Water wolves

Stub-class article · First seen: s17 · Last seen: s18
Water wolves
water wolf · the water wolves · frost-zone water wolves
Portrait of Water wolves.
Character
StatusDispersed
First seens17
Last seens18
FactionSapphire Sea fauna, Frost-zone creatures

Water wolves are the smaller pack creatures that came onto the party’s skiff alongside the Brinemaw Wyrm, a Reef Stalker and the Rimeclaw Skulkers at a cold-water reef line on the Sapphire Sea in session 17 [1]. They bite, and bleed purplish blood that the table compared with Hugo’s own luminous blue blood; the DM has allowed only the resemblance, not a connection ([26]; DM ruling 22). Hugo killed one and Caelumn’s Chromatic Orb obliterated another before the fight ended in session 18, when the creatures sank beneath the reef [15][6][25].

Overview

The water wolves are the smaller creatures of the reef-line fight that opened the session 17 combat. On the second day of the sail towards the White Lantern Shrine the water turned cold, plates of frost drifted past, and as a huge shape passed under the skiff the DM described “smaller wolves in the water” and named them: “Water wolves.” [1]. They fought on and around the deck alongside the Brinemaw Wyrm, the Reef Stalker and at least two Rimeclaw Skulkers.

Appearance and demeanour

Aquatic, wolf-shaped and smaller than the other creatures of the reef line, they run across the skiff and bite [9][10]. Their blood is purplish: when Steven’s pact dagger first drew it, the DM said that “you see this purplish blood drip onto your blade” [11]. The table at once compared it with Hugo’s own blood, which he had described earlier in the session as “a luminous like blue color” [12][13]. The DM has allowed only that the water wolves’ purplish-blue blood resembles Hugo’s altered blood, with no connection confirmed (DM ruling 22).

Abilities as played

What happened in play, not a stat block. A water wolf ran across the skiff to bite Mike with a natural 20; Terry’s Silvery Barbs forced a reroll, which came up a 20 to hit again, and Mike’s Shield turned it [3]. The Wyrm’s frost breath caught one of them at its full force, and it howled [14]; one was killed by a blow through the skull [15] and another by a Chromatic Orb for 52 damage [6].

Relationships

  • Brinemaw Wyrm: shared the encounter; its frost breath clipped one of its own wolf-like allies at full force, and it seemed not to care ([2]; DM ruling 50).
  • Reef Stalker and Rimeclaw Skulker: the other creatures of the same fight.
  • Hugo: killed one, and was compared to them for his blood [13][15].
  • Steven: drew the first water-wolf blood with a natural 20 [16].
  • Caelumn: obliterated one with a double natural 20 from a Chromatic Orb [6].

Disposition towards the party

Hostile predators. They came aboard with the larger creatures and went for the party [17][9][10].

Notable quotes

“Water wolves.” — Nick (DM), [17]

“It hits its ally with the full brunt of the force and you hear this smaller wolf-like creature howl in pain as it gets hit” — Nick (DM), [14]

“You pull it out, you see this purplish blood drip onto your blade.” — Nick (DM), [11]

“Oh Hugo it’s one of your friends” — Terry, [18]

“Holy shit. Double nat 20.” — Nick (DM), [19]

History in the campaign

Session 17: New Hands, the Black Mask’s Renegotiation, and the Rimeclaw

Main article: Session 17

At the reef line the skiff was attacked by the Reef Stalker, the Wyrm, at least two Skulkers and a pack of water wolves, some on the skiff and some in the water [1]. The Wyrm’s frost breath caught three of the party for half of 32 and one of its own wolf-like allies at full force [2]. A wolf’s natural 20 on Mike was rerolled with Silvery Barbs, came up 20 again, and was turned by Shield [20]. Steven’s first dagger strike was a natural 20 on a wolf, drawing purplish blood, and Terry told Hugo it was “one of your friends” [21]. Hugo killed a wounded wolf for 18, and Caelumn’s Chromatic Orb bounced to another on the boat for 52 [15][6]. The session ended mid-round [7].

Session 18: The Wyrm Falls, the Catfish Escapes, and Mike Dies on the Road

Main article: Session 18

Terry’s opening recap mentioned “a pack of water wolves potentially as well” [22]. No wolf is named in the round that finished the fight, but Hugo took the head of what the DM called “the wolf” [23]; the DM had just named the skulker, so that kill is most likely the Rimeclaw Skulker [24]. As the last shapes vanished beneath the reef, the water closed over them, and the frost melted from the skiff [25].

Status

As of session 23. Dispersed. At least two water wolves died in session 17, and any survivors sank beneath the reef in session 18; none has been seen since. Whether the resemblance between their blood and Hugo’s means anything is open (DM ruling 22).

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 17, line 1568-1595: The temperature drops, frost on the water, the reef line; smaller creatures on the skiff: "Water wolves.".
  2. ^ Session 17, line 1619-1638: The Brinemaw Wyrm's frost breath clips one of its own wolf-like allies at full force.
  3. ^ Session 17, line 1782-1816: A water wolf's natural 20 on Mike; Terry's Silvery Barbs forces a reroll, again a 20; Mike's Shield turns it.
  4. ^ Session 17, line 1826-1857: Steven's first strike with his pact dagger is a natural 20 on a water wolf; purplish blood; Terry: "one of your friends".
  5. ^ Session 17, line 1869-1874: Hugo kills a wounded wolf for 18 damage.
  6. ^ Session 17, line 1930-1950: Caelumn's second-level Chromatic Orb bounces to a wolf on the boat for 52 damage.
  7. ^ Session 17, line 1987: The session ends mid-fight.
  8. ^ Session 18, line 103-176: The fight resumes; Hugo takes the head of what the DM calls "the wolf" (most likely a Rimeclaw Skulker); the last shapes vanish beneath the reef.
  9. ^ Session 17, line 1782: Inline citation.
  10. ^ Session 17, line 1826: Inline citation.
  11. ^ Session 17, line 1850: Inline citation.
  12. ^ Session 17, line 1478: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 17, line 1851-1857: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 17, line 1638: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 17, line 1869-1873: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 17, line 1826-1850: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 17, line 1595: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 17, line 1851: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 17, line 1937: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 17, line 1786-1816: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 17, line 1840-1851: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 18, line 103: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 18, line 122-124: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 18, line 119: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 18, line 176: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 17, line 1850-1855: Inline citation.
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