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.