack (W4): 1d20+6 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 6 (Piercing)

The wolf Vestele hit yelped in pain a second time as an arrow flew past the cleric’s thigh to embed itself in the wolf’s shoulder. Siora did not advance into the melee like her sister, but instead had her shortbow up and ready. Already, she was fitting another arrow to the string. “It is too crowded to use any of my area spells, and most of my spells only work against people, not beasts!”

Melinda’s Attack (W2): 1d20+11 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8 = 5 (Bludgeoning)

Hellrime Blast: 4d6 = 14 (Cold) (Dead)

“That’s fine, Siora! Support where you can. We’ll find someone for you to use your magic on before long, I’m sure.”

As I spoke, I lashed out with a fist covered in icy energy at the wolf in front of me. It was a clumsy blow, distracted as I was by talking with Siora, but it hit nonetheless. The wolf’s skull shattered in frozen chunks as I made contact with it.

Frostmane’s attack (W5): 1d20+9 = 15 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 17 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold) (Dead)

Frostmane snarled at the werewolves in front of him. His eyes met the enraged glare of the werewolf he had breathed on as he bit down upon the wolf closest to the wall, just as he had done with the one that tried to pass him, killing it as though he were stepping on an ant. He dumped the corpse at the werewolf’s feet, mockingly.

Werewolf 1’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 13 (Miss)

Werewolf 1’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 13 (Miss)

Werewolf 1’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 9 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 20 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 25 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 14 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 14 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 24 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 10 (Miss)

The werewolves responded to the taunt as he had expected. All three launched savage attacks at Frostmane with claws and fangs. And not a single one of them managed to do more than scratch at his armor. Frostmane was the best floofy tank there was, in my opinion!

Wolf 4’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 18 (Miss)

Wolf 6’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 8 (Miss)

Wolf 8’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+3 = 5 (Miss)

Wolf 9’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 12 (Miss)

Frostmane’s AoO (W10): 1d20+9 = 28 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 21 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 6 (Cold) (Dead)

Wolf 11’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 17 (Miss)

Vestele’s AoO (W12): 1d20+6 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 4

Wolf 12’s Attack: 1d20+3 = 6 (Miss)

The wolves that weren’t already engaged with Frostmane clearly did not wish to join that fray. Instead, they darted forward, attempting to bite Vestele and I. One of them paid for trying to sneak past Frostmane to get at us with his life, as once again the winter wolf proved who was the greater predator here. Vestele, too, got in a glancing blow against one of the wolves as they tried to get around her, nipping at her arm. Still, for all their vigor, their fangs found no purchase on our flesh.

Vestele’s Attack (W4): 1d20+6 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 6 (Bludgeoning) (Dead)

Vestele did not falter in the face of the wolves attempting to bite her. Once more, her morningstar fell upon the hide of the first wolf to approach her, striking with a squelching thud. The wolf fell to the ground, dead.

Siora’s Attack (W12): 1d20+2 = 3 (Miss)

Siora, on the other hand, yelped as the wolf turned the corner around her sister, and she hastily loosed an arrow at it. Too hastily, in fact, as the arrow did not even come close to hitting the wolf, instead falling to the ground at her feet. I couldn’t see from the darkness, but her voice suggested that her face had gone red. “I-it just surprised me, that’s all!”

Melinda’s Attack (W8): 1d20+11 = 29 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8 = 3 (Bludgeoning)

Hellrime Blast: 4d6 = 12 (Cold) (Dead)

“HAH!” I shouted as another wolf fell to my icy fist. “Don’t worry about it, Vestele! Just get the next one. There’s plenty more where that came from!”