The monochromatic female was gingerly cleaning off some blood splatter from her white coat, a recent hunt filling her belly. She was using snow to do it, since most of the water was either frozen or completely too cold for her to even think about taking a dip. It was a menial task, but Absinth didn't fancy herself a slob; she liked to be clean and well kept. You know, hold yourself to a certain standard. She liked to be pretty and unsullied; as rough around the edges as she was it was imperative that she didn't look savage. It was something her father had taught her- one of the only things not riddled with his more.. sinister machinations.

wormwood

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

As she finished up her task, Absinth stood and turned to head off back to her den; only.. she was faced with three strangers. They had not made a single noise in their approach, nor did they possess any sort of worldly presence. Absinth's first reaction would have been to put up her defenses and warn them off; but there was something odd about them. One was a gleeful thing, another sorrowful and serious, and the last... a stick in the mud. Absinth hummed, registering that they wanted her to follow them somewhere, but why were they so divided? Did it come down to a choice? Not fully trusting the situation, she turned her attention onto the gleeful one; speaking to them lightly. "What's got you so happy?"

Absinth is choosing the gleeful guide.
wormwood

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.

She had begun to wonder why she was following this cheerful idiot, when it happened. The bright aura the stranger exuded gave way to a blinding flash of light. And then all was calm. Opening her eyes she found herself no longer in the Polar Sound, and instead in a place quite the opposite. A meadow, complete with a tree; and her magical guide waiting with that stupid smile on their face. What the fuck? Am I dreaming? I must be. Absinth decided to shake off the strangeness of the situation in favor of accepting that this was all a dream, so why not throw caution to the wind? She approached the tree, and peered up at it; before deciding to turn to her guide and seek advice. "Why are we here?"

Absinth is choosing charisma.
wormwood

You ask for help. Smart, really, considering they seem to know the place. Your guide nods, how could you know what to do here? With a soft smile, your guide walks ahead of you and pushes in some bark to reveal a door, and 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.

Her question did not fall on deaf ears. The happy creature nodded, smiling softly, and pushed on the tree to reveal... a door. The fuck? Heading into the tree the guide led her, but the inside of the tree was by far the most confusing part of this dream. It was huge inside, with carved out paths and floors. Everywhere she looked there was something fucking weird. "This is some freaky shit." Don't do drugs kids. Absinth recalled a really stupid saying from back when she was a child, though it had been more of a joke than anything. There were creatures here... nothing she could see clearly though. He guide came to a stop, motioning to the top of the tree with a desperation Absinth sneered at. What was she going to have to do? What the hell was up there? Absinth carefully searched her surroundings, seeking an plausible way to get up there.

Absinth is choosing wisdom.


wormwood

You look around, but all you see is tree, tree, and more tree.

The guide laughs and tries to cover it by coughing as they lead you to a wooden platform hanging by vines in the back of the room. They invite you on and the small wooden platform lifts you to the top.

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.

Absinth watched as her guide led her to a platform, which proceeded to lift them up further into the tree. It was an odd contraption. She didn't understand how it was supposed to work. But whatever. This was all just a dream anyways. She sighed though, for it was not the end of this yet. She was still being motioned upwards. Okay. Fine. Absinth moves forward to test the durability of the mushrooms, opting to attempt to climb up using them if she can. All she knows is, she better not fall on her ass because of this damn mute guide.

[Absinth is choosing Strength.]
wormwood

You hop onto the lowest mushroom you can find. It feels spongy under your paws, but holds fast. As you climb, you find they weave a gentle spiral up the walls of the tree.

Before you know it, you reach the top where you are greeted by your guide, who took an elevator of some sort. You find 68 Gems along the way too, scooping them up and bringing them with you.

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.

As Absinth climbed to the top of the tree, she was greeted with the sight of a huge fucking spider angrily stamping around on a ruined web. A family of creatures caught within the structure of webbing, obviously in distress. Well, both seemed to be in distress to her. The spider was agitated as though something was wrong with it, and seeing as the guide themselves had not taken care of the problem... perhaps she did not need to use brute strength to solve this problem she had been brought here for. Absinth instead addressed the spider itself, using her best amicable tone. "Hey there. What's wrong? What happened here?"

[Absinth is choosing Charisma]
wormwood

You engage with the spider, asking what is wrong. You don't know what you expected, but surely not a shrill voice calling, "The vibrations! The tremors! Food everywhere and nowhere in my web!" It seems that there is some sort of vibration causing her to become confused and attack anything that wanders too near.

While you discuss with the spider, the guide frees the family and makes it back to safety. After you finish talking to her, you join the guide in a safe place.

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.

The huge spider was so very distressed. But what absinth did not expect was the shrill voice that screeched at her of confusion and webs. Vibrations have caused her perception to go to shit. Absinth listened to the spider with a quizzical brow, briefly glacing at the guide rescuing the family from the webbing. As the spider fininishes it's raving Absinth steps back, rejoining the guide as the newly saved inhabitants tell them of the cause of the spider's malaise. A hatch in the floor, leading to a cave that is small and... newly dug through. Soil is freshly thrown about, and as Absinth ventures within she discovers many paths to take in her search for the source of the vibrations. She clicks her tounge, and stills for a few moments. Her ears alert atop her skull, and she waits for a sign in order to tell which direction she should go.

[Absinth is choosing Wisdom.]
wormwood

You look, or rather feel around for the vibrations, but they seem to be coming from everywhere. In your moment of hesitation, something stirs, then lashes out hitting your left back paw.

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: NAME. 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.

As Absinth delves deeper into the freshly dug cave, she grapples with the disorienting vibrations that seem to emanate from all directions. Suddenly, she is struck by a large brown worm, its markings resembling carved rock, shrieking menacingly. A rear paw is throbbing in pain, but she hold's stead fast as she peers up at the worm. Understanding that this creature, it's name echoed within her mind, is the source of the vibrations, Absinth resolves to confront it. With her guide by her side, she braces herself for the impending battle.

Gathering her courage, Absinth prepares to face the worm head-on, determined to silence the unsettling vibrations that have led her to this encounter. She steps forward, ready to confront the eyeless creature. But she wonders, if all of the other creatures were capable of reasoning, why not this one too? With it's many, many sharp teeth? Maybe she was just an idiot. "You have a name, don't you? You must be able to communicate. Tell me what's wrong! Why are you here?" Those markings, they had to mean something too.

[Absinth is choosing Charisma.]

wormwood

You try to talk to the worm, to ask it to leave. The guide is ready to back you up, though they look somewhat surprised. After a moment, the worm seems to consider your words and leaves.

You return to the surface and notify the tree's residents, they cheer your praises and patch you up. They adorn you with a flower cape the spider wove for you, asking you to stay for a while. They throw a feast in your honor, and as the sun dips low, you feel it is time to leave.

As you leave the celebration, your guide follows. It is their time to leave as well. They nod and bid you farewell, walking away with a hum until you blink and they are gone, only a few fireflies buzzing lazily where the guide once was.

---

You earn a dire wolf character pass!
Other items to be revealed at a later date

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...

• 68 Gems
  
• Small Companion pass
  
• Dire wolf character pass
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left back paw