CCVV-0225

Dicey Dangers, The Creepy Creature of Vulture's Vineyard

Game by Joel Hills

Fear for The Elite Destroyers

The sound of excited chatter echoes through the dungeon ahead, punctuated by the occasional loud, exaggerated "RAWR!" As you turn the corner, torchlight reveals a sight both ridiculous and deeply concerning: the Elite Destroyers have somehow acquired a new "pet."

The "pet" in question is a massive, ancient dire wolf, its grizzled fur streaked with gray and its body so scarred and worn it looks as though it has survived a hundred battles and twice as many bad decisions. The creature lies sprawled on the cold stone floor, its head resting on its paws, with the faintest flicker of life in its tired yellow eyes. It looks utterly resigned to its fate—or perhaps it's simply conserving its strength for a moment when hunger or boredom might finally drive it to devour the enthusiastic children surrounding it.

The leader of the Elite Destroyers, the same scrawny boy with the oversized helmet and makeshift "command rod," is standing triumphantly beside the wolf. His foot is planted on a nearby rock as if posing for a heroic statue, and his voice booms with childish authority. "Behold! Fangbane the Mighty has joined the Elite Destroyers! Together, we will conquer the dungeon, defeat all monsters, and become the greatest heroes to ever live!"

The dire wolf, presumably "Fangbane," lazily flicks an ear in response, showing no particular interest in the speech. Its massive size makes the children look even smaller, and the contrast between their boundless energy and its overwhelming lethargy is almost comedic.

One of the other kids, a girl clutching a piece of string tied to the wolf’s neck like a leash, turns to you with a big, proud grin. "Isn’t he amazing? We tamed him all by ourselves!" she boasts, as if the beast wasn’t simply too tired—or too cunning—to resist.

Another child, the youngest, is perched on the wolf’s back, laughing gleefully as they gently tug on its fur like reins. "He’s so soft!" they exclaim, completely oblivious to the dangerous glint in the dire wolf’s eyes whenever they come too close to its snout. You notice the wolf’s massive jaws twitch ever so slightly, as though it's considering whether it's worth the effort to snap.

The fourth member of the group, a bespectacled boy with a notebook, seems less enthused and more wary. "I don’t know, guys," he mutters under his breath, his pencil nervously tapping against the page. "I read somewhere that dire wolves are really dangerous... What if he—"

"Nonsense!" interrupts the leader with a dramatic flourish of his stick. "Fangbane is our loyal companion now! Isn’t that right, buddy?" He leans down and slaps the wolf’s side affectionately. The wolf responds with a heavy sigh that seems to rattle the room, its eyes sliding over to meet yours. There's an intelligence in that gaze, as though it’s fully aware of the absurdity of the situation—and how much power it holds over its oblivious "masters."

You can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, the sight of these fearless kids attempting to "tame" a dire wolf is almost laughable. On the other, the very real possibility of Fangbane turning on them at any moment sends a shiver down your spine. The question looms: do you intervene, potentially angering the kids who clearly adore their new pet, or do you leave them to their fate, knowing full well that their enthusiasm may end in disaster?

And then, as if sensing your hesitation, Fangbane lets out a massive yawn, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The youngest, still perched on its back, giggles and pats its head. "He’s just sleepy! Who’s a good boy? Who’s a—"

The dire wolf closes its eyes, utterly unbothered. For now.

The Creepy Creature of Vulture's Vineyard New Room Item Properties Wandering Monster

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