She traveled through the tunnels of Fenrir's Maw to then twist and turn through the winding maze of the North Maze. As she wanders deeper and deeper into the earth, she refuses to turn to look over her shoulder. Ignoring the feeling that someone was following her, Tenshi notices the change as soon as she slips through the doorway. Unlike the various tunnels she has walked through, this large room has... no light. Not a single candle is lit to tell her where to go. Hanging from the ceiling, bats rustle as she tries to get a good look at them. Along the walls, rats and other creepy crawlies skitter out of her way. Turning in a circle, Tenshi's brow furrows. Where was she supposed to go now?

"Speech"

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

Tenshi stands there in the darkened room. Blinking slowly, she fights to ignore the eerie feeling that she is being watched. Her ears flick backward and her eyes narrow as she peers into the shadows. Taking a few steps forward, her hair begins to stand on end. There was definitely something...no, someone there. Her toes flex against the stone floor, every muscle slowly freezing as she slows her breathing. Who was there? Setting her defenses, Tenshi prepares herself for an onslaught of attacks. Boreas had been unsettled lately and she had no reason to believe the one who approached her now would be pleasant.

After the next blink of her eyes, she is suddenly surprised to see three wolfish Borzois standing before her. Tenshi blinks a few more times before lifting a paw to rub at her eyes. Was she seeing things? Their bright green eyes stare at her through the darkness as they shift back and forth. All three are different and distinct from each other. They continue to stare at her. Excitable, mournful, abrasive. Each one tugged at her, and beckoned her to follow, but she resisted. What did they want? Her head lifts, her paws take a step backward. Nothing about this felt right, but they continued to stare. Well, if she had to choose...

She would choose the irascible guide.

"Speech"

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.

Was he wanting her to reconsider? Tenshi eyes the borzoi carefully. The way his own brow relaxes and hesitates sets her on edge. Would it be wise to follow? Not like she has a choice. The borzoi is turning and walking away. Picking up her pace, she follows the dark-colored figure until smoke billows around her. A cough fills her chest as she blinks away tears and her eyes begin to sting. What was going on? It's Tenshi's turn for her brow to furrow once she is able to see again.

Rocks clatter against stone as she freezes in her steps. On the very edge of a cliff, she stares down at boiling lava. The bubbles pop and splatter all around as if they taunted her to come falling down. Her icy gaze quickly flits over to the borzoi with a questionable look. There was no physical way this chasm was here... Before she has a chance to ask him anything, he is motioning toward a nearby bridge that wobbles back and forth. He wanted her to cross that?

Tenshi takes her time to consider her options. Though she is strong, she is also large in stature so running or balancing will probably not be her best choice. She could take her time, but then again... it was his idea. "I insist you go first," her words are tentative, but confident as she lifts a paw to allow him to walk by her.

"Speech"

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 left cheek under your eye. 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 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.

Tenshi stares at him as he stares back at her. Was her suggestion not appropriate? He was the one who led her here so surely he knew the best way across! Tense and getting more nervous by the minute, she is startled when he is suddenly behind her, shoving her forward. How was he strong enough to propel her across the bridge as if she weighed nothing? Wood creaks and the bridge swings as the borzoi comically drags Tenshi across the bridge until she feels firm stone beneath her paws. In the struggle, she felt the sharp end of a broken board swipe across her cheek, but only now did she feel the blood trickle down her face. Wrinkling her nose as the stranger wanders into the cave ahead of them, Tenshi hesitates.

Should she follow?

Looking back over her shoulder, she realizes that there is no turning back. As the bridge sways over the pit of lava, it appears as if it might fall at any moment. Not wanting to risk her life, Tenshi turns and follows him into the cavern where he is waiting for her. Coming to a stop not a few feet later, she looks around. Looking at him and then at the bubbling lava, Tenshi considers which way to go. Clearly, he wasn't going to help her again so she would have to go this alone. Walking up to where the stepping stones are, she wonders if they're sturdy enough to hold her. When she looks at the thin edge, her heart races a little. Definitely not that way. But then there are the other bridges. Why risk jumping from stone to stone when she could take another bridge? These ones appeared to be in better shape.

"I'll take the bridges," Tenshi murmurs softly as she casts one more look at the grumpy wolf-dog.

"Speech"

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 neck. 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 discernable 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

The singe of lava across her cheek has her hissing through clenched teeth. Giving her head a shake, Tenshi was glad that it hadn't hurt her more than that. Once the pain subsides, she finishes following her guide across the bridge. Once upon the other side, she looks at the flat piece of stone in the middle of a moat of lava. Stalagmites that separate look rather intimidating. As she looks from the stone over to her guide, Tenshi can tell she is going to have to find a way to make it across. "If I knew any better, I might believe you are trying to kill me," the mountainous woman laughs, but it is shaky and reveals that she truly is nervous about what will happen next. But Tenshi wasn't a wimp and she wasn't going to back out now. Approaching the edge, Tenshi chose to test her dexterity and use the stalagmites as stepping stones.

"Speech"

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.

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.

Though you wake up alive, you're not quite unscathed. The most notable of your injuries is a deep wound across your left side of your chest back right inner leg (about 6 inches long) that is sure to leave a nasty scar. Likewise you feel a little less skilled at having failed your adventure, losing 57 healing 80 Fighting skill points!

Rerolled using Firefly's Favor.

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...

• Zilch.
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left cheek
  
• Medium Scar - Right neck
  
• Major scar -right back inner leg,
  
• -80 fighting points