In Gregor's Power

Arvien said the wolves were congregating on the edges of town. She did not see the great black wolf but several "werewolves" seemed to be present among the other wolves.  Ralom revived the old man beside the altar.  He thanked Ralom and introduced himself as Sergei Ikoviev, the priest of Kirinova.

While Arvien kept an eye on the wolves the rest of the party set to establishing quarters for a nights sleep.  Ralom questioned Sergei on what had happened to Kirinova.  Sergei related that the boyar's men attacked the village several weeks ago, only to be beaten back by the men of the village.  We knew that the boyar would be back, but we never saw Gregor again.  Two nights ago a pack of wolves descended on the village and slaughtered all the people that they could catch.
Varrid asked if there was a way out of this realm.  Sergei said that the surrounding mountains were impassable until the winter passes, which will never end until some awful curse is undone.
At this point Ralom brought up Igor Rikorsky and the journal that the party had found.  Sergei immediately perked up at Igor's name.  "He lived here in Kirinova, in fact his house is standing as far as I know.  The party decided to settle down for a rest, in front of the brazier lit for warmth.
In the morning the group's first request was to inspect Igor's house.  Arvien indicated that the wolves were still encircling the village, but not entering at this point.  Ralom cast restoration on Grunyar and Baru to restore their drained Constitution.  Then the party headed out into the weather to Igor's house.
The house had been thoroughly ransacked.  Inside they found the usual assortment of furs, blankets, furniture and so on.  One corner had been cleared to be used as a small forge, and it was obvious that Igor was engaged in making silver arrowheads -- there were eight intact arrowheads scattered around.  Grunyar scooped up all these heads and started lashing them to arrows.  Seglun found a loose stone in the hearth where she found a silver long sword +1, a potion of cure serious wounds and a scroll protection from evil.
Drovic found another portion of Igor's journal, which included a description of a failed attempt to find a path through the mountains, stating that "so long as this winter persists, the mountains will be impassable."  He intended to seek out the witches Natalya and Elena, to find if they knew a way to escape Vorostokov.  The last entries revealed that Igor came across the boyarsky in the forest and witnessed their transformation into a pack of wolves.  Notes indicated that he was desperately searching for information on werewolves.
After searching for additional silver stores, and finding none, the party headed to the next cottage to the north of Igor's.  The door had been ripped of its hinges.  The inside was dark and cold, but not too dark to hide the horror that lay within.  An entire family lay sprawled in death inside, torn to pieces by some savage attack.  This sight caused Drovic to flee the cabin, he was caught and held by Varrid and Baru.  Varrid indicated it would not be good to run into the wolves at this point.
Excitedly, Summergale flew to Arvien, "The wolves have entered the village and are surrounding us," she related.  Arvien told the party and suggested heading back to Igor's house, which was relatively intact, since the path to the church was blocked.  The whole party, Mikhail and Sergei included, crowded into the cabin, watching the wolves begin to encircle the cabin.  Arvien threw up a wall of fire which caught or singed a few of the wolves in its flames.  Baru watched as the great black wolf came strutting in from the southeast.  Grunyar notched his new arrows and the party prepared for battle.  Just as the party prepared to defend the cabin, Baru, Grunyar and Seglun fell to the ground writhing in pain, starting to growl, grow larger and sprout bristly hair where there was none before.  Meanwhile Alexei approached the cabin with a torch and set it aflame.  The rest of the party was shocked into silence as they saw their companions transform into werewolves.  From this point the battle was short and sweet, the great black wolf and the others just watched and surrounded the cabin as it was clear a battle was happening inside.  In short order all the characters had become werewolves!
Next thing they knew, the heroes were human, hog-tied in a circle being guarded by boyars.  Gregor was in the center of the circle and questioned the party on their origin, how they came to Vorostokov and their intentions here in his realm.  When he was satisfied Gregor stepped over to face Mikhail.  The young hunter struggled against the boyarsky who held him.  Gregor smiled malevolently and spoke.  "I have left you alone for too long, my son," he said quietly.  "It is not good for a father to let his children grow up without a hand in their raising.  I never thought you'd turn out to be much, but you've surprised me.  You're more of a man than I expected."
"Let me go and I'll show you what you've missed, Gregor," Mikhail spat.
"It doesn't matter whether you hate me or not," the boyar countered.  "We are of the same blood, you and I.  You hear it too, don't you"  The pounding of your heart in the chase, the pleasure of the kill, the desire to be strong and free."
"I do not!  I have none of your vile blood in my veins!"
"Perhaps it is time you learned otherwise," Gregor said in response.  He summoned Alexei, who brought a wolf pelt to the boyar.  Gregor nodded at the boyarsky, who stripped Mikhail to the waist.  Gregor stepped to Mikhail's side and threw the skin over his son's shoulders.
The instant the pelt touched his skin, Mikhail howled in pain and collapsed to the ground.  The hunter thrashed and screamed, his body changing.  In a moment he was gone and a huge gray wolf snarled and snapped at the men encircling it.  With a powerful bound, the wolf sprung free and darted off in the forest.
Gregor laughed deeply.  "He will be back," he told his men.
Now Gregor spoke to the heroes.  "As you can see, I have proven that you are already my servants.  I can take you anytime I wish.  However, I like to test my boyarsky, to see if they truly deserve to be counted among my warriors."
Gregor smiled wickedly.  "So, here is your test: if you can reach my hall in Vorostokov, I will let you live as new boyarsky.  If you do not reach Vorostokov, well .... then it is clear that your were unfit to be my warriors.  I shall give each of you an hour's head start.  You will find my hall a day's journey to the southeast, on the banks of the River Trau."
Baru was up first, Gregor removed all furs, armor, weapons, spell components, all gear except for basic clothing.  He then told Baru that in one hour boyarsky and wolves would be set loose after him.
Baru headed off into the forest.  One hour later two boyarsky and three wolves dashed into the woods following Baru's scent.  Drovic was next to be let loose.  He fled away, turned into an air elemental and sped through the air after Baru.  Arvien was next and as she fled the boyarsky she met Baru who had taken a roundabout way back toward the beginning.  He attempted to convince Arvien to wait and attack Gregor and the others after all the heroes were let loose.  Arvien reminded him that Gregor cut Baru down with two swipes of his sword, and Baru had no weapons.  Baru thought twice about his plan and the two headed southeast.  Varrid was next followed by Seglun.  When Grunyar's turn came round he merely sat on the ground and didn't flee into the forest.  Immediately the boyarsky surrounded him and beat him senseless.  Ralom was then led to the starting line.  Before Ralom fled he hefted Grunyar onto his back and fled into the woods.

Arvien was looking for a cliff or overhang as she rode Baru's shoulders.  But Baru was tiring quickly, exhaustion and disorientation had taken their toll, and the howls of the pursuers grew louder and louder.  In the next moment there was a crashing in the undergrowth and the sound of wolves snapping and growling as they closed in.  Arvien d-doored herself and Baru to a treetop.
From a distance something shrieked, "Begone!"
A ball of snow came hurtling out of the shadows and struck a wolf square in the nose.  It yowled and backed away, a patch of white frost on its muzzle.  Another snowball struck its haunches, and it turned and padded away.  A pair of stooped old women advanced, screaming horrible oaths and hurling snowballs with unerring accuracy.  The snowballs weren't completely natural -- burst of numbing cold radiated outward as each one struck its target.
As the wolves retreated the women looked upward and spoke, wheezing and cackling.  "So, you're Gregor's prizes, eh?  Well, come with us if you want to live.  These woods are full of Gregor's boyarsky."
The old women led Baru and Arvien wandering through the woods, muttering to each other.  Only a few of their words are understandable.  They seemed to be following no particular trail or path, but they soon arrived at a small cottage in a clearing.
They entered and passed out blankets for keeping warm before the fire.  "I am Natalya, and this is Elena," one of them said.  "The people of this domain know us as witches --" they both cackled at that -- "but for now it serves our purposes to aid you.  We must go find your companions now.  Stay here, and do not touch anything or go outside -- no matter what you think you hear or see."
The witches bundled up again and then went outside into the snow.
The hut had a single living area, a pair of partitioned sleeping areas and a root cellar.  The house was cluttered with all kinds of odds and ends, including a large stock of roots, various dried or smoked meats, pots and cauldrons, caged mice and rabbits, tick pelts and furs for use as blankets or shawls, a locked cabinet and a shelf with various magical supplies.
From outside Arvien heard the sound of a child waling in the cold.  She looked out but remembering the witches orders, she didn't investigate.  After some time the pair returned with Varrid and Seglun, then Ralom and Grunyar.  Then Drovic showed up, entering the hut and asking about the Leucrotta standing outside.  Natalya replied, "That is our pet Treshka.  I wouldn't bother her if I were you."
Finally, the pair returned with Mikhail who looked stunned.
Natalya pulled up a stool by the fire and spoke, "We have watched you for some time now.  It has been many years since anyone stood against Gregor.  My sister and I hate the boyar and want to see him dead for his crimes, so we will aid you against him.  At the same time, we are aiding ourselves."
"Years ago that fiend murdered our mother," Elena said, her eyes blazing.  "You can help us exact our vengeance against the boyar."
Mikhail still seemed weakened and confused, but as Elena spoke he raised his head, his eyes smoldering.  "He killed Antonina?  Another murder at his hands!"
Ralom queried Mikhail, "Who was Antonina?"
"Grandmother!" was Mikhail reply.
"By now you have seen the kind of man that Gregor is," Natalya continued.  "You have also seen the dark magics that he commands, taking th form of a great black wolf when he wants, and forcing his boyarsky to serve him.  He is an evil creature, a creature of darkness.  If his rule continues the day will come when Vorostokov is empty save for the howling of the hungry wolves."
"Besides, if you do not strike now, you will never be able to," cackled Elena.  "Gregor's curse has touched several of you, and he can force you to change at will.  But once you change is ruled by the moon, you will never be able to break the curse.  The dark of the moon is only three days away.  If Gregor is not dead by then, you will become his servants."
"I will die before I become another of his boyarsky," Mikhail muttered.
"Gregor is returning to his hall and awaits your return.  He knows that your efforts to avoid his hunt were futile -- no matter what happened, you will be his in a matter of days," said Natalya.  "We think he took your weapons and equipment with him, Mikhail know the way to the boyar's hall."
"You owe us your lives," Elena said.  "You can repay us by destroying Gregor -- something that is in your own best interests to do."
"If you do not undo Gregor's curse by the dark of the moon, you will be his forever." Natalya repeated, rising.  "You may rest here for the night.  We can give you furs and supplies.  Mikhail can probably find weapons or allies in the village, but you shouldn't trust anyone you meet in Vorostokov.  Many of the people are under Gregor's sway!"

DM's Notes:  No XP were garnered by the heroes for tonight's efforts.