Resting inside an enemy stronghold was a calculated risk. Giving them time to rest, recover, and prepare for your attack is not something anyone would advise. Of course, rushing headlong to our deaths wasn’t exactly the epitome of wisdom, either, which is why we took the rest.

The shrine room above was different than how we had left it. The bodies were gone, and tracks in the blood showed that they had been dragged away, deeper into the shrine, down the stairs we had not gone down yet. Other tracks clearly showed a wolf’s prints, running through the blood, and heading out of the shrine. Frostmane followed the tracks as far as the ‘courtyard’ outside, and found that they led off into the forest. No doubt, the cultists had sent for reinforcements.

With that in mind, we gathered at the stairs heading down. Frostmane sniffed, and growled, softly. “There are many wolves down there. The demon-touched ones. Probably waiting for us.”

I sighed. “Nothing for it, then. I know it is dangerous, but we’ll have to rush the stairs as quickly as possible, unless anyone has a better idea?” Unfortunately, no one did. “All right, Frostmane first, to clear the area, and I’ll be on his heels. Siora next, then Vestele. Everyone ready?” They all nodded, and I took a breath, and nodded to Frostmane.

Frostmane’s Fort Save (Magic Trap): 1d20+17 = 28 (Success)

The wolf squeezed through the narrow (for him) stairway, and howled out in challenge as he bounded into the room. Or, he was about to, when magic flared under his paw as he touched down on the floor at the foot of the stairs. “Another trap!” Thankfully, the magic, whatever it was, did not seem to affect him.

Melinda’s Fort Save (Magic Trap): 1d20+5 = 7 (Fail)

Unfortunately, I found out all too quickly what the magic did, as I rushed down behind Frostmane to support the wolf. Unlike normal magical traps, which discharged their magic, and then had to be reset, this one apparently reset itself automatically, making it far more dangerous. Especially as I felt my body constrict and compress until I was feeling very small indeed.

I hopped to the side, to make room for the twins, when I suddenly realized that I had literally hopped. The magic didn’t just make me tiny. I had been turned into a freaking rabbit!

Thankfully, Siora and Vestele saw what had happened to me, and managed to jump over the stone at the foot of the stairs, leaving me as the only one brought down by the magic trap. Which was a good thing, considering that Frostmane was growling and staring down eight of the fiendish dire wolves. I didn’t doubt he could handle himself, if he had to, but it wouldn’t be easy. Fortunately, he didn’t have to.

Initiatives

Frostmane

Melinda

Fiendish Dire Wolves x8

Vestele

Siora

Frostmane’s Breath Weapon: 4d6 = 15 (Cold)

Recharge: 1d4 = 2 Rounds

FDW1’s Ref Save: 1d20+7 = 22 (Success, Half Damage) (5 Resisted)

FDW8’s Ref Save: 1d20+7 = 25 (Success, Half Damage) (5 Resisted)

Frostmane inhaled deeply, and then breathed out a cone of icy cold over the two closest of the wolves, who were just barely in the cone. Both of them looked as though they avoided the worst of the damage, but that was all right. The main thing was that all eyes were on Frostmane, rather than me.

Unfortunately, rabbits were not exactly known for their combat prowess. I tried to access my abilities, but I couldn’t. The spell had locked me in this rabbit form, and I couldn’t even blast anyone!

FDW1’s attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 14 (Miss)

Frostmane’s AoO (FDW2): 1d20+13 = 15 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite Damage: 1d8+18 = 22 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 2 (5 Resisted)

Frostmane’s Trip attempt: 1d20+13 = 19

FDW2’s STR check: 1d20+15 = 21 (Success)

FDW2’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+11 = 21 (Miss)

FDW3’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 13 (Miss)

FDW4’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 17 (Miss)

FDW7’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 20 (Miss)

FDW8’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 31 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+11 = 26 (Regular Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 18 (Piercing)

FDW8’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+11 = 24

Frostmane’s STR check: 1d20+17 = 30 (Success)

As expected, the wolves crowded around Frostmane, trying to bring him down. Their primal assumption that he was the biggest threat in the room was proven correct, as one wolf forced his way between Frostmane and the wall so he could snap at Vestele. But while the priestess’s shield ensured she remained safe, the wolf’s hide did nothing to protect him from Frostmane’s jaws, which tore bloody gashes in his hide. Frostmane paid for that moment of distraction, however, as one of the other wolves managed to get a solid bite on his shoulder, eliciting a painful howl from the wolf.

Vestele’s Attack (FDW2): 1d20+7 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+2 = 7 (Bludgeon & Pierce)

Vestele, faced with a snarling wolf that, while wounded, was far from dead, raised her shield before her, and brought her morningstar down upon the wolf’s shoulder. Her blow was nothing compared to Frostmane’s, but the wolf clearly did not appreciate her attentions. “Siora, get the one behind this one! That will give us some breathing room!”

Siora’s Caster Level check: 1d20+8 = 13 (Success)

FDW3’s Will Save: 1d20+6 = 17 (Fail)

Siora simply nodded to her sister, and took a breath. Calling out the words of her spell, a red haze settled around the wolf she targeted before disappearing. The wolf looked at her with adoring eyes and she grinned. “Got it!” Looking back to the wolf, she said, as sweetly as she could, “Please hurry and kill all these other wolves, my big, strong friend.”

Frostmane’s attack (FDW2): 1d20+13 = 26 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 19 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 1 (5 Resisted) (Dead)

Proving once again that he was more than a mere beast, Frostmane ignored the wolf that had wounded him. Instead, his jaws closed upon the throat of the wolf that had attacked Vestele, and crushed it mercilessly. The white wolf knew that, with Vestele out of melee, she would be better able to support him. He was prideful, and sure of his strength, but that didn’t mean he was an idiot.

I, unfortunately, was still a rabbit, and still incapable of doing anything against the wolves I did, however, notice that all my clothes and gear were lying on the ground where I had set foot on the trap. They hadn’t changed with me! At least I didn’t need to worry about them being lost, but that was going to leave me with the mother of all ‘wardrobe malfunctions’ when someone finally turned me back to normal!

FDW1’s attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 21 (Miss)

FDW3’s Attack (FDW4): 1d20+11 = 26 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 16 (Piercing)

FDW3’s Trip attempt: 1d20+11 = 29

FDW4’s STR check: 1d20+15 = 17 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane’s AoO (FDW4): 1d20+13 = 20 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 26 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (5 Resist)

FDW3’s AoO (FDW4): 1d20+11 = 22 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 13 (Piercing) (Dead)

FDW5’s Attack (FDW3): 1d20+11 = 31 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+11 = 23 (Crit)

Damage: 2d8+20 = 33 (Piercing)

FDW5’s Trip attempt: 1d20+11 = 26

FDW3’s STR Check: 1d20+15 = 27 (Success)

FDW7’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 30 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 15 (Piercing)

FDW8’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 28 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 15 (Piercing)

Once again, the wolves attacked. But this time, Siora’s charmed wolf bit deeply into the side of the wolf next to it, throwing it to the ground. As the wolf tried to rise, both the charmed wolf and Frostmane’s jaws clamped down upon it, ripping it apart. However, they both paid a price for that, as the wolves viciously attacked both Frostmane and the charmed wolf, leading great bleeding wounds in their sides. Seeing no openings on the side it was on, the last wolf circled around the pack, moving quickly to be in a position to attack the charmed wolf.

Vestele’s Cure Critical Wounds (Frostmane): 4d8+8 = 26

Vestele, now freed from the distractions of tooth and claw, turned her attention to Frostmane. Reaching forward, she touched her hand against the wolf’s flank. “The Queen does not forsake her servants, or their allies.” Frostmane nodded his thanks as the magic healed the worst of his wounds.

Siora’s Dispel Check: 1d20+8 = 18 (Success)

Siora turned away from her charmed wolf, and looked at me, where I was hopping about, unable to do anything to help. “Let’s get you back into the fight, Mel.” She uttered the words of another spell, and I felt a sensation like a rubber band snapping.

Suddenly, I was standing at my full height, and, as expected, I was completely naked! I could feel my blush as I covered myself with my wings. “Thanks, Siora.”

“Any time, dear. But not too often, hmm? I don’t mind a show, but you’re still a little underripe for my tastes.” She laughed as my blush got hotter. Freaking Malcanthet worshippers!

Frostmane’s attack (FDW8): 1d20+13 = 28 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 23 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (5 Resisted)

Frostmane’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+13 = 31

FDW8’s STR check: 1d20+15 = 30 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane wheeled upon the wolf that had harried him the most, and sunk his jaws into the wolf’s flesh, ripping and tearing. With a jerk of his powerful jaws, the wolf fell to the ground in front of him. “Let’s hurry up and end this.”

Melinda’s Caster Level Check: 1d20+9 = 23 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (FDW5): 1d20+12 = 31 (Success)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 4d6 = 13 (Magic)

Melinda’s Attack (FDW6): 1d20+12 = 32 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+12 = 20 (Crit)

Eldritch Chain Damage: 12 (Magic)

Still using my wings to cover myself, if even a little, I wasn’t about to just jump into the thick of things, not unless I had to. However, I could blast the wolves from back here quite nicely, a fact that the wolf that had mauled the charmed wolf and the one that had circled the pack to try and attack the ‘weak’ side quickly learned. The blast chained from one to the other, striking the second wolf squarely between the eyes.

FDW1’s attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 18 (Miss)

FDW3’s Attack (FDW5): 1d20+11 = 15 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 14 (Piercing)

FDW3’s Trip attempt: 1d20+11 = 25

FDW4’s STR check: 1d20+15 = 29 (Success)

FDW5’s Attack (FDW3): 1d20+11 = 31 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+11 = 21 (Crit)

Damage: 2d8+20 = 33 (Piercing) (Dead)

FDW6’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 20 (Miss)

FDW7’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 24 (Miss)

Frostmane’s AoO (FDW8): 1d20+13 = 20 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 25 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 5 (5 Resist) (Dead)

The charmed wolf got a bit of its own back against the wolf that had mauled it, but that success was short-lived, as the wolf returned that blow with another vicious mauling from its jaws, killing the wolf outright. Cautiously, it advanced towards Frostmane, wary of the white wolf’s fangs. A wariness that proved warranted, as Frostmane ignored the jaws snapping at him to rip the throat out of the wolf he’d thrown to the ground as it tried to rise.

Vestele’s Cure Moderate Wounds (Frostmane): 2d8+8 = 21

Satisfied that the wolves were cautious enough to not risk Frostmane’s fangs by jumping past him, Siora once more touched Frostmane’s back, healing his wounds. “The Lady gives you strength.”

Siora’s Caster Level Check: 1d20+8 = 20 (Success)

Damage: 4d6 = 15 (Nonlethal)

FDW1’s Will Save: 1d20+6 = 24 (Success, No Damage)

FDW7’s Will Save: 1d20+6 = 8 (Fail)

Turning her back on me, Siora grinned as she looked at the wolves. “I’ve been wanting to try this for ages, but never really had a chance, with all these close-in fights!” She unleashed a spell, and a surge of power, felt more than seen, flew from her outstretched hand, crashing into two of the wolves. The first seemed unphased, but the second staggered slightly, as though it had been hit in the face.