Chapter 24, in which the Adventurers fight a lot of wolves

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay took the orcs infinite rune pack and they sailed off.

Vodok
"Infinite rune pack? Bah... Ain't such a thing..." Vodivir said, suspecting the orc just said that to be able to tag along to the library.

They were already halfway to their goal, high above the Kazordoon mountain. Vodok had started packing up some food and was eating. After he stuffed himself full he regretted that he had eaten, he started to feel weird. Then he started spilling beer over the whole carpet.

Red Un
Red Un sighed.

"Vodok, unless ya want a speedy jorney starting at the edge of the carpet and ending on the ground, don't eat when flyin'."

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay looked in the pack. There were 4 heavy magic missiles, 1 fire field, 2 light magic missiles, 3 great fireballs, and 2 sudden deaths. "Oh well" thought Fire Aclay. "What’s at the ice islands?"

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay looked down at all the dead bodies.

Red Un
"Ya mean at Vega? The library, hopefully. That's probably why they let a storm blow up around the island..."

They were getting close to the other side of The Big Old One (Kazordoon).

Tujex
Tujex sighed and laid back on the huge carpet that carried them all. "Who knew something like this actually existed?" he asked himself as he started up into the sky. He looked to Fire Aclay who seemed a bit disappointed with his "infinite rune bag". Tujex chuckled a little. "What's wrong Fire? Not quite what you expected is it?" Tujex burst into a hysterical laughter, hoping Fire wouldn't take it to seriously. Tujex just needed something to entertain himself, and it obviously didn't take much.

Vodok
The carpet owner seemed relieved when Vodok packed together. The beer stains weren't permanent. The carpet slowed down and was now lowering itself to ground level.

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay didn’t take it hard. He knew it was absurd to think of an infinite rune pack. They dropped off at the designated spot and got off the carpet. Fire Aclay received a sparrow note. The note read,

Dear Fire Aclay,

We have just received word of spies in the forest.
They will not be a threat if you keep on the main roads or a large city.

Your friend,

Rukell.

Red Un
Red Un read over the shoulder of Fire.

"Well, we ain't gonna be on the main roads, and our goal ain't a large city. Better watch out for these 'spies' of yours. Ya know anythin' about them?"

Fire Aclay
"Only from this note", said Fire Aclay. "But which way will this journey take us? I mean we’re trying to get to the ice islands and we just touched down from the carpet." Fire Aclay looked around and felt no one was watching him so he was content. "Maybe they also found out about your quest."

Red Un
"Well, according to the carpet-flyer, the only carpet-flyer crazy enough to go to the Ice Islands during the current storm lives in the Outlaw Camp. That's why we must head there."

Fire Aclay
"Got it. But the Outlaw Camp is full of (gulp) outlaws and how are we gonna sneak in with spies on the loose?" asked Fire Aclay.

Tujex
Tujex stepped in between the two. "Well if it’s just getting INTO the Outlaw Camp you're worried about, I'm a welcome member in the Camp." Tujex said proudly. He hadn't done much of anything to aid them in their quest, but his time to shine would soon come. "You know how hard it is to make a name for yourself there? How many people I had to fight?" Just the thought of his past adventures in the Outlaw Camp sent shivers down his spine. "Anyways, let’s get going!"

Vodok
Vodivir started walking, and Vodok was already exhausted. But Vodok managed to drag his legs forward, but it was hard... "When d'we rest...?" Vodok asked Red Un.

Fire Aclay
"Well I guess we could set up camp here if someone stands guard", said Fire Aclay.

Red Un
"Ah, we'll spend the night in the Camp, and find the carpet-flyer in the mornin'."

Red Un looked at Vodok.

"I know they have a bar there. With beer..."

Vodok
"No... Not in the middle o' Kazordoon Pass... Just b'fore 'e bridge..." Vodok said, deciding it would be easier to simply chuck along the backpacks. He changed his mind when he heard something crack.

Fire Aclay
"What was that?" asked Fire Aclay.

Fire Aclay
As Fire Aclay looked at what snapped under Vodoks foot he though of how he would keep safe in the Outlaw Camp.

Red Un
"Okay, if all that is finished, let's get movin' before the sun settles. I for one don't wanna arrive in the Camp in the middle 'o the night..."

Fire Aclay
"Right. Coming right with you!" said Fire Aclay.


Red Un
Red Un looked around.

"Well, we're gonna have to go dangerously near the Plains of Havoc to reach the Camp, so be ready for...well, just be ready."

Fire Aclay
"Aww wasn’t the sun setting 2 seconds ago?" commented Fire Aclay with a confused look.

Tujex
"Quit being difficult," Tujex muttered as he strolled past Fire Aclay.

Red Un
Red Un led the group onwards. They soon reached the famous Wolf Tower.

Meanwhile...

"Here they come."

"Yes, ready the spell..."

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay watched the birds fly west in masses.

Red Un
Red Un looked around. He felt like they were being watched. But, he thought, there's only wolves around here. What could wolves do?

Then, a robed man stepped out of the nearby forest.

"Half-dwarf...I'm sacrificing myself...to...stop you...rrrgh...grruuh...AARGH!"

Suddenly, the robes were torn apart as the man grew violently. For an instant his skin could be seen, but then fur started to grow. His ears became pointy, and his face changed horribly. Claws grew from his hands, and fangs from his mouth. A tail started to grow as well.

"Noooow...my...childrrrrennnn..."

Suddenly, the forest came alive with barks and howls. Hundreds of wolves came storming out, the eyes gleaming strangely. Red Un realised that these weren't normal wolves. They were far more dangerous...

Red Un
Vodok drew a rune and shot it at the wolf-man-thingy. Nothing happened.

"HAARH! Yourrr weaponsss can'ttt hurrrt me..."

Red Un charged at the horrifying creature and swung his sword. It simply bounced off.

"Dammit...he's gotta have a weak point..."

Then, one of the wolves jumped at Red Un. He quickly swung around and cut its head of. He heard the wolf and the wolf-man cry out in agony.

"...And I think I've found it."

Braldril
Braldril had stayed behind to get a few supplies. He was coming back on the group when the wolf man began to attack.

"If you want to live, aim for the jointed areas. Particularly the back of the knees."

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay came behind the beast and knocked him upside the head. It was unaffected and foaming off the mouth. His attention was off Vodok and on Fire Aclay, who was backed in a corner.

Red Un
"Stay away from that creature! Concentrate on the wolves!"

Red Un cut trough another wolf, and once again, the wolf-man seemed to feel the pain that the wolf felt.

"Currrrssse...you..."

The wolf-man turned around from Fire Aclay and charged at Red Un. The half-dwarf tried to block the blow with his shield, but was still sent flying trough the air...

Fire Aclay
“Who has silver?”
Red Un
THUD!

Red Un landed softly. On top of another wolf, in fact. Once again the wolf-man screamed.

"We haven't got time to think about treasure now! Get the wolves! The wolf-man-thingy gets weaker if we kill his wolves!"

Vitata
Vitata, sleeping on one of the roofs of a house in the Outlaw camp, awoke to a loud howl. Rubbing his eyes, he looked towards the woods where a large grayish cloak seemed to be waving. Puzzled, he gathered his pack, jumped off the roof and headed to the "humongous grey cloak". He moved swiftly, and silently, hoping he wasn’t heard by any bandits. Exiting the camp, he made way towards the scene, curious of what was there. Suddenly, wolves from all directions thrust out of the shadows of the trees towards him. Foaming at their mouths, they ripped and tore at his clothing and he fell to the ground bleeding madly. He grew dizzy and close to fainting. Looking past the army of wolves that attacked him, he spotted a few dwarves and fighters, bravely fighting off the wolves and a wolf looking barbarian. The scene started to fade and he knew he was a goner if he didn't do something soon. Although he wasn't as skilled in fighting as his kin, he had a few tricks up his sleeve. With the wolves chasing to finish him, he turned black as ink and melted into his own shadow. The wolves crashed into each other, tearing blindly and killing each other without knowing it. Vitata then reappeared from his shadow and climbed out of the darkness. He was angry and decided to take out his anger on the rest of the wolves. He didn't think of the others who were fighting too, only that he killed as many wolves as he could, just for the fun of it.

Braldril
Braldril grabbed some arrows and ran up a hill. From there he began to slay the wolves one by one, watching the wolf man howl in agony.

Braldril
"Red Un, we must hurry and slay all the wolves. The wolf man is obviously weakened by the death of the wolves, but he slowly grows strong again. If we want to defeat him we must kill all the wolves, then attack while he is weak."

Red Un
Vodok and Vodivir were fighting franticly back to back, firing of explosion runes into the swarms of wolves that kept coming out of the forest.

Red Un was also fighting. The wolfman laughed between yelps of pain.

"Foollll...I havvvve callled on the powerrrr of allll the wollllves innn Tibiaaaa..."

"Well, let 'em come and I'll kill each and every one of 'em!"

"Haaahhh...when my...gaah!"

The wolfman stumbled as his powers began to grow weaker.

"...Whennn all my childrennn have gathered here...I shall gain more powerrr than you cannnn comprehennnnd..."

Red Un fought through the hordes of wolves, towards the wolfman who was growing weaker and weaker. But if more wolves would arrive, he would indeed be quite powerful.

"Fight the wolves! I'll take care o' the wolf-man!"

Braldril
Braldril cut down the wolves, one by one. His face was covered in the crimson blood that flowed through the wolves. Red Un was charging towards the wolf man at this time and suddenly three wolves began to chase after him. Braldril pulled out three throwing axes and threw them at the wolves. He only managed to hit two of the wolves.

"Look out!!"

Tujex
Tujex smiled as he slashed through the seemingly endless swarms of wolves. One had managed to break through his defences and had bitten into his arm, but Tujex shrugged off the pain. He just ignored it and focused on the battle ahead. "Red Un, be careful!" he shouted as he ducked under a leaping wolf's attack. He thrust his sword upward, driving it straight through the wolf, then used the wolf like a club to knock the others aside.

Darkness Fall-ll
“Exerti Granti.”
An invisible force suddenly formed in front of Tujex. With no time to bother about whom cast the force field, he backed off quickly for some breathing space as the legion of wolves slashed and slammed into the invisible wall dividing him and the legion.

BOOM!!!!
Tujex raised his arm to protect his face from the explosion and rooted his sword to the ground for support, as the aftermath from the explosion spread out in all directions pushing the wolves back.

"GOSH! Who the...", Tujex exclaimed from the sudden Ultimate Explosion, sending bits and pieces of wolves flying in all directions.

"What are you waiting there for?" came a lady voice beside him.
"Who are..." Tujex was quickly cut off, "No time for formal introductions. I'm Katherine, been following a legion of wolves for days, which has been going in one direction and behaving strangely."
"Thanks. But I know what I'm doing..." Tujex smiled, "Behind you!" Tujex pushed Kat aside, quickly thrusting his sword into the middle portion of a menacing wolf which managed to break through the wall.
"Ah...." Tujex feeling the pain from his arm.

"AAArrhHHH!!! Myyyyy Chilldrennn!!!!" The wolf-man let out a menacing cry.

"Red UN! NOW!!!!" Tujex shouted, turning sharply to Red Un.

Red Un
Red Un had reached the wolfman again and swung his sword at it. Even though its powers had lessened, it parried his blow with its claws.

"Damnnnn youuuu..."

The wolfman tried to swipe away Red Un again, but it was slower this time, and Red Un dodged beneath its hands and thrust his sword forward. It went straight trough the wolfmans chest.

"RRAAAARGHHHH...childrennn...NGH! Can't wait anymorrrre..."

Suddenly, the wolves stopped attacking and instead writhed around in pain. Meanwhile, the wolfmans wound began to heal, and he grew even taller.

"Halfff...dwarrrrf...now...you DIE!"

The claws flied out with enormous speed and went straight trough Red Un.

"Ohh...that hurt..." he said and then fainted.

Vitata
Vitata cried out in agony as a wolf locked its teeth around his shoulder. He was losing to the never-ending swarm of wild dogs. Blood gushed and flowed out of the fresh wound and Vitata drew his brightsword and stabbed it right through the gut of the wolf, spilling its intestines and everything else out. Vitata staggered and dragged his broken legs towards the other group of dwarves, seeking help. Seeing a dwarf using runes was a surprise to him, but he hoped that there would be some healing runes that he could spare. What am I thinking? Dwarf using rune on someone else? They're so greedy...ah well. He reached the dwarves and asked them "Hey dwarf. Can you heal me? You guys caused this didn't you? Heal me then...your responsibility."

Braldril
Braldril tossed him a life fluid, then drank one for himself.

"Stand on your feet and prepare to fight for we have no idea what else is to come this dark night."

Fire Aclay
"Nice poetry", said Fire Aclay with a grin. He bashed every wolf's skulls in that were in 10 feet of him. Then the wolf man rose up and absorbed the wolf pack into a type of shadow sphere. With a loud howl he threw it at the ground and war wolves charged from the centre of the portal.

Fire Aclay
“Oh no! Run!”

Tujex
Tujex dove into the crowd of War Wolves, slashing left and right. He was more focused on getting to Red Un. He brought his sword into the head of a wolf, and quickly slung the wolf forward, making a path that led him directly to the Wolfman. The large creature was about to strike the final blow when Tujex rammed into the monster causing it to stumble. Tujex smiled at the wolf as he snatched the fainted Red Un from the ground and slung him over his shoulder. "Gotta get you to a safe spot to rest," he mumbled as he darted towards Fire and the others.

Braldril
Braldril threw a few throwing axes then tore down two wolves with his Giant Axe.

"We must hurry and kill the wolf man."

Darkness Fall-ll
Katherine fired yet another fireball at the swarm of wolves to her right, repelling wolves on the left with her White Shield. Just in front, she saw Tujex carrying the fainted Red Un on his shoulders and darting over to Braldril and the rest.

"HAhahaAAhh...COUGH! COUGHhHH..." the Wolf-man laughter was cut off sharply, as he let out a cough. "Thatttt CUTTTT wassss NOTHINGGGG..."

"GUYS! Red Un seemed to have wounded Wolfman!!!" Katherine shouted over to the others. "ARhhh..." Katherine let out a cry as she blasted another 3 wolves with fireball.

Vitata
Vitata grabbed the potion and drained it. Feeling his wounds diminish, he stood up and thanked the stranger who helped him. He took up his brightsword and got into fighting stance. Once again, he dove into his own shadow. The shadow moved swiftly from one wolf to the other. Each time, Vitata dove out of the shadow and stabbed a few wolves before going into hiding again.

Red Un
The wolfman laughed.

"Hahrrr! Yourrr leaderrr is not with you anymorrre! Who's nextttt?"

Red Un coughed.

"I'm not...dead yet...get him...get the wolfman..."

Vitata
Vitata stared as the dwarf talked. He had seen the wolfman go straight through him. Now he was telling him, or someone, to kill the wolfman. Vitata looked at the monster a few feet away from him, bawling and howling. Vitata thought so this is what's causing all these crazy wolves to come rampaging at people? Damn it! He ran towards the wolfman and leaped into another wolf's shadow. Vitata was born with the ability to jump into another world, the world in which nothing existed. The doors to this world were what he used to fight with, shadows. Leaping from wolf shadow to wolf shadow, he reached the wolfman. Vitata jumped out of the strange realm and came down upon the wolfman, swinging his brightsword as fast as he could. The wolfman dodged his attack swiftly and used its powerful arms to knock Vitata into a pile of warwolves, who tore at his clothes and flesh. Vitata was exhausted and dove into his own shadow to heal.

Braldril
Braldril hacked up two wolves with his axe and then ran at the wolf man. He dove past the strange creature, pulled out a throwing axe and threw it at the wolf man. He hit the wolf man in the spine. The wolf man flinched then turned around.

"Youu arrre nexxt huuumaan."

"Uh oh."

Red Un
Red Un coughed again. He tried to remember an old book of dark magic he had read somewhere, long ago. It had said something about wolf-men and their weaknesses.

"The head...you must...cut...off...nnngh..."

Then he lapsed back into unconsciousness.

Braldril
"Ehh? What was that Red Un? Something about a head....Alrighty then..."

With hearing those words of Red Un, Braldril took up his axe and charged the beast. The beast swung its mighty arm, but being quicker, Braldril dodged the attack and slammed the axe into the neck of the wolf."

Fire Aclay
Fire Aclay was not much for war. He had been struck to the ground a few times and had not gotten up from the last one. He was sitting down breaking a certain wolf's legs. "Go from behind!" yelled Fire Aclay.

Braldril
Braldril's axe stuck into the neck of the wolf man and he could not pull it out. Braldril pulled out a sword and stabbed the monster in the chest.

Tujex
Tujex leaped high into the air, jumping in and out of the crowds of wolves. With a swift attack he sent his elven dagger into the wolfman's neck. The dagger struck just above somene's axe, knocking the axe free. After seeing that his dagger had done almost nothing he withdrew his sword. He thrust it towards the wolfman's neck, the wolf's massive arm knocking him back just as his sword began to pierce into the man's neck. Tujex was flung backwards, his sword still lodged in the wolfman's neck. He was fighting off wolves with his bare arms, forcing his way through the crowds to get his sword back. "Be careful with that!" Tujex called out hoping the man with the axe had heard him.

Braldril
"Thanks. I was hoping I would be able to get this back."

Braldril continued his onslaught.

Darkness Fall-ll
"HAHAHAaaaa!!! Pathetticcc IDIOTSSsss! Yoouuu Thinkkk A TOOTHHH PIKkk can HURTTT MEeee?HAHAHAAaaa..." The Wolfman laughed but at the same time putting one hand over his neck, trying to pull the sword out, seemingly stuck there...

Should I attack the head or the neck?? Katherine thought. Ah!! Just attack both....
Katherine cast a Jump spell. Jumping into the air, she swung her White Shield to her left uppercutting an oncoming wolf. Having a clear shot of the Wolfman's back head, Katherine fired a direct Greater Fireball. "EAT THIS YOU JERK ASSSsss!!!"
The impact was not able to free the sword stuck in the wolfman's neck, but off-balanced the wolfman, making his wound opened again.

"Sorry! Guess your sword just love his neck. I think the dagger might help..." Katherine shouted while she landed right in the middle of a pack of wolves. DAMN!

Red Un
The wolfman staggered from the attack.

"Hrrrgh...foolsss......"

Suddenly, the sword flew away from the neck, and the wound began to heal up.

Meanwhile, Red Un had once again become conscious. He looked at Vodok.

"Vodok...heal...me..."

Vodok hurriedly used a healing spell on Red Un. The half-dwarfs' wound was healed, and he slowly stood up.

"You can't just attack his neck! You've gotta cut right trough it! Cut his head of, for Durins' sake!"

Braldril
"Fine, we'll just cut it off then."

Braldril picked up the biggest one-handed axe he had and threw it. The axe cut through the neck of the beast, went through the bone, and then stopped.

"Damnit!! Someone pull it through!!"

Fire Aclay
"DOES ANYONE HERE HAVE SILVER?!", yelled Fire Aclay seeing as silver was werewolves weakness.

Tujex
"Well I guess it's time to show these dwarves what an elf can do." Tujex said looking to Red Un and Vodok. He dashed behind the wolfman while he was distracted with the others. "Ikozura!" he screamed as demon wings tore from his back, and his eyes glowed bright green. He jumped at the wolf, grabbing the handle of the axe and kicking himself off with his other foot. The wolf staggered forward and Tujex pulled the axe back, slicing the wolf's head off. Tujex fell to the ground, tired from having to summon Ikozura so suddenly. He looked to the axe which was in pretty bad shape. " I guess his bones were made of silver," Tujex joked as he looked at the axe. "Sorry, I guess I'll have to get you a new one." he called out as he forced himself to his feet and limped over to his sword.

Fire Aclay
The blood gushed out of his neck. "That is one dead wolf man," said Fire Aclay. "Are we near or in the camp by now?" he asked as he gave Tujex some meat for strength.

Darkness Fall-ll
Katherine kicked her feet off the ground just as she landed and landed a few feet from the pack. She looked up and saw the head of the wolfman rolling off, his body slammed onto the ground. The wolves started to back off, as if sensing something was not right.

"Ermmm...do we still continue to kill these wolves?" asked Kat, weariness is getting to her a bit after travelling for so long.

Tujex
Tujex looked to Katherine, holding the meat in his hand. A war wolf approached him and sniffed the meat. Tujex chuckled, tearing a piece off and tossing it onto the ground before the wolf. Tujex gulped the piece down about as fast as the wolf and he began to pat it on its head. "I don't think we need to" he said with a smile as a strange symbol appeared on the wolf's forehead. The others looked at it strangely. "Don't worry, it’s just an enchantment. This wolf will lead all the others away." The wolf let out a loud howl as it dashed into the forest, the other wolves following behind it. Tujex stood, brushing the dirt from his clothes.


Vitata
Vitata came out of his hiding place to look at what had happened. The wolves had certainly gotten less. All of them seemed to be leaving the area into the forests again. Soon, all that was left was the group of people who had fought the wild animals and the dead body of the wolfman. He stepped out, crippled but alive, and limped over to the group. Smiling and wincing, he walked towards Red Un and asked "Hey. Mind asking your friend to heal me too?"

Red Un
"Sure...VODOK! Get over 'ere! An' bring some 'o your healing runes!"

Vodok had been looking at the wolfmans head. It was still grunting and snarling, but finally it died. The dwarves went over to Red Un. Vodok used some healing magic on Vitata.

"There," said Red Un. "I suggest we keep goin' then..."