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With Ceeren tugging lightly at your arm, you hurriedly trudge along behind her through the muddy ground that had been recently soaked in rain. The werewolves eyeing you up and down, their razor sharp claws half raised as though ready to slice you apart at the slightest threat from you.

Young werewolves with grey and white fur come out of hiding to peek at you from behind their mothers and fathers, their wide yellow eyes full of curiosity and wonder. Ceeren delighted by all the attention she was receiving, smiled and waved at her friends as she passed them by. Only for her expression to darken.

Waiting for them with arms crossed over his chest was a scarred, grizzled warrior with dark grey fur, a slim waist and wide shoulders. The instant you come face to face with the Grey One, you knew you were facing an experienced fighter that had survived many battles, the scars telling the tales of his many encounters and weary eyes showing the caution of those who'd learnt not to trust.

With Daedalus strangely silent for the moment, you move forward to greet the warrior and do your best to imitate Ceeren, who bowed her head down before lifting it back up. "Father, I've brought you a friend, who seeks our help."

The older werewolf growled, his face hot with rage barely held in check. "What you've brought Ceeren is a stranger!"

Ceeren quailed at the harshness of his voice and took a step back, her emotions flowing so easily across her face that for a moment you fear she would begin to cry.

Quacking with fear, she opened her mouth to plead her case, but you quickly intervene. "I did not wish to disturb your peace Grey One, but I do need your help.I need information and supplies. As soon as I have both I will leave. I swear I do not wish to bring you or any of your people any harm."

Steel claws flashed in the air to rest against your throat, the cold metal feeling icy against your skin, a thin trickle of blood sliding down your throat. "You'd best remember your promise then outlander for we do not tolerate liars here, now ask your questions and be off with you. I have much to prepare for and it seems my daughter has failed to fulfill her duty, so I must send others to attend to her task."

Ceeren her shoulders slumped with shame and embarrassment, feebly kicked at the dirt at her feet, her ears sloped downward looking utterly forlorn.

Anger draining from his face, Ceeren's father cupped her chin in between his claws and looked up into her bright golden colored eyes with a small gentle smile upon his lips. "Go, go tell mother we have a guest."

Eyebrows lifted upwards in surprise, Ceeren darted away with a gleeful smile plastered across her lips as she raced along the muddy beach. The old warrior watching her go with a wistful expression, that soon hardened once more. "Speak warrior, I have much to do and little time to do it."

Daedalus squirmed at the back your mind, whispering questions, the former mage extremely intrigued by the presence of werewolves on Gilgathan. Shushing him silently, you ask, "How have you survived in this place?"

Ganrel chuckled at the question exposing elongated teeth, before waving for you to follow him. He leads you further along the shoreline where you see warriors going through their battle forms by the sea. The werewolves leaping and striking each other with such speed and dexterity, that if were not for the fact they were using the back of their claws, they would most certainly have killed each other.

Ganrel watched the training exercises for a moment before returning his attention back towards you. "You want to know how we survive here. This is how survive. Our young are taught to hunt, fight and track, and each day we move our camp from place to place to confuse our enemies. Even our most sacred ritual the Break of Dawn is done to remove our scent from the wind, but even that is sometimes not enough. This place is our home, but it is also our grave. Our punishment for breaking the laws of our peoples."

Disappointed by the answer, you catch sight of two warriors gracefully moving across the sand before pouncing forward to meet each other in a swirl of dust, their movements swift and sure, claws meeting again and again to create sparks that floated in the air.

Daedalus his curiosity unsated, spoke again, "Ask him what his punishment was for?Ask him." Muttering underneath your breath, you reply, "Why don't you just ask him?"

Ganrel shoots you a strange look as though you've lost your mind, but you act as though nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

"I can't ask him that, we can't allow too many people to learn of my existence. Who knows what intentions these people would have for me or you?"said Daedalus.

"You were fine with revealing yourself to Ceeren," you whisper accusingly.

"That was different, I could sense no darkness within her, I am certain she will not betray you. He however, I see spots of darkness within him. You cannot trust him."

"Who are you speaking to?"asked Ganrel.

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You raise your hands up innocently. "No one, just thinking out loud, makes it easier to plan things."

Ganrel nodded his head, but you can tell, he does not believe your words, the grizzled werewolf showing a gleam of interest in his amber colored eyes that quickly disappears. "Come then, Panella will have prepared a meal for us by now."

Nodding your head, you let Ganrel lead the way, both of you silent for the moment. Daedalus words rebound back and forth across your mind as you travel further inland to a small stand of trees.

Panella, a tall, willowy werewolf with light grey fur greets you with a warm smile and beckons you forward. While Ceeren excitedly explains how she'd met you in the forest, in between bites of what looked to be some kind of dried brown bread.

Taking a seat beside Cereen, Panella hands you a plate covered with a pieces of cooked fish and brown bread. You take a sniff at both and hear no warning from Daedalus, so take a bite from each, the spices she'd put in the food shoot a burst a flavor through your mouth. "What kind of bread is this? It tastes delicious." (+10 Health Points +3 Mana)

Panella smiled again, clearly pleased by the compliment, giving her a certain beauty that you could have found alluring, if not for the presence of her mate, who snorted and took a seat beside her. "We call it Spice Bread, our people harvest it from the Flame mushrooms that dot this land and warm it beneath the fire to bring it's flavors to life."

The bread had a rich texture that filled the belly and warmed the insides, giving you a giddy feeling that made you slightly lightheaded.

Having had your fill, you relax by the tree and for the first time in many days you feel safe here, though in truth you know it to be far from safe.

"You may rest here with us to tonight and tomorrow you will leave,"said Ganrel.

3. Do you call upon the magic of the cloak to protect you while you sleep?(Shield Spell -5 Mana)

Having barely had any time to recover from your ordeal at sea, you decide the wisest course of action would be to rest while you still can. You spend a little time speaking more with Ceeren to learn more about the werewolves, before casting a shield spell over yourself and resting within the shade of tree.

Daedalus whispers to you to at least move away from their camp, but your eyelids feel so heavy, you soon drop off into a heavy slumber, and as you sleep you dream of your missing friends, when you're woken by a strange noise.

Blinking your eyes, you look up and see Ganrel towering over you, the large werewolf dragging you across the rough and rocky terrain, his claws digging into your flesh to draw blood.

Pale with shock, you try to free yourself from his grip, but for some reason your body refuses to work. Daedalus screams at you to stand up and fight, and after a few seconds you feel your strength return to your body.The magic of the cloak working to combat the sleep spell that had been cast upon you.

Ganrel looks down at you with a sad smile. "I did not wish to wake you, but perhaps it is better this way. I fear I have lied to wanderer. For many years my people have tried to make a life for ourselves here, away from the Isles of Neeven from where we were first banished, but the giants would never let us be. Day and night they would come to take our people, until one night we'd had enough. We had thought to battle the giants to our very last breathe, only for Bagrum the Bold to offer us our lives in exchange for daily sacrifices. We would be his hunters, gathering up prey for him to devour and he would protect us from those who would dare enter his territory.

It is a heavy burden my people bear, to fight and die or be Bagrum's pets. I hope you will understand, we do what we must do to survive as you would no doubt know."

You smile at Ganrul's last words and leap forward to hammer a fist into his jaw, the werewolf reeling back with a shocked expression, before rushing forward to meet you, his claws speeding towards your throat.

Avoiding the slice, you roll across the ground and hammer an elbow into the beast's calve, causing him to howl in pain, before returning to your feet.

You try to finish him off with another strike to skull, but the wily werewolf is far too fast, dodging and ghosting forward to slam the back of his claws against you, meeting the shield you'd placed around yourself.

Ganrel's expression twisted into one of surprise then understanding as he shifted stances to go on the offensive once more, the experienced warrior a complete blur of movement as he struck again and again.

(Click here if you wish to summon the Enchanted Dagger? -2 Mana)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Patiently you wait for Ganrel to come forward once more, before pouncing to meet him, the enchanted dagger materializing in your palm to stab him in the chest. The blade sinking deep, causing Ganrel to growl, rip out the dagger and toss you through the air to slam hard into the dust. The wind driven right out of you and before you have a chance to move, you feel a hard blow to the back of your skull, shattering the shield spell to knock you half unconscious.

Dizzy you try to get back up on shaky legs, when the werewolf takes hold of you by the feet once more and drags you towards the cage made of wood collected from the forest and shoves you inside. Slamming shut the door behind you. "I should not have underestimated you stranger, but I fear it is far too late for you. Bagrum will come and you will die."

Perhaps that might be true, if so you would not die alone, the wound you'd inflicted upon Ganrel had been deep, he'd be lucky to survive the night.

(Click here if you do not wish to summon the Enchanted Dagger?)

Spoiler: Spoiler

Patiently you wait for Ganrel to come forward once more, before pouncing to meet him, your fist crashing hard into his chest. The big werewolf took the blow in his stride and delivered a strike of his own to shatter the shield surrounding you, dropping you into the dust.

Legs shaking, you struggle back up to your feet, when you feel a hard blow to the back of your skull, causing a flash of white light.

Dizzy you try to get back up, when the werewolf takes hold of you by the feet once more and drags you towards a cage made of wood collected from the forest and shoves you inside. Slamming shut the door behind you. "I should not have underestimated you stranger, but I fear it is far too late for you. Bagrum will come and you will die."

Battlefield Results

-35 Health Points

Companion Reputation, (+4 Daedulus is impressed by your battle prowess.)

Loot

None