Things were shifting, the world around her reminding her with each day that, despite how much she felt broken, how much she had wanted to give up that she was still her. Bellamy had survived. From her puppyhood she had fought to survive. And no matter how many times life knocked her down, threatened to take her and make her give up… she never fell that far. Since the bonfire festival Bellamy could feel more of that change. There was a light in her eyes again, that hint of defiance that woman had. Life wanted to take, to be cruel… but it was all a challenge, a trial of the Deities, and maybe even challenges from the Dreamends that sought to claim her. Bellamy had taken her first steps outside of the Hallows, her ears perked forward as she pushed herself further. She wasn’t alone, even if she had lost Gavroche. She had friends who cared, those in the Hallows, those in Ethne, her children… the woman lifted her head and breathed out. Even Acere, who in death still stood by her. What hope did the world have against such a support system? Bellamy drew in a breath and lifted her head to the night sky. A howl ripped from her lungs. Powerful, challenging. If the world wanted her to fall, it was going to have to try even harder. The woman wasn’t through yet. ----- Some mood musics. "Speech," 'Thought.'

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

Her song finished, Bellamy lowers her head once more. That is when she takes note of the three wolf-like borzoi before her. Her gaze flicks to the cheerful one, their nature too upbeat, too cheerful for the woman to choose to follow. Her gaze then flickers to the mournful one. Her ears fall, but something with the woman tells her not to go with that one. Then her gaze flickers to the last borzoi of the group, the one who looked impatient. Bellamy steps forward, arching a brow at him. “Patience is a virtue, you know.” Her green eyes flick to meet with his own... or tried to anyway. “Especially when you are giving others a chance to decide.” Her tone is scolding, but in a motherly way. Whoever he is, and for whatever reason they have shown, she has chosen the one she will follow.

--------------------------------------------------

Choosing...
Hard Route

"Speech," 'Thought.'

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. After your light scolding, he huffs gently. 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.

The man buffs at her scolding, but Bellamy would expect as much. She gives a small nod to him before he turns, leading the way into whatever the fates have decided for her. Bellamy takes a deep breath and finds her airways chokes by smoke rolling in. Joy. The smoke stings her eyes but she keeps her focus on the man before her. Where is he leading her? The smoke cleared… but the landscape before her had gone hellish. Trial by fire… she peers over the edge and then glances at her guide with an arched brow. "Meant to cross, right?" She wasn't about to rush. Barreling through could be death waiting to happen. As she moves to the bridge Bellamy is taking precious seconds to observe and analyze the planks. Then, and only then will she pick her way across.

--------------

Choosing… Wisdom
Evaluate the safest planks to walk on.

You observe the planks one by one. Some are well worn, some are charred. You do your best to pick the most solid looking ones, but some are not to obvious. You choose one, but it cracks and splinters under your weight, 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 right back paw. 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 it 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.

The boards move and creak under paw and Bellamy assumes she is doing well… at least until one of the boards breaks. Bellamy stumbles with a grunt, heading down, but the guide is quick to follow up behind her and aid her. With his help they make it to the cave, but not without a small scrape. It stings, but as she is released Bellamy gives the man a nod of gratitude. "Thank you." But with one challenge done, another arose. The room before her was also filled with lava… and she needed to cross it.

Caution before hadn't been enough, and Bellamy was wary to trust the bridges at this point. There is a ledge.. And stepping stones. The woman didn't trust the stones at her age… but the ledge could be doable with caution. Bellamy makes her way over, prepping for the best.

----------------------

Choosing: Dexterity
Take the thin edge.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

You traverse the thin, crumbling edge around the room. To no one's surprise, it cracks, and your paw slips. 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 your left front inner leg. 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

So that wasn’t a good option either. It goes good for a while, but then the ledge crumbles. The result? Lava splashing up onto her leg. Bellamy jumps in response, a hiss slipping through her teeth at the pain. The burn was distracting, but she wasn’t about to give up and turn back now. Across from that room came another lava filled room… and a flat, level bit of stone within it. There is no clear path across, and having struggled to get through the first two obstacles without injury, the older woman turns her attention to the man at her side.

“Alright, you’ve led me here… you’ve got to know something about this place.” She takes in a breath and glances towards where she is meant to go. “If you’ve got an idea how to get across without falling into the lava, I’m all ears. My methods aren’t doing so great, so…” Bellamy looks back to him, her expression softening. “I’d appreciate some help.”

Choosing... Charisma
Ask the guide to help.

"Speech," 'Thought.'

The guide shakes his head. This, you must figure out on your own. He will be no help here.

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.

You have already tried this.

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...

Ah great, so he wasn’t going to give her any assistance. Bellamy frowns at the response, but such is life. She could have chosen to go back… right? But she chose to press on. Bellamy doesn’t dwell on it and decides to address the problem of the room. The heat from the room makes the previous injuries burn even more, and she sucks in a breath through her teeth. “If I fall into the lava you get to be the one to explain to my children and grandchildren that you were unable to give me advice and left me to my own devices.” The words are not mean spirited but she means them. It wasn’t like she’d be able to tell them she met her fate in a lava pool if she burnt up to nothing. Summoning her strength, the old wolf decides to make a leap for it. Either she was going to make it, or she was going to die. ------------------------------------------------- Choosing… Strength Jump over the gap. "Speech," 'Thought.'

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. You feel a searing pain in your left side, noting a few broken ribs that will take awhile to heal (1 IC season) and a wound there that will no doubt lead to a lasting scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less skilled as well, losing 51 fighting 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.

Rerolled using firefly's favor

You kick off with all your strength, hoping your back legs are strong enough to propel you over the gap. Fortunately they are, and you land hard on the other side, feeling the impact of your jump ripple through you.

Though you make it to the other side, a low roar behind you gets your attention, and you spin around...

A giant, glowing worm erupts from the molten chasm below, lava sputtering onto the ground before you. It screeches, towering over the stage and you immediately recognize its name as Daniel. The guide growls, his stance rigid and wide. This is an enemy that must be dealt with if you wish to escape with your life.

What do you do?

Strength: Find a way to attack the worm.

With the way the worm's head begins to lower toward you, surely you can find time to strike...

Charisma: Convince the guide to deal with the worm.

Surely he has a better idea how to deal with this than you do, right?

Dexterity: Try to dodge the worm and stay out of its range.

Surely there's got to be a way to escape this worm, if you're just quick enough!

Wisdom: Study the worm to figure out how to deal with it.

You've never seen anything quite like this, so maybe acting too rashly isn't the best idea. You decide to study it inside and see what information you can gather.

She made it! The woman took a breath as she landed, glancing back to see the guide land beside her. She had no idea how much farther she needed to go, but she had made it this far with minimal injury. Her maw was about to open when a sound caught her attention. Bellamy spins around, narrowly dodging some lava that went splashing onto the arena. Great… she was going to need to stay out of the range of this worm, and see what kind of opponent he was. Daniel… Bellamy drew in a breath. “Keep out of its range for now, study it, then we’ll attack together.” She had no qualms about taking the reins as she began to move across the platform. ‘Behave yourself, Daniel…’ She thought. --- Please use Lucky Rabbit's Foot from this post. "Speech," 'Thought.'

You stop to study the enraged worm, somehow thinking this was a good idea. Before you can react, the worm screeches, showing off its splintered mouth and too many teeth. Before the guide can even jump in the way, the worm in upon you.

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 back of head, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 78 fighting 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.

Rerolled using firefly's favor

You stop to study the enraged worm, somehow thinking this was a good idea. Before you can react, the worm screeches, showing off its splintered mouth and too many teeth. Before the guide can even jump in the way, the worm in upon you.

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 right back inner leg left front inner leg left ribs, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 88 60 63 fighting 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.

Rerolled using firefly's favor
Rerolled using firefly's favor

Rerolling again

You stop to study the enraged worm, somehow thinking this was a good idea. Before you can react, the worm screeches, showing off its splintered mouth and too many teeth. Before the guide can even jump in the way, the worm in upon you.

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 the right side of your neck, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 51 intellect 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...

• Stuffed Animal
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - right back paw
  
• Medium scar - left front inner leg
  
• Major injury - right neck,
  
• -51 Intellect points