One of Shaa’s favorite places to go was Stargazers Field, an open expanse of grass and cool night breezes where you could come camping and watch the stars. As Shaa was homeless, he found a lot of kindred campers out there. The other thing the field was known for was a certain infamous group of bandits that roamed the field looking to raid campsites. As a result, several campers opted to camp together for safety and odd company.

Tgphis particular night was special as it was so close to the Black Harvest. The moon was full and red colored, taking center stage on the night sky. It was something awesome to see and there was no better place than here to watch, share stories and sip cider.

At Shaa’s camp, there were several different people gathered round. One in particular caught Shaa’s attention. A young human who was wearing military gear was saying something concerning.

Yeah yeah, we just back from stargazer village. Usually we like drinking out there. I know a guy named Riley. You know Riley? Fun guy. Anyway. So there we are hanging out and word gets down to us from the other side of town. Gotta move, some sort of animal around and we needed to bail.

What kind of monster? Shaa enquirerd.

Looked like your mom. I don’t know. The young man thought a moment. Wait. No. It was a werewolf. Yeah, a freaking bone chewer was running around town. Classic.

You are sure it was a werewolf and not some Gnoll who got drunk or something?

The man takes a sip of his cider. Sure I’m sure. That’s what I was telling you. We had to leave because Monster Hunters showed up and were after the thing. Crazy part was it was some guy at first doing blessings at a hospital. There he was blessing people and bam! Freaks out and starts tearing the place up. That’s what they said anyway.

Wait he was blessing people?

That’s what I said, some cleric or ..no, no, it was a paladin. Yeah some paladin named Ed or Edward or something, I don’t know. It’s not like I interviewed the guy.

Shaa looked up at the blood moon. Shaa’s good friend Edward had been recently stricken with the curse of the werewolf. He had heard the rumors about werewolves and full moons but he had no idea what a moon like this would do. Shaa stood up abruptly.

I have to go.

Hey man there are bandits out there. I know your big but even you shouldn’t be out so late.

Shaa hated to admit it but running around in the dark by himself wasn’t the smartest move. Even with his night vision, there were still all sorts of things lying in wait.

Does anyone else need to get back to town? He asked the rest of the campers.

 

Tonight was one of those rare occasions that Cyran had decided to spend the night in the company of other people, rather than camping on his own. Normally, he traversed these fields alone, but he’d heard rumors of bandits raiding the area, and while he was confident he could take care of himself, there was safety in numbers, or so the saying went. The people were friendly, though, and aside from small bouts of conversation, they’d left him alone to drink his cider and watch the starry night sky. It was a blood moon, the color of a deep scarlet, and a full one at that. Cyran was not an especially superstitious person, but as he sat idly in the grass, he couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.



A raven circled lazily overhead, bringing to mind that old poem Cyran had learned back in his childhood about counting corvids in the sky:



One for sorrow,



Two for mirth,



Three for a wedding,



Four for a birth.



He chuckled as he watched the raven, though he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that suddenly struck him. He set his mug of cider down in the grass, and stood, resting a hand on his dagger. That was when he caught sight of the rather large minotaur conversing with a human dressed in garb traditionally of the Moonglade militia. Their conversation was hushed, but as it went on, the minotaur slowly grew more tense until abruptly standing.



When the minotaur called out to the group, asking if anyone wished to come along, a couple of the campers mulled about, uneasy. They were comfortable here, and weren’t too keen on leaving the small bubble of protection and comfort they’d built for the evening. By now, though, Cyran was antsy, and even though the minotaur looked more than capable of taking care of himself, it wasn’t smart to travel alone.



Cyran stepped forward, resting his hand on the dagger strapped to his belt. “I’ll come as well. Has something happened in Stargazer Village? I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I can move quickly and keep an eye out for bandits or whatever else lurks on the road.” He paused, realizing he’d forgotten to introduce himself in his haste. “My name is Cyran, by the way.”

He kept his introduction brief. If there was really trouble, then they didn't have time to be making small talk. He stood at the ready, waiting to follow the minotaur at a moment's notice back to town.

Shaa looked around the campers and watched as they shifted their gazes all around the field. This was about what Shaa expected but from off to the side came a positive reply.

It’s very nice to meet you Cyran. My name is Shaa Rhunn. If you are ready to head back to Stargazer Village, we should go now. Shaa briefly explained that his friend Edward was a werewolf and he was concerned that he may be causing issues in the village. He’s a really good guy who has only recently been afflicted by his…condition. I’m only going back to town to confirm it’s him and help him if I can. I don’t need some monster hunter stabbing him with something when he’s not himself.

Shaa used his night vision to peer into the dark. He didn’t see anything right off so it should be clear for at least a little while.

Are you ready to go? Remember, don’t hurt him. We just need to…subdue him a little bit until he changes back.

---

Night Vision

Cyran nodded along as Shaa explained the situation, growing more worried. He had never encountered a werewolf before, but he understood what Shaa meant when he described that his friend was a good person. It wasn’t his fault that he was afflicted with this condition. “I understand.” He replied. “I promise I won’t hurt him.” Though he doubted he could do serious damage to a werewolf in the first place. Cyran was good with a blade, but outright strength wasn’t his strongest suit. Subduing Edward and keeping him safe should be simple enough. If there were hunters involved… that complicated things.

Cyran stepped into Shaa’s large shadow cast by the moonlight, and narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. He believed Shaa, but even sensitive night vision sometimes missed those who concealed themselves in the darkness.[1]

When he saw nothing, Cyran forced himself to relax. “I’ll stay concealed in your shadow as we move. If we’re attacked on the way there, that’ll give me the element of surprise.”[2]

He kept close to Shaa, making haste to reach the village.

---

1. Shadow Sight
2. Pass without a Trace

Shaa and Cyran moved quickly through the darkness. Although, due to bright moon, it was mostly just shadowed. They were about halfway to the village when a voice came out from behind some shrubbery.

Well we’ll, this is a surprise. Out for a late night run are we? It’s very dangerous to be out here all alone all by yourself. We can escort you to town for… a nominal fee. Some chuckling can be heard from the bushes. Three men then emerged.

Shaa rolled his eyes. So you guys are just friendly escorts hunh? Lucky me. Well I’m really fine so you can just leave. The men moved to surround Shaa, still not knowing that Cyran was there hiding in his shadow.

I am afraid that isn’t really possible. We would feel just aweful if we let you go and something happened. Wouldn’t we boys? The other men nodded in agreement. They all pulled out daggers and moved in closer.

Shaa rolled his eyes. As much as I would like to sit here and banter with you guys, I really don’t have time for this. Get out of my way, or I will move you.

Well that’s not very friendly! Said the man with dripping sarcasm. Not very friendly at. Uurrkkk!

The man was so wrapped up in his monologging that he had noticed that Shaa had moved just in range, grabbing him by the throat. Shaa lifted him by his head, his feet dangling in the air. One of the side bandits comes at him only to have Shaa toss the first bandit into him. They fall into a heap on the ground, bruised but not too badly injured. The third man, still holding the dagger, stands there frozen not sure what to do. Shaa turns to him.

Don’t do it. If you try and stab me with that, I will make you eat it. The bandit looked at the imposing Minotaur and wondered for just a moment if he was using hyperbole or would actually try to make him eat his own dagger. He decided he didn’t want to find out and dropped the weapon. Good choice. The other two men got up from the ground, determined looks on their faces.

---

Bulls Strength
Force of Nature

From where he was hidden in the shadows, Cyran couldn’t help but gape at what he’d just witnessed. Would he seriously make that robber eat the dagger? He wasn't sure if he wanted to find out if that threat was real or a bluff, and he didn’t really want to find out. Evidently, neither did the bandit, who dropped his dagger and disappeared into the woods. Good. It was two on two now, though neither of them noticed.

He was certain Shaa could handle them himself- there was no doubt about that- but time was of the essence here.

Both of the attackers decided to rush at once, foolishly deciding that combining their strength would be enough to take the Minotaur down. Mob mentality was a basic strategy, one that wouldn’t get them anywhere against someone with the brute strength to lift them off the ground like they weighed nothing more than a bag of downy feathers.

That suited Cyran just fine. While they were focused on Shaa, they didn’t notice him waiting to attack.

As the two got within range, Cyran darted out from his position in Shaa’s shadow, raising his hand, which has grown dark, as if it was dipped in black paint. His nails had grown into sharp points, which he raked down the face of the closest thief, who immediately stumbled back and clutched at the gaping wounds on his face, which began to darken around the edges.

His pained scream caught the attention of his companion, who faltered for a moment in his charge as he turned to see what the commotion was. In his shock, he forgot about the very real threat in front of him, the one that he should have been far more worried about.

---

Death Swipe

As the bandit was distracted by the plight of his friend, Shaa reached over and grabbed the wrist that held the dagger, giving it a hard twist. A popping noise is heard as the bones in the man’s hand snap under the stress of Shaa’s crushing grip. He drops the dagger and howls in pain arrgghh

You my friend are a very slow learner. This is your last chance. I am in a hurry or I would twist you into a knot for all of the nonsense you put me through and just out of general principle. Get a job.

Shaa turns the man around and grabs him with one hand on his shirt and the other on his pants. He then tosses the bandit back into the bushes he came from like a sack of flour. The bandit lands with a thump on the other side.

Come on, time to get going again. Shaa turns back to the bush for a moment. If I see anyone following us or if I see you again in general, it will not be pretty. Do you hear me? Some pained groans come from the bushes. 

They quickly start back into the night. The night was moving on and he had to save Edward if he could.

---

Iron Grip
Bulls Strength 
Force of Nature

After they dealt with the bandits, the voyage to the journey was quick, and with little small talk as they hurried to their destination. Cyran lurked in Shaa’s shadow, keeping an eye out behind them to see if the bandits were following them. It looked like the lesson had stuck, however, because the three thugs made no other attempts to come after them.



That was all just as well, because they soon reached the border of Stargazer village.



Well, it would be more accurate to say that they saw the guards first, all stationed around the borders of the village, bearing spears and swords, standing at attention. They tensed when they spotted Shaa approaching, clutching their weapons nervously. One of the men in the middle, whose face was barely visible under his helmet, raised his hand and called out,



“Stop! No one is allowed in or out of the village until sunrise!”



Cyran stepped out of the shadows, making his presence known. “And why is that?” He asked dryly, not particularly in the mood to play games.



“It’s all because of the beast. Bloody thing’s been rampaging since sunset and it shows no sign of stopping.”



“Oh? Must not be particularly deadly if you all are out here. Who decided you should watch the perimeter?”



The guard faltered, grimacing under his helmet. "Erm, uh… we figured someone ought to watch the perimeter. In case anyone tried to come in and all that.”


Something about that didn't sound right. "Then who went after Ed- after the beast?" Cyran demanded, looking between all of them with the most disappointed glare he could manage. Eventually, the one in the center cracked.

“The… well, the hunters. A whole group of 'em. They showed up not long after that fellow from the hospital transformed, all in these hoods, carrying crossbows. They said we should just stay out here and let him take care of things.”



Cyran tensed.

“How many were there?”


“Six, that we saw. Maybe more hanging out in the shadows.”



Cyran glanced back at Shaa, nervous to see his reaction. He’d worried about hunters getting to his friend, but it looked like they were too late to prevent that from happening.



He turned back to the guards. When he spoke, his voice was frigid. “I think it would be best if you stepped aside and let us go if you still want your jobs come sunrise.” He threatened.



The guards all exchanged guilty looks before parting, granting them entrance. Cyran would have been more concerned about their lackadaisical approach to protecting the village from threats, but that was something he could deal with later. Right now, they had a bigger priority, and that was getting to Shaa's friend before the hunters took him first.

He unsheathed his dagger, breaking into a light jog, when he heard the first howl.

Shaa was about to say something when Cyran intimidated the guards to let them through. After getting past the gate, Shaa turned and asked. Ummm so I guess those guys know you? That’s some good work! Shaa smiles and gives a thumbs up. It occurred to him that he probably should have asked some more questions about his new companion. He was about to do just that when he heard the howl. Woooo..

Wait did you hear that? Shaa turned to the sound but heard nothing else. I think it was down this way, let’s go. The two ran down a narrow alleyway. As they came to the end, Shaa could hear voices around the corner. Shaa holds up his hand to stop Cyran and listen.

Come on Candice, you heard the call as well as I did. It has to be close.

You heard what Grey said. We are supposed to find the thing and report back in. No being a hero, we are a team!

We have been looking for half the night, on a blood moon no less. If we let it go now, who knows if we will ever be able to find it again.

Nonsense, you just want the credit. That thing is too much for either of us to handle. I’m going back to the Inn like we are supposed to. Feel free to let it eat your kidneys.

Candice!

No! I’m going!

Shaa can hear footsteps trailing off into the distance. When it gets quiet enough, Shaa turns to Cyran.

Well it sounds like they haven’t found him yet. Apparently he’s pretty slippery as a werewolf. As far as I can tell, we have three options. 1. We can keep looking for him ourselves and try to find him. 2 We can follow these guys back to the Inn to see if any of their buddies know anything or 3. Go to the hospital and see if we can figure out where he went.

what do you want to do?

“Hm? Oh, I’m not familiar with them. Sometimes you just have to act like authority to spook them a little.” Cyran explained, laughing sheepishly. He didn’t have that kind of pull with the guards- it was just luck that the group had been shirking their duties and letting in random hunters, but it worked in their favor.



He followed Shaa as the minotaur beckoned him down an alleyway, only to stop him before they ran right into two hooded figures with their backs turned, deep in conversation. Cyran noted that there wasn’t another soul in sight in the village. It was likely that they’d all taken shelter in the safety of their homes. The cultists were the only two out, conversing rather loudly before the female threw her hands up in exasperation, prompting the male to follow her off to the inn. Once the coast was clear, Shaa turned back and voiced their options.



Cyran tapped at his chin, mulling over their choices. On one hand, he was curious about what information those hunters had, but their priority should be to locate Edward first. “We should go to the hospital first, and pray that those hunters stay at the inn for a while. Maybe we can retrace his steps and track him down from there.”

Shaa nodded his head in agreement. Yes, it’s probably best to start at the start and work our way forward. I think it’s this way.

The two moved down the alley ways, taking several circuitous routes and finally making it to the hospital. As they got closer, they could see the destruction left behind. What in the world was staying here? A giant Vorrapede? They made their way in past the broken gate and up to the door. The doors frames had claw marks marking the old wood. Shaa looked closely at the marks. It could be a werewolf…maybe something else. Shaa saw a middle aged woman with shoulder length hair, sweeping some glass out of the front entry way. 

Shaa stepped through the doorway.

Oh no, please watch out for the glass! Said the busy woman.

Shaa pointed to his hooves. Mess proof no problem. Shaa grabs a spare broom and helps the woman sweep.

Your pretty good at that. She quipped.

I spend a lot of time in china shops. Shaa gave her a mysterious smile. The woman snorts a laugh.

So, what happened here. Don’t blame me though, I just got here.

Haha no no. The woman got a sad look on her face. I’m Nina by the way. Had an incident earlier. Everyone’s ok, just a little scared is all. It’s just. They don’t understand, he’s a good man. He’s good, did so much for us…

Edward?

The woman nodded. Edward’s my friend too. That’s why I’m here. Nina,  I just need to find him.

Nina looked at the ground. I don’t know…he was always here. If not here then.

Where?

I didn’t tell them…they just…

Nina.

The Narrows…he might be in the Narrows.

Shaa put down the broom and gave Nina a small hug. It’s ok Nina, we’ll get him. From the outside, the scene may have looked a little strange. But in the moment, it was just what Nina needed.

Cyran stayed behind as Shaa spoke with Nina, who looked beyond herself as she swept up glass with shaking hands. He listened in on their conversation, keeping an eye outside for any more of the hunters. When Nina mentioned a them, Cyran’s ears perked up in interest. He waited until Shaa finished hugging her, and the poor woman seemed to have regained some of her composure.

He approached the two, keeping his voice gentle. “Did someone else come by here looking for him before us?”

Nina’s lower lip trembled as she wiped at her eyes.

“It’s okay, I promise. We just want to make sure that we find Edward before they do.”

“I told them nothing, I swear. They came in here, asking all these questions about him, calling him an it. I told them he was good, that he couldn’t help what he did. But they wouldn’t listen. Eventually they just got mad and left.”

Cyran nodded. “Thank you. That was awfully brave of you to do that. Thanks to you, we have a chance to get to him first.”

Nina nodded, satisfied with that answer, and went back to cleaning up the mess. With a destination in mind, Cyran and Shaa set off through the village streets on their way to the Narrows.

As Cyran stuck to Shaa’s shadow, he spotted two figures hidden in wait in a dark alley. “Hold on,” He warned, pointing towards where the two lay waiting. From their vantage point, they’d been keeping an eye on the hospital. Were they waiting for Nina to leave, possibly to force the information out of her?

Cyran snapped his fingers, conjuring a sudden sound in the opposite direction, a perfect mimicry of Edward’s howl from earlier in the opposite direction. He could see their shadows shifting, unsure whether they should chase after or not. Eventually, their desire to hunt won and they sprinted off, heading after the source.

“It won’t take them too long to figure out that was fake, but that should buy us some time.” Cyran informed Shaa.
===
Shadow Sight
Minor Trickery

Shaa watched as the two figures disappeared into the shadows. Man you’re slick. Shaa noted with an impressed look on his face. I have to say that I am grateful that you decided to come along with me. I won’t forget it, I promise. Maybe it was because Nina was so upset from earlier. Maybe he was just worried about his buddy. Whatever it was, something about this quest was effecting Shaa deeply. He had a lot of experience with monster hunters, being what some would call a monster himself. He did not like the feeling that Edward was alone, in these jerks cross hairs. He had to find him.

Shaa shook his head a bit to compose himself. And your ugly too. Come on. A weird quirk among Minotaur was that they loved to verbally insult their close friends. It didn’t always translate well in cross species relationships but most Minotaur didn’t care if it lead to a fight or not. Shaa felt a bit closer to Cyran. Yeah, he was ok.

As the two moved deeper into the Narrows, evidence of destruction was becoming more and more sparse. It was hard to tell if the trash and general disorder was because of wanton destruction or just because the Narrows was a neighborhood 2 steps away from being a trash hole.

After a while and some close examination, Shaa was sure of it. No claw marks, no hair. There was no sign of him anywhere, he had just vanished. What in the crown of Solaris could we be missing? Shaa got a creepy feeling that they were being watched again. He looked up and saw a pair of yellow eyes staring at him from the rooftop. The rooftops! That’s why no one could find him. Edward! Edward it’s me Shaa! I’m here to help you bro!

From out of the shadows, a crossbow bolt wizzed through the shy, strafing were-Edward’s shoulder. Were-Edward snarled at them furiously and took off across the rooftops. No Edward! It wasn’t us!

Two figures, a man and woman dressed in light leather armor, stepped out from the shadows. Up top, clever. Said the woman. It’s only a matter of time now, it has no where else to hide. Stay out of our way Bull Man. We can deal with your kind just as easily. 

My kind? Shaa sniffed at the woman derisively. Lady, you have a better chance of sticking your head up your own butt than you do of finding someone like me and living to tell about it. Now you and the rest of the kids head on back to the club house. You aren’t getting anywhere near my friend. 

You think so do you? 

Know so.

Shaa turns to Cyran and whispers. You have a better chance of following him than me. I’ll handle these two, but you need to follow Edward, help him! 

He couldn’t help but let out a sudden laugh at Shaa’s heartfelt gratitude, immediately followed by a casual insult. He wasn’t offended by it- he got the feeling that was how Shaa was, the kind of down to earth person who lightened serious moments with humor. Or perhaps he genuinely thought Cyran was ugly. It was difficult to tell. “Think nothing of it.” He replied, smiling. He would hardly consider himself a good person, given that he so rarely got the chance to help people in his line of work. Besides, he felt for Edward, especially if it was one of the man’s first shifts. He must have been disoriented and confused, especially given that tonight was no ordinary full moon, its red light in the sky an ever-present reminder of the grim situation. “I’m happy to help you and your friend."


They set off for the narrows, a neighborhood made up of thin, twisting streets and decrepit houses that looked like they had seen better days. Here, villagers had their windows shut and barred their doors and closed their curtains. There was little light here besides a few dim, flickering lanterns that hung from posts. Cyran still stuck close to Shaa’s shadow, keeping an eye out for any damage, surprised to find none. It seemed after the initial rampage, Edward had simply decided to flee and hide.



Cyran couldn’t help the surge of anger that boiled up in him at the hunters who’d come after Edward. He understood that most hunters simply sought to keep people safe from threats, but these men were the kind Cyran hated the most. So far, Edward had harmed no one, and yet, they continued on the hunt with reckless abandon.



For them, this was a sport.



Shaa spotted Edward first, pointing out the pair of glowing yellow eyes that cut through the dark. Cyran squinted, barely able to make out Edward’s form in the shadows, hunched over. Shaa called out to him, and for a moment, it seemed like Edward had calmed down enough to respond to his friend.



Until the crossbow bolt soared through the air, nicking Edward in the shoulder.



Cyran swore under his breath in elven as Edward took off, whirling around as the two hunters emerged from the darkness, annoyed that they’d missed their prey. Had the hunters been following them the entire time? How had Cyran missed them? He didn’t have time to be frustrated with himself, as Shaa quietly urged him to go after Edward.



For a moment, Cyran hesitated. He didn’t want to leave Shaa alone, but he’d seen how the man dealt with those thugs earlier- he’d have no problem with these two. But he didn’t want to leave Shaa alone when there were still more hunters out there. But he was right that Cyran was their best bet to go after Edward. Cyran pursed his lips and nodded. “Alright. Give them hell.” He replied before slinking back into the shadows, setting off to follow Edward as the werewolf hopped from rooftop to rooftop.


He sprinted as quickly as he could, following the sharp twists and turns that the wolf took through the narrows. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to his movements- he was spooked, and looking for someplace to hide.



Eventually, Edward hit a dead end when he reached what looked like a church, a building with a large steeple that was much taller than the one he was currently perched on. Edward froze, looking in both directions as he figured out what to do. In that moment, Cyran took the opportunity to step out of the shadows and try again, calling out to the werewolf.



“Edward? You don’t know me, but my name is Cyran. I’m here to help you. I’m not sure how much you can understand me right now, but I’m with your friend Shaa.” He held his hands up to show he meant no harm, speaking in a slow, calm tone. Edward made no movements, yellow eyes unblinking. “Can you come down? We need to get you out of here and hide you somewhere safe before the hunters find you. Shaa is holding a few of them off, but there are more looking for you.”

As Cyran takes off after Were-Edward, the woman sees the movement and attempts to pursue them. No you don’t! A burst of adrenaline shoots through Shaa’s veins giving him double the speed. As the hunter jumps into the air in an attempt to access the roof, Shaa manages to grab her by the ankle. With a twist, he swings her body around, smashing her against the wall of the building. Shaa holds on to her leg just in case.

No Shereene! Cried the other hunter. With a flick of his wrist, he flings a dart at Shaa’s heart. She can see it coming and snatches the dart out of mid air. The hunter is stunned. Well let’s just see what you had planned for me, shall we. Shaa sneers coldly. With that, he takes the dart and jams it into the woman’s leg. After a moment, she starts to convulse and foam at the mouth. Nooooo! To Shaa’s surprise, the woman’s face melts from the inside and collapses back into her skull. Shaa drops her leg and backs away slightly as the woman’s body continues to implode. Shaa had a pretty strong constitution but nearly lost it at the sight.

What in Ginma’s name was that? Shaa said accusingly. The hunter turned to him, 2 more darts in his hand. Shaa quickly grabbed a nearby garbage can and launched it at the hunter as hard as he could. As the can slams into the man, Shaa rushed to close the gap. As he approached, the man blows some sort of purple powder into his face. He can’t breathe. Shaa’s lungs are on fire and the world turns into a blur. As he staggers back, he can hear the garbage can being pushed aside. 

Shaa swings wildly into nothing but open air. No, no this isn’t good he said to himself. Got to calm down. Where is he? Where is he? Shaa stops, his breath coming in short fits. Is this how I go? Some melty pile of goo in a dirty back alley? Not like this….

---

Adrenaline Rush
Bull Strength
Deflecting Palm
improvised weapons