After her meeting with Aresenn and now her Cousin Sephrian, whom she'd met once before she needed a break. Some space to wrap her head around the fact that she'd found her family. And not just any family, the son of her mothers first infatuation, her uncle Apollyon. She was exactly where she belonged. But that didn't change the fact that she was overwhelmed. She didn't even remember how she got to this land. How she was separated from her parents and her siblings. It was almost like she was brought here for this very thing. But now she wanted to explore. So shedleft her bed in the makeshift camp her cousin and his band of misfits were calling home as a reminder that she'd be back. With that shed left the polar sound behind, heading north again she was set on exploring this land. She wanted to see it all, that way she would always know exactly where she had been and where she was going. She’d remembered her way north and she could easily navigate her way south toward the last place she’d seen her pretty boy Scald.

As she walked she found herself facing a wall, old and crumbling. It was likely once glorious back in its prime, much like her own family’s legacy. Ironically she felt a small connection to the old thing. It was probably once formidable, and yet now it stood before her worn and crumbling. The only thing it didn’t have in common with the Saxe family was,no matter how they fell apart the saxe always managed to rebuild themselves bigger and better. It was kind of their thing at this point. Elysia found herself staring at the wall, wondering what adventures she might find if she were to cross it.

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

Elysia was about to cross the wall when three wolves suddenly appeared before her. Immediately her hackles Raised as she tears up teeth bared. She was ready for a fight, a 1 v 3 wouldn’t be easy. But better to die in battle than return home a failure. She stared them down for a while, unmoving as she studied them.

They hadn’t moved nor attempted to attack her yet. So she eased up a hit, but she was aware that could simply be their ploy. So she stayed ready looking for even a twitch in any of them.

It was as if they were waiting for her to pick one of them. It had her so confused but she slowly made her way towards the darker wolf. Who looked less than patient. Someone she felt more comfortable with demeanor wise.

(Hard path here we go)

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.

Elysia was unimpressed by her guide at this very moment. He was looking at her like she was going to willingly walk across that decrepit bridge that clearly had seen better days. As if he hadn’t brought her here without any real words about what they were doing. She looked at him and then back at the bridge. Then she glanced at the cave entrance. Who’s bright idea was this? Who built this bridge so poorly anyway.

Elysia truly did hesitate for the first time before she took a deep breath turning towards her guide. “After you” she motioned with her own paw for him to lead the way across the rotting bridge before them.

If he was to be her guide then he would guide her safely across this bridge. Otherwise she was going home to forget all about this…. Strange interaction that she wasn’t sure was entirely real.

You ask tell the guide to go first and he doesn't budge. For a long while there is silence, then he is behind you. He pushes you forward, onto the bridge and blocking your way out. The bridge swings and creaks awfully. He pushes you across, scruffing you and dragging you if he must before he deposits you on the other side of the bridge and walks into the cave, not waiting for you to follow.

In the struggle, you scrape your left front outer 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 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.

Elysia bared her fangs as the silent male scruffed her and dragged her across the rickety bridge that had seen far better days. This was not what she’d had in mind when she’d asked him to guide her across the damn thing. The fact that her leg was now scraped up also made her anger flare. She doubted asking him for any further Guidence would be helpful if he was going to continue dragging her around like a child.

When they entered the cave a warmth began to chase the chill of winter from her bones. Blinking a few times to adjust to the dimmer light she looked around. When she could finally see the area around her she began to study her surroundings. The stepping stone across the lava seemed sturdy, but then there were the bridges that seemed in far better shape than the one they’d crossed to get here. Lastly she halved at the tiny ledge. If she were smaller that might just be the way to go but she wasn’t going to risk that.

When she was done studying the options before her she glanced over at her guide. With a huff she took a step towards the bridge. Studying it further while occasionally taking a glance at the darker male, trying to decide if this was the best move. With a small snort she shook her head and began to walk across the bridge.

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 right abdomen. 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

Elysia hissed as the lava bubbles against her flesh. Looking down at her now marred fur she turned to glare accusingly at her guide. Wrestling with her inner demons to calm down. She had to see this through and to do that she needed the guide. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to the task at hand.

What was she to do now, there wasn’t a clear Plath this time. And she didn’t need any more scars disfiguring her beauty. Pacing a bit she decided to take it head on. Backing up as far as she could, she made a running start as she leapt for the platform.

(She’s jumping for it, rip)

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. One in particular will stand out, a deep, ugly wound that lies across your right back ankle, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 55 Intellect 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...

• No stuffs for you
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left front outer leg
  
• Medium scar - right abdomen
  
• major wound - right back ankle,
  
• -55 Intellect skill points