CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Any non-desert land environment
FREQUENCY: Very rare
ORGANIZATION: Pack
ACTIVE TIMES: Night
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: LG
REACTION MODIFIER: 0

NUMBER APPEARING: 2-20
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 18"
HIT DICE: 3+3
THACO: 16
NUMBER OF ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE PER ATTACK: 2-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Breath weapon
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 10%
SIZE: M (4' high at the shoulder)
MORALE: Elite (16)
LEVEL/EXPERIENCE VALUE: III | 60 + 5

Mist wolves are cousins of normal wolves, but they are
larger and have some magical abilities. Although they’re
lawful good in alignment, mankind’s innate fear and
hatred of wolves ensure that these creatures will always be
misunderstood.

Physical Appearance: Mist wolves are almost identical
to their non-magical cousins, except they’re higher at
the shoulder and their fur is smokey grey with white tips
on the hackles. They’re slim and muscular, with fearsome-looking
teeth. Their eyes are black, without the red tinge
often seen in wild wolves.

Combat: Mist wolves attack in packs like common
wolves, often using sheer weight of numbers to drag down
opponents. They’re more intelligent than their cousins, so
they are less likely to continue an obviously losing battle.

Mist wolves have a magical ability that makes it easier
for them to disengage from stronger opponents: A single
wolf can exhale clouds of thick mist (similar to a wall of fog
spell) blocking all vision, filling a volume 10 feet on a side
and lasting five rounds unless blown away. The mist is
purely defensive, since it’s as opaque to the wolves as it is
to their opponents. This ability can be used twice per day.

Habitat/Society: Because of their alignment, mist
wolves only attack humans or demihumans who are behaving
in a flagrantly evil manner. Normally, mist wolves will
protect travelers from evil creatures that may wish them
harm. Unfortunately, fear and hatred of wolves is taught
from the cradle, and is embodied in everything from children’s
tales to common expressions (“a wolf in the fold,”
“the wolf at the door,” etc.). The fact that mist wolves are
frequently seen when evil is abroad doesn’t help; people
never realize-or refuse to believe-that the wolves only
appear when evil is near in order to fight it. Therefore, mist
wolves are often slain by the people they’re trying to protect.

Mist wolves have an innate ability to detect evil. This
power operates continuously, and without conscious volition.
They’re implacable enemies of evil, and defenders of
goodness and law. They’ll often go to great lengths-even
giving their lives-to protect humans and demihumans.
Mist wolf society is based around the pack, as with common
wolves. Packs comprise up to 20 wolves, with an equal
number of males and females. The leader of the pack is the
strongest individual (usually male, but not necessarily so),
who gains and defends the position by challenge and (nonlethal)
combat. If the pack is encountered in its own territory
(usually wilderness forests), there are half as many cubs
present as there are females. Mist wolves are monogamous
and mate for life, and both parents share the responsibility
of caring for the cubs. Cubs grow rapidly, reaching full
maturity at the age of 12 months. They gain their breath
weapon ability at half that age.

Mist wolves have their own rich language consisting of
yips, barks, and growls. They understand the common
tongue, but are unable to speak it for anatomical reasons.
These creatures are most common in forests with evil
reputations, because that’s where they can do the most
good. (Of course, this doesn’t help the wolves’ reputations
at all . . .) There are large populations of mist wolves in
Dreadwood and in the Burneal Forest, although they
aren’t limited to these areas.

Niche: Mist wolves are highly efficient predators with
few natural enemies. They’re intelligent enough to select
their victims and control their hunting with care, making
sure never to over-predate an area or prey population.