Cricket, whose diet consisted mostly of bugs and leftovers, had taken to chasing snowflakes to try and improve her hunting abilities. One particular snowflake, slightly larger than the rest, had been swept up on a current of wind and drifted further away, small gusts constantly keeping it just out of reach. She was starting to lose interest, if she was honest, until another gust bought it closer to the ground, closer to where she could get at it. With a determined butt wiggle and a narrowing of her eye, she pounced! The warmth of her paws melting the snowflake on contact, but it filled her with a sense of pride that she had managed to catch it, after all this following.

“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

She hadn't expected to run into anyone out here so when a pack of three strangers seemed to suddenly appear, Cricket quivered all over. They were giving such mixed messages too, the lightest one was playful, and Cricket responded in nervous kind, her tail flagging high and the hair along her spine standing up with her pent-up confusion. The grey lady seemed terribly sad about something and for a moment, she almost raced forward to offer the woman a hug, but the glare of the dark wolf held her in place. Something about Mr Grumpy-pants reminded her of Ghoul. So much so, she hardly even noticed when her steps drew her closer, her head canting to the side to get a better look at him. Yeah, this guy seemed familiar.

”Speech”  ’Thought’

It's time to raise the curtain

-choosing the irascible guide-

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.

Cricket wasn't sure what compelled her to continue walking through the smoke, she must be dreaming right? Maybe she ate something weird before bed... this couldn't be real? But then why was it so hard to breathe? Why did her eyes water?

When finally, the air cleared and the dark wolf reached out to stop her, she gave the grumpy man a grateful smile and a wave of her tail. He didn't have to do that, but he did, so he couldn't be all bad could he? As he gestured to the bridge, she took in his towering height and weight and quickly supposed it made more sense for her to go first. Distributing her meagre weight as best she could, she could only put one paw in front of the other as she tried to cross the distance to the other side of the lava.
”Speech”  ’Thought’

It's time to raise the curtain

Choosing: dexterity! balance lightly between the planks evenly as you go.

You gingerly step onto the bridge, balancing your weight. The bridge creaks and sways slightly. You inch your way down the bridge, but one paw lands too heavy and the plank below it crumbles, 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 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 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 world seemed to spin in a cloud of sulfur as the boards gave way and Cricket was certain she was about to be roasted, until her guide snatched her up and carried her across the rest of the bridge and into the next room. She took being deposited on her ass quite well, considering, and gave herself a quick once over, pushing the sting of her new wound to the back of her mind as she tried to focus on the task ahead of her once again. Her brain told her the bridges were there for a reason, but after her last bridge, well, she wasn't quite sure... The stones would be a breeze for a larger wolf, and that narrow ledge looked mighty narrow in some spaces. She let out a resigned sigh and made her way towards the bridges, after all, they had to be there for a reason right?
”Speech”  ’Thought’

It's time to raise the curtain

Choosing: wisdom! take the bridges.

You decide to use the bridges. They seem to have stood the test of time, being singed here and there. They're easy to cross, and you progress steadily until one snaps out from under you. 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 back 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

Cricket scrunched up her face when the board snapped and the guide was saving her ass again, dragging her across the bridge while she tried to not yelp up a storm about the searing pain that radiated up her right rear leg. At least the coolness of the flat stone offered some relief (not really, not at all if she was honest, but if she could pretend, maybe she could keep going). Gritting her teeth as she assessed the next best step forward, she moved towards the stalagmites. She didn't think she had the size to clear the ditch in one leap like ol' long legs here.

”Speech”  ’Thought’

It's time to raise the curtain

Choosing: dexterity! use the stalagmites as stepping stones.

You decide to use the stalagmites as stepping stones. At first it seems like a solid plan as you begin to make your way across, but then suddenly the one you're standing on begins to crack and splinter, giving out completely beneath your paws. You begin to tumble down...

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 brow, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 60 healing 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...

• Nothing for you nacho
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - right back inner leg
  
• Medium scar-left back leg
  
• Major wound/scar - left brow,
  
• -60 Healing skill points