The sickly man had wandered through the crypts for more than a year now, somehow just on the edge of life. He teetered back and forth between giving up and pushing through one more day. He wished desperately that Mortis would come and find him, that his knight in shining armor would save him from this hell like existence. The thought of him was really the only thing that kept the once regal koi wolf going. He survived off cockroaches and bugs, and he savored the occasional mouse that would wander too close by him.

He didn’t move much anymore, but he felt the need to again try and find his way out. He knew that he was deep inside the earth, and escape was not likely at this point. Not when he could barely take a few steps. He wandered, almost drunk looking, until he realized he was not alone.

"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

Hikaru was taken aback by the sudden appearance of three wolf like beings. Heblinked back the surprise as he took a hesitant step back before each of them seemed to beckon him. Hika needed to choose between the three of them. He looked to each, finding a different level of comfort in each of their faces, but he kept returning to the dark male with a scowl on his face. He wasn’t sure why, maybe it was the resemblance to sweet Mortis, but Hika felt himself creeping up to the tall guide.

His thin frame scootched forward, looking up almost timidly to the grumpy looking male. Hikaru wondered what this could all be about. Would he be released from his prison? Would he be led back to Mort’s warm embrace? Or was this just a last illusion to the very end of his struggle?

Hikaru chooses: hard route: the irascible guide

"Speech"

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider. After a moment, the tough looking wolf grunts in approval and turns to lead.

As you follow, a thick smoke rolls in and masks sight and smell. Through watery eyes, you are barely able to follow the guide, but eventually the smoke begins to clear and you are hit with the strong smell of Sulphur. You take a step forward and the guide pulls you back slightly. Blinking the rest of the tears out of your eyes, you realize you're on the edge of a steep chasm- a chasm filled with bubbling lava. One wrong move and it's over.

The guide motions to a wobbly wooden bridge that connects down into a cave on the other side of the canyon.

What do you do?

Strength: Dash across before the bridge can collapse.

If you're fast, the bridge won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Make the guide go first.

This was his idea, so make him go first.

Dexterity: Balance lightly between the planks evenly as you go.

Most of the planks seem stable enough. If you balance evenly, surely none of them will break.

Wisdom: Evaluate the safest planks to walk on.

If you take your time, you can pick out the safest planks.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Hika really wasn’t certain what he was doing, if he was hallucinating, or if he had finally found another living being down here. He couldn’t question too far as his chosen guide gave him but a moment to reconsider before the koi marked wolf was following him. They walked and the path turned into a place that Hikaru had not made it to during his time within the labyrinth. The mists began to roll around his paws and the scents changed to something much more sulfuric.

His eyes burned, and had the dark man not grabbed him Hikaru would have gone off the edge into the bubbling pool below. His heart nearly stopped, but this was not yet the end of his journey. Hikaru’s attention was brought to the bridge and He knew that he needed to cross it now. Hika carefully approached the bridge and did the best he could.

Hikaru chooses strength: dash across before the bridge can collapse.

"Speech"

You kick off, launching yourself down the shaky bridge. You can hear the guide grunt in surprise behind you. Your paws crash down on the warm, dry wood. About halfway through the bridge, your paw crashes through a plank, sending your body tumbling into the weakened structure. The guide is fast behind you, scruffing you and shoving you down the bridge one step at a time. At the end, he releases you and ushers you quickly into the cave with an eyeroll.

In the struggle, you scrape your left front inner leg. It bleeds a little, but will heal just fine.

Inside the cave, warm lava lights the way. Small pools bubble and small streams flow from tiny cracks in the walls. Several boulders act as stepping stones across larger gaps, and small wooden bridges span other areas. Around the walls of the room, a thin edge navigates above any threat of lava. It is clear you need to get to the end of this room if you wish to continue your journey.

What do you do?

Strength: Take the stepping stones.

The stepping stones look sturdy and all you have to do is jump a little.

Charisma: Ask the guide to lead the way.

The guide should know the way through the pass.

Dexterity: Take the thin edge.

Creeping on the thin edge keeps you above and away from danger.

Wisdom: Take the bridges.

The bridges are obviously there for a reason, so use them.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

With his shaky paws Hika charged down the bridge, eager to get across before the planks broke or something worse happened. He wasn’t fast enough though, and his pale paw went through the weakened wood. With wide eyes, certain he was about to fall to his doom, the guide grabbed him up out of the void and shoved him across. Hikaru didn’t even care what the cur thought about him.

The koi took in a deep breath of relief as he shook off the stress as his pale eyes took in the scenery around them. He didn’t much like this space either, but as last time the man was ready to leap before he looked.

Hikaru chooses strength: take the stepping stones.

"Speech"

You jump rock to rock. They're sturdy and secure. A few jumps in, and one cracks, falling into the lava. You scramble at the surface just enough to save yourself from falling in with a little help of the guide. The lava sputters, splashing you across the base of your tail. The lava singes through your fur, leaving a deep burn about the size of a wolf's paw (5in x 4in). Ouch! That's gonna leave a scar.

Across the lava room stands a flat piece of smooth stone, so level and flat, it is as if thousands of paws had worn it over time. It looks cool to the touch and vaguely important. Surrounding it is a mote of lava, separated only by sharp stalagmites that impale it to point towards the open ceiling. There is no discernible path across. You know you must get there one way or another, but you're not sure you'll be able to go back the same way you came if you cross.

What do you do?

Strength: Jump over the gap.

If you push off real hard, you can close the gap... probably.

Charisma: Ask the guide to help.

Maybe just this once...? He's got to know something!

Dexterity: Use the stalagmites as stepping stones.

If you're careful, some of the tips of the stalagmites look wide enough to balance on.

Wisdom: Build a bridge with the materials from the other room.

It'll take a while, but it should work...

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, permanent disabilities, higher loss of gems/skill points

Hika carefully made his way over rhe stones, part of him certain that he was about to fall in and perish forever. One step, two steps, amazingly he was making it across. Before he could reach the last step he lost his footing, his heart stopped, and for a moment struggled. Certain that he would meet his doom as the guide helped ro right him. Not fast enough he went without injury, and the koi cried out in pain as his flesh cooked. The feeling of burning nearly had him turned around and retreating had there been a path to take.

So he was forced to continue, silver eyes looking upon the flat stones that beckoned him to the surface. Again trepidation held him, but what else did he have to fear? He would likely die down here anyway. Hikaru took a deep breath as he weighed his options, sure that this time he was truly going to meet his doom. His chest rose and fell as he stepped forward, coiling his limbs as he prepared to leap.

Hikaru chooses strength: jump over the gap.

You decide to kick off hard, hoping to close the gap using your sheer strength. Only when you're almost to the other side do you realize you underestimated the size of the gap, and you feel yourself falling, falling, falling...

All you remember is the hot blazing heat and then... cool darkness. You awake outside of the chasm on a smooth, flat rock.

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 are blindingly painful, but you will live; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you. One in particular will stand out, a deep, ugly wound that lies across your left back leg, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 74 intellect skill points.

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.

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...

• no things
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor Injury - left front inner leg
  
• Medium scar - base of tail
  
• Major wound - left back leg,
  
• -74 Intellect skill points