You are trying to persuade this cruel warrior. Say whatever you want. You need to be considered more useful in a living form.

You quickly shout, trying to bargain for at least a moment of life: “I know something important! I found out that there is some unholy secret nightmare going on in this village! The problem here is clearly not just the wolf! There are a lot of monsters here! I found a secret passage near the ruins! I also found traces and secret signs! Someone is interested in the bloody horror that is happening here! Please don't kill me! I can be useful to you!”

The tip of a huge two-handed steel sword stops a couple of centimeters from your throat.

You sob. Sweat pours down your forehead more and more. The cold wind is especially unpleasant now.

Why did the one who wanted to kill you stop?

The reason is that a person unknown to you intervened. Someone was watching you. Someone powerful enough to give orders to this experienced and powerful warrior who almost took your life.

"HOLD IT!" A strong voice rings out, making both you and the man about to kill you pause to look over. A young dark haired man, come stumbling out of the ruined tower. He is richly dressing in fine clothing with a quilted wool cloak draped around his body as he stares at the older man who is about to kill you.

"Don’t rush to take this commoner’s life, Gascon. You will have time to do this later if necessary. I'm wondering what this commoner said about secret signs and a secret passage near the ruins of the watchtower. And one more thing: the idea that someone benefits from what is happening in this village is also quite entertaining and logical. So, do you have any ideas, commoner? What must be done to put an end to the monster's attacks? Or rather: attacks by monsters?" - says this human, who clearly has the posture and habits of a nobleman.

When speaking about monsters (an eloquent fact: not about wolves, but about monsters) in the nobleman’s voice, some strange sadness is felt. His tired gaze scans you as you lie in the snow.

“This commoner knows too much and he has seen you. He may divulge secret information! I must kill him, my lord!”

Gascon explained firmly, the tip of that great sword hovering over your heart.

The warrior's words caused irritation in the nobleman, which was reflected on his face. Or rather, there is not only irritation here.

This strange mixture of emotions. Irritation, gloomy doom, glitter in the eyes, which reflects heavy fatigue from the cruelty of fate and sad hopelessness.

"No... I forbid it. No more people will be killed to protect the monster I have become."

"Mi'lord please... think of your family."

"My family would be better off if I was dead, my father has other sons... If you are against using this commoner to investigate the nightmare that is happening in the village and to try to investigate what led me... to my current state, then... let this commoner, this so-called "Wolfkiller" kill me here and now! Let me die! I had enough! I hate my existence! How can you not understand this, Gascon!"

Gascon turns pale. He then sheathes his greatsword.

You rise carefully.

You feel a slight trembling. This is not only because of the cold wind and snow. One of the reasons is the nervous tension of almost being cut into two parts like a pig carcass in a butcher's shop.

The young nobleman says: “That’s better. We are using this commoner to try to improve my situation. If at all possible. What’s your name, peasant?”

You answer: “Raul... Raul the Wolfkiller, my lord...”

Gascon's gaze glares at you angrily. He says in a threatening tone: “Remember your manners, commoner!”

You come to your senses and bow deeply to the nobleman.

The young nobleman grins slightly and says: “And my name is Canlur Macclarn. I am the third son of earl Angus Macclarn, whom you have probably heard of."

Indeed, you have heard about this earl. Everyone who lives in the north of the human kingdom of Morthem has heard about him. It would be strange for any reasonable local resident not to hear about who this resident pays taxes to... Earl Angus Macclarn owns most of the land in the Mountains of the Singing Winds region. Angus Macclarn is one of the king's powerful vassals. Moreover, the fact that the kingdom of Morthem is now actually ruled by the Regency Council, headed by Queen-Regent Valenrisa the Brilliant (after all, King Ethelrent the First is now only about 12 years old), even more allows local feudal rulers not to be constrained in their methods of “interaction” with a disgruntled local population.

You felt very unpleasant because you imagined what exactly the warriors of earl Angus Macclarn would do to you if for some reason the earl found out that you were involved in the **** of one of his sons. In this case, quick **** from the sword will be an unrealistic and merciful outcome for you.

So what did you find out from your subsequent conversation with Canlur Macclarn?

Over the next half hour you hear his tale, the young lord had been hunting with Gascon. When he was attacked by a large white Wolf, the beast had bitten him. And on the next full moon, the change had happened as they had been traveling back to the castle.

The details of what Canlur told you were shocking and disgusting.

It…

It was just terrible...

The young noble's body underwent a rapid and painful transformation. The bones changed shape and grew. Body size has increased. The skin was covered with thick fur. The face transformed into something wolf-like and monstrous. Sharp long fangs. Claws that are like daggers.

And one more terrible detail: in this guise the young nobleman could not control his own behavior. During the time he was in the form of a monster, he managed to kill a couple of local peasants who were chopping trees in the forest. And it was not just a ****... The monster tore apart the bodies and ate bloody pieces of meat... Gascon survived at that moment only because he managed to climb a tall tree and hide from the gaze of the wolf-like monster, intoxicated by animal rage and thirst for blood, into which Canlur had turned .

The first transformation did not last long. At dawn, Canlur returned to his human form.

But such terrible metamorphoses will be repeated. And there is no guarantee that the situation will not worsen over time. Perhaps this curse will increase the duration of the wolf-like monstrous form...

What happened after the first transformation into a monster?

Realizing he could not go home, they had came here to find the white Wolf. Killing it would hopefully free the young noble from the curse, but they had not been very successful in their hunt. Gascon agreed that you might be able to help them, of course the young noble Canlur Macclarn wouldn't be to much help. As he needed to be locked in the tower at night, depending on the moon cycle.