Sparrow kept away from her pack as of late. Really, she kept away from everyone. Her companions followed her diligently, but there was a space between them, and for today, she told them to wait at camp. She toured the old battlegrounds, the flat lands sprawling ahead of her, dappled with debris and other waste that was probably important to someone at some point. The woman wasn't sure where to start, but it wasn't here. She figured she'd hang around for another day, then pick up camp and move on to whatever was next. The steps weren't important, only the destination.

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

Through her searching, Sparrow failed to notice the three borzoi that apparated nearby until she was facing them dead on. She backpedaled, eyeing the three suspiciously. She felt - knew - that they wanted her to choose between them and Sparrow briefly wondered if this meant she had died. Maybe this was some afterlife trick no one had told her about. She was inclined to choose the sad lady because, well, she was a lady, but the tough looking guy seemed like more fun to fuck with. He'd be the type to not get his feelings hurt or to deny he had feelings altogether. Simple as that, Sparrow had chosen and went to stand before the darker man.

-Sparrow Chooses HARD MODE-

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.

As Sparrow looked to the dark wolf, he turned to lead. Sparrow tried, on occasion, to strike up conversation, but all her attempts failed (yes this is technically meta cause I know they don't talk). When Sparrow decided to focus on the task ahead, she found the two swathed in smoke. It felt almost familiar of her time on the volcano. This was, actually, a volcano, Sparrow realized later than she should have, but this didn't seem like the mountain she was used to. It was hotter and.... bubblier. The guide motioned to a bridge that looked like it might burst into flames at any given point. Sparrow chuckled, "Yeah right, you're kidding me." The man simply stared. Fuck, he was serious. "Y'know, how about you try and go on ahead why dontcha?"

-Sparrow chooses Charisma-

You ask 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 right ribs. 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.

Well they made it across somehow... Now they were... inside the volcano? Aw fuck, this definitely wouldn't end well. Now the shadowy dude wanted her to find some magical way across or risk burning up over more stupidly wooden bridges. Why couldn't they be stone bridges? Who was the builder and why did they use wood? How did they even get wood down here? The man stood, as dark as the smoke that billowed above. He seemed to know what he was doing, so why did he need her anyways? Sparrow nodded ahead, motioning for the guide to lead, "C'mon now big guy, don't stop now, keep goin'."

-Sparrow chooses Charisma-

The guide motions you ahead. He ha nothing to say.

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 has nothing to say.

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.

Oookay, so the dude didn't want to go. Fair, she didn't either. One thing was for certain, she didn't trust the wooden bridges. The stepping stones were a far better option, but they still required her to be at least temporarily suspended over the lava, which she wasn't the biggest fan of. Not that she was vain for sure, but the idea of plunking down into lava that supposedly melted rocks didn't sound greatly appealing. Sparrow took a breath, looking around and only seeing a thin edge around the room. Well, fuck it, it couldn't be worse than the wooden bridges. Sparrow turned to look at the guide with a narrowing gaze before turning and taking the thin edge.

-Sparrow chooses Dex-

You decide to follow the thin edge around the room. The guide seems surprised, but follows your lead. It's tall and narrow, but you scoot your way along. In your path, you find a Crystal Bath Bomb... better take it with you. Eventually, the path widens and you find yourself in another room full of lava.

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

Well, somehow they made it in one piece. Sparrow wasn't entirely sure how, and it didn't make sense, but Sparrow was glad nonetheless. Now they were in - you guessed it - another lava room, woo! Sparrow loves that the surprises just kept on coming and for what? She wasn't sure and the guide wouldn't tell her, she already tried asking.

In this room, there was a large stage like stone surrounded by - wow - more lava. Well, better cross MORE lava and see if anything cool happened, right? No, actually, someone had to have a better idea. Maybe the GUIDE who was supposed to be GUIDING her would know something, but probably not.

"Look, man, my dude, my pal, my ragtime gal, where are we going?"

-Sparrow chooses Cha-

The guide shakes his head. This, you must figure out on your own. He will be no help here.

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.

The guide has nothing to share.

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

Great, Mr. Guide was neglecting his job at all and had decided Sparrow should be the voice of reason. She wasn't. She wasn't about to try to build a pointless wooden bridge or anything like that. She could probably jump over the gap, but that left one long leap of faith and Sparrow had never been one for believing in things. She could make smaller jumps, steps maybe even, if she used the stalagmites. Sure they might puncture through her paws causing her to fall and impale herself, but hey, that couldn't be that much worse than just jumping directly into the lava. Stalagmites it was, then. Sparrow made sure her useless guide was following. If she died, she at least wanted to take him with her.

-Sparrow chooses Dex-

You manage to hop from one stalagmite to another. They are surprisingly sturdy for a bunch of rocks that grow out of the ground. One by one, you make your way across until you reach the stage. From below the stage, you feel a low vibration, then a thrumming, then, all at once, and explosion.

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 Richard. 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.

Well, somehow that worked. Sparrow was surprised that she hadn't died yet and now she was slowly becoming more and more determined that she wanted to live. That was, of course, until a giant fucking worm erupted onto the scene. Like, no seriously, what the fuck was that? Sparrow looked back at the guide with a brief, panicked glare, Like, really? A giant worm? It wasn't any type of worm Sparrow had ever seen, but it definitely wasn't any dragon or some shit. Ah, fuck, they were supposed to fight this thing, weren't they? Well, that's what Sparrow got for following Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome...

"Okay, now's the time for ideas," she nearly pleaded the guide. He NEEDED TO START GUIDING.

-Sparrow chooses Cha-

You ask the guide how to deal with the worm. He turns to you, pausing as if trying to drum up an answer, and you realize all at once that your hesitation has cost you. The worm suddenly strikes, and everything goes black...

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 abdomen, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 86 Fighting 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...

• Extra Companion Slot
  
• Crystal Bath Bomb
  
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• 86 Skill Points
  
• A chunk of your right abdomen (6 inches)
  
• Small rib flesh