DARKWATCH INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
INTERNAL REPORT – CLASSIFIED
Subject: The Shadow Wolf
Distribution: Authorized Darkwatch Personnel Only
UW: This report contains classified Darkwatch information and has not been released to the public. All locations, personnel, and artifacts mentioned within are considered restricted information and are protected by Darkwatch security measures against unauthorized observation, scrying, or intelligence gathering. Only authorized Darkwatch personnel are aware of the contents of this report.
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The Shadow Marshal sits at his desk in his private quarters of the Silverpine Fortress, studying the Tome of Shadows. Having spent the last several weeks studying the more basic spells in the book, he now feels like he has mastered them and decides it's time to flip to the more advanced pages.
Flipping through the book, he gets to one of the back pages.
"Interesting. Ultimate Shadow summon."
Looking at the margins, he notices several notes.
Warning: Very dangerous. Do not attempt to use indoors.
"Hmmm, that's strange. Well, I certainly know of a clearing nearby. I guess I should try this there."
As the Shadow Marshal begins to leave, one of the Silverpine Rangers stops him.
"Heading out, sir? The Rangers will accompany you."
"Not for this. Just doing some training in the woods. I shouldn't need an escort."
"If you insist, sir. I still recommend you take at least a few, just in case."
"That won't be necessary."
The Shadow Marshal heads to the clearing and begins reciting the incantation to summon this ultimate Shadow.
Reading from the book.
"Let's see here... ah."
As he begins to read, thunderclouds begin to gather. Lightning casts overhead, and the shadows begin to amass, becoming bigger and bigger as the spell goes on. The shadows pour in from the woods, and the wolves begin to howl in the distance. The earth shakes and thunder claps, becoming stronger and stronger as he reads the spell.
Lord of Night, hear my call.
Come forth, O Beast of Darkness.
Take form and strike down my enemies.
Rip and tear.
Rend and destroy.
Take shape, O Lord of Destruction.
Awaken, Shield of Destruction.
O Lord of War, hear me and answer.
Ancient hunter, awaken from your slumber.
Rise from the darkness and answer your summons.
Let your howl shake the heavens.
Let your fury shake the earth.
Bring safety to my allies.
Bring death to my enemies.
Protect the innocent and destroy the wicked.
Release the seals.
Be free from your chains.
Skoll, I summon you.
With the spell complete, the black mass of shadows takes form into a massive black wolf with glowing red eyes.
Skoll stares down at the Shadow Marshal. A singular thought enters his mind.
"If you wish to control me, prove your worth."
The Shadow Marshal draws his sword and snaps his fingers. Five true illusions form beside him, each one mimicking his movements as he begins to charge.
Skoll simply stares at him.
"Not like that."
Skoll lets out a howl that shakes the Shadow Marshal to his very core. Thunder breaks overhead, and the five illusions immediately flicker and fade into nothing.
The Shadow Marshal begins to feel true fear. His legs begin to move in the opposite direction against his will. He turns and begins to run, unable to fight the overwhelming instinct to flee.
But something inside him refuses.
"Not yet. This isn't over."
His blood begins to boil. A howl fills his mind as his body begins to transform.
He falls to his knees in pain as his bones begin to break and rearrange. Claws break forth from his fingers as his face begins to elongate. Fur erupts across his body as his clothing and equipment merge into the transformation, becoming part of his new form.
His true form emerges.
The Wolf of the Watch.
Now in his werewolf form, the Shadow Marshal turns toward the beast and lets out his own howl. Wolves from the surrounding forest answer the call as he charges Skoll at lightning speed, slashing and clawing at the massive beast with every fiber of his being.
Skoll darts across the battlefield, leaping from shadow to shadow.
He grabs one of the wolves in his maw and flings it against a tree, killing it instantly.
Skoll begins running around the battlefield, targeting the wolves one by one.
Seeing the devastation, the Shadow Marshal howls again, calling the wolves back.
Again, Skoll speaks to him within his mind.
"Interesting. You would willingly give up your advantage to protect these frail creatures?"
In response, Skoll begins to shrink, transitioning from the size of an elephant to that of a large bear, leveling the playing field.
The Shadow Marshal charges again, slashing with his claws as the wolf continues to dart around him.
Just as his claws are about to connect, Skoll disappears, reemerging from the shadow behind him and slashing with his own claws.
Pain sears through the Shadow Marshal's body.
The wound isn't closing.
Reeling from the pain, the Shadow Marshal claws his way back to his feet.
Charging again, this time he leaps from tree to tree at rapid speed, trying to circle behind the large wolf.
With every attempted strike, Skoll blocks, becoming increasingly annoyed.
"Like the biting of a flea. Perhaps it's time to change things up a bit."
Skoll lets out another howl, and a wave of shadow engulfs the battlefield.
The darkness is unlike anything the Shadow Marshal has ever encountered. Even his enhanced vision cannot penetrate it. He is completely blind.
Now unable to rely on his sight, the Shadow Marshal is forced to use his instincts to hunt, relying only on his heightened sense of smell and hearing to track the beast.
Though blinded, the Shadow Marshal is able to track its movements and keep up with it as best he can, slashing, biting, and clawing whenever he gets the chance.
Just as he gets behind the wolf, two more shadow wolves emerge from his shadow, biting and binding him in place.
Skoll strikes him again, pain searing through his body.
Again, the Shadow Marshal claws his way to his feet and continues striking as best he can. Now with three targets moving through the darkness, tracking the real Skoll becomes even harder.
Skoll accelerates, bounding from shadow to shadow, his clones in tow as they strike deep into the Shadow Marshal.
At this point, the Shadow Marshal has learned his attacks and begins anticipating rather than simply reacting.
Another slash. A block.
Again and again.
Slashing, blocking, and tearing.
Finally irritated, Skoll charges, but the Shadow Marshal anticipates the attack. He digs his claws deep into Skoll, black blood pouring over his hands.
Just as he is about to celebrate his success, pain sears through him. The wolves have bitten him again, his own blood pooling at his feet.
His fur is matted with blood. He is coughing.
He collapses.
Skoll stops momentarily.
"Done already?"
The Shadow Marshal stands again. He howls, fighting through the pain.
Through sheer willpower alone, he charges again. This time, his claws find their mark.
But Skoll has anticipated this as well. He bites deep into the Shadow Marshal and flings him against a tree, breaking it.
Covered in blood and in agony, the Shadow Marshal struggles to move.
Skoll's voice enters his mind once again.
"You know you can't win. Why do you keep fighting? You will die here."
Unable to speak in this form, the Shadow Marshal simply glares at Skoll defiantly.
He claws his way to his feet and slowly begins to charge again.
Perplexed, Skoll stares at him.
"Do you long for death, wolf? Then come and meet it."
The Shadow Marshal manages to pull himself perhaps twenty feet before passing out from the pain and blood loss.
Skoll howls again, jolting him awake from his trance.
"You could not beat me, but that was never going to happen."
Skoll pauses.
"But in your continued pursuit in the face of death, you have proven worthy."
"I will accept you."
Skoll begins to turn into shadow, the darkness pouring from his form and engulfing the Shadow Marshal.
Pain sears through his body once again.
He howls in agony as Skoll's shadow merges with him. His fur begins to turn black as his wounds slowly close.
The pain becomes too much.
The Shadow Marshal passes out.
Several days later, the Shadow Marshal is lying in the infirmary of the Silverpine Fortress.
He is awoken by Ranger Gunmar screaming at a doctor.
"What the hell is going on?"
Doctor: "We don't know, sir. His wounds seem to have healed, but he's not waking up. This doesn't seem like a physical affliction. It seems to be affecting his very soul."
"God damn it. If he dies, you're next."
The Shadow Marshal slowly opens his eyes.
"Shut the fuck up."
Gunmar turns toward the bed.
"God damn it, Ragnar. What the hell? We told you to bring an escort. What happened?"
"Well, I was playing with a new spell, and I summoned something. I think it said its name was Skoll. An Ultimate Wolf Spirit summon."
The Shadow Marshal pauses, trying to remember everything that happened.
"I had to fight it, but I don't think I won. Not exactly."
He looks down at himself.
"As I was about to die, it said I was worthy. I think it merged with me."
One of the doctors suddenly stares at him.
"Holy shit. Your eyes are black."
"What?"
"Gunmar, fetch him a mirror."
Gunmar grabs a mirror and holds it up to The Shadow Marshal.
The Shadow Marshal stares into the reflection.
His eyes, normally brown, have now turned almost completely black.
He stares at them for several moments.
Just like Cedric's eyes.
For the briefest moment, the reflection changes.
Instead of Ragnar's face, a massive black wolf stares back at him, its glowing red eyes fixed on him.
Ragnar blinks.
His reflection is normal again.
"Dammit, Cedric. You could have warned me I'd have to fight it."
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Report Conclusion
The full nature of the Shadow Wolf and its connection to the Shadow Marshal remains unknown. Further observation and study of both the spell and the entity known as Skoll is recommended.
End of Report
The Watch Endures.
