I was woken up by Moira stabbing me with the butt end of a spear. “Get your ass out of bed, Grim has been up for over an hour already and has gathered the other two of the party and they are waiting on us for breakfast.”

She then marched the skeletons over to Grim’s suite leaving me to get dressed. I was hoping that this lethargy in the morning would end soon like Dave said, as getting woken up by being bashed on the floor or getting prodded gets old fast.

I slowly made my way over to Grim’s suite doing a double-take when I entered the dining room. They're sitting at the table were the gorgon twins Missy and Sissy.

Grom seeing me enter explained. “Missy and sissy decided to help us out in return for us escorting them to Maidens rest where their families adventuring company is waiting for them. I'll let them explain what they bring to the table while I go get the breakfast. I hope your not sick of rabbit stew yet cause I'm using up the last bit we have for this morning.” And not giving me time to reply he made his way to the kitchen.

Looking at the table I saw that at the moment the only one of the group that wasn't here yet was Aura.

As I sat down I looked over to Missy and Sissy, even though they are twins it was easy to tell them apart. Missy’s scales were slightly more blue, where Sissy’s scales were a bit more green. “Morning Drakon,” they both said, in that slightly creepy twin speak, at the same time. Then looking at each other for a few seconds, again in that creepy twin way where it looks like they were communicating telepathically, they nodded to each other. Missy then smiled and started up “Apparently it's up to me as Sissy here is too shy to speak in front of so many people.”

“I’m a stone-warden, my class lets me buff people and make them tougher, and I have some minor healing abilities. Sissy is a Ranger, she has the ability to work with animals and get animal companions. Her current one is waiting out near the town gates, and before you ask you’ll see why when we get there. She is a sharpshooter with her bow and has some minor healing abilities that work only work on animals. Grim filled us in on his quest to rescue a den-mother and we decided to give him a hand, in return he offered to help escort us to Maidens rest over land. That way I might be able to get a few levels before we meet up with our parents' company there.” Sissy then whispered in Missy’s ear and giggled. “Well, that was one of the favors he promised for our help.” And she also turned away blushing.

Before I could ask what the other favor was, Aura entered the room just as Grim returned with the food. Missy and Sissy dragged Aura over to their side of the table and started gushing over how beautiful her scales were and within a few minutes we're talking like old friends about scale care and other things that I quickly tuned out on.

Grim turned to me. “I've already picked up supplies, part of it is in the small bag of holding that Moira was able to pick up yesterday. I also borrowed a cart, we don't have any horses or other animals to pull it but I was hoping we could use the skeletons for now. Aura brought around the gear so they now have their sidearm and shields. She also has a surprise for you once we get outside. I also picked up some tents and camping supplies and that's all on the cart.” When I tried to thank him for his work he waved it off “If I'm going to be your quartermaster, no time like the present to start, besides your helping me with my quest remember.”

After a short discussion, we decided to first head up to where we fought the other wolves and then follow the trail back to the den. We quickly finished up eating and then made our way down. Bringing up the rear I got stopped by Missy just before we headed down the stairs. “You hurt that girl and we are going to have a long talk with certain parts roasting above a fire.” Me taken aback for a second Missy quickly made her way down to the rest of the group before I could ask what that was all about.

When we got outside I saw what I had missed in my early morning daze. The skeletons were now decked out in their new cloaks and helmets and had just equipped themselves with the new gear. Moira looking proud screamed “Attention.” The skeletons all forming up in a line beside the cart. Then turned to me “The troops are ready for inspection, Sir. With their new ability to talk they have decided on names and would like to introduce themselves.”

Deciding it was a good thing to at least practice at being a Lord I walked past giving them a good once over. They looked pretty awesome with the wolf head helmets and the thick cloak. Leather armor with the same wolf emblem Moira had. Shields strapped to the forearm I noticed that Merryn had put a slightly embossed wolf head emblem on there as well, sword in a belt to the side, and the spears resting in the other hand with the butt on the ground. Somehow it looked like they were all dressed in female armor. I had a quick look at the unit card.

It seemed that with either Odin’s blessing or giving them shields, or both, also came the slight upgrade to shieldmaidens instead of spearmen. The corporals had decided to keep the names simple, and Moira later explained that it was because traditionally subunits are named after the corporal. They named themselves, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omega.

After inspecting the troops. Aura pulled me to the side of the cart. It looked like there was a big shape in the middle of it with a sheet over it. When I got there Aura pulled off the sheet showing the now finished form of the first Iron Wolf. He looked like a metal version of the Alpha wolf we fought a few days earlier, but with armor plates instead of fur. “Meet Freki, he won't have the power of speech until I can finish a second one but as soon as I finished him there was a small flash of light and where his form was a little bit blocky, his form suddenly smoothed over. Plus he doesn't seem to make any of the clanking noises most iron golems normally have.” She said stroking his head, which strangely enough it almost looked like the construct got a smile on its face and was leaning into the caresses a bit like a real wolf would.

“Nice work Aura he looks ferocious.” Looking at the wolf it seemed to smile. Which was scary as hell as the huge head had rows of metal teeth. “He's bigger than I expected, are you able to use him as a mount?”

“I don’t know, I hadn’t thought about it.” Then looking at the wolf. “Would you mind if I use you as a mount?” At that Freki jumped out of the cart nodded his head and bent down a little so that Aura could get on.

After that display, Moira ordered four of the skeletons to put their spears and shields in the cart and to grab the handles. And with that, we made our way to the gates of town.

Once we got there Sissy let out a whistle and a gigantic Boa constrictor with light green scales came out of the bushes. About twenty feet in length and a head about three feet in diameter. “Meet Ivy. She’s my animal companion. I have to keep her outside of town as she is slightly too big. She also doesn't need any feeding thank goodness, but like Moira wouldn’t say no to some food now and then.” I got the feeling that Moira had already been talking a bit with the girls before waking me up.

And with Missy and Sissy both mounting up onto Ivy. Moira flying above to keep a lookout, we made quick work and made it to the place where we had the wolf encounter. Following the, according to sissy at least, easy trail to follow that the wolves left we made our way north out of the grasslands and into the forest. The day was pretty uneventful until we came to the edge of where the swamplands started. The trail thankfully didn’t lead into the swamp where the cart couldn't go but skirted just on the outside of it. We had some lunch and then with the swamp on one side started to head west still following the trail.

Sissy scouting ahead called out to us that she found something. We found a gruesome sight. A dead bear that was held up by his head with a collar and ropes tied to two trees It seemed like the ones who put her there had tortured it, as small burn marks were seen all over the body. Not enough to kill or looking like it was inflicted in a fight. But placed in such a way to inflict maximum pain. We cut him down, and Sissy used some sort of ranger ability to commune with his spirit.

After about ten minutes of communion with the spirit looking at Sissy getting angrier and angrier the snakes on her head hissing more and more as time went on she turned to us. “These trappers are adventurers that seemingly like to torture animals. He had seen them attack the wolf den, as he and the den mother had an agreement he tried to help but was captured. And he gave me directions to the den. Not finding enough sport with the wolves they took him here. I won't say all that they did to him as I want you to keep your lunch down, but let's just say that when I catch up to these guys I will ask that we try and capture them and then you leave me alone with them for a few days.”

Seeing the anger in the once sweet and shy face of Sissy made me take a few steps back before I went up to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “When we catch up to them, I don’t think there will be anything left after I’m done with them. They are not worth sullying your soul over by torturing them.” Then whispering in her ear to let her in on the secret. “I on the other hand am half-vampire. I have no soul to sully.” Doing my best to put on my most evil grin.

I turned to the rest of the group “Grim, you Sissy and Moira will go to the den-mother and get her and the rest of the pack.” Looking at the snake. “I hope Ivy can carry both you and Sissy and Moira can scout for you. Also, take Omega along as well as some extra backup if needed.” Giving a quick nod to Sissy. “Moira should be able to home in on me when you are done.” And at that, they mounted up and sped off in the direction of the den.

Turning to Missy and Aura. “These guys haven’t been that concerned about leaving a trail, we are going to follow them and destroy them. It's one thing to hunt animals it's another thing to just be cruel to them. I want to try and kill them before Grim and Sissy make it back to us.” Missy looking at me with a look of understanding at why I sent her sister off. “We will leave the cart here as it will only slow us down, we will come back for it later.” The skeletons quickly hiding the cart and picking up their weapons.

“It's time the wolves start hunting.” And at that, we followed the obvious trail.