The corridor to the depths of the barrow did not include any further surprise nor enemies. That same did not apply to the first room the team found at the end of that corridor. Three veteran Night Wolves turned their heads when Rowan entered the room, clearly surprised.

While they were of a slightly lower level than the group, three and all veterans immediately presented an immediate problem. Rowan moved immediately in a position to intercept any wolf that decided this someone from his team would make a juicy target. He didn’t need to have bothered, as all four decided it was time to pile on him. Thankfully, that meant his Block parried nearly all of their attacks at the same time.

Two of the wolves Howled, but outside of an additional mind reduction, only a single skill went down to lock, Slam this time.

The full team went to work on the level 15 wolf first, slamming various attacks. Then, while Dick was bringing his health back to close to full, they switched to one of the 16. A handful of Weaknesses spotting from Silas helped. Then it was the turn of the last wolf.

3 Night Wolves: 1596XP/5 contributors = 319XP.

They checked dutifully the corpses who did not have anything besides some random flesh and bones – which Amelia told them were good for making delightful soup if you wanted some – and settled to wait until Dick and Luther’s Aether climbed back to maximum. Rowan’s own Endurance came back slightly faster.

He risked a question to Amelia.

“What happens if you go too fast in the barrow?”

“You probably know the answer to that question, Rivers.”

Rowan grimaced.

“You run into trouble.”

“You run into trouble, yes. So don’t. Like everything, pace yourself.”

She added, “You could have waited a bit until you’re stronger to tackle this lair, but it’s good experience, and teaches you the right things. Which is why you get to go through it.”

She pointed out the far end of the barrow’s room.

“Which way you want to go?”

“How can we know?” replied Rowan.

“You can’t unless you’ve already been there. Or have maps. I’m not going to give you a map,” she smirked.

Rowan turned to Luther, who had the biggest knack to strategy. He and Silas were his go-to for figuring out things. Silas picked up clues and Luther analysed those.

“I’d say, pick a direction and stick with it? Unless it loops, you can’t get lost that way,” suggested Luther.

Rowan figured out that Amelia wouldn’t comment. She probably knew the barrow by heart. Still, he had to choose.

“Let’s go right then.”

“Right it is.”

They didn’t encounter a wolf in the next corridor, but the next barrow room was slightly different than the one they’d just finished. This had some tattered decorations, and a single wolf lounging in a shallow hole. There was a small wooden box set next to the room’s wall.

Barrow Night Wolf

Level 16 elite

Health: 642

Mind: 273

Stamina: 445

Aether: 85

Rowan noted that this was the first wolf he’d seen specifically associated with the barrow itself. The others might have been visitors or something, but this one looked like a permanent inhabitant.

You have been affected by Howl. -48 Mind, one random skill rank reduced.

The attack was stronger as well, but thankfully, didn’t lock more than one skill.

“What happens if your Mind goes to zero?” asked Rowan as he slammed the wolf to keep its attention focused on himself.

“If you lose your mind… well, you lose your mind. All kind of bad stuff happens, including helping the wolf against your friends, running away through the entire barrow and being noticed by the rest of its occupants, and committing suicide,” replied Amelia.

“Ok. Losing your mind is bad,” commented Ada.

“Not as bad as losing your health, but very bad, yes. There are Professions that help, but you have none in your team at the moment. This wolf isn’t dead yet, what are you doing?”

“Stabbing it,” replied Ada.

Barrow Night Wolf: 940XP/5 contributors = 188XP.

They all took a breather, while Dick was pumping Rowan’s health back to maximum and their respective minds settled back.

“So? What are you waiting? Not checking that box?”

Rowan and his team exchanged glances. He almost asked what for, but Silas beat him to the box, opening it.

Aetheric Burlap Coverall

Torso

Quality equipment

Requires: level 11

Provide: Defence rating +2, INT+1, Aether +15

“Hey, beginner’s luck,” exclaimed Amelia.

“Uh?”

“The quality label should tell you. It’s… well, rare to get one from a low-level lair like this. This is the perfect fit for your Arcanist. Congratulation, Fullmore.”

They all turned to Luther who sported a dumbfounded expression. The man looked at the chest, then stumbled as Amelia prodded him.

“Go ahead, it’s yours. If it had Wisdom, it would be a better fit for your Mender, but that’s pure Arcanist gear, and wasted on someone else.”

Luther picked the robe, then looked around. Amelia sighed.

“Go to the rear of the room. Nobody will look.”

Rowan and the rest dutifully turned back, although he noticed Ada sneaking glances. Trying to catch him naked, did she? It wasn’t as if he didn’t wear pants under the robe… or so assumed Rowan. Did he?

Probably.

“Does this mean I don’t need to pick the third milestone for the next tier?” asked Luther once he’d worn.

“Alas, no shortcuts. You have an increase in Intelligence only as long as you wear that robe, which means it doesn’t count for your Profession qualifier. Only a permanent increase in your potentials, meaning your milestones, do. Otherwise, we’d have rushed you to the next tier immediately,” replied Amelia.

She turned toward the only exit of the room.

“Next.”

The third room had a pair of wolves, a normal and an elite, but no chest around. They dispatched the two wolves and regenerated. Then picked the rightmost corridor and moved deeper into the barrow.

“How large is it,” tried to ask Rowan.

Amelia took pity on him and replied this time.

“A bit over a dozen rooms overall. There are larger lairs in Grailburg, but this one’s perfect for a first lesson.”

“Ah,” said Silas.

The fourth room was a repeat of the second, with a Barrow Night Wolf alone standing guard over another box. The wolf fell under the team’s weapons without trouble, and Silas opened the box again.

Wolfhide Shoes

Feet

Common equipment

Requires: level 10

Provide: Defence rating +1, Endurance +14

“See. That’s more of what you’d expect from this,” said Amelia.

“Who gets it?”

“Think about the type of Professions who’d use that.”

Rowan thought quickly.

“Ada or Silas?”

“They’re the ones who use the endurance. You too, but you’ve guessed it, the lower defence means it’s not a good fit for a Shieldbearer.”

The shoes slight fur trim went well on Ada’s feet.

“I like those more than the boots.”

“Aesthetics are nice, but values matter,” countered Amelia.

Then she relented.

“But usually, you can find good-looking stuff that fits your Profession. You just need to be not too finicky about the exact look you’d want.”

Then she settled back into teacher mode.

“Next.”

The first thing Rowan noticed on the room was that it didn’t have an exit on the other side. The second was that the wolf was a bit larger than the previous ones.

Barrow Guardian

Level 24 elite

Health: 796

Mind: 329

Stamina: 599

Aether: 112

“You’re unlucky. I hoped it would be the elder,” said Amelia.

Seeing the inquiring glance from Rowan, she added.

“You’d see the difference in combat. You need to be careful about Elders and above. Here’s it’s just the big bad wolf boosted to a higher level. Go ahead and finish it.”

Barrow Guardian: 1126XP/5 contributors = 225XP.

You have completed Grailburg Night Wolf Barrow Lair.

“Uh? There was a new notification?”

“You’ve killed enough of the barrow’s wolves and the most important one. Congratulations on your first lair cleaning. Sort-of. There’s probably a couple of wolves remaining, but as long as you’ve killed half of the barrow-specific ones, you’re good.”

She gestured to the chest.

“Now, pick your last piece of gear, and let’s get out. And celebrate. With a few more boars.”

Rowan closed his eyes. Charging piggies.