Exploring the ruins of an old stone watchtower is just a formality. There is no need to spend too much effort and energy.

The path to the top of this hill will be very uncomfortable.

Not surprising, because the weather around is extremely unpleasant.

Cold piercing wind.

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

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

Fortunately, along the way you found places where you can stop and rest. Along the mountain path along its entire length there were several small caves. You stayed and slept in each of them. These small isolated 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.

Taking a long rest and sleeping for at least half an hour means you'll spend more time exploring the watchtower ruins.

However, you thought, “What the hell! I need to get some rest! My well-being is the most important thing! This walk to the ruins is just a formality, which is necessary so that I can, with an impressive and serious look, answer the peasants' questions about what I was doing. Obviously, I won't find any traces of a wolf here. The wolf's lair is in ruins on the hill! Ha! Ha! This is absurd! But there is a small chance that inside the ruins themselves I can find some valuables...”

Your hike along the inhospitable mountain trail ends after about two hours.

So, the ruins are close! You already see them.

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.

In an negligible moment, thoughts about your life flash through your mind: about what you would like to do, but will never have time; about what you loved and what you will never experience again. And one more thing: thoughts about the insignificant chances of salvation: perhaps you can somehow persuade this cruel warrior to allow you to live a little longer? But how to do that? What words are needed for this? You do not know...

That massive pillar of silvery steel drives down, punching through even your repaired armor. There is a sharp burning pain as the blade slips deep into your chest, ripping through your heart as you stare up into the cold eyes of the older man. And then **** swiftly takes you...