CORPSEGHOUL SWAMPLANDS and WITCHES HOLLOW

You may choose up to one companion and one accessory to take through the swamp. There is great risk involved to all that you bring along as well as your chosen character, though you may find there will also be equally great benefit.

Any rewards gained in your adventure will be account bound and therefore not tradeable. A handful of the benefits will be for the character you bring only.

Your choice in character, companion, and accessory will impact your story. Different attributes and aspects of your character, companion, and accessory will provide risks or benefits depending on the various encounters, and where one wolf would fail a situation another wolf might pass it with ease.

As the story progresses, encounters will become riskier though you can choose to abandon the adventure at any time. If you choose to remain, you do so understanding the risks!

Tempo has no companions or accessories to bring along!
Lets begin!

CORPSEGHOUL SWAMPLANDS - The Beginning

You enter through the low hanging fog into the Corpseghoul Swamplands. Ahead of you lies a large pond surrounded on all sides by boggy and mucky terrain. Frogs in the distance occasionally bellow out an ominous croak (and if you listen closely it sounds a little like "muuuuuurDER." Creepy.)

To move onward towards the Witches Hollow you must go deeper, but how will you overcome the swamp?

1. The pond appears to be deep, and the water is so murky that you can’t tell what lies in wait beneath. There’s gross foliage that might make swimming it difficult, though a larger wolf may be lucky enough to be able to touch the bottom. Do you choose to brave the water?
   
   
2. The terrain surrounding the water is gross, mucky, and squishy when tested with a paw. There is better visibility through this way, though there is the possibility that the ground may not hold your weight at all. Boggy foliage and obstacles are strewn about, that you’ll need to go around, under, or atop. Will you risk the potentially unsteady ground beneath your paws?
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Tempo wasn't even sure why he was here. He didn't exactly love being in the middle of swampland, and the creepy fog certainly didn't help. He moved carefully and slowly, ink dipped paws carefully testing the ground before him. The eerie calling of the frogs grew louder as he walked and he fought the urge to turn around right there. Something kept him moving forward though- that was until he was met with a large body of water... He waffled for a moment, the frog's calling was really starting to unsettle him. But he wasn't about to try and swim through water with gods knew what's in it. So he guessed he'd have to go around. "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

FAILURE

The murky ground seems to threaten to consume your paws with each new step you take. It is slow going, and the longer you spend yanking yourself from the muck the more your frustration grows. You've learned nothing from this experience, and in fact it feels almost as if you knowledge is lessening the further you travel. By the time you manage your way around, you can clearly feel your absence of skill.

[Tempo lost 5 points in healing]

THE WITCHES HOLLOW

Further into the swamplands sits a decayed, broken down cottage. The roof appears to have collapsed long ago, and it appears as if no one has been here for quite some time. Jars, broken glass, and beakers lay strewn about the floor covered in a thick layer of dust and grime. Only three items within the hut appear to have been disturbed recently, and your attention is drawn inexplicably towards them.

In the far corner of the room is a package of fresh, aromatic meat. Upon a hook on the wall beside you a gourd full of paint hangs from a thin string. Lastly, a mysterious corked vial of a crystal clear liquid sits alone in a tray on a nearby shelf. Beside the door you see as a small pouch that can fit one item snugly.

The cottage is eerily silent and outside the sun is beginning to set. You cannot stay long, though you have time to take something on your way out.

Your response at this part of the adventure will have great potential impact later in the story. It is not multiple choice, though multiple choices lay before you. Make your choice in character and write your wolf attempting their exit.

Tempo grimaced as mud squished between his paws, threatening to suck his legs right up... and then he'd die in the mud. Gross. He was already regretting this. It felt like years when he finally pulled himself free. And as he continued, for a reason he did not understand he found a dilapidated building and he sighed. For some reason, at this point, he was resigned to his fate, and peered at the strange objects for a moment, before he realized that time was slipping away from him. Tempo panicked and grabbed the gourd of paint and spun around to leave the hut. "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

FAILURE

You grab the gourd of paint in a panic and flee, though you've failed to take along with it the satchel. The string is thin and you can carry it on your neck for the moment, though there is no telling when it may break (and you'll likely want your mouth free for the remainder of the adventure). As you move to leave, the cottage floor begins to quake beneath your paws, and in your haste you feel like perhaps you've dropped something. Your first instinct was right however and you should get out fast - you're forced to leave whatever it was that you dropped behind.

[Tempo lost 60 gems!

THE FOUNTAIN

Deeper through the marshes you notice a faint glowing, and are inexplicably compelled to follow it. The trees and reeds open up to a pool of clean, clear water that seems out of place in the gross boggy swamp. Bathing within it are tadpoles, hatchling snakes, and other various baby animals.

You may stop for a moment and investigate, though you cannot stay long and must continue forward before the night grows too dark.

1. Your thirst is calling to you. There are many other bodies of water to satiate it nearby, though something about the strange water is enticing. Do you take the chance to drink from the fountain?
   
   
2. You would not be the first wolf to worry about ingesting something so odd and unnatural, though some part of you knows the water’s importance. Do you take a moment to soak in the fountain rather than drink from it?
   
   
3. If you are exceptionally cautious you might decide against having anything to do with the unnatural pond. You may leave without any part of it touching you, if that is what you wish.
   
   
4. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Tempo was not certain how long the gourd would last, he could feel the thin string pulling against his skin and fur and he knew it wasn't exactly holding itself together too well. Still, he'd push on, something he still didn't understand blocking out the idea of turning around... maybe he was seeking out punishment... maybe he thought he deserved it. So it made a little less sense when he arrived at a seemingly serene pool, baby animals gathered around. He licked his lips, feeling a sudden desire to plunge his muzzle into the glowing water, but he fought it pack, instead stepping forward to dip himself in the pool, to soak in the fountain. "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

FAILURE

All eyes are upon you as you slip into the pool. You begin to get comfortable in the waters, when suddenly it begins to bubble and a thick back pitch begins to spread from the disturbed surface. The group of creatures all begin to scream at you in heated anger. The monkeys begin throwing piles of mud in your direction, the snakes hissing at you and displaying their fangs. The water is beginning to boil around you, though the other creatures enjoying the water appear unaffected. You leap out before the heat can begin to burn you, a knot beginning to form in your stomach. Something is wrong, though it's impossible to define what has been done to you as of yet.

[Tempo received a [REDACTED] punishment, to be revealed and inflicted on adventure's end or early abandonment!]

NOT SUNFLOWERS NOR DAISIES

Journeying deeper, you encounter a bog of all types of sentient plants as wide as the eye can see. Their herbaceous mouths hang open, and they appear to be waiting for an unaware creature to brush by and fall victim to its fast-shutting clasp. You watch in awe as one particularly large one snaps an unaware eagle right out of the air. You must get past them, but how?

1. These dudes look hungry and unlike anything you’ve ever seen but you need to get past them somehow. If you are quiet and appear unappetizing, perhaps you can wander carefully by without drawing their attention.
   
   
2. If you believe you may appear too tantalizing for the carnivorous plants to ignore, you could try your luck with speed instead. As scary as the field of plants may be, they are rooted to the ground and cannot chase you if they miss their first bite.
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Tempo was just about to let himself relax when the water started to bubble and a thick black substance started to creep towards him, and for a moment he stared dumbfounded. Then he reeled, his head spinning, a gob of mud hitting him square in the face. The water started to grow warm and he at least had the realization he had to get out of there. He slunk onwards, feeling something was off but couldn't figure it out. He stopped as he approached the thicket of strange plants, eyeing them carefully, jumping as he watched one literally eat a whole eagle alive. Well, that was new. Tempo dithered for a moment, all of his instincts telling him to go back. But still, the young man would push onward, trying to move carefully through the plants. "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

SUCCESS

Upon close inspection you notice certain birds and bugs have evolved a color scheme that the plants do not seem to react to. You use your paint to copy their appearance to the best of your ability, and with your new camouflage manage to sneak past unharmed! You still have some paint left in the container that perhaps you can use when your adventure ends!

[Tempo received a [REDACTED] reward to be revealed at adventure's end or early abandonment!]
AND
[Tempo received a Post-Acceptance Marking Pass!]

THE WITCHES BODYGUARD

An angry, oversized bullfrog with bright red glowing eyes and saber fangs stands in your way and lets out a bellowing, menacing croak. It stands upon a pile of bones three times it’s height and looks prepared to add your skull to it's collection.

1. A bullfrog can’t have been the worst thing you’ve fought or seen others fight, surely it is a winnable battle. You may choose to stand your ground and enter combat with the frog but be warned, he’s a more formidable opponent than he looks.
   
   
2. Sometimes power comes in small packages, and you are not willing to underestimate this particular opponent. While you may not be willing to put tooth and claw against him, there’s always the chance you can outrun him.
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   
   

-----

Tempo was amazed that worked, maybe his luck was turning around? He snuck through the plants, ears pulled back and eyes wide as he went, moving as carefully as he felt he physically could. Releasing a breath as he cleared the plants and continued on. At least until the bullfrog. Which he was certainly not going to fight, he was pretty sure frogs didn't usually have horns and fangs! Or sit on piles of skulls, and he absolutely was not eager to join them. Instead, he coiled his haunches, eyes scanning wildly and springing into action to try and outrun the frog! "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

SUCCESS

Your choice is objectively a good one, there's no way for you to know how many legs this creature has already broken and whether those unfortunate souls were skilled fighters or not. You run and the frog is prepared for it, he coils his legs and prepares to spring after you when you hear a sharp crack. At first you may have thought the break belonged to you, though a loud pained croak sounds out from behind you. The frog has gotten his foot stuck between the bones of his pile, and is in no state to chase you down. With an angry croak he picks up one of the items of his hoard and throws it at you as you run.

[Tempo received a [Growth Potion!]

THE WITCH HERSELF

In a flash of sizzling smoke and mist, an old crone apparates. Stooped in posture, she outstretches an arm in your direction, pointing a knobby finger right at you. "You stole my paint, and bathed in my bathwater!" She accuses, spittle flinging from her dry, thin lips. Her speech continues in a language unintelligible to you, though it occurs to you that it sounds a heck of a lot like a curse!

1. You have only a few moments before her chanting is complete, and without any idea what exactly the witch has in store for you, perhaps you should take this opportunity to run for it!
   
   
2. For all you know her curse doesn’t require line-of-sight, you might not be free from it even if you flee successfully. Would you like to instead try to explain yourself, reason with her and apologize?
   
   
3. SKILL LOCKED: You do not meet the requirements for this path.
   

Oh, thank whatever gods existed, even himself. He barely stopped as he turned to see the frog dangling from its own skull pile, scrambling to lift itself back up from its embarrassment. For the first time in a long time, a laugh lifted from him, not something he expected, but something about seeing such a threatening creature trip itself up caused a bubble of levity to burst from his lungs. Just as Tempo was slowing, panting, his senses would be assaulted by a puff of smoke and he skittered back. His eyes opening wide as the crone pointed at him and seemed to mutter a curse... and Tempo couldn't help but feel a little less scared by this than everything else he'd encountered. A calm coming over his features. There was little anyone could curse him with that was worse than his own blood-born curse. Still, he owed it to the woman to try and appologize for stealing her stuff... "Speech"

Art by Wolf-o-Sith

SUCCESS

The witch takes pity on you, seeing into your past and knowing there is nothing she can curse you with that could possibly punish you the way your own perceived blood-curse has. It's almost unfortunate, as there is no way a being such as herself would be caught attempting to compete with some fake-curse. The witch gives a long drawn out sigh, and then lowers her hand. "Wow. You're not even worth it." With those words alone, she turns from you and steps up into the air to leave with a loud 'poof'. In her place rains down riches that clink against each other as they hit the earth.

[Tempo has received [449 gems!]]

THANKS FOR PLAYING!

Tempo received a total of 4 rewards and 3 punishments.
1 reward is 449 gems
1 reward is a growth potion
1 reward is a post-acceptance marking pass!
1 reward is [REDACTED] and to keep things mysterious for other players still deciding their paths, will be revealed closer to the adventure deadline.
1 punishment is [REDACTED] and to keep things mysterious for other players still deciding their paths, will be revealed closer to the adventure deadline.
1 punishment is lost 5 healing points
1 punishment is lost 60 gems

Thank you for your participation!
- Your Event Staff writer

NOTE: ALL PRIZES FOR THIS EVENT REDEEMED HERE!!!!!