Iron Powder and Spellcaster

There are mountains to the north and south of the Senas Union, and the terrain generally climbs gradually from east to west. Therefore, people living on the coast also call the Palatuan people the plateau people.

Langtun Town, on the southwest border of Galloping Horse Country, has an altitude of nearly 1,400 meters and is located in the pine and oak forest belt at the northern foot of the Golden Summit Mountains.

In the forest south of Langtun Town, a giant coniferous tree as thick as one person can hold it reaches into the sky, blocking out the sky and the sun. Only specks of sunlight filter through the gaps in the canopy, nourishing the weeds and shrubs in the forest.

For thousands of years, all natural things have grown, died, and decayed here without anyone paying attention, and finally turned into humus soil several feet deep.

The hut of hunter Ralph's family is built deep in such a dense forest. There is only a path trodden by hunters leading to human society.

After receiving Ralph's warning, Girard, Winters and Sergey immediately followed Ralph and his son to Orion's cabin.

The wooden house is simple and ordinary. There are several wooden barrels with an unpleasant smell outside the house, which seem to be containers used for tanning animal skins.

"Two adults, please take a look." Ralph took out an animal stump from the house and presented it to Girard and Winters: "This was found on the animal trap this morning."

Winters no longer tries to correct the villagers in calling him "Lord," and Girard seems to have grown accustomed to it.

It looked like the stump once belonged to a deer, but now only the hoof to thigh bone remained.

Winters could only see so much, and he didn't feel anything strange.

Gilad also asked in confusion: "The trapped prey is taken advantage of by wild animals. Although it is unlucky, it is an ordinary thing. How can it be related to the wolf disaster?"

"It does matter!" Ralph, who was clumsy in words, became anxious and irritable: "Please take a look at the stubble on the thigh bone!"

"Why are you talking? Your mouth can't speak. I'll sew it up for you!" Sergey's anger suddenly jumped up. He could not tolerate anyone being disrespectful to his old brother.

"It's okay, it's okay." Gilad immediately reassured the two of them.

The old hunter Ralph didn't say anything back, he just lowered his head and apologized to the mayor. But the little hunter Bell tightened his grip on the wooden bow in his hand and glared at old Sergei.

Winters took the deer leg and carefully observed the fracture of the bone. He really couldn't see anything wrong: "Mr. Ralph, we are not hunters, and we don't understand what you take for granted. What does this deer leg have?" You have to explain it to us carefully."

The old hunter pointed to the broken section of the bone and explained with gestures: "Two adults, this bone was bitten off alive. The deer stepped on the clamp and couldn't move. Some kind of wild beast killed the deer and bit off its legs, dragging it along. The rest went into the woods.”

"Is there anything strange about this?"

"Ordinary beasts can't bite the deer's thigh bone! Because it can't bite!" Hunter Ralph spoke quickly and looked anxious: "Sir! This is a very strong adult stag, and the leg bones are even harder to chew, but But it was bitten off directly! You can imagine how strong the bite between the upper and lower teeth of this beast is!

After listening to the hunter's words, Winters re-examined the stump of the leg in his hand - he could tear off a person's arm by biting this kind of bone.

Winters frowned and asked the old hunter: "Is it a wolf?"

"A wolf can't do that! A beast as heavy as a hundred pounds like a wolf can only kill a deer and eat it on the spot. A wolf doesn't have the strength to drag away the body of a male deer, not even a pack of wolves! Those who are hunted are all old, weak, sick and disabled. It is definitely an unusual beast that can kill such a large adult beast. It must be a tiger, a tiger or other ferocious beasts!"

Talking alone was not enough, so the old hunter ran back to the house and took out two smooth white femoral sticks: "Look, sir, these are handles made from the remaining thigh bones of deer eaten by wolves. Wolves love to eat marrow. , I will definitely not let it go if I can bite it off. But look at these two bone rods, except for the tooth marks, they are intact!"

"Then why did you say it was a wolf plague?" Winters was confused when he heard that the other party denied that it was a wolf.

Old Sergey explained awkwardly: "Sir, in our place, wild animals that hurt people are called 'wolf plagues'."

Only then did Winters understand. He nodded and asked the hunter: "You mean there is a large beast in this forest now?"

"Yes! But it's not quite right!" The old hunter pulled his hair in annoyance and muttered: "I don't know how to explain it to you, and I don't know where to start. Anyway, something is very wrong in the woods these days!"

After spending a year living with low-level soldiers day and night, Winters gradually understood that some soldiers who had not received a grammar education had extremely poor language skills. What they said was unfocused, and even their retellings were stumbling. You have to be patient and be able to grasp the key words from the confusing narrative.

"There's no rush, just speak slowly and say whatever comes to mind." Winters patted the hunter on the shoulder, moved a wooden stake and motioned for Ralph to sit down.

Hunter Ralph glanced at the resident officer gratefully, thought for a while and started talking.

Listening carefully, Winters struggled to discern the key messages.

"... As a result, starting from a while ago, it is rare to see deer, deer, foxes, and rabbits running like crazy from the depths of the forest... Our father and son set traps under the animal trails, and initially caught a lot of good stuff... But it was so close... Many of the catches these days have been dragged away and eaten by wild animals, and the locations are getting closer and closer to the outside every time... Yesterday, I also found footprints in the forest that I had never seen before..."

"Wait a minute." Winters cheered up and interrupted the old hunter: "Did you find the footprints?"

"Yes, my lord."

Then you still talk so much nonsense? Winters couldn't help but cursed, and he immediately ordered Orion Ralph: "Where is it? Take us to see it!"

Led by the hunters and their son, Winters, Gilad and Sergey headed deeper into the forest.

This is a truly inaccessible place. The deeper you go, the quieter and deeper the forest becomes. Even the chirping of birds and insects cannot break the endless silence of the forest. All you can hear is the rustling of the leaves as the wind blows through them.

Looking back, Winters could no longer find his way out.

But the hunters and their son knew the forest well. Ralph, a forty-year-old hunter who seemed to be at least 40 years old, was walking swiftly in the forest and quickly found the location in his memory: "This is it!"

It rained three days ago and it has been sunny since then. The footprints in the mud have been preserved.

Pushing aside the fern blocking the view, a terrifying claw mark was revealed.

Seeing this paw print, all three people except the hunter and his son took a deep breath. There are five claws in one hand, and the entire claw mark is nearly twice as long as Winters' shoe.

Hunter Ralph was right, the beast that could make such claw marks could never be a wolf. A wolf is just food in front of such a behemoth.

Just seeing this paw print, the originally peaceful and peaceful forest in Winters' eyes suddenly became dangerous and murderous.

The horses began to become restless. The two terriers brought by Girard had their tails between their legs and whimpered.

"Evil beasts urinate everywhere to warn similar species." Ralph pointed at the two trembling hounds with their tails between their legs and said decisively: "These two fox terriers must have smelled the smell of urine, otherwise they wouldn't be so frightened. !”

"Holy Body!" Old Sergei leaned close to the paw prints and exclaimed: "How can something grow so big?"

"Are there any other footprints?" Winters asked.

Ralph shook his head: "No more, I only saw this one."

"Then it's best not to stay here for too long. Let's go back to Ralph's house first." Winters didn't bring any weapons and didn't want to stay here for a second longer. He looked at Gilad: "Mayor Mitchell, what do you think?"

"You're right, let's get out of here first."

Ralph and his son led one after another, and the five people returned to Orion's cabin along the same route.

Gilad and Sergey were both in their fifties, and they were exhausted from walking through the forest for too long. On the other hand, the hunter and his son walked briskly and looked as usual.

Gilad gasped and asked the old hunter: "What on earth is it? Can you tell it from the footprints?"

"Five paws, the shape should be that of a bear." Ralph replied solemnly: "But the paw prints are so big that I don't even know what they are."

"Do you think there will be another wolf plague?" Girard asked again.

Ralph thought about it for a long time, and finally said: "Beasts usually hide from people, let alone go to the forest area so close to people. But the activity range of this big guy is getting closer and closer to the edge of the forest. I feel If it runs out again, it will encounter people sooner or later. Once it tastes human blood, it will definitely start to hunt people for food. But maybe it will turn around and go back to the deep forest. Alas, if you ask me, sir, I don’t either Know……"

After listening to the hunter's words, Gilad looked at Winters: "Your Excellency Montagne, I think we may need to call in the militia."

Winters was stunned for a moment, and then he realized: the militia affairs were the responsibility of him, the stationed officer.

"Do you think a crusade team needs to be formed?" Winters asked.

Gilad nodded silently.

Sergei slapped his thigh excitedly: "That's right! Damn it, it doesn't matter what giant beast it is! As long as it takes a gun, you don't have to worry about killing it!"

Winters Montagne has never considered himself a Platt, but at this moment he really entered the identity of the officer stationed in Wolftown.

His brows furrowed: "Calling the militia can at least give each village some ability to defend themselves. I think it's feasible. But whether we should send out manpower to hunt this beast, I want to hear the opinions of professionals."

"Mr. Ralph." Lieutenant Montagne looked directly into the old hunter's eyes and said seriously: "Don't worry, I'm responsible for what you say. But you have to tell me the truth... As a hunter, do you think militiamen are dispatched to kill? Is this beast feasible?”

Second Lieutenant Montagne spoke sincerely. Ralph gritted his teeth and plucked up the courage to reply: "Your Majesty, I can't refuse the favor you give me. I'll just tell the truth. The forest is really too big and I don't even know where it is." Where is the thing? If you really want to kill it, the whole town will have to hunt for it, and if you are not careful, the thing will run away.

Ferocious beasts have spirituality. Once you fail to kill it, it will become more difficult to deal with in the future if it holds a grudge. What's more, it hasn't hurt anyone yet, and you shouldn't actively provoke it. I think it is enough for everyone to be careful now. If it really hurts people, it is not too late to kill it. It would be even better if it returned to the depths of the forest on its own. "

After Winters listened carefully, he looked at Gilad: "What do you think?"

"This is also a safe way." Gilad also agreed: "That's it for the time being."

With nothing more to say, Winters, Girard and Sergey prepared to leave the hunter's cabin.

"Mr. Ralph, I don't think you should stay here for the next few days. You should stay with relatives and friends in the village for two days first." Winters specially warned before leaving. He was worried that something might happen to the Orions and his son because of their carelessness.

The old hunter nodded gratefully.

Winters smiled again and said to the little hunter: "Boy, come back for archery next Sunday. Next time I will prepare the prize you want!"

The little hunter Bell curled his lips in disdain. This boy had amazing archery skills and easily won the prize - half a dozen quills - from a group of adults. But this half-grown boy obviously doesn't like these things.

Seeing this young man in his rebellious phase, Winters found it interesting. He nodded in greeting and stabbed the horse lightly in the ribs to bid farewell to Orion and his son.

…

On the way back to Wolftun Town, Winters, Gilad and Sergey chatted all the way.

"Why do you call a beast that hurts people a wolf plague?" Winters was still a little confused: "Is this the dialect of Plato? What is the origin?"

"It's not Plato, it's our dialect. Dusa Village, Hedong and Hexi Villages all call it that." Gilad replied with a smile.

When mentioning this matter, old Sergey was full of pride: "This place used to be plagued by wolves! In the early years, it caused a lot of harm to the farmers living here. Later, Dusak, ours, was resettled here, and it was very cruel. We killed a lot of them. We killed both big and small wolves, young and old. I still have a pair of wolf skin knee pads! Finally, we drove the wolves into the mountains and finally calmed down. Hey! The local old ladies are still using 'cry again' to scare children. , the wolf will snatch you away'!"

"Mayor Mitchell, Mr. Sergey, please excuse me. If I guess correctly, you are all from Dussa, right?" Winters couldn't help asking the question he had been wondering for a long time: "Why are you here? Where will the Senas Alliance settle?”

From the moment he heard the strange name of Gilad Planinovich Mitchell, Winters had already suspected that Gilad was a native of Tusa.

"Of course we are Dusak! Can't we be separated from the peasants at a glance?" Old Sergey laughed, and he recalled saying: "How did we come to you? That's not true. After a long time, we were working as servants for the old emperor for more than thirty years, and we will be..."

"Vladiminovich! That's enough! Stop talking!" Gilad obviously didn't want to talk more about the matter and stopped the old Sergei's memories.

Sergey was extremely obedient. Gilad shouted stop, and he immediately stopped talking.

Seeing that Gilad didn't want to talk more, Winters also changed the subject: "Mr. Mitchell, I'm a little curious...Why did you call Mr. Sergey...Vladiminovich?"

This question can obviously be answered. Gilad smiled and explained: "Sergey's father's real name is Vladimir, and Vladimirovich means Vladimir's son. He also called me Pliny. Norwich, because my father’s real name is Plenis, and we in Dussa call him that.”

Winters laughed and said, "Should my name be Gravinovich?"

Unexpectedly, both Gilad and Sergey looked a little embarrassed as soon as these words came out.

Girard thought of something else and hurriedly asked Winters: "Did you just ask Ralph and his son to stay with relatives and friends for a few days?"

"Yes, I think the two of them may be in the most danger now."

"I'm afraid they have nowhere to go." Girard said worriedly.

"Why?"

"Because that little baby is of Hurd heritage." Old Sergei revealed the truth in a rough voice: "Ralph got a Hurd woman, and then she died. There is only such a little baby left. Originally, he wanted It’s not that Pleninovich pities them, they can’t even be admitted to Langtun!”

"Okay, okay, stop talking!" Gilad stopped his old friend.

Sergey immediately fell silent.

Gilad scratched the back of his head and continued: "Actually, it's easy to solve. I just invite the father and son to my house temporarily."

Sergey said coldly: "I'm afraid people won't appreciate it."

Gilad thought for a while and said, "Even if Ralph doesn't want to come, he will come for the safety of his son."

Old Sergey snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Girard looked at Winters again: "Lieutenant Montagne, what do you think of this arrangement?"

"Of course that's the best." Winters was a little flattered and hurriedly replied: "I'm just sorry to trouble you."

"Hey, it doesn't matter. I feel uncomfortable because the room is so empty..." Gilad said, and suddenly slapped his forehead again: "Second Lieutenant, about calling in the militia... I will run to Hedong, Hexi and Dussa Village. Just one trip is enough. But we have to go to the two Protestant villages together..."

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Remark:

The content about werewolves recorded in the "Hammer of Witchcraft" published by the Inquisition of the Catholic Church in 526 Imperial Calendar:

"...Half man and half wolf...Fearing silver, garlic and holy water...Infinitely powerful, violent and bloodthirsty, extremely dangerous...Once bitten, even a pure-hearted person, a person who never forgets to pray at night, will It is inevitable that he will transform into a wolf on a full-moon night when aconite is in full bloom..."

In the year 1020 of the New Calendar (Imperial Calendar), excerpts from the anthropology master's thesis "Exploration of the Deep Consciousness Behind Mythical Creatures - Taking Werewolves as an Example" included in the large database:

"...Five centuries later, as the internal colonization process deepened, humans began to claim land from forests and wilderness, which led to a large number of incidents of wild animals hurting people. It was during this period that the legend of werewolves spread like wildfire. Let’s go…the place name of today’s Langtun City in Rewardan Province comes from a wolf pack that settled here in the early sixth century. Legends about werewolves are still circulating in the rural areas of Langtun City…”

Made a joke about the beast of Gevaudan. I wrote 4,900 words today and I tried my best.

Regarding the bite power of beasts and the grievances and hatreds of thigh bones, I still read it from "Raising Tigers for Disaster". After watching "Tiger Breeding", I watched a video that demonstrated in detail that "it is inconvenient to destroy carcasses by feeding them to big cats." It was introduced that a human thigh bone requires 1,700 pounds per square inch of force to bite, while a tiger's bite force is 1,050 psi... I checked again and found that the wolf could not bite the sheep's thigh bone. So the description of a wolf biting a deer leg bone shouldn't be considered a fabrication...probably.

Thank you to the book friends who voted for recommendation before, thank you to the book friends Tianshui There is a Beauty, An Ideal Uncle in His Thirties, Black Computer Saber, Flower Planter’s Yellow Rabbit, I Don’t Know Its Name, Calmly Grayed, Justice and Purity Is the Koala , Sky Lens, In the Same Week with the World, Nothing is Xiao Gao.

Thanks to book friends Wushi Xiaogao, Tianjian Lens, and May 4th for their recommendation votes. Thank you all.