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Winterborn
Chapter 17 - Wolf Den, Part 2

Chapter 17 - Wolf Den, Part 2

Initiatives

Frostmane

Werewolves

Wolves

Vestele

Siora

Melinda

Frostmane’s attack (WW1): 1d20+9 = 17 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 21 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 6 (Cold)

Frostmane’s STR check: 1d20+10 = 19

WW1’s STR check: 1d20+3 = 16 (Prone)

Frostmane was through playing around, it seemed. Once again, his jaws savaged the target in front of him. This time, he did not pick on one of the little wolves, but instead grabbed the first werewolf, the one who had survived his breath weapon earlier, and savagely tore at his flesh while throwing him to the ground. “Pathetic.”

Frostmane’s AoO (WW1): 1d20+9 = 23 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 18 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold)

Frostmane’s STR check: 1d20+10 = 24

WW1’s STR check: 1d20+3 = 17 (Prone)

Werewolf 2’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 11 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 15 (Miss)

Werewolf 2’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 20 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 15 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+11 = 19 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 21 (Miss)

The werewolf snarled, and tried to spring to his feet to continue the attack, but Frostmane’s teeth were already there to meet him. Savaged once again, the werewolf fell to the ground, looking visibly the worse for wear. His savagery apparently had a chilling effect on the other two werewolves, because while they did not hold back in their attacks, they were, somehow, even less effective than they had been before.

Wolf 6’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 4 (Miss)

Wolf 9’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 21 (Miss)

Wolf 11’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 8 (Miss)

Wolf 12’s Attack (Siora): 1d20+3 = 18 (Miss)

The wolves continued their assaults. Frostmane looked as though he was simply ignoring them, but I could see that the floofball was keeping a close eye on the wolves, just in case. Their jaws were nowhere near harming him, as things stood.

Not that the wolves that had slipped around him were faring any better. Vestele easily batted away one’s attempts at mauling her with her shield. Siora, however, lacked a shield, but her armor was sturdy, which allowed her to escape the wolf’s bite without injury.

Vestele’s Attack (W12): 1d20+6 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 7 (Bludgeoning)

The wolf who had the temerity to try and snap its jaws at Siora yelped in pain as Vestele’s morningstar slammed against its flank, punishing it for attacking her sister. Looking over to me, she grinned. “You go ahead and help Frostmane with the weres. We’ll take care of these two.”

Siora’s Attack (W12): 1d20+6 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 7 (Piercing) (Dead)

Siora took a step back from the fray, and unleashed another arrow. This time, she did not falter, and the arrow found its mark, sticking out between the wolf’s eyes. As it slumped to the ground, she nodded to me. “We’ll take care of things here.”

Wolf 9’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+3 = 21 (Miss)

Melinda’s Attack (WW3): 1d20+13 = 28 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4-1 = 1 (Slashing, Silver)

Hellrime Blast: 4d6 = 13 (Cold)

WW3’s Fort save: 1d20+10 = 25 (Success)

I nodded to the twins, and spread my wings. Space to fly was limited in this cave, and one of the wolves that had been fighting Frostmane almost managed to snag my heel, but I was too quick for it, and managed to get around the wolves, angling as I landed so that one of the werewolves was trapped between me and Frostmane. That werewolf became instantly aware of my presence as my silver dagger, wreathed in ice, slashed across his back. Unfortunately, it looked like the beastman shook off the secondary effects of the blast.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

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Frostmane’s attack (WW1): 1d20+9 = 18 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 20 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

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

Frostmane pounced upon the fallen werewolf, his jaws once more closing on the creature. This time, when he brought his toothed maw up, he ripped out the werewolf’s throat. Even as he looked for his next target, the werewolf shrunk down into his human form, a clear sign he was dead.

Werewolf 2’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 13 (Miss)

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

Werewolf 2’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 19 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Melinda): 1d20+9 = 20 (Miss)

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

Werewolf 3’s Bite Attack: 1d20+5 = 23 (Miss)

The werewolves grew desperate at the fall of one of their own. One clawed desperately at Frostmane, hoping to, somehow, get his claws in the wolf, almost succeeding at one point. The other, the one I had slashed across the back, turned its gaze on me. He came closer to hitting me than his companion did to hitting Frostmane, but I was still able to dance out of the path of his claws and fangs.

Wolf 6’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 18 (Miss)

Wolf 9’s Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+3 = 7 (Miss)

Wolf 12’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 5 (Miss)

The wolves were clearly losing heart for the fight. Two snapped at Frostmane, and the other at Vestele, but they were paltry attempts, at best. If we hadn’t been invading their den, I don’t doubt that they would have tried to flee by now.

Vestele’s Attack (W11): 1d20+6 = 16 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 9 (Bludgeoning)

Siora’s Attack (W11): 1d20+5 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 7 (Piercing) (+1 Vile) (Dead)

The twins came through with their promise, as first Vestele’s morningstar slammed into the wolf’s skull, stunning it, and then Siora, who had switched between her bow and her rapier, moved forward, thrusting deeply into the wolf’s side. The wolf fell to the ground, and didn’t move. Siora breathed out, and said, “This is a lot harder than it looks when watching the city guard practice.”

Werewolf 3’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+9 = 15 (Miss)

Melinda’s Attack (WW3): 1d20+13 = 33 (Crit)

Confirmation: 1d20+13 = 18 (Confirmed Crit)

Damage: 2d4-2 = 4 (Piercing, Silver)

Hellrime Blast: 4d6 = 16 (Cold)

WW3’s Fort save: 1d20+10 = 27 (Success)

I didn’t take kindly to people trying to kill me. The Werewolf tried to claw me again, as I charged another blow, but I was able to dance out of the way of the blow. In return, I was able to duck low, under his guard, and thrust upwards with my knife, slipping the charged blade between his ribs. He wasn’t dead, not yet, but I could tell that he was hurting bad. Still, I couldn’t help but laughing at Siora’s statement. “Well, we’ll just have to ask one of those guardsmen to give you a nice, thorough training session, then. I’m sure you can get them to make it nice and hard for you.”

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Frostmane’s attack (WW2): 1d20+9 = 17 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 23 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 3 (Cold)

Frostmane’s STR check: 1d20+10 = 23

WW2’s STR check: 1d20+3 = 14 (Prone)

Frostmane turned his jaws upon another of the werewolves. Fang met flesh, and a jerk of the white wolf’s head sent the werewolf to the ground, as though he were nothing but a rag doll. “Hush now, pups, and let’s finish this.”

Frostmane’s AoO (WW2): 1d20+9 = 19 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 23 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 4 (Cold)

Frostmane’s STR check: 1d20+10 = 27

WW2’s STR check: 1d20+3 = 7 (Prone)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 18 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Claw Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+9 = 16 (Miss)

Werewolf 3’s Bite Attack (Frostmane): 1d20+5 = 11 (Miss)

The werewolf attempted to stand, only to get thrown back to the ground. Snarling, eyes filled with range, the warrior got back to his feet once again. Frostmane simply chuffed in amusement at the werewolf’s actions.

His companion continued attacking me. Dancing side to side, I avoided a claw from either side, and then bent backwards to avoid the snapping jaws. Too easy. It was simply too easy to avoid these attacks.

Wolf 6’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 9 (Miss)

Wolf 9’s Attack (Vestele): 1d20+3 = 8 (Miss)

The wolves took Frostmane’s momentary distraction to break away from the winter wolf, and turned towards the twins. The two wolves focused on Vestele, clearly hoping to bring her down, and get around her. But the priestess stood firm, and neither wolf could get past her shield.

Vestele’s Attack (W6): 1d20+6 = 14 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 2 (Bludgeoning)

Vestele, still sheltering behind her shield, lashed out with her morningstar, catching the wolf on its shoulder. It was a grazing blow, and lightly struck, but it was a blow nonetheless. “How many wolves are in this pack? Surely there isn’t enough food around here for all these wolves without the townsfolk having trouble with them!”

Siora’s Attack (W6): 1d20+5 = 23 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 7 (Piercing) (+1 Vile)

Siora’s rapier thrust forward once again, stabbing deep into the wolf’s flank. “Maybe the werewolves brought some food with them? There are definitely a lot of mouths to feed here, especially if they only eat meat.”

Werewolf 3’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+9 = 19 (Miss)

Melinda’s Attack (WW3): 1d20+13 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4-1 = 1 (Piercing, Silver)

Hellrime Blast: 4d6 = 15 (Cold) (Dead)

Again, the werewolf in front of me attempted to interrupt my magic. Again, he failed, as I danced to the side. My silver blade, wreathed in icy blue power, stabbed forward, piercing the werewolf’s heart. He was already turning back to his human form as his corpse slumped to the ground.

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Frostmane’s attack (WW2): 1d20+9 = 17 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+15 = 28 (Piercing) (10 Resisted)

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

The last werewolf did not have long to mourn his fellow’s fate. Frostmane’s jaws snapped shut on its throat with a squelching sound of blood and ripping flesh. He was dead before he could even yelp out in pain.

Vestele’s AoO (W6): 1d20+6 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+1 = 8 (Dead)

Siora’s AoO (W9): 1d20+5 = 13 (Miss)

Without the werewolves to drive them, the wolves broke. Vestele and Siora lashed out with their weapons, as the wolves attempted to run around them, and flee out the entrance to the cave. The uninjured wolf succeeded in its goal, but the injured wolf fell under a final strike to its skull from Vestele’s morningstar.

Your party has defeated or driven off:

Werewolf Warrior x3

Wolf x12

Melinda gains 1500 XP.

Frostmane gains 563 XP.

Vestele gains 563 XP.

Siora gains 563 XP.

I took a deep breath as the notification came to me that we’d gained experience. With that done, I frowned, and looked around the room we were in. “This doesn’t make sense. There may be plenty of room here, but you’re right, Vestele, this seems to be too many wolves for a small area like this corner of the Moonwood. It is like all the wolves of the forest were concentrated here, which is foolish. Even if wolves can travel faster than humans, there’s simply no way that the wolves could hunt across the entire forest, and still return to their lair here at the end of the day.”

Frostmane chuffed, and said, “There are still the dire wolves and the leader of these werewolves to deal with.” As he spoke, he moved to look down the cave that curved to the south. “There are more wolves this way. The leader is probably in the back of the caves.”

I reached over to scratch the white wolf behind the ears. “Then we should continue on. Everyone be ready. The normal wolves aren’t a threat, but they’ll attack all the same, because this is their lair. Especially if there are pups around.”