The start of your hunt. Tracking the beast.

You had a pleasant time at night, enjoying the young body of a maid girl. Plus, your night's sleep was deep and restful. You slept well and regained your strength after a difficult journey along the mountain trails.

After eating the next morning, you communicate with the headman of this village. You ask Durlen Gruy for information about where to start tracking the wolf.

Durlen tells you the most likely place to find a wolf track.

This place is Old Ditmar's Gorge (this place is named after the great-grandfather of the innkeeper). This is a mountainous area about two hours' journey from the village of Olinsford. Durlen explained to you that a small stream flows through the gorge, along the banks of which rare herbs grow. Some villagers use these herbs to prepare healing solutions. Until recently, in the Old Ditmar's Gorge it was possible to hunt mountain goats that came to drink. However, the events of the last month have changed everything. Three villagers died in Old Ditmar's Gorge. The wolf brutally tore their bodies apart, despite any precautions on their part. Now, the villagers are afraid to go to this area.

You collect your things and head towards the Old Ditmar's Gorge.

It’s morning, the sun’s rays illuminate the ground, which is covered in snow. The air is cold and the snow does not melt. This is not surprising; in this highland area it was always much cooler than on the plain. You wrap yourself in your fur cloak. Luckily, your fur clothing is designed for traveling in these cold conditions.

However, you still feel cold, your knuckles are freezing.

Cumulus clouds cover the sky. These clouds move slowly near the tops of the highest of the local mountains.

You think: “This area will require maximum endurance and strength from me. The hunt here will probably be the most challenging compared to my previous assignments."

After a couple of hours you come to the gorge.

You see a small winding mountain stream flowing along the ground. The water is frozen on the surface of the stream, but you can see that the ice is easy enough to break to get to the water. You break the ice and make a small hole in the ice. Clear water that is perfectly drinkable.

The ground around is covered with snow. No plants are visible under the snow cover. But it is quite obvious to you that in the warmer seasons there will be many herbs and flowers growing along the stream. You become convinced of the truth of what you have been told: this place is clearly very useful both for the villagers and for the local wild animals that might come to drink.

You are examining the area near the stream. A small number of fir trees whose branches are covered with snow. You use your tracking skills to determine who has recently been present in the area. This is difficult, because the constant snowfalls of recent weeks are hiding old tracks on the ground.

However, you manage to notice some tracks, partially hidden by snow. It looks like wolf tracks. But at the same time, these tracks make you puzzled: they are very large for an ordinary wolf. And one more thing: these tracks are strangely located, as if the wolf was running on its hind legs. You have never seen anything like this before.

You manage to understand that the most recent of the tracks indicate that the unusual wolf was here quite recently. The beast was probably here last night.

But where is the beast now?

You continue to study the tracks. Another oddity: wolf tracks are sometimes mixed with other tracks. With traces of human feet. Bare human feet. This is very suspicious. What normal human would walk barefoot in the snow in this cold weather?

You think: "Are these the tracks of another wolf victim? Why then are there no signs of struggle or blood anywhere?"

The trails of tracks are numerous. But you manage to identify several directions in which the tracks go.

One of these directions is the path along which you came. These tracks lead to the village. Had the wolf headed towards the village last night? If this is the case, then you should expect that the beast will soon attack one of the local residents.

The second direction of the tracks leads along narrow mountain paths to the south from the Old Ditmar's Gorge. You look closely and you see that these tracks lead in the direction of the stone ruins of an old watchtower, which towered above the gorge on one of the hills. Nobody told you about the ruins of this tower. The fact that the tracks of the beast go towards this tower is very strange. Wild animals usually do not like buildings, rooms that are enclosed by walls, and the like. Animals try to avoid such areas. However, you see that the tracks lead in that direction.

Your anxiety about the purpose of your hunt increases.

You think: "There are too many suspicious facts. Probably, the beast that I will have to kill will be much more dangerous than previously thought. And will this beast be alone?"

The situation encourages maximum vigilance. You look around vigilantly. Your hands are holding a bow. You are ready at any moment to pull the bowstring and shoot an arrow in the direction of the threat. You wouldn't be surprised if the beast jumped out to ambush you now.

However, no one is attacking you yet.

So what will you do?

First option: you will return to the village to get more information and prevent a possible attack of beast on the locals.

Second option: you will prefer to climb the winding mountain path and explore the tracks that lead towards the ruins of an old stone watchtower.