Iki was all about this warm thing, ma and pa called it summer. It was great! He could lay around and be warm all the time. No to mention pa was able to bring home more food than ever! He was stoked for more food, always. It was after all, his favorite thing ever.

He moved outside the den where he took a seat. A half chewed bone in his mouth as he grinned. Ma said he was allowed to go farther than just the doorstep of the den, but that hardly interested him unless food was involved usually. Today though felt weird and unique. He should explore some.

"Ikuchi"

code by Cloudy

Ikuchi is ready to explore.

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

Three others appeared before the boy, and he had no regards to his own safety with them. No thoughts that they were trespassing, or anything that could do him wrong. The husky framed child instead dropped his bone and grinned at them, obviously they must be new friends for him. He eyed all of them and stood up with his puppy tail high and wagging. His eyes passed over the black one, he didn't look like any fun or like he would give the boy food. next was the pale one she looked kind of fun and like she might have food somewhere for him, but boy did she look like she had too much energy for him. he doubted he would keep up with her. next was the blue coated one, she looked okay. not like she was full of energy or as angry as da. That would do.

He padded forward and moved to the blue one a smile on his ever friendly face. "We can get some food on this trip right? Ma said i shouldn't spoil my dinner but im hungry now." he looked up at her hopefully. he had made his choice. "Even if we cant get food you can be my new friend." He gave them a grin and waited for them to lead the way.

Ikuchi choses the sorrowful guide

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. After sniffling back some tears, she turns and motions for you to follow.

Quietly, the woman leads you into a perpetual fog. Your senses are blocked and it is impossible to know where you are going. Your only lead is the salty scent of the woman you follow and the brief grey blue flash of her tail in front of you, her body obscured by the mists.

When the shroud thins, you find yourself in a small clearing surrounded by the largest weeping willows you have ever seen. In the center of the clearing, a mirror-like pond awaits, completely still except for a small swirling whirlpool in the middle. A thin path of stepping stones trail towards the center of the lake then stop. The sad wolf sits, and motions you towards the lake, tear-filled eyes brimming with anticipation.

What do you do?

Strength: Swim into the whirlpool.

You're probably stronger than some water, right? You can just swim over and see what's up.

Charisma: Ask the guide for a hint.

The guide seems nice enough. Maybe she will help you.

Dexterity: Use the stepping stones.

There are perfectly good stepping stones here for you to use!

Wisdom: Inspect the water.

Something is amiss with the water... Maybe you can figure out what.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Okay that was weird, she had lead him to a pool of water. but he wasn't sure what she wanted him to do here. If she had been his ma she would of just told him what she expected him to do. so He looked up at the guide, she seemed to be expecting something of him, but she wouldn't talk of tell him it seemed.

That wasn't very helpful of her.

So he looked out at the water, there was stones to hop from, but could he really do that? He was kind of short and he wasn't the most dexterous of wolves. He wasn't a strong kid either. So he couldn't just swim it, plus ma would probably freak if she saw him trying to swim to the center of a lake. He should probably take the stepping stones for safety sake though. so thats what he did, he moved to the stones and started trying his best to hop across.

Ikuchi chooses Dexterity

You ready yourself and jump to the first rock, then the next. So far so good. On your third jump, your paw slips, but you are able to recover. The last step is an easy one and as you go to stick the landing, the rock dissolves into 66 gems. You slide down the whirlpool in one thrilling swoop, the guide jumping in after you looking unworried by your descent.

Under the whirlpool, a waterfall floats you into an underground lake. As you pull yourself from the frigid pool, an icy palace opens before your eyes. Thick layers of ice coat the cave's interior and ornate carvings decorate the walls. Your guide stands on the shore, shaking out her fur. She inspects the surroundings, and you do the same. You realize there is no discernible exit, though some of the ice looks thin and even cracked in some spots along the walls.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through one of the weak spots.

The ice looks thin enough, and you feel strong enough to burst through.

Charisma: Ask the guide where to go.

The room seems directionless... Maybe the guide knows something.

Dexterity: Try to squeeze through one of the larger cracks.

Some of the cracks and cervices look large enough for you to squeeze through.

Wisdom: Inspect the drawings on the wall.

The drawings are intricate, they must mean something.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

He yelped as the water took him and the rock slid from under him. Oh no! He was gonna drown! Momma had always told him to stay way from the waterfall so he had. He did his best to kick and paw at the water until he dragged himself out, shaking the water from his fur. Shock was on his face. This was definitely not getting food.

He took a moment to steady himself and take a breath before taking in his surroundings. He took it all in slowly. Ice was everywhere, sparkling like it should. He looked to where the guide was though, unsure if she knew anything but then again she had to, this was her doing right? "Do you know what I should do? Just a little hint? PLEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEEE." He turned his big eyes on her. They always worked on Momma and pa. So they should work on this lady, right?

Ikuchi chooses Charisma

You ask the guide and she looks at you, her expression sympathetic to your pleading. She purses her lips as she surveys the room. After a moment, she moves so quickly, you can't track her. After a loud crack, she stands on the other side of a now broken sheet of ice, waiting for you to follow.

On the other side you find a bag containing an item! Can't wait to open this later.

On the other side of the ice wall, what was once a neat hallway has been utterly destroyed. Carved pillars lay broken and elaborate art shattered.

The tunnel ahead looks a little unstable, and proceeding further may be very dangerous. You know if you go on now, you may not return in the same condition you entered.

What do you do?

Strength: Charge through the tunnel.

If you're plenty quick, the tunnel won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Convince your guide to lead the way.

One wrong step could lead to the tunnel failing. Perhaps the guide knows a better way.

Dexterity: Carefully tread down the hallway.

If you go slow and carefully, you can leave the tunnel undisturbed.

Wisdom: Study the cave and find the safest path.

If you look closely, you can see where the cracks and freshly broken ice are.

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, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

His pleading seemed to work and he couldn't be happier. Of course the pleading and puppy eyes always worked on his ma and pa so he was none the wiser that it might not of worked. he followed her after she reappeared and took in where it was she had lead them to. The tunnel looked massive. Or at least from his shorter perspective. It looked unsafe too, but there had to be something in this for him right? Or at least he hoped so.

He moved on, slowly and carefully trying to avoid the cracks, though made a point to look behind him and make sure his guide was close on his heals before he even began to touch anything. He was sure he needed to be as quiet as possible or they might have a cave in too.

Ikuchi choses Dexterity

Slowly you start working your way down the hallway, though you take far too long to traverse it and you hear the tunnel beginning to crack and splinter around you.

As the tunnel behind you begins to collapse, you find yourself getting battered and bruised by a multitude of ice shards, their blades cutting through your fur and smashing onto the ground below. You begin to falter, but with a final push from your guide, you make it to a more stable part of the tunnel. You notice an injury on your left back ankle that's sure to leave a scar.

At the end of the collapsed tunnel, what appears to have once been an elaborate shrine at some point in time lays demolished. A part of the wall carves out and opens to an open room full of jagged ice floating in deathly waters. In the center, a large, flat expanse is frozen, and on the other side, what look like daylight shines through a small opening.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through the jagged ice to the exit.

The ice doesn't look so tough, you can probably break through the tips and clear a path.

Charisma: Convince your guide to lead the way.

The guide may know how to get through the treacherous cave.

Dexterity: Jump from jagged peak to peak towards the exit.

If you time your jumps just right, you think you'll be able to use them as stepping stones.

Wisdom: Look for the safest path to the exit.

Looking ahead, there has to be one safe path... if only you can spot it.

Owie! His ankle hurt now. Maybe that hadn't been the best idea. Not like Ikuchi was smart anyway. He looked about the cave though. It looked like they were close to the exit now. All he had to do was figure out how to get to that light. His eyes looked to the guide making certain she was with him and still safe. Good at least she wasn't hurt. Couldn't let the lady get hurt.

So how were they going to get through to that light now. He wasn't sure touching the ice was smart. It looked hard and jagged, like it could cut him. So maybe he needed to think like his dad for once. What would he do? Well Ikuchi wasn't sure. So that just left doing things his own way. He looked at the way that had to be the exit. He just needed to bust through that.

Ikuchi choses strength

You bash through the ice and the cold soothes and numbs your skin. It is halfway through the room you feel woozy and look down, seeing the ice below you stained with blood. Behind you, now spinning, you see the streaks of your own blood melting down the broken and jagged ice. As your vision tunnels, the guide runs to your side and all you can think about is how warm her tears are.

You awaken out by the lake, battered and beaten and so. so cold. 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 ache, but you will heal fine; you can tell somehow by the way the fireflies buzz around you.

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.

You've made it out alive, though not without injury. You notice a deep wound on the left front inner leg, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). Likewise you feel you've lost some knowledge along the way. Any items you've found lay beside you, and will be revealed later.

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...

• 66 Gems
  
• Goldfish In A Bag
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor scar - left back ankle
  
• Major injury - left front inner leg