A Ravenloft Nightmare
How long have I been here, in this strange land that is
Ravenloft? This was the first question that came into Ambrose’s mind one night,
shortly before the sun would once again complete a cycle and cover the land.
But Ambrose’s mind turned elsewhere, when he returned would his father still
respect him, something he actually had, for such a short time before being
swept away to Ravenloft. He hoped that he would not lose that small amount of
respect he had achieved before leaving. What he was doing here wasn’t a reason
to lose respect anyways. Helping people is always good, and when you are with a
group such as the prestigious Knights of the Shadows there really wasn’t much
in the way of losing his fathers respect. No matter how much his brother
towered over him, with his father always taking his brothers side, there was
hope in Ambrose that his father would learn that Ambrose only wanted him, and
not the money is father had. But this wasn’t the major thing swirling in
Ambrose’s head, he had someone, someone he could swear he loved, but couldn’t
seem to get the idea he actually did, always seeming to be at the edge of
acceptance, but never actually crossing over. He would step outside, and think
it over.
Outside it was a full moon, the sand all around reflected
the bright moon in a strange way, lightly gleaming of the land to create a
faint glimmer all around. It was strangely cold, Ambrose thinking his traditional
musketeer clothing wouldn’t be enough to protect him from the growing cold, he
put on a light jacket, and continued along on his walk. Ambrose’s sharp blue
eyes always on alert for a thief. He was always watching for enemies, as he was
trained to do so, so long ago. His very long and narrow face moving side to
side with his eyes, this did create a strange look when he walked, but everyone
has flaws. He stopped deep in thought, he stopped looking around, and he
started playing with his ponytail. It was this that changed his life forever.
For it was now, while in deep thought, that a creature only of the night came
up behind.
Everything happened at an incredibly fast rate. A wolf
like creature came up from behind and lurched, missing his target and landing
on Ambrose’s leg. The pain came instantly, the creature’s teeth digging deep
into Ambrose’s leg. Ambrose buckled to the ground, a scream escaped him, and he
pulled out his rapier, and slit the creature’s throat, allowing it to fall to
the ground and slowly crawl of the road, finally dieing a couple feet away.
Ambrose rose to his feet, only to find himself sitting
back down in dazed bewilderment. He looked at his leg, blood was pouring out of
it, and he wrapped a cloth around it, and looked at the strange wolf that
looked oddly like a man. He took fire to the creature and watched it burn, and
letting the fire die out, while he was watching the fire, his thoughts once
gain returned to Angelina and his father. Once the fire died down, Ambrose
returned to his sleeping quarters and mended his wound. It wasn’t deep and
looked a lot worse then it actually was, but it still needed to be cleaned, and
washed, which he did, and once he was done, returned to sleep.
It was a month before his mind would return to that
night. He had almost completely forgotten about that night. His mind now almost
accepted his feelings, and his team was really working hard, it was a busy
month, and to keep track of something so inconsequential as an animal wound was
hard to do.
Exaclty a month and a night after the attack, Ambrose
rose out of bed to find his clothes badly torn, and having no recollection of
the night before. Was he drunk last night, most likely not, he was with
Angelina. But was he with her last night, he was almost certain he was during
the afternoon but once night came it all became a blur, then nothing at all
until he would wake up. And further more, why the hell was his clothes torn to
pieces. And why did he feel different, and why was there a strange taste in his
mouth. Nevertheless he thought himself to be having a massive hangover, he
changed, and went outside.
Once outside, he noticed a small crowd of perhaps ten
people outside of his window. He went over and noticed the tracks that led
inside.
“Ah, so however is in there killed the cows?” asked a
man, to old to be walking around in the growing heat.
Ambrose had to respond, and he did so in his usual tone.
“Why would I kill cows in the middle of the night, one would think that a
person helping Ravenloft wouldn’t hurt it.”
“Ah, but why wouldn’t you, rumors are spreading around
that they saw a man that looked like a wolf.”
“A wolf?”
“Yes a wolf.” The man’s voice seemed to change, as if
trying to tell a secret that he didn’t want the others to hear. “Lycanthropy is
quite common in these parts.”
“Aye, so they are, but that doesn’t mean that I am your
culprit”
“The tracks tell all.”
“Are their no tracks leading away? Maybe the creature
came to my sleeping quarters and left.”
“Sir, I am sure there are no tracks leading away, for
your window is broken, and you’re bed covered in blood, most certainly cow
blood, not to mention the large amount of sand that is still currently covering
you.”
“How are you sure of this? Why would I do such a thing?”
“I do not know, but for now we are keeping you in a
locked space, for the full moon is still upon us, and Lcanthropy is only a pain
when the moon is full.”
“You can’t do this!” Hands grasped around Ambrose,
followed by another pair, and he was dragged to the ground. Ambrose put up a
fight, and he went for his rapier when a large man, someone who could destroy
someone in one punch, stamped on his hand releasing the sword, and ending any
fight from Ambrose. “You will regret this is old man, you will!”
Later that day his group, also his friends, got him out,
and let him have the day to try and figure out what had happened the night
before. He was practicing his swordplay when Angelina came up. He turned to
her, his blond ponytail seemingly longer, and his eyebrows closer together
along his face, made him look slightly different to Angelina. “Do you actually
think I am…that thing?”
She replied after a short break for thought, and she was
hesitant in her answer, for she knew it could break his heart. Unfortunately
the evidence was too strong, and she had to tell the truth. “Yes.” She
hesitated, and cut Ambrose off before he could begin. “But, there is still
hope, tonight will only tell, and I hope that you are not whatever you may have
become.”
“I hope more then anything, for I do not like myself
anymore, let me be for a few minutes.”
“Aye, do whatever you please.”
Ambrose walked down a little bit, and returned to his
swordplay; he looked up at the ending sunlight, and the rising full moon. He
continued on for about ten minutes, every second he knew he was going to
change, but just wanted to know for sure that he was who he had become, he must
stay outside, he must let his friends confirm. Then the changes began, they
were slow at first, but slowly began to grow faster. He could feel the hair on
his back, arms, and legs grow at a very rapid rate. His blue eyes retaining
their color, but his sight was slowly dieing, and turning into a very strange
mixture of black, white, and a couple of basic colors. He fell to his knees,
his clothes being ripped apart as his body was transforming, his teeth were
growing, and his ears were turning pointed, and then sprouted hair and became
ears that of a wolf. His transformation was complete; he turned to run of to find
some prey, but was stopped by Angelina, who forced him into the brig of their
boat. It was then that it was official Ambrose was a werewolf.
All through the next day he was kept in the brig to
sleep, and sit in his misery. That night the same happened but he could not
escape and the next morning the crew released him.
“We have found someone who is almost an expert on your
disease.” Angelina said as she came up to him shortly after Ambrose ate a large
breakfast of meat. “You are coming with me whether you like it or not, we are
going to find out about this disease.”
“Aye, better soon or were going to go bankrupt feeding
the damn guy. That was a lot of meat he devoured.” It was always the job of his
friend to give some comic relief, but right now even humor wasn’t going to
change anything, even though Ambrose loved a good joke.
“She don’t live to far from here, and she promises she
will try and answer all of your questions.”
“Okay.” And Ambrose and Angelina were off.
Upon arriving at the small run down house, they were
greeted by a similar woman, small and run down. She was obviously very old, and
looked as if she was on her last days. After a quick greeting they went inside
and discussed the disease over a cup of tea.
Ambrose was the first to ask. “Is there a cure?”
The old women, who they found out her name was Susannah
later on, replied in a slow and nervous voice. “No, I can’t say that there is
one.”
“Damn, are you sure?”
“I am positive, all though there has been rumors off
people actually being cured, but like with most things rumors are just rumors.”
“Can you tell me more about the disease?”
“Aye, I most certainly can.” She got up and rummaged
through her books and grabbed a rather large one, turned to a page, and set the
book on the table. Facing Ambrose and Angelina was a large amount of text, and
a picture of a half man, half wolf. “You are fascinated by it, yet you are also
scared?”
“Yes, I can admit I am. It fascinates me greatly.”
“The disease is actually not life threatening to you, but
to others, which you most likely already know. You also probably know already
that it only happens at night, and only during a full moon. You also most
likely know that you have no memory of anything that happens.”
“Yes”
“What you most likely don’t know is that the disease gets
worse with your feelings for people, and if you ever hold a grudge against
someone, you may be endangering them. Also if you don’t control your feelings
well enough, some of them may actually trigger a transformation at anytime, so
I wouldn’t bottle stuff up within you for long.”
“I see. Can I spread the disease?”
“Yes, by biting someone but not killing them.”
Angelina spoke up now. “I think its best that we leave
now.”
Ambrose agreed, and they left.
Angelina turned to him on their way back. “If you ever
need anything, or you need to talk you know who you can come to.”
“Yes, but right now I think I just need to think.” So he
left her for the time being, his life was in ruins, there was nothing he could
do. Every month he would change, every month he would kill. All of his friends
knew, and most likely hated him now. His face was now different, his ears were
pointed, and teeth longer and sharper, for that he hated himself more. But he
saw hope, for now he was now on a new journey, he had to control his other
self, maybe even be able to use it for good, instead of killing, but he knew it
was going to be a long journey, and a lot of hard to work, but he was
persistent and he was going to succeed.