Tanelan

The cool evening air flowed through him with a sense of urgency. They’d decided after their wounds were more healed to take a bit of a walk. Of course this time they’d let Beau know where they were going. Not too far, the wallet ring was not a place they’d visited before. Their paws pressed into the wet sand leaving prints as they hummed softly to themselves. What sort of tricks could they get up to this time of day? Or should they just continue to wander until something happened.

It didn’t help that Tan had been hogging themselves. It had been a long time since they’d done it but not letting the other alters front wasn’t uncommon for him. No doubt Mika would force their way through eventually now that they had payday it was easier to exchange messages between them. Tan didn’t get too confused when he woke up anymore. Shaking their thoughts they continued to walk along the edges of the strange piece of land watching the fish inside the shallow circle.

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

Tanelan….. Mika

It didn’t take long for something to happen, Tanelan at first hardly noticed the strange witchy creatures. Yet they were feeling sort of tired. Dizzily approaching the trio with a stern look in his eyes. A few blinks later Mika was staring out at these three witchy wolves. Their lip lifted a little what the hell was this supposed to be? Then again they had been hoping for a little adventure, in Mika’s case a little danger too. It always would get his blood pumping.

Alright then, Mika circled them for a moment before turning their attention to the darkest one with his eyes furrowed in a frown that was Mika’s sort of guy that’s for sure. "So what the hell do you have to show me?" they questioned with a tilt of their head. Maybe even a glint of playfulness in Mika’s eyes. Let the grumpy one take him on a date, that’s what Mika really needed. We’ll maybe not literally they had someone at home waiting for them.

Hard route, irascible guide…

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He huffs out a sigh at your question. He then 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.

Mika

As the smoke cleared from his eyes Mika let out a soft cough. The hell was this? Most wolves would probably be terrified by now. Their eyes scanned over the bridge narrowing as he looked over at the guide. So the point was to cross this thing right. They had half a mind to let the guide choose for them but of course then Mika would be seen as having no guts. Let him have those bragging rights. Mika grinned then, this had to be some sort of illusion even if he could feel the heat brushing his pelt.

"Alright watch me then." Mika backed up, wiggling their hind quarters as their front half lowered. This was it. Kicking off their back legs he let himself be flung forward. Don’t think they reminded themselves. If they couldn’t feel their paws then maybe they could ignore it. They had to make it to the edge of the bridge. Hoping that they’d be fast enough to avoid any planks that may fall below them.

Strength; dash across before it can collapse.

You kick off, launching yourself down the shaky bridge. You can hear the guide grunt in surprise behind you. Your paws dance across the warm, dry wood and before you know it, you've dashed your way to the other side and into the shelter of the cave, scooping up 109 Gems you find along the way.

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.

Mika

Alright! Mika couldn’t help but to jump laughing in surprise at himself normally everything he did crashed down in flames. There was a new challenge ahead of him though and now he wasn’t so sure that their compulsive actions would help. Hold on, they just needed a minute. Mika took a look at the guide for a moment. "Thanks for staying with me through this." he complimented before looking over at the bridges. He felt that that would have to be his safest bet for this.

They weren’t too large so after a few moments of deciding they thought that would be the safest route. The ledge they could easily fall off of. Their paws could be a bit clumsy at times. Taking a deep breath Mika approached the first bridge. His paws hoping to be sure footed as he locked in the choice that he’d made.

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 right 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

Mika

Mika yowled in frustration scrambling across with the guide’s help. Taking a moment to grovel in his pain on his right inner leg. Damn that fucking hurt. He growled standing to get his bearings as they looked around the next room. Alright now what the hell was this. If he continued there didn’t seem to be a way to get back. However if it was one thing they were all capable of it was their stubborn determination. They took in a deep breath and concentrated on what they could do.

"Hey mind helping me out with this one? I meant my thanks from before but I think if I built anything it’s fail and with this burn on my shoulder I’m not confident that I could clear a jump. Seems there’ve been others before to get across this so if you know anything let me know buddy." his guide probably wasn’t a thick headed idiot like him. Mika was trying to keep a good hold on his temper here anyway. It was the least that he could do.

Charisma: ask the guide to help.

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 right 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.

You tried this already

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...

Mika

He was met with silence and despite the pain in his leg it sure did piss him off. "Fine bastard have it your way." Mika walked further to the edge, he didn’t want to jump the risk of falling short didn’t sit right with him. He also still believed anything he built wouldn’t go so well for him. Alright fine, he stuck his tongue out at the guide then looked over at the stalagmites. He wasn’t the heaviest so maybe he could play a game of balance.

So, he steeled himself. One swift move he jumped to the seemingly natural stepping stones. All he could think was this better be worth it. He’d never hear the end of it if he died. But hey at least he’d have a story to tell his grandkids or some bs like that. Still his concentration was paramount in this. Gotta get each step right.

Choice; dexterity

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.

Somehow you manage to scramble almost all the way across, but as you make the final leap to the edge of solid ground you feel yourself begin to fall...

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 underbelly, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long).

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...

• 109 Gems
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Medium Scar - right front inner leg
  
• Major injury - underbelly scar
  
• -98 Intellect skill points