Exploring the ruins of an old stone watchtower is a good idea. You look around extremely carefully. Every little thing is important...

The path to the top of this hill required considerable effort on your part.

Cold piercing wind.

Increasingly intense snowfall. Snow blurs your eyes and covers your clothes.

You **** yourself to take one step at a time.

You think: “We must make every effort to find at least something useful for hunting a wolf! I would be ashamed to look the villagers in the eyes if I simply returned from the gorge and admitted that I wasted my time.”

Fortunately, on the winding mountain path that leads up to the ruins of the watchtower there are places where you can rest a little - along the mountain path there are small isolated caves, the entrance to which has not yet been completely blocked by snow. These small caves are about the size of a room five meters long and about 4 meters wide (there is also an inconvenience: to get inside you have to bend down, due to the fact that the height of these caves is only about 150 centimeters). You find a total of three such caves on your way to the top of the hill. Inside the caves you only take short rest breaks.

However, you examine the area extremely carefully - so you manage to notice something suspicious. Inside the first cave you notice traces of intelligent creatures. Moreover, your tracker skills allow you to understand that some of the traces inside the first cave indicate the presence of two persons who were here quite recently (probably within a couple of days). Shoe prints, small crumbs on the ground (similar to the remains of a meal), an almost weathered, but noticeable smell of burnt wood.

You think: “So, I didn’t come here in vain. So the first interesting observations appeared... Probably, these two persons made a halt here. But who are these two strangers? None of the peasants even mentioned the ruins of the watchtower! From what I've heard, this area has become extremely dangerous for the peasants. It’s unlikely that any of the local residents decided to go for a walk to places where there have already been attacks by this wolf on people!”

But that is not all. In the first cave, as a result of a careful inspection, you notice signs of the presence of someone else, in addition to these mysterious two strangers who have been here for the past couple of days. The old traces have almost been erased, but you understand that there can be no mistake. Are you sure. Someone else was in this cave. This was over a week ago. You even find another sign near these old marks that confirms your confidence: a tiny piece of fabric, which got caught on a sharp stone that protrudes from the far wall of the cave. You bring this piece of fabric close to your eyes. It's actually just a couple of threads. Regular threads have a grayish-greenish tint. You sniff this meager find of yours. Almost no smells. Perhaps just something vaguely reminiscent of the faint smell of ****... Did the third stranger here drink ****? Or did he treat the wounds with healing ointment? Or maybe it just seemed like it to you and there is no smell?

One way or another, you need to continue on your way.

You move upward again, overcoming the resistance of the cold wind and snowfall.

In the second cave you notice almost nothing useful. Probably, mysterious strangers did not stop here. They are probably quite hardy guys. You can't boast that you don't need extra rest. That's why you use this place to rest. During your fifteen minutes of rest, you notice only some strange symbol on the far wall of the cave. It looks like a triangle with a vertical line inside it.

You think: “I’m not sure this symbol is man-made. Maybe, this is simply the result of the gradual wear and tear of the stone due to exposure to water. However, whatever the reason for the appearance of this symbol, what use is it to me? Probably none."

Well, the rest comes to an end and you again go out onto the winding mountain path.

You have almost reached the ruins that interest you.

You enter the third cave only because you hope to find some traces or other useful evidence.

In just a couple of minutes you are convinced that it was not in vain that you entered the third cave.

To the inattentive eye, there is nothing remarkable in the third cave.

There are no traces of a recent camp here.

But you understand something about pathfinder work and how to conduct a thorough inspection of premises.

You feel around the walls of the cave and you find something strange.

One of the stones (it is completely invisible due to the fact that it is located in the upper dark corner of the cave), when you touch it, moves...

A powerful grinding sound is heard.

Part of the cave wall moves away.

This is a secret hidden passage!

This passage leads somewhere down.

There's nothing to be seen there. Total darkness.

You think: "This is getting more and more suspicious..."

You decide not to go down this secret passage just yet. First you need to explore the watchtower ruins.

You again find yourself on an inhospitable mountain path...

The cold wind blows in your face again.

The journey is almost complete.

The ruins are close!

The narrow twisting road up to the crumbling old watch tower, it is not a easy walk and you are gulping for breath as you get near. The old round tower is surrounded by a low stone walk, and as you step onto the flat hill top the tower is build on. Suddenly you stand there shocked, as you see a middle aged man in leather armor and a heavy fur cloak standing there leaning against the wall. He spots you at the same time, glancing up from the pipe he is filling with smoke weed. His narrow eyes a bit to close together, his long hawk nose jutting out over a massive iron gray mustache. "What do you want?" He growled coldly, as you slowly approach across the snow covered ground. "I told you village folks not to come up here." He snorted, as you looked at the two handed great sword and long bow strapped across his back.

"I'm not from the village." You explain as he looks you over, taking in your own armor and weapons with experienced look. "The village mayor hired me to kill a Wolf that has been terrorizing his people..."

You explain as this older warrior looks you over coldly, as he finished stuffing the bowl of his pipe. "Who the hell are you?"

"No... I guess yer not at that." He snorts lighting his pipe as you stop in front of him, taking a couple of long puffs. "I'm the earls game master..." He explained, as you wonder what one of the Earls retainers was doing so far from the castle. This village was all part of the lords lands, but his castle was far to the south of here.

"A Wolf killer huh... So you are a mercenary..." You can tell by his manner, that he doesn't think you could survive a rough night at the pub... much less an attack from wolf.

"So you're trying to track down the wolf here?"

“Yes... I guess exploring the ruins will help me figure out what's going on. There are too many suspicious things in this village... The stories of local residents about the beast are contradictory! Someone talks about a great white wolf. Other peasants say that they saw a wolf-like monster with black fur that walked on its hind legs! I just want to do my job and kill the beast! But to do this, we need to find out as many details as possible that will help track down this predator.”

You notice that after your detailed explanations, this stern man’s face darkened.

You only have time to ask: “What are you doing here?”

In response, you only hear a frightening phrase, uttered in the ice-cold, calm voice of an old and experienced warrior: “It seems that now your worries will come to an end. Just like your life."

"Well now that's a shame... that is." Stepping away from the wall, he pulled the massive two handed sword off his back. "We came on a hunting trip... things didn't go as planned." Pipe clenched in his teeth as he moved out onto the open ground, looking at you sharply as you realize battle is about to begin. "Now I'm going to have to kill you to keep my lord's secret." With one hand you draw your own long sword, while taking out your hand axe with the other hand.

"Wait your lords secret?" You asked confused, as you wonder if the Earl is here as well. But you don't have long to think about it, as the older man attacks with a cold savagery. Although you are younger... and faster than the older man. He has been training with his weapons from a very earlier age, and learned from master swordsmen how to fight. You on the other hand are mostly self taught, having some training from mercenary's you had worked with over the years. The air was soon filled with the ring of steel on steel, you speed and strength making a fight of it at first. However the older man's skill and years of fighting are just two much, your axe is knocked out of your numb fist first. Now you are stumbling backwards, using both hands to hold your long sword hilt. As the older warrior beat's your tiring guard down, and then it happens as you foot slips on the snow sending you sprawling on the snow covered ground. Standing towering over you the older man prepares to deliver the **** blow, you look up with terror in your eyes as that huge sword comes down.

A few more moments and you will simply be killed.

You don't want to die.

Thoughts about that are swarming in your brain how can you be saved.