Making his way through the hellish labrynth, Rhazien had a rather odd, unfamiliar feeling. Like he was being watched. Only, he couldn’t pick up the presence of another wolf or animal. Whatever was lurking with the grotto was far more elusive than he originally predicted, because he couldn’t figure out what the hell it was. Each time he turned a corner, he felt like something flashed across the corner of his eye- but by the time he turned in that direction, there was nothing there. He even entrained the idea of his nieces and nephews playing tricks on him, given they had taken a liking to this area. But the longer he searched, the deeper into the subterranean he traveled- and the farther from the truth he became.   ”Speech”

Three wolfish borzoi stand before you, shifting with anticipation. Their glowing green eyes flitter and dance with an ethereal excitement. To your left, a pale and excitable wolf beckons, their tail wagging fervently behind them. In the center, a mournful wolf who's coat is such a pure slate, it seems as if she's tinged blue. To your right stands a dark abrasive looking wolf who's eyes are barely visible under his furrowed brow as he impatiently awaits your decision. In fact, it seems they are all waiting for you to make a choice between the three.

Who do you choose?

Easy Route: The Gleeful Guide

This route poses minimal risk, but also lesser rewards.
Risks: Scarring, small loss of gems/skill points

Medium Route: The Sorrowful Guide

This route poses some risk and moderate rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

Hard Route: The Irascible Guide

This route poses the most risk and greater rewards.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

Suddenly, the eyes he was so convinced were following him through the subterrane, appeared. Three wolves, all equal in size but differentiating in their pelts, seemingly appeared out of thin air before him. Rhazien stopped in his tracks, pelt bristling out of reflex. Three against one. Only, these wolves didn’t seem like they were trying to jump him. Each of them beckoned for him to follow, offering different paths and incentives. Rhazien found himself drawn to the mournful wolf, a female adorned in blue colorations with dazzling emerald eyes. Always drawn to beauty. “Such a pretty face- why so gloomy?” He called out to her, approaching her from the front. Show me what you have in store. Route Chosen: Medium   ”Speech”

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. She bashfully looks away at your question, but does not answer. After sniffling back some tears, she turns and motions for you to follow.

Quietly, the woman leads you into a perpetual fog. Your senses are blocked and it is impossible to know where you are going. Your only lead is the salty scent of the woman you follow and the brief grey blue flash of her tail in front of you, her body obscured by the mists.

When the shroud thins, you find yourself in a small clearing surrounded by the largest weeping willows you have ever seen. In the center of the clearing, a mirror-like pond awaits, completely still except for a small swirling whirlpool in the middle. A thin path of stepping stones trail towards the center of the lake then stop. The sad wolf sits, and motions you towards the lake, tear-filled eyes brimming with anticipation.

What do you do?

Strength: Swim into the whirlpool.

You're probably stronger than some water, right? You can just swim over and see what's up.

Charisma: Ask the guide for a hint.

The guide seems nice enough. Maybe she will help you.

Dexterity: Use the stepping stones.

There are perfectly good stepping stones here for you to use!

Wisdom: Inspect the water.

Something is amiss with the water... Maybe you can figure out what.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Tears embellished the woman’s face, which Rhazien found to be a bit odd. Maybe a good fuck would put some joy into her? The thought brought a smirk to his face, his lumbering body lingering close to hers as they sauntered away from the other two wolves. They reached a veil of fog, and for a moment Rhazien stopped and shifted his gaze towards her. Wanting some privacy? Still, there was something ominous about the fog, which put Rhazien’s senses on high alert. Following her through the veil, the duo finally arrived at a small clearing. Within it, a massive willow tree was cast over a pond, which was quite odd given they were in a volcanic subterrane before. Were they teleported? Watching the woman sit, she motions toward the center of the pond. What did she want him to do? Coming to stand beside her, Rhazien looked down at her with a questioning gaze. “Trying to take a dip with me?" It was an inquiry and a cryptic one at that. What did she want him to do here? Rhazien is choosing charisma.   ”Speech”

The guide looks disappointed and begins to weep more. Tears flow from her eyes in an unrelenting force, sweeping you into the lake where your struggles against the currents are for naught. The last thing you remember is going around and around and around and then... down.

As you fall, you bump your left hip enough to leave a bruise, but not enough to break skin.

Under the whirlpool, a waterfall floats you into an underground lake. As you pull yourself from the frigid pool, an icy palace opens before your eyes. Thick layers of ice coat the cave's interior and ornate carvings decorate the walls. Your guide stands on the shore, shaking out her fur.  She inspects the surroundings, and you do the same. You realize there is no discernable exit, though some of the ice looks thin and even cracked in some spots along the walls.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through one of the weak spots.

The ice looks thin enough, and you feel strong enough to burst through.

Charisma: Ask the guide where to go.

The room seems directionless... Maybe the guide knows something.

Dexterity: Try to squeeze through one of the larger cracks.

Some of the cracks and cervices look large enough for you to squeeze through.

Wisdom: Inspect the drawings on the wall.

The drawings are intricate, they must mean something.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Damn, this woman was a crybaby. When she started weeping uncontrollably, Rhazien visibly rolled his eyes at her, opening his mouth to make a snarky comment when suddenly the ground beneath him was swept away. Did all that come from her eyes? Paddling to keep his head above water, Rhazien did his best to keep from drowning. Round and round he went, encircling the lake before he was swept under and down. He felt pressure on his left hip as he fell, a growl rumbling from his jaws as he surfaced. A waterfall floated him into an underground lake, in which he quickly waded to the bank and pulled himself from the water. His eyes locked on the woman, insults forming in his mind. But his attention was quickly diverted to the icy palace that appeared before him. What the fuck? Looking around for an exit, Rhazien realized there was none. Which meant there was only one way to go- forward. Sauntering along the icy walls, he tested the ice for weak spots, until he felt content that he could try and bust through. Route chosen: Strength   ”Speech”

You find a spot on the wall and push on it. Then slam against it. It doesn't move. After another smash hit, you realize the ice has bested you and now drips with your blood. Glancing at yourself, you realize an icy shard cut about an inch into your front right outer leg. That'll leave a scar... Better to stop now before you get seriously injured. Besides, the guide has already found an opening to squeeze through.

On the other side of the ice wall, what was once a neat hallway has been utterly destroyed. Carved pillars lay broken and elaborate art shattered.

The tunnel ahead looks a little unstable, and proceeding further may be very dangerous. You know if you go on now, you may not return in the same condition you entered.

What do you do?

Strength: Charge through the tunnel.

If you're plenty quick, the tunnel won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Convince your guide to lead the way.

One wrong step could lead to the tunnel failing. Perhaps the guide knows a better way.

Dexterity: Carefully tread down the hallway.

If you go slow and carefully, you can leave the tunnel undisturbed.

Wisdom: Study the cave and find the safest path.

If you look closely, you can see where the cracks and freshly broken ice are.

LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE.

If you proceed further, you will not be able to leave. Abandoned threads may result in failed rolls.
Risks: Scarring, cosmetic disfigurement, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

In the end, testing the ice for soft spots didn’t seem to be the best option. Once he felt confident in a portion thin enough to break through, he was met with unforeseen resistance. It took not one, but several smashes to finally get the ice to break, which sent Rhazien stumbling forward and into a shard of ice. A throaty, irritated growl irrupted from his throat, head tipping down so he could look at the icy structure jutting out from his leg. Blood wept from the wound, creating splatters around his paws. Turning to the guide, his lips peeled back and he flashed his fangs at her. This was her fault. "Enough!" He seethed, taking a step towards her, trying to usher her towards the hallway that was destroyed. It seemed to be the only way out of this place. "You go first, unless you'd rather face me.” Be the sacrafice. She was just standing there, crying and being useless. And Rhazien had enough of it. The least she could do was lead the way, or show him a better one. Route chosen: Charisma.   ”Speech”

The weeping woman - it seems she may be crying harder now at your words - nods at you and turns her attention to the tunnel ahead. One step, then another, she turns to check on you. You follow in her pawsteps.

As you tip toe through the tunnel, you find a bag tied neatly with a ribbon - you'll have to open this later.

At the end of the collapsed tunnel, what appears to have once been an elaborate shrine at some point in time lays demolished. A part of the wall carves out and opens to an open room full of jagged ice floating in deathly waters. In the center, a large, flat expanse is frozen, and on the other side, what look like daylight shines through a small opening.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through the jagged ice to the exit.

The ice doesn't look so tough, you can probably break through the tips and clear a path.

Charisma: convince your guide to lead the way.

The guide may know how to get through the treacherous cave.

Dexterity: Jump from jagged peak to peak towards the exit.

If you time your jumps just right, you think you'll be able to use them as stepping stones.

Wisdom: Look for the safest path to the exit.

If you study the room long enough, surely you can find the guaranteed path out.

Finally, the woman was somewhat useful to him. Slowly but surely, she led them through the shattered hallway, avoiding the shards with precise movements and careful pawsteps. As they walked, Rhazien licked away the blood that was weeping from his shoulder, but it still left a trail behind them as they walked. He had assumed she would be leading them to an exit- but once again, he was met with another obstacle. A low, guttural growl bellowed inside of his chest, ears falling flat against his skull. ”Don't stop now, woman." He said, instructing her to lead the way again. He was done being the sacrifice and meandering through these labyrinths blindly. Path chosen: Charisma ”Speech”

Your guide timidly tries to lead the way, but little progress is made. The cave rumbles and you lose your footing. Around you, you see the streaks of your own blood melting down the broken and jagged ice. As your vision tunnels, the guide runs to your side and all you can think about is how warm her tears are.

You awaken out by the lake, battered and beaten and so. so cold. A familiar form kneels beside you, tending your wounds. It takes several blurry moments to realize this is not your guide, but a cluster of fireflies in a cloak the same color as your guide's fur. Your injuries ache, but you will heal fine; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you.

You realize loosely how little sense that makes and you wonder if this is real, but a warm force closes your eyes and bids you to think of home, of safety. When you awake next, you are in a safe place, one which you might have imagined.

You've made it out alive, though not without injury. You notice a deep wound on your left outer leg, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). Likewise you feel you've lost some knowledge along the way, losing 15 Intelligence skill points. Any items you've found lay beside you, and will be revealed later.

Three wolfish borzoi bow their heads in appreciation. Thank you for playing the Halloween 2023 event! All is calm as you look out, but there's no telling what's on the horizon... or perhaps even under it...

Look forward to peeks into the event, hiccups, and maybe some hints into the next adventure!

You Gained This Along the Way...

• Ghost Bath Bomb
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left hip
  
• Minor Scar - right front outer leg
  
• Major injury - left back outer leg,
  
• -15 Intellect skill points