Another night that he couldn't sleep. He longed for a warm body to sleep next to at night and found himself missing Sorcerer almost more than he was willing to bare. Would the man agree to move to the Hallow with him? Would his family like him? Everything seemed to go well at the bonfire, but he was afraid of overwhelming the man with too much at once. Maybe he should send him another letter, asking him to be his? That seemed strange, honestly, but he wasn't sure how he could face any rejection.

Sleeplessness led to one thing for Grimshaw, and that was wandering. On occasion he would hunt, but really only if the oppertunity arose. Tonight, however, he wasn't in the least bit interested. Instead, a storm hung on the horizon and he felt the need to stare at it from the shoreline of the shimmering shore, desperate to remember what happened between the time he left the armada and when he washed up across the island from here. Brows furrowed as he stood in the glittering sand, watching as the lightning lit up the clouds surrounding it's storm, deep in thought.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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

Thunder roared in the distance, yet it wasn't close enough that he shouldn't have been able to hear the approach of three, strange wolves suddenly. Were they even wolves? They looked like some kind of mutt, honestly, but he couldn't judge. He didn't look all too friendly with his scar, but what could he do about it? About as much as these three could do - nothing.

He turned his head suddenly when he felt the presence of other, confusion washing over him as he wondered where the fuck they came from. They seemed to want something, maybe they needed help? Was this some kind of test? Were these the others that he had been with that he couldn't remember, before washing up some months ago? He wasn't sure what to do, especially since he kinda wanted to run, but they seemed insistent...

Looking at the darker one, he sighed and took a step towards them. There was no going back now, if there ever was to begin with. "Let's go, then."

"Speech!"

grimshaw has chosen the hard path

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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.

Grimshaw followed the dark man, wondering what was going on. He hadn't remembered falling asleep, though would he? Certainly this was a dream, because why else would smoke suddenly appear and the rancid scent of sulfur fill the air? His nose wrinkled and he wondered how the other man was fairing. He certainly didn't seem too bothered by the smoke or the smell. Lucky.

He was stopped suddenly and rose his brows at the sudden sight of a chasm with lava beneath. They were on a beach, right? This had to be some sort of dream, though it was starting to look more like some sort of nightmare. Silver gaze followed the motion to the bridge and he studied it briefly. He glanced back at the guide, tempted to make him go first, but what harm could come to him in a dream or nightmare? At best, he'd just scare himself awake. He should've just stayed back at the castle.

With a sigh, he looked back to the bridge and focused on the cave the bridge led to. Determined to wake up from this strange experience, he decided to make a break for it over the bridge.

Grimshaw has chosen strength.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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.

Along the way, you find 147 gems!

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 is 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.

His trip across the bridge went off without a hitch and soon enough he was across it and within the cave. More lava bubbled around him and two of the three potential paths were readily obvious. Though, he didn't want to chance his luck with this new bridge system that was much closer to the lava. He'd made it across one bridge, but he doubted he could make the second. Not to mention that the lava was much closer this go-round.

The guide was waiting on an answer, though Grim was certain that he hadn't left him waiting long. They'd only just gotten into the cave, but he supposed there was no use in waiting. Choosing the stones that seemed to create a jumping path through the bubbling heat, it seemed like the most obvious choice. He glanced at the guide briefly before motioning to the path and heading towards it. Certainly this seemed like the safest option?

Grimshaw has chosen strength.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

You coil yourself and jump from one stone to the next. Hey! This isn't too hard. The warm, smooth stone holds steady and after a few jumps you find a bag - you'll have to open this later. After just a few more jumps, you find yourself on the edge of a new lava room.

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

Would this ever end? Grim was getting a bit annoyed with all the lava and following this guide around. It seemed silly, pointless, and frankly Grimshaw was about ready to throw himself into the lava if it meant it would all be over. Now presented with a new obstacle with it's own obstacles, Grim wasn't sure what he should do. The gap between the edge of the floor he stood on and the edge of the stone were pretty far, but maybe if he got a running start? He had gotten a lot, if not all, of his strength back so he felt like he could do it.

Turning around, Grimshaw went back to the entrance only to line himself up with and face the stone settled in the lava that he wished to land on. There were stalagmites in the way, but he was certain he could do this. Suddenly he bolted towards the lava, waiting until the very last second to launch towards the wide, flat stone and between the rock formations.

grimshaw has chosen strength

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 Gregory. 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.

He wasn't sure if he expected to land the jump or not, but it had taken his breath away forcefully when he had. What felt like electric shocks traveled up his legs from his paws and he nearly collapsed, however the ground shaking around him gave him something else to worry about instead. What he had imagined was some sort of earthquake turned out to be anything but, and instead a giant... worm? broke free from the earth and towered above him, lava dripping from the beast around him.

Grimshaw snarled, immediately taking a defensive pose and glancing briefly at the guide. He'd never seen anything like this before, and while he was almost certain this was some sort of nightmare, it was all feeling so very real. Certainly it wasn't though, right?

He wasn't sure what to do; the worm was massive and clearly angry. How was he supposed to attack such a thing? Grimshaw decided to hold his ground, snarling at the beast, but studied it while he had the chance. If he knew anything from his days training for battle, he knew that he needed to properly size up an opponent and that running in guns blazing was likely just going to get him killed.


grimshaw has chosen wisdom.

Instead of acting too quickly, you hang back and study the worm, watching the methodical way it moves its head up and down, almost cyclically. Its movements seem more predictable to you the more you watch. You continue to study it, noting a nice item near you as well, which you decide to grab later.

The worm rolls and screeches, diving into the lava, then into the air, over the stage, and back into the lava. Hot globs of molten rock splash over the stage. Your guide grunts and dodges, his teeth barred in frustration. He glances to you, a silent invitation to take the lead. The worm emerges again. This is it. The final stand!

What do you do?

Strength: Attack as soon as the worm emerges.

You decide to strike at the soonest opportunity.

Charisma: Tell the guide to take the lead..

You think the guide would know best what to do.

Dexterity: Attack at the highest point in the worm's jump

You decide to wait until the worm's head is furthest from you to strike.

Wisdom: Wait for the perfect point over the stage to attack

You choose to observe the worm, patiently waiting for the right opportunity to attack.

He'd never encountered something like this before and so when the guide looked at him, clearly expecting him to take the lead, he didn't know what to do. Part of him wanted to snap at the otherwise wordless man and make him do something, at the very least be equals, but he supposed that would get them no where besides flattened under the worm as it landed on them.

Huffing, he looked back at the worm as it jumps around, dodging the lava quickly though nearly getting burned a few times. He supposed that it wouldn't be smart to lunge for the thing as it was nearest to the lava as that would risk getting pulled in to an absolutely certain death. He patiently watched the thing jump around, looking for patterns as it moved and decided to strike when the worm was as centered as possible over the stage. It was certainly immune to lava, but what about teeth to the underside?

Grimshaw chose wisdom again.

You wait, observing the worm. Its jump, its arc, every detail important. As soon as you find the perfect spot, you wait for his next attack. Then he launches, and so do you, biting into the hard, hot underbelly of the lava worm. The guide follows suit. With this, you are able to peel off a slab of his scale-like armor. It clamors into the lava just seconds before the worm does.

The worm thrashes and sinks into the lava, his bones rising to the surface as shiny as fresh metal. They float, suspended for a bit, before slowly beginning to glow and melt into the pool.

The worm thrashes and sinks into the lava, his bones rising to the surface as shiny as fresh metal. They float, suspended for a bit, before slowly beginning to glow and melt into the pool.



As the worm fades from existence, the lava begins to calm and sink down into the earth. A small land bridge becomes apparent and you are able to safely exit the chasm. On the other side, smoke swaths you once more and you find yourself back where you began, singed, sore, but not too worse for wear.

It is time for goodbye, you can feel it in your soul. You turn to the guide, who looks almost proud of you.

Your guide gives you a curt nod of approval and you blink. When your eyes open, only a few fireflies buzzing lazily where the guide once was.

The cave, now peaceful, stands to be explored by any who come across it. Maybe you can remember your way back sometime.

You have unlocked a new site land: Pyroduct Caves!

You receive: To Hell and Back Bundle:

• Deluxe Open Character Pass
  
• Choice of litter pass (Gay Litter Pass, Ghost Litter Pass, Mystery Litter Pass)
  
• Boosted Worm companion (Regular companion size, named Sebastien, but you may change this, only speaks a language you do not know)
  
• Lucky Rabbits Foot
  
• Firefly's favor
  

Other prizes you collected 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...

• 147 gems
  
• Mushroom Based Acid
  
• Open Character Pass
  
• Ethereal Somnium Pass
  
• To hell and back bundle
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Woot nothing!