A Monster Hunt

Your wagon rattled down the dusty woodland road. Outside the chirp of insects and songs of birds gave the area a peaceful atmosphere, far more peaceful than where you were currently headed. It had all begun a few days ago, your brother had caught wind of a series of attacks in a village to the north.

In contrast to his usual militant, glory-seeking attitude, your brother had called on you to take on the task. He also made certain to question your masculinity, making numerous suggestions that his younger brother might not be man enough to take on a possible monster. Admittedly, that did spur you on to accept his 'request', but in hindsight you did play right into his hand. Without you around the castle, he had no fear of his wenches and maidens falling for you.

"Damn him..." You muttered to yourself, looking out at the idyllic forest setting. It hardly seemed the place for a monster attack, but you'd spent the trip reading through a few letters containing reports of the attacks and sure enough it seemed to be true.

To your left were the weapons of your training. A rapier, the lightest gold could buy. A shortbow, smaller and easier to use than the longbows your castle guards used. And of course, a magical trinket, a small ring, just enough to amplify your training in spellcraft. These weapons were useful, but more so was your knowledge. You had already determined what the monster was and where they likely were.

Looking down into your lap, you reread the passage of your book, A Brief History of Monsters and Magic in Ezlia. It was a bit of information on your quarry, both too much and too little...

1) The Minotaur: "A fearsome half-man, half-bull creature that dwells in a massive stone maze in the mountains that border Ezlia to the North. Some locals are known to give it virgin sacrifices to sate his bloodlust and sexual appetite."

2) Werewolves: "The result of an ancient curse, they are humans you transform into humanoid lupine monsters by night. The curse amplifies emotions in this state, meaning werewolves will breed with those they find desirable and slaughter those they hate."

3) Vampires: "Fearsome and ancient humanoids who dine on blood and possess a perverse interest in transforming others into their kind. They possess powerful magical abilities, allowing them to dominant and even control the weak willed."