I felt the spell settle over me, and I whispered, loud enough for the rest to hear me, “I’m off.” Tucking my wings close against my back, I made my way down the stairs, which cut back once before emerging into a large, open space. What I saw from the top of those stairs was less than enticing.

The space was wide, and open, a square roughly one hundred feet on a side with a ceiling that was twenty feet above the level of the water. Briny water filled the room, extending to a depth of thirty feet. The magical lights illuminating the room revealed that the only solid ground was six platforms of stone rising up from the water.

The first, obviously, was the one the stairs descended upon, located in the center of the room. In each corner of the room, another platform was placed, and each of those had one of the Huntresses upon them. The last platform was situated to the right of the central one, and had the stairs down. But there was no path connecting them.

Looking at the platforms more closely, I could see levers sticking out of each of the six platforms. No doubt those controlled some mechanism to raise or lower a bridge or otherwise allow people to pass across the room without getting wet. Each platform only had a single lever, so each one must have a purpose. I doubted we would be so lucky as to just be able to pull a single lever and open a path straight to the exit.

A flash of movement caught my eye. In the water below, there was a greyish shape with the body of a seal and the head of a wolf, and glowing red eyes. I had been so concerned with the platforms that I had neglected the water. Looking around, I quickly spotted seven more of the strange creatures, swimming about.

I had seen enough. Stealing back up the stairs, I returned to the others. I cleared my throat so they knew I was there, and began relaying what I had seen.

Siora’s Knowledge (Arcana) check: 1d20+13 = 20 (Success)

Siora nodded slowly. “That sounds like a seawolf. The simplest way to describe them would be an aquatic variant of werewolves, but their curse is different. They lack a weakness to silver, but also have no protection from other sources of damage. And their curse strips them of the abilities of whatever class and levels they had before. Thankfully, the curse works only against humans, so all of us are safe from that fate.”

“All right,” I said, “that is one piece of good news. However, I don’t think any of us want to take on aquatic predators in the water if we can help it, even if we are immune to their curse. Frostmane, I don’t see any way you’ll be able to jump from platform to platform without getting wet. There isn’t enough room for you to get a running start. We’ll try and get a connection as quickly as possible.”

The wolf chuffed, and said, “Fine. Don’t make me wait too long, though, or they might just all start coming out of the water to play with me. If that happens, I won’t leave any for the rest of you.”

I chuckled. “Fine, fine. Siora, Vestele, wings out. When we get into the chamber, fly to the northeast platform. I’ll fly ahead, and make sure to have the Huntress’s attention. One of you hit the switch first chance you get. Frostmane, when you come down the stairs, push the lever so we can see what happens with that one, as well. Everyone got it?”

I saw nods all around. “All right, good. I’ll go first. Give me a second to get into position, and, when you hear the sounds of fighting, come in, and get to positions.”

With that, I turned, and went back down the stairs, just far enough that I could spread my wings again. Lifting off, I moved invisibly through the air, gliding towards my target. I could see one of the seawolves sniffing the air, but I didn’t give it time to scent me out.

Melinda’s Attack (Huntress 4): 1d20+15 = 35 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+15 = 31 (Crit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 10d6 = 35 (Cold)

Huntress 4’s Fort Save: 1d20-1 = 10 (Fail, -4 DEX for 10 min.)

Melinda’s Attack (Seawolf 8): 1d20+15 = 21 (Hit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 17 (Cold)

Seawolf 8’s Fort Save: 1d20+6 = 13 (Fail, -4 DEX for 10 min.)

The surprise was total when I unleashed my Hellrime Chain, devastating the Huntress I had targeted, before the power jumped to the seawolf that had scented me. Both looked like they were far the worse for wear. Now visible, I descended to the stone platform. “NOW!” I yelled out to my friends, and saw them getting into position.

Initiatives

Melinda

Siora

Seawolves

Frostmane

Vestele

Huntresses

Melinda’s Attack (Huntress 4): 1d20+15 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d10 = 2 (Bludgeoning)

Hellrime Blow: 5d6 = 21 (Cold) (Dead)

Not giving the stunned Huntress time to react, I whirled about, and icy blue surrounded my foot as a spinning kick met with the wolfkin’s head. As I completed my spin, bringing me to look at the rest of the room, the unfortunate cleric fell to the ground, dead. “So, who is next?”

Siora landed next to me, her wings slower than mine, but still able to get her to the platform in time. Reaching out, she pushed the lever that was on the corner of the platform, and, immediately, we heard a grinding sound. From below the water a stone platform rose, ten feet wide, connecting our platform with the one across from it. As the platform rose, it lifted one of the seawolves out of the water.

The seawolves moved, swimming swiftly through the water. When they touched land, they shifted into a hybrid form, and I could see where the comparison to werewolves came from. Grey mottled fur covered them, and their claws and teeth were as impressive as any normal werewolf’s. The wolves closed on Siora and I, as well as a few brave ones approaching Frostmane.

Frostmane chuffed as he saw the wolves approaching him, and turning into their hybrid forms. With exaggerated nonchalance, he pushed the lever on the central platform, and, once again, the grinding sound could be heard. Another causeway rose up, connecting the central platform to the bridge Siora had just raised.

Huntress 1’s Will Save (Charm Monster): 1d20+10 = 18 (Fail)

Vestele turned away from the rest of us, and flew closer to one of the Huntresses. She uttered the words of a spell, and simply looked at the Huntress, who’s eyes glazed over with compulsion. “Good girl. Now, be a dear and slaughter these annoying seawolves.”

Huntress 1’s attack (Seawolf 6): 1d20+7 = 21 (Hit)

Damage: 1d10 = 10 (Piercing)

Huntress 2’s attack (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 20 (Miss)

Huntress 3’s attack (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 26 (Miss)

In unison, the surviving huntresses raised their heavy crossbows. Three shots fired near simultaneously, but only one found its mark. Two bounced harmlessly off of Frostmane’s armor, but the last one buried itself in the back of the seawolf closest to Vestele’s new pet Huntress.

Melinda’s Concentration check: 1d20+12 = 29 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack (Seawolf 8): 1d20+15 = 31 (Hit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 5d6 = 16 (Cold) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack (Seawolf 7): 1d20+15 = 18 (Hit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 8 (Cold)

Seawolf 7’s Fort Save: 1d20-3 = 15 (Fail, -4 DEX for 10 min)

Stilling my movements as much as possible, I unleashed another blast of icy power at the wolf I’d hit before. It had climbed up onto the platform to face me, but my second attack finished it off. The blast then chained to one of the wolves that was entirely too close to Siora for my liking striking it in the nose. As I moved up next to the Beguiler, I said, “Silly wolves, I am a child of the Northlands, beyond the Worldspine Mountains! You think teeth like yours scare me?”

Siora laughed at my attitude, and took a step back, away from the wolves. “If that is your attitude, you can kill them yourself! But don’t let me hear you telling anyone I didn’t help!” She cast a spell, and touched my shoulder, and I could see my image blurring. Excellent.

Seawolf 1’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 24 (Miss)

Seawolf 1’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 2 (Miss)

Seawolf 1’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 15 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 25 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 5 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 18 (Miss)

Seawolf 3’s Bite (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 13 (Miss)

Seawolf 3’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 9 (Miss)

Seawolf 3’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 3 (Miss)

Seawolf 4’s Bite (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 22 (Miss)

Seawolf 4’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 19 (Miss)

Seawolf 4’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 13 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Bite (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 26 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 19 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 17 (Miss)

Seawolf 6’s Bite (Huntress 1): 1d20+7 = 21 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 20 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 17 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 6 (Miss)

The seawolves stepped up around Frostmane and myself, and snarled furiously, for all the good it did them. Even the sea wolf that turned its fangs on the Huntress was unable to get past her armor. There were many of them, but it was pretty clear that, as long as we weren’t in the water, we could take them.

Frostmane’s attack (Seawolf 3): 1d20+13 = 30 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 24 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 5 (Cold)

Frostmane’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+13 = 22

Seawolf 3’s STR check: 1d20+2 = 14 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane was having none of that. The aquatic not-quite-werewolves were no match for him, and he was going to prove it unequivocally. Fang met flesh, and one of the wolves was now on the ground, barely clinging to life.

Vestele circled the platform her new pet huntress was on, and landed in the corner where the lever was. Pushing it caused the now familiar rumbling, and a new bridge appeared, connecting her platform with the one to the southwest. “Keep them busy, and we’ll be done with this in no time!”

Huntress 1’s attack (Seawolf 6): 1d20+9 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+3 = 4 (Bludgeon/Piercing)

Huntress 1’s Attack (Seawolf 6): 1d20+4 = 6 (Miss)

Huntress 3’s Spiritual Weapon (Vestele): 1d20+10 = 16 (Miss)

Huntress 3’s Spiritual Weapon (Vestele): 1d20+5 = 10 (Miss)

The charmed Huntress struck back against the seawolf, striking a light blow with her morningstar, though her second swing was less successful. The other two Huntresses, however, did not move to load their crossbows, but rather began casting spells. The one to the southeast conjured a hand with a clawed bracer which swiped at Vestele, missing the cleric both times. The one to the southwest, however, was clearly summoning something. Wonderful.

Seawolf 1’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 10 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 13 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s AoO (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 15 (Miss)

Melinda’s Attack (Seawolf 7): 1d20+15 = 31 (Hit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 5d6 = 13 (Cold)

Melinda’s Attack (Seawolf 1): 1d20+15 = 25 (Hit)

Hellrime Chain Damage: 6 (Cold)

Seawolf 1’s Fort Save: 1d20-3 = 11 (Fail, -4 DEX for 10 min)

More confident now that I’d seen how weak the seawolves were, I danced between fangs as I readied my magic, before unleashing it on the one I’d hit last time. As ever, the magic hit the seawolf head on, and then bounced to another. I smiled as I saw bits of ice clinging to the creatures, slowing their movements. That made things all the easier.

Siora’s Attack (Seawolf 7): 1d20+9 = 17 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+2 = 5 (Piercing)

Siora brought her shortbow to her hand, and loosed an arrow directly into the chest of the seawolf I’d just targeted. “We ought to hurry this up. I don’t think we’ll be happy if we just let those priestesses do whatever they like.”

Seawolf 1’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 22 (Miss)

Seawolf 1’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 9 (Miss)

Seawolf 1’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 6 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 20 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 14 (Miss)

Seawolf 2’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 21 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+1 = 2 (Normal Hit)

Miss Chance: 1d100 = 97 (Hit)

Damage: 1d4+1 = 4 (DR 10/Magic)

Frostmane’s AoO (Seawolf 3): 1d20+13 = 20 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 24 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 6 (Cold) (Dead)

Seawolf 4’s Bite (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 21 (Miss)

Seawolf 4’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 7 (Miss)

Seawolf 4’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 3 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Bite (Frostmane): 1d20+7 = 8 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 14 (Miss)

Seawolf 5’s Claw (Frostmane): 1d20+1 = 15 (Miss)

Seawolf 6’s Bite (Huntress 1): 1d20+7 = 9 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Bite (Melinda): 1d20+7 = 19 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 16 (Miss)

Seawolf 7’s Claw (Melinda): 1d20+1 = 7 (Miss)

The seawolves launched into action once again, and once again, they proved that they were no threat to Frostmane or myself. One did manage to get a lucky bite in on my wrist, but his teeth couldn’t break the skin. Even better, for us, the wolf that Frostmane threw down tried to get back up, running straight into his jaws. This time, when it went down, it didn’t get back up again.

Frostmane’s attack (Seawolf 4): 1d20+13 = 19 (Hit)

Power Attack (5) Bite: 1d8+18 = 19 (Piercing)

Freezing Bite: 1d6 = 2 (Cold)

Frostmane’s Trip Attempt: 1d20+13 = 22

Seawolf 4’s STR check: 1d20+2 = 7 (Fail, Prone)

Frostmane turned upon his next target, and chuffed, before launching himself at the seawolf, his jaws grabbing him by the leg and throwing him to the ground. Looking over my way, he shook his head. “Stop playing with them, little bird, and kill them already!”

Vestele’s Attack (Seawolf 6): 1d20+7 = 27 (Crit Threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+7 = 16 (Normal hit)

Damage: 1d8+2 = 8

Vestele circled around the charmed Huntress, moving into position to help attack the seawolf, while putting her pet between the incoming summon and herself. Her morningstar struck the seawolf’s face with a wet thump, staggering the creature, if only just a bit.

Huntress 1’s attack (Seawolf 6): 1d20+9 = 18 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+3 = 8 (Bludgeon/Piercing) (Dead)

Fiendish Dire Wolf’s Attack (Huntress 1): 1d20+11 = 31 (Crit threat)

Confirm Crit: 1d20+11 = 21 (Normal Hit)

Damage: 1d8+10 = 11 (Piercing)

FDW’s Trip attempt (Huntress 1): 1d20+11 = 29

Huntress 1’s STR check: 1d20+2 = 20 (Fail, Prone)

Huntress 3’s Spiritual Weapon (Vestele): 1d20+10 = 20 (Miss)

Huntress 3’s Spiritual Weapon (Vestele): 1d20+5 = 6 (Miss)

The charmed Huntress slammed her morningstar on the seawolf’s head, killing it with the squelching of shattering bone and flesh. Vestele dodged the spiritual weapon’s successive blows as the two other Huntresses paused to load their crossbows. But that wasn’t what had my attention.

The second huntress’s summon had arrived, and it turned out to be a fiendish dire wolf. The wolf leapt forward, and took a chunk out of the charmed Huntress. The Huntress screamed in pain as she was thrown to the ground. I just hoped they couldn’t summon more of them.