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Free at last from the confines of the cage, you stare up into the night sky, feeling the brush of the wind against your skin mixed in with sweat trickling down your back. And for a brief moment you are unsure what to do next, until the image of Ganrel appeared within your mind's eye. The cowardly werewolf lounging easily inside the safety of his camp, laughing at you, mocking you with his golden eyes.
Fury and rage course through your veins like a red hot dagger, the need for vengeance coiling deep inside of you and while a part of you had come to peace with Ganrel's betrayal since that is what you might have done were you in his position, but the act itself had stung much more than you had liked to admit. You had let down your guard and Ganrel had pounced upon it, betraying you the instant an opportunity had presented itself. He would need to pay for that and pay dearly.
Your skills may suffice against Ganrel alone, but with his whole pack behind him, you would be cut down within an instant of reaching the camp. You could of course rely upon your magic, but much of your mana had already been drained away and there was still the chance you would come across Balgrum.
Using your own life force to power the spells could be dangerous, especially with the amount required to both protect yourself and keep up a steady rein of attacks, but in the end would it really be worth it?
Anger seeping away, you watch the stars glimmer to life in the sky and wonder if you were allowing your anger to hinder your judgement. The werewolves were no longer a threat to you, you could leave this place far behind and continue your journey, there was no need to return and face them. If you traveled all night, you may even be able to reach the Nameless Islands to the north west.
But as your feet start to move in that direction and unbidden thought comes to you. What would happen to the werewolves once Balgrum discovered the sacrifice was missing? Would the giant bring his warriors down upon the werewolf camp in retribution? And what of Ceeren? She had not played a part in this deception, she was far too young to have known what would happen. Would she suffer as well?
You gnash your teeth in frustration at your indecision.
1. Do you return to the camp and try to ally yourself with the werewolves and try to lure out Balgrum?
In the end you find yourself unable to turn your back on the werewolves, despite their eagerness to use you as a sacrificial offering. It did not feel right to abandon them for an act most creatures would have done if given the same choice.
With that thought upper most in your mind you turn your steps back in the direction of the camp and soon find yourself surrounded and dragged before Ganrel. Shocked and surprised by your escape, you quickly explain to him your plan of attack and your willingness to help rid his people of the giants that have been casting a wide shadow over them. At first Ganrel is suspicious of your intentions and doubts your ability to defeat a giant, until you use a bit of magic to light up the night. (- 1 Mana)
Plans are soon set into motion and a dozen warriors follow you back to the cage where you prepare an ambush for whoever comes. The wait is long, but soon a red giant approaches. Relatively young in age and only half grown, the giant is armored in a haulberk, pot helm and armed with a large mace.
Upon entering the clearing the trap is sprung, and nets are cast over the giant, tangling the warrior's arms and feet, before the werewolves pounce out to tear the young giant to pieces in a matter of seconds, their wickedly sharp claws tearing the life out of the creature.
The battle is brief and bloody, but that was only the small first step and the easiest part of the plan. With the help of the werewolves you hack off the giant's head and set it atop a boulder which you roll into the clearing beside the cage, a clear message to Balgrum that the werewolves would no longer serve him.
With little time to waste, they return to camp, where Ganrel has been busy preparing his warriors for battle, young werewolves not yet trained in how to use their claws have hidden themselves up high in the trees, their hunting bows clutched tight in their fingers. The women and children have been moved to a cave further along the shoreline, where they store their food, and all but a handful of warriors take shelter within the forest ready to spill out and join the fight if needed.
You, alongside Ganrel and a few of his best fighters stand in the center of the camp to face the giants head on, a troubling tactic that could either prove extremely advantageous or fail utterly.
It's not long before Balgrum arrives, the ground quaking at their approach, the great red giant appearing with half a dozen armored warriors in toe, all of them considerably shorter than he. Balgrum gazes at the small force before him suspiciously, his intelligent eyes closing upon you with a mixture of curiosity and weariness.
You worry that the giant might not take the bait, when Balrgum charges forward with a powerful cry the very land rumbling with a loud groan.
Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, you draw upon the magical energy within yourself and feel your flesh become feverishly hot to the touch, the magical energy seeping through your body to surround you in a soft blue aura. The power of your life force flowing through your veins filling you with both pain and pleasure. (The next choice will depend upon the amount of mana you're willing to expend upon this battle.)
(Click here if you wish to only use 18 mana?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Ganrel commands the werewolves to hold until the giants are close enough, before falling back to the beach. There you quickly cast, shield, dagger and awareness spell upon yourself. (-13 Damage + 15 Resilience added)
Ready to fight, you hold your ground, before racing forward along with your allies to dodge in between the feet of the giants, one of werewolves killed from a wild swing from a club as you pass the huge bestial creatures and reach the other side.
Holding your hands out, you release two bolts of fire setting alight the oil they'd placed around the beach head, the fire catching hold on the debris and wood to encircle the giants in a wall of flame, the archers leaping out from hiding to fire arrow after arrow into the beasts, who growl and try to move through the flames before falling back. Having learnt from Ganrel that the giants were terrified of water and couldn't swim, you decided to drive them out into the sea. However despite everything going to plan, Balgrum seems to be undisturbed by the trap he has placed himself within.
Worried, you raise your hands to release another stream of firebolts, but your mana has been completely depleted. Hoping and praying the archers were enough to push the creatures back, you watch as Balgrum ignored the rain of arrows, before bellowing at his fellow warriors to stop their panic fueled rampage. Their fear subdued, the great red giant charged forward leaping through the flames to meet the werewolves in battle.
Burnt and blackened the red giant plowed into the werewolves with a vengeance, his hammer strikes crushing and killing any that dared to get too close. Inspired by their chieftain's feat, the rest of the giants leapt through the flames to join the fight. And for a moment you fear all your planning had been for naught, when two giants began to scream and dance in circles, their shaggy unkempt hair and fur set alight by the flames that quickly engulf their whole bodies, causing them to writhe in agony.
Letting out a cry of joy, you rush forward to join the battle, your feet crossing the sand swiftly to hack at the heels of the giants, while arrows whistle by to thunk into their joints and eyes taking down another giant.
Face to face with Balgrum, you wrap the cloak around your body and rush forward to meet him, stabbing your enchanted dagger again and again, and while the weapon is quite small, it proves to be extremely deadly, slicing through the giant's thick flesh.
Infuriated by your attacks, Balgrum attempts to crush you underfoot, but you roll out of the way and press your assault, when a mighty swing from his hammer sends you flying high in the air to crash into the sand, if not for the cloak and sand, you fear you might have been killed, but instead you feel mostly stunned by the blow.
Picking yourself up, you continue the fight whittling the giants down one by one until Balgrum is the last. Exhausted and bleeding from hundreds of wounds the great giant tries to flee, when Ganrel claws his way up the giant's back to drive his claws into his neck, ending his life.
The battle ended, you let out a sigh of relief and lie down upon the sand to rest.
Battlefield Results
- 60 Health Points
Companion Reputation, (+1 Daedalus is pleased by your actions.)
Casualties: 8 Werewolves dead, 13 wounded.
(Click here if you wish to only use 26 mana?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Ganrel commands the werewolves to hold until the giants are close enough, before falling back to the beach. There you quickly cast, shield, dagger and awareness spell upon yourself. (-13 Damage + 15 Resilience added)
Ready to fight, you hold your ground, before racing forward along with your allies to dodge in between the feet of the giants, one of werewolves killed from a wild swing from a club as you pass the huge bestial creatures and reach the other side.
Holding your hands out, you release two bolts of fire setting alight the oil they'd placed around the beach head, the fire catching hold on the debris and wood to encircle the giants in a wall of flame, the archers leaping out from hiding to fire arrow after arrow into the beasts, who growl and try to move through the fire before falling back. Having learnt from Ganrel that the giants were terrified of water and couldn't swim, you decided to drive them out into the sea. However despite everything going to plan, Balgrum seems to be undisturbed by the trap he has placed himself within.
Worried, you raise your hands and release two more firebolts aiming for the nearest giant, the firebolts striking the massive warrior on the chin and neck, setting his beard aflame. The giant curses and beats at the flames frantically, before being cut down by well placed arrows to the eyes, dropping the warrior into the sand.
Your mana now depleted, you hope and pray the archers would be enough to push the rest of the creatures back into the sea, but as you watch you see Balgrum ignore the rain of arrows and bellow at his fellow warriors to stop their panic fueled rampage. Their fear subdued, the great red giant charged forward leaping through the flames to meet the werewolves in battle.
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Burnt and blackened the red giant plowed into the werewolves with a vengeance, his hammer strikes crushing and killing any that dared to get too close. Inspired by their chieftain's feat, the rest of the giants leapt through the flames to join the fight. And for a moment you fear all your planning has been for naught, when two giants began to scream and dance in circles, their shaggy unkempt hair and fur set alight by flames that quickly engulf their whole bodies, causing them to writhe in agony.
Letting out a cry of joy, you rush forward to join the battle, your feet crossing the sand swiftly to hack at the heels of the giants, while arrows whistle by to thunk into their joints and eyes taking down another giant.
Face to face with Balgrum, you wrap the cloak around your body and rush forward to meet him, stabbing your enchanted dagger again and again, and while the weapon is quite small, it proves to be extremely deadly, slicing through the giant's thick flesh.
Infuriated by your attacks, Balgrum attempts to crush you underfoot, but you roll out of the way and press your assault, when a mighty swing from his hammer sends you flying high in the air to crash into the sand, if not for the cloak and sand, you fear you might have been killed, but instead you feel mostly stunned by the blow.
Picking yourself up, you continue the fight whittling the giants down one by one until Balgrum is the last. Exhausted and bleeding from hundreds of wounds the great giant tries to flee, when Ganrel claws his way up the giant's back to drive his claws into his neck, ending his life.
The battle ended, you let out a sigh of relief and lie down upon the sand to rest.
Battlefield Results
- 60 Health Points
Companion Reputation, (+1 Daedalus is pleased by your actions.)
Casualties: 6 Werewolves dead, 10 wounded.
(Click here if you wish to only use 42 mana?)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Ganrel commands the werewolves to hold until the giants are close enough, before falling back to the beach. There you quickly cast, shield, dagger and awareness spell upon yourself. (-13 Damage + 15 Resilience added)
Ready to fight, you hold your ground, before racing forward along with your allies to dodge in between the feet of the giants, one of werewolves killed from a wild swing from a club as you pass the huge bestial creatures and reach the other side.
Holding your hands out, you release two bolts of fire setting alight the oil they'd placed around the beach head, the fire catching hold on the debris and wood to encircle the giants in a wall of flame, the archers leaping out from hiding to fire arrow after arrow into the beasts, who growl and try to move through the fire before falling back. Having learnt from Ganrel that the giants were terrified of water and couldn't swim, you decided to drive them out into the sea. However despite everything going to plan, Balgrum seems to be undisturbed by the trap he has placed himself within.
Worried, you raise your hands and release two more firebolts aiming for the nearest giant, the firebolts striking the massive warrior on the chin and neck, setting his beard aflame. The giant cursed and beat at the flames frantically, before being cut down by well placed arrows to the eyes, the large warrior collapsing into the sand.
Closing your hands together, you focus your attention on Balgrum next, eyes flaring with a magical blue light, you let loose a barrage of firebolts that burst forth from your fingertips. The firebolts somehow feeding off of your energy to increase in size and power, blasting Balgrum backwards, burning his flesh, and turning him into a beacon of flame, the fire eating away the great warrior's flesh as he slowly was burnt to death, giving off the intoxicating scent of cooking meat.
Terrified by the death of their chieftain, the giants broke and fled towards the sea, but unable to swim the giants soon drown in the ocean beneath the weight of their armor.
Mana utterly depleted, and mind completely exhausted, you lie down upon the sand to rest.
Battlefield Results
Companion Reputation, (+2 Daedalus is pleased by your actions.)
Casualties: 1 Werewolves dead, 0 wounded.
(Click here if you've lost only a single werewolf and have the Stone of Galdispar and are willing to use it. Quest Item Required.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Loot
Despite your exhaustion, you pull yourself up and walk over to where they have laid out the body of their fallen brother the werewolves gathered up around the body in a loose circle and see Ganrel's amber colored eyes fill with fatigue and a deep sadness, his shoulders slumped.
Placing a arm upon his back, you pass him by and kneel in front of the mangled corpse, before reaching out a hand to touch the dead warrior with the Stone of Galdispar, releasing a pure and ethereal white light that surges out from the stone to cover the werewolf in a strange glowing aura. The wounds on his body close up, bones mend themselves, and life returns to his yellow eyes which flutter open as if awakening from a deep slumber.
The warrior utterly bewildered, immediately scrambles to his feet in surprise and stares around in disbelief.
Cheers soon sweep through the watching werewolves, tears of joy spilling down their cheeks, for they were free and they had all survived. (New Title Gained: Legend)
Ganrel unable to fully express his gratitude to you for what you've done for his people offers you a place by his fireside whenever you should wish it and gives you all the gold his people have collected overtime, claiming they no longer had need of it.(+1,600 gold pieces)
You spend several more days with the werewolves, who for the first time have an opportunity to build a home for themselves and do what you can to help them start a new life.(+50 Health Points)
And when at last you decide it's time to leave, Panella fills a sack full of Spiced Bread for you to take with you on your journey and Ceeren waves goodbye. (+ 6 Spice Bread, which offer +10 Health Points and+3 Mana. This can only be eaten once per scenario without incurring the penalty of -20 Resilience for the duration of the scenario due to the strong effects of the flame mushroom. You will still however receive Health and Mana each time it's consumed, no matter the amount eaten.)
Waving farewell, you stride north along the shoreline, the werewolves smiling warmly as you pass them by, and lift your gaze up to the next horizon, your quest not yet complete.
(Click here if you've lost more than one werewolf and have the Stone of Galdispar and are willing to use it. Quest Item Required.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Loot
Despite your exhaustion, you pull yourself up and walk over to where they have laid out the bodies of their fallen brethren the werewolves gathered around the bodies in a loose circle and see Ganrel's amber colored eyes fill with fatigue and a deep sadness, his shoulders slumped downard. With the power of the stone, you could save one of them, but who?
It is then that you see the body of Ceeren, her face scrunched up in a silent scream that looked ready to burst from her lips, her small chest crushed inward by something heavy. The young she-wolf had probably come out of hiding to watch the fight.
You quickly move to her side, Ganrel following closely behind you, his golden eyes turning to deep sorrow at the sight of his daughter, a groan escaping his lips.
Heart beating rapidly, you kneel in front of her, and reach out a hand to touch her with the Stone of Galdispar, releasing a pure and ethereal white light that surges out from the stone to cover the her in a strange glowing aura. The wounds on her body close up and her bones move back into place, her lifeless wide yellow eyes blinking open as if awakening from a deep slumber. "What happened?" she asked.
Wordlessly, Ganrel swept her up into his arms and hugged her close to his chest, tears streaming down from his cheeks, to join those of the werewolves around them who wept as well, their voices blanketing the sky with their shouts.
Despite being unable to save no one else, Ganrel seems pleased to at least have gotten his daughter back, although there is still much heartache in the camp at the loss of so many of their warriors. Unable to fully express his gratitude to you for what you've done for him, he offers you a place by his fireside whenever you should wish it and gives you all the gold his people have collected overtime, claiming they no longer had need of it.(+1,600 gold pieces)
You spend several more days with the werewolves, who for the first time have an opportunity to build a home for themselves and you do what you can to help them start a new life.(+50 Health Points)
And when at last you decide it's time to leave, Panella fills a sack full of Spiced Bread for you to take with you on your journey and Ceeren waves goodbye. (+ 6 Spice Bread, which offer +10 Health Points and+3 Mana. This can only be eaten once per scenario without incurring the penalty of -20 Resilience for the duration of the scenario due to the strong effects of the flame mushroom. You will still however receive Health and Mana each time it's consumed, no matter the amount eaten.)
Waving farewell, you stride north along the shoreline, the werewolves smiling warmly as you pass them by, and lift your gaze up to the next horizon, your quest not yet complete.
(Click here if you've lost only a single werewolf, but do not have the Stone of Galdispar or do not wish to use it.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Loot
Despite your exhaustion, you pull yourself up and walk over to where they have laid out the body of their fallen brother the werewolves gathered up around the dead in a loose circle and see Ganrel's amber colored eyes fill with fatigue and a deep sadness.
Moving to stand by his side, Ganrel throws back his head and lets out a howl to the sky that is soon joined by those around, their voices mixing as one to create a somber heart aching note that was so full of sorrow and grief it would have brought any who heard it to tears.
Their mourning done, they took his body reverently and gave it to the sea, praying to the Lightbearer to guide him home, where he could be reunited with his people at long last.
While saddened by the loss of a single warrior, Ganrel is deeply grateful to you for freeing his people and offers you a place by his fireside whenever you should wish it and gives you all the gold his people have collected overtime, claiming they no longer had need of it.(+1,600 gold pieces)
You spend several more days with the werewolves, who for the first time have an opportunity to build a home for themselves and you do what you can to help them start a new life.(+50 Health Points)
And when at last you decide it's time to leave, Panella fills a sack full of Spiced Bread for you to take with you on your journey and Ceeren waves goodbye to you. (+ 6 Spice Bread, which offer +10 Health Points and+3 Mana. This can only be eaten once per scenario without incurring the penalty of -20 Resilience for the duration of the scenario due to the strong effects of the flame mushroom. You will still however receive Health and Mana each time it's consumed, no matter how much is eaten.)
Waving farewell, you stride north along the shore, the werewolves smiling warmly as you pass them by, and lift your gaze up to the next horizon, your quest not yet complete.
(Click here if you've lost more than one werewolf and do not have the Stone of Galdispar or do not wish to use it.)
Spoiler: Spoiler
Despite your exhaustion, you pull yourself up and walk over to where they have laid out the bodies of their fallen brethren the werewolves gathered up around the dead in a loose circle and see Ganrel's amber colored eyes fill with fatigue and a deep sadness.
Moving to stand by his side, you look across the bodies of the dead and feel a wave of shock hit you at the sight of Ceeren, her face scrunched up in a silent scream that looked ready to burst from her lips, her small chest crushed inward by something heavy.
Ganrel throws back his head in despair and lets out a howl to the sky that is soon joined by those around him, their voices mixing as one to create a heart achinly somber note that was so full of sorrow and mourning it would have brought any who heard it to tears.
After a long silence, they reverently took up the bodies and gave them to the sea, praying to the Lightbearer to guide them home, where they could be reunited with their people at long last.
Panella clutched her daughter's body in her arms, tears slipping down her cheeks refusing to let Ceeren go, before Ganrel gently took her by the hand and led her to the sea, together they bent down and released her into the ocean, Panella's sobs of pain echoing in the air.
Grief stricken by the death of so many, Ganrel and Panella go their separate ways to grieve over their beloved daughter.
You spend several more days with the werewolves, who for the first time have an opportunity to build a home for themselves and you do what you can to help them start a new life.(+50 Health Points)
And when at last you decide it's time to leave, you stride north along the shoreline, the werewolves staring at you with bleak expressions, and lift your gaze up to the next horizon, your quest not yet complete.