Zeejay wiggled her toes in the dark, cold sand as she flopped down onto the beach with a melodramatic sigh. It wasn't fair - she was a yearling and her mom was still so protective of her that she might as well still be a pup. It wasn't her fault she was tiny and she'd been a sickly pup! She was fine now, wasn't she? She was ready to face the world and learn new things and actually do something with her life, instead of being cooped up in her mom's den because Aris was afraid she'd go the same way as the grandmother she apparently resembled. She'd probably be scolded just for coming out to the beach! Zeejay scooped up some sand in her hand-like forepaws and let it trickle down, glaring grouchily before grabbing up a piece of driftwood to chomp on. Stupid driftwood. Stupid beach. Stupid life.

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

Zeejay dropped the driftwood, staring slackjawed up at the three strange creatures who had unexpectedly appeared before her. Her tail slowly began to wag in uncertain greeting, but the way that all three beckoned towards them, all in different directions, made her still in confusion. She bit her lip and her glance darted between all of them. She should... probably not, right? But they seemed to be really interested in having her follow them, so maybe it was really important. But... that one guy was pretty scary, and she didn't know what to do about the sad one, how to help them. The... the happy one would probably be the safest, right? So, no one could be upset if she went to go help them. So she got to her paws and with an ingratiating smile for the three, she followed the GLEEFUL GUIDE.

The welcoming and charming borzoi flashes you a bright smile when you choose them. They greet you readily and turn, eager for you to follow.

The cheerful wolf prances off, turning every so often with a smile to make sure you're still following. The sun seems to shine brighter around this wolf, and after a while it becomes almost blinding. When you are finally able to focus again, you find you are in a lush meadow with a gentle breeze causing the flowers to bow to you in greeting. In the center of this meadow, there is an impossibly large pine tree. Your companion sits, motioning towards the tree enthusiastically.

What do you do?

Strength: Push on the tree

You decide to push on the tree. Maybe it will yield to your sheer power.

Charisma: Ask the guide what to do.

You turn to the guide, asking them for advice.

Dexterity: Climb up the tree.

You size up the tree, deciding to climb it.

Wisdom: Inspect the tree.

You decide to get a closer look at this tree.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Zeejay followed the cheerful wolf-thing, though she couldn't help but glance back apologetically at the sad wolf-thing, even at the angry one. Was she making a good decision here? Probably not, when did she ever? But, biting her lip, she followed anyway into a blinding light that made her blink and her eyes water. When she'd rubbed the tears and spots away from her vision, she was surprised to see that they were nowhere she'd been before, a location that seemed rather out of place in the harsh northern climate. She looked around wide-eyed before focusing on the big tree that the wolf-thing was indicating her towards. It just looked like a pine tree, even if it was just absolutely enormous. Tentatively, she approached to get a closer look and examine the tree.

You can tell it's a tree because of the way it is. How neat is that? That's pretty neat.

After a few moments too long of staring at the tree, your guide walks ahead of you and pushes in some bark to reveal a door. With a chuckle and an eye roll, they lead you into the tree.

Inside, the tree somehow seems even bigger, the inside carved out to reveal multiple floors. Some are connected with large turkey mushrooms, others with vines, and some not at all. Many inhabitants seem to skitter in the shadows, but never clearly in your vision. Your guide motions to the top of the tree almost desperately. Something is there, something they want and need you to help them with.

What do you do?

Strength: Climb up the mushrooms.

The turkey mushrooms have a wide surface and a solid base, they should be easy enough to climb.

Charisma: Call out to the other inhabitants.

The others in the tree seem to know the way around. Maybe they'll share their secrets.

Dexterity: Weave your way up the vines.

With a little flexibility, you think you could maneuver your way up the vines that climb the side of the tree.

Wisdom: Look around for an easier way up.

Trees and mushrooms and asking for advice are all good and well, but there has got to be an easier way.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Zeejay couldn't find anything special about the tree, and just ended up staring in blank puzzlement at it. Why were they even there? But the kindly dog-thing moved aside a piece of bark that Zeejay hadn't even noticed was different and led her through a hidden door into the tree. Zeejay gaped around as she followed docilely behind. The dog-thing began motioning her with emphasis to go to the top of the tree, and Zeejay hesitated a moment. That was... a long ways up, wasn't it? Why did it need her to go there? But it seemed insistent, even desperate, so she looked around to see if there were some better way to get up there safely.

You inspect the room carefully. At first, you find 56 Gems. Many creatures scurry around, some using the vines, some using the mushrooms, but many wait their turn at... something in the back - a wooden plank held aloft by vines. You realize after a moment that this is an elevator. Your guide nods and joins you on this elevator as it takes you to the top.

At the top of the tree, there is a large spider web with an even larger spider on top. It's legs titter angrily on the threads of the web. It seems agitated. In it's state, its web has fallen into disrepair and you see a family of the tree's inhabitants stuck in the webbing just behind the spider.

What do you do?

Strength: Fight the spider.

The spider has trapped that poor family! As an adversary, you must defeat her!

Charisma: Calm the spider down.

The spider's obviously bothered by something. Maybe you can calm her down.

Dexterity: Tiptoe to sneakily save the family.

If you're extra cautious, then you can save the family without ever alerting the spider.

Wisdom: Figure out what's agitating the spider.

There must be more to the story than is going on, if only you could figure out what...

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Zeejay dug her claws into the board as they rose upwards to try to keep from swaying it as much as she could. She wasn't... afraid of heights, per se, not having grown up in the mountains, but she couldn't help but be nervous about the rickety nature of this particular contraption. But finally they were at the top and she was able to step off onto solid ground. Without the sway and worry of the journey up she was able to eye it with more curiosity and a thought for... maybe copying it. But her attention was drawn to an agitated spider, that seemed to be trapping a family behind it! Zeejay bit at her lip. She wasn't a fighter, neither by nature nor by ability, so while her first thought was that it was an enemy... maybe there was some way to reason with it. It did seem like its web was pretty raggedy, which wasn't normal for spiderwebs of the like more normal sized spiders of her experience, so maybe there was something wrong with it? She studied the situation, trying to figure out what was agitating the spider so she could maybe fix it.

You focus, pay attention, and... there! The faint thrumming and vibration in your paws. You know most spiders find their food by the vibrations of the web. If you can stop the vibrations you can calm her down.

While you contemplated, the guide was able to distract the spider enough for the family to get free. Once together, you talk to them.

The inhabitants tell you of something causing the tree to vibrate, which is making the spider's web give her false signals. This has become confusing for her, and the once guardian of the tree has been blindly attacking anything she finds in her web. They explain the vibration comes from underground and show you to a hatch in the floor that leads to a cave.

The cave is small and seems fairly fresh, with loamy soil still clinging to the roof and walls like a newly dug den. It is dark, but your eyes adjust and you see a series of paths you can choose to take.

What do you do?

Strength: Take the straightforward path.

Stop wasting time and just go until you find something.

Charisma: Call out to the void.

Why try to find the source of the vibration, when you can let the source of the vibration find you?

Dexterity: Squeeze through the newest tunnel.

The freshest tunnel should lead to the one digging it, right?

Wisdom: Follow the vibration.

If you feel through your paws, you can distinguish where the vibrations are the strongest and follow those there.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

You hesitate, and as you blink, something lashes out, striking you across the middle of your tail with a loud snap.

Before you writhes a large brown worm with markings resembling carved rock. This eyeless creature shrieks at you, revealing a mouth with too many sharp points. For some reason, you immediately understand it's name: Jod. This must be the source of the vibration! That means it must be dealt with. Your guide nods to you, ready to follow your lead.

What do you do?

Strength: Fight it head on.

You gather your strength, this is going to be a tough battle.

Charisma: Tell the worm it needs to move somewhere else.

If the critters in the tree can talk, maybe this worm can be reasoned with too.

Dexterity: Sneak behind the worm and go for a stealth kill.

The worm is enormous! Better be sneaky about it then off him.

Wisdom:  Find something else to ward away the worm.

You think back. There has to be some herbs or something that can ward off worms...

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

You hesitate again, another blur of motion and a whack that knocks you unconscious.

You wake up some time later where you first began, the guide next to you injured, but not in any serious way. They seem excited that you are awake, and flash you a smile despite their own pain. Though they haven't suggested it, you know that your mission has failed. You take a moment to look over yourself and besides the raging headache, you notice your right front inner leg bleeding, but it seems as though it will heal, leaving a barely noticeable scar. After the guide catches their breath, they nod and bid you farewell, limping away until you blink and they are gone, only a few fireflies buzzing lazily where the guide once was.

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...

• 56 Gems
  
• Small Companion - Battle Upgrade
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Small injury - Middle of tail
  
• Injury- right front inner leg