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common herd — everyone blames the wolves for that. But no-one gives a thought about how wolves would get through closed gates. The whole village is surrounded by a solid stockade, which not even a mouse would squeeze through. Only the Headman and his sons know the truth, since they spend nights trying to catch the elusive beast. It's been evading them for two years now and they've only glimpsed the monster's red eyes a couple of times. From afar. Your help would be invaluable. Would you take this on? If you could at least find out what beast it is that roams Beatwick, you would receive an ample reward.
     
    Quest available: 'Night terror of the village'
    Description: Once every seven days a monster roams Beatwick, which brings trouble and destruction to the residents. Find out who is the night terror of the village. Quest type: Rare. Reward: +400 to Reputation with the Krong Province, +500 Experience, +80 Silver coins, a Rare item from Headman's Stores. Penalty for failing/refusing the quest: -400 to Reputation with the Krong Province.
     
    "I'll take it. I'll find out who is hiding under the guise of the beast," I accepted. Now it all became clear. The beast's properties could not be seen, because that was the nature of the quest. So it looks like I'll have to find out about it the normal way and not the one that only players could use. All right, I'll postpone this matter for a week, when it is time for the hunt once again. Our first meeting with the beast ended with its complete victory, but we'll see how things go from here.
    "Thank you, Mahan! If you need help, you can ask for it straight away," the priest thanked me and I headed for the village. It was now time to collect my dropped cash and go wolf hunting. There was levelling up to be done.

Chapter Two
Wolves and Other Things
     
     
     
    "W hen did you manage to get out?" asked Elizabeth as soon as I stepped into the courtyard. "I thought you were having a lie-in until noon, but it looks like you're quite an early bird."
    "I thought I'd take a walk," I said, side-stepping the question, reluctant to bring up the monster. "I decided not to wake anyone, climbed over the fence and went to check out the local surroundings."
    "How did you avoid getting mauled by Tiny Tim?" she asked in surprise.
    "Tiny Tim?"
    "Our dog. We let him out into the courtyard every evening. He's been taught not to jump over the fence, but he won't let any strangers into the courtyard either. That's him sitting over there, see?" Elizabeth pointed to the far end of the courtyard, where Tiny Tim was living inside an enclosure, the meter-high wolfhound that he was. He was growling quietly and giving me a decidedly unfriendly look. Where were you, my friend, when I was being sent for the respawn? Probably sitting in your little hole and sniggering at my expense. I suddenly had a feeling that I really had to 'have a chat' with Tiny Tim. It was silly, of course, but since my initiation as a Shaman I have made a habit of trusting any sudden hunches.
    "Can I get to know him a little better?" I looked questioningly at my landlady.
    "Of course, just don't tease him. It would take him just a couple of bites to rip through the wire, I don't want any trouble. Our Tiny Tim is well-trained and shouldn't attack without good reason, but it's best not to tempt fate."
    I assured Elizabeth that I wouldn't do anything to the dog and walked up to his enclosure. Looking around to make sure we wouldn't be disturbed, I squatted and looked straight into the wolfhound's eyes. I couldn't explain why I did this, but felt that this was the right thing to do. Giving off a quiet growl, Tiny Tim came right up to the wire. I was hit by a pungent animal smell. We stared into each other's eyes for a couple of seconds and then suddenly...
    The rest of the world went grey, became covered with a mist and a ringing silence surrounded me. It was as if someone turned off all sound with a wave of the hand. A shadow separated itself from