A Man with a Lightning Charged Axe

Since I've decided to try my hand at exploring the castle I make my way to the unkempt bridge. I'm not confident in its ability to hold my weight but I have a lack of better options since the plants around me are now moving quite noticeably. Guess the attempts at making me leave failing is making all forms of subtly go out the window. My best guess is there is probably a mage following me out of sight who is controlling the spirits in the woods. If the lore of the games is anything to go by that is.

I start running in an attempt to cross the bridge before anything can get out of hand but as I step onto the first plank a sharp howl breaks the air, meaning whoever is after me has some wolves with them as well. I don't turn around putting as much effort as I can into trying to get to the castle where I might be able to find favorable terrain to fight a mage and a bunch of wolves, but as I get to the halfway mark several wooden wolves leap out of the plants and treeline blocking me from leaving the bridge.

I turn my head to look behind me expecting to see whoever animated the constructs but all I am met with is more of the wooden wolves. There are about fifteen, but there could be more waiting for me or I could have just miscounted in my rush. Either way, I really need to find a way to get out of the situation I'm in. If I were actually Hector from the games I could just fight all of them off but there aren't turn-based battles here, everything is real-time so several wolves could just jump me at once, drag me to the ground, and bite out my throat.

Not a fate I want to experience.

I can't just stay on the bridge as they could just wait me out, I have to sleep eventually and whoever made them knows that. At least they don't want to come onto the bridge with me. They probably want to avoid falling into the mist beneath me, and while that would be a surefire way to kill me it would also prevent them from doing whatever it is they want with me. My only option it seems is to break through their line and try to make a full break for the castle, once I'm there I can find a doorway to funnel them all through, choke points are still effective no matter the situation.

Turning once again to face the castle in the distance, I stare down the wolf closest to me. "I don't know what you're hiding, or who made you but I will not be stopped by some mere constructs!" My voice rings out and echoes in the ravine beneath me as I charge forward trying my best to maintain balance and avoid any planks that look too rotten.

As my feet reach solid ground one wolf lunges forward jaws open trying to land a bite on my arm. Stepping to the side allows me to avoid the bite but the chance to counter is lost when a second wolf bounds towards me from behind. Somehow I sense it despite not seeing it move and barely dodge its jaws aimed at my calf. This however is an opening for a counter as Wolf Beil comes down right on the back of where its neck should be sending splinters flying and the wolf collapses into a pile of wood and leaves.

Taking the small opening I once again take off, I know that running is dangerous, if they behave like real wolves then I'm just signaling that I'm afraid and weak, but then again if they were real wolves they wouldn't attack me after losing one of their own. The sound of panting and howls from behind me however means they are still out for my blood.

Unfortunately for me, it seems Hector's low movement has also been translated over, as I can hear the pack closing in behind me as I try desperately to close the gap between myself and the gatehouse. Daring to look over my shoulder to check how far away they are I am met with several jaws making efforts to bite my heels and calves that are getting terrifyingly close. My best bet is to make a show of strength and try to frighten them off before continuing to make my way to the castle.

Right as I begin to turn in my attempt to frighten them, a larger wolf makes its move. A well-timed lunge has its teeth sink into my left arm and the attempts to bring me down to the ground begin. I roar in pain and anger, so loudly that I swear I see a shockwave come out of my mouth, thankfully that causes the rest of the pack to hesitate as Wolf Beil once again meets my foe, causing it to explode into splinters and firewood.

"You bastards have been given so many chances to give up, and I'm giving you one last chance, I've killed two of your pack and you've drawn my blood. Let's call it even. I might die here if we continue but so will most of you." My voice is rough with anger but my offer is earnest, if they leave I'll be happy and if they don't they'll find I was not worth the effort. Either way I'm still slowly backing up as the gate can't be more than fifty feet from me now.

The wooden wolves are being careful as they try to surround me, growling the whole time. But it seems that about a third of them have gone missing since I began my play from the bridge. Hopefully, that means that it's just this group of seven left. As one of the smaller creatures takes a larger step forward I stop my backward motion and also move forward to meet it. "I warned you!" I shout, raising my axe. The wolf takes a few steps back at my motion but they still don't run.

I must be about twenty feet from the gate now, if I'm lucky the guardhouse near the gate is open and I can use it to prevent what just happened to my left arm. Even if it isn't I can use the actual gate as a good choke point. Maybe if I'm lucky the game mechanic where gates heal was also transferred over. I can't take my eyes off the pack to check how close I am to the gate but given the stalemate we've attained I might be able to risk it. Hell, I might be able to just make a dash for it now.

To hell with this, I'm running for it.

Stomping a foot forward to intimidate the pack before sharply turning and dashing into the gate, my gambit seems to be paying off, as I manage to spy the guardhouse near the gate and crash through the door before turning to face the entrance to smash any of the wolves that come through. Not all that surprisingly it seems that all the pack that didn't run followed me into the courtyard.

The first poor construct comes right at me, and its face is cleft in two by my axe. It is quickly followed by two others who get too close as they try to squeeze through the door at the same time, allowing me to make a wide swing that shatters the wolves. I stare at the remaining four through the doorway, daring them to come at me.

They growl at me in response before they lope away, probably to rejoin the wiser members of the pack that left earlier.

"Finally," I'm tired, the dash and fight couldn't have been more than five minutes but it felt like ages. I take a look at my arm, which is unfortunately still bleeding. Seems like the gate doesn't heal. I kinda wonder what the in-game logic is for that, do they just have some healing supplies that they use in their spare time between fights?

Doesn't really matter right now as I need to look for something to treat the wound before it gets infected as well as the cause for the growing feeling in my chest. It's like something is pulling me somewhere in the castle. It isn't the throne, if it was I doubt it would be pulling me underground.

Before trying to find my way down though I should set up a base somewhere on the surface if I could find the barracks that would be ideal, a cache of weapons and maybe something to treat my arm and whatever other injuries I may sustain while exploring. Maybe the throne would heal, who knows if there are enchantments on the chair that would allow for rapid healing or maintaining good health or something.

I begin by rummaging through the crates at the foot of the beds for the gates guards, I don't find much of anything but that is well within my expectations as a fortress this ruined would have most everything of use looted not long after being abandoned and this place has clearly been out of use for a long time. I might be able to find something akin to a healing potion or vulnerary if I tried to look for secret rooms or hiding spots but I doubt there would be any this close to the gate.

I move from the gatehouse to the main foyer of the keep, hoping to find the throne room, I follow the large carpet that has stood the test of time quite well, and so have the banners on the walls there are two main themes, mostly solar and lunar in nature. Some form of militant religious orders or maybe someone here fancied themselves a Louis the XIV. Either way, I find my way to the throne room quite quickly, and my suspicion about the leaders being tied to the sun and moon is only confirmed by the two thrones. One a brilliant gold, still shining even in the low light of the setting sun, and the other made of silver and what seems to be black iron.

When I approach the golden throne my body begins to feel light, and warm. My walking pace improves as I can feel myself quicken, and I also take notice of the small waves in the air, they don't impede my movement but they might be magic wards to protect against magic and physical weapons. All this combined leads me to assume that this throne at least acts as they do in game. A quick check of my arm confirms my idea. It's good as new, not even a mark as the hole in my gauntlet is also closed. Seems it also repairs my armor, how nice.

I take a seat on the golden throne and playfully say to myself, "Chapter Clear." I half expected a grade sheet showing the MVP of the map and how many turns it took to beat to appear but none did. I am however greeted by the pulling my chest growing far stronger as my words ring out into the hall.