The Wolf who Cried Boy
| The Wolf who Cried Boy | |
|---|---|
| Date | 7/5/23 |
| Storyteller | Zoro |
| Tier | Expert, Hard |
| Player Characters | Zeal, Kit Calloway, Grist Vanafeld, Sade Mrysky |
| Rewards | 300 exp, 284 gold, 8 silver, 8 copper, Hoax-Hunter's Kit, Clockwork Recorder, Spare Wax Cylinder, Smuggler's sack (Type I), Bag of Holding (Type I) |
| Result | Success |
| Author | Zeal |
Log
Gathering at the edge of town, we set off into the forest in search of wolf tracks. It took some time, but Kit was eventually able to pick up on four sets of footprints, doubled back on to make it look like a larger group than it was. If that didn't imply a modicum of intelligence, there was also one that appeared to have a bandaged foot. Following the trail we soon found that the trail joined up with several more, one of which looked to be much larger. Following that, we soon found a group of wolves, wargs, and a dire wolf gathered up and discussing in common their recent misdeeds. One in particular spoke of attacking a caravan and eating someone, so we knew there was no point to communicating.
Despite their attempts to hide from us and warn each other of our own flanking tactics, the group was felled with ease. The dire wolf attempted to flee soon after biting me, carrying me with it to its own detriment. Not too intelligent, it seemed. Regardless, after slaying it we found that it was attempting to flee into a temple to Gozreh. Gozreh has no direct connection to sentient animals like this, but as the god of forests, wild places, animals and the such, there could be some sort of indirect connection there.
Beyond the temple we found a cave. Within we found a hiding wolf on the other side of a rock, which sade immediately dealt with. Soon after we were beset by several more wolves and wargs, alongside two dire wolves. Soon after that a winter wolf emerged, giving orders to the pack on who to focus on. First they focused Sade, then Oranges. One of the dire wolves cast barkskin, and later a cloud of burning ash. The latter was paired with the ice storm the winter wolf called upon that same spot, which killed one of their own wolves in the process. Though Sade and Oranges picked up some injuries in the process, we were able to kill all but the winter wolf, which fled deeper in the cave.
Following the winter wolf, we were ambushed by a large number of wolves and wargs, enough that we were struggling to handle them all. If not for the sturdiness of my armor and the conditioning my reckonings provided me, I would not have fared as well as I did in that cave, drawing the attention of as many as possible while covering Grist. Sade had ran ahead, forcing the winter wolf further back into the cave. Kit had kept a distance, which allowed them a position safe from a majority of the pack, though some did still cause them trouble. As the fight went on, however, the pack began to slow. their forms almost seemed to melt away, until after a few more moments of combat they returned to form as pelts of long-dead creatures. They were summoned, it seems.
After a moment to heal ourselves with potions we gave chase to the winter wolf, cornering it by what looked to be a small shack of some sort. Between its magics and breath attack it gave us some trouble and threatened Sade's life, but with excellent efforts from all four of us we were able to bring it down. Its body turned into a long-dead corpse of a halfling, draped in a winter wolf's pelt. Sade also summoned some sort of icy creature at some point before that, but it died without much regard so I've no idea what to say about it.
Inside the hovel Kit was able to find a chest hidden in a small hole, and Sade found what appeared to be the journal of our deceased halfling foe. His name had been Tartuccio Pilldergon, a druid that carried some renown back in his day. He had survived an apocalypse by living in this cave, living amongst the forest creatures until the time came for him to pass of old age. Instead of passing peacefully, it appears he had lost his mind and chose to bind his soul to a winter wolf's pelt instead. This allowed him to live on, and to summon an army of wolves to do his bidding. He was a madman, and I am glad we've put an end to his misdeeds.