Dusk was old enough and skilled enough to wander. To explore. When returning from the meeting with Heidinn, the dark girl had broken off from the rest of the group, following her paws to a strange and wonderous place. Up, up, up the mountainside she went, having caught sight of a strange formation from down below. It looked like one of the etchings on the walls of the castle and she her curiosity won out and she had to investigate.

The day was waning as the obsidian wolf made her way into the cavern at the top of the mountainous cliffs. She arrived just in time to see the last rays of sunlight set a pool of water red with flame. A soft gasp pulled from the young woman as her gaze locked upon water that was just as fiery as her own eyes. It was breathtakingly beautiful, but it was over too quickly. As the sun shifted, the cave darkened once more, leaving Dusk blinking against the black spots that had filled her vision due to so much light.

Collecting a few stray pieces of wood that she'd seen further down the path, Dusk made a small fire in the cavern, settling down beside the water, just at the edge of the 'dragon's' stone tail. The antlered fae settled down, curling her paws in against her chest much like a cat. She would move out and make her way back home in the morning. For now, she would enjoy this place that seemed relatively untouched by others.

"Dusk Carpathius"

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

As the dark fae rested her eyes, something niggled at the back of her mind. Fiery eyes opened and a small gasp pulled from Dusk as she saw three wolf mixes standing before her. They had made no sound indicating their arrival. In fact, they made no sound as they stood there. One was filled with happiness and seemed to be beckoning her towards it. The fae in the center was solemn and stoic, reminding her somewhat of her grandmother. The last looked angry and short-tempered.

Rising from her place near the fire, Dusk approached the slate colored fae first. Pointed ears shifted forward as she stared pointedly at the woman. "If this is your home, I didn't mean to intrude." She waited for a response.

(Dusk chose the Medium Route!)

"Dusk Carpathius"

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. After sniffling back some tears, she turns and motions for you to follow.

Quietly, the woman leads you into a perpetual fog. Your senses are blocked and it is impossible to know where you are going. Your only lead is the salty scent of the woman you follow and the brief grey blue flash of her tail in front of you, her body obscured by the mists.

When the shroud thins, you find yourself in a small clearing surrounded by the largest weeping willows you have ever seen. In the center of the clearing, a mirror-like pond awaits, completely still except for a small swirling whirlpool in the middle. A thin path of stepping stones trail towards the center of the lake then stop. The sad wolf sits, and motions you towards the lake, tear-filled eyes brimming with anticipation.

What do you do?

Strength: Swim into the whirlpool.

You're probably stronger than some water, right? You can just swim over and see what's up.

Charisma: Ask the guide for a hint.

The guide seems nice enough. Maybe she will help you.

Dexterity: Use the stepping stones.

There are perfectly good stepping stones here for you to use!

Wisdom: Inspect the water.

Something is amiss with the water... Maybe you can figure out what.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Concern etches Dusks dark features as the slate colored fae continues to cry. "Are you alright?" she asks, but there's no answer. Mist pours into the cave and suddenly the pair are transported elsewhere. Dusk tensed, unfurling her long tail with its attached weapon in case danger showed its face. However, there was nothing but a pool of swirling water.

Moving up to the edge of the water, fire opal eyes looked within, inspecting it with curiosity and suspicion. Dusk gave it a sniff, then tossed a few pebbles into the water. The reflective surface was so very odd that Dusk didn't want to touch it until she figured out what was going on.

(Dusk chooses Wisdom!)

"Dusk Carpathius"

You inspect the water, but see nothing there. Maybe a closer look will do. You approach the silvery surface of the water and lean in close. You think you can make something out at the bottom and lean in closer, and closer, and- oops! Your paw slips, sending you clamoring into the lake where your struggles against the currents are for naught. The last thing you remember is going around and around and around and then... down.

As you fall, you scratch your right front ankle.

Under the whirlpool, a waterfall floats you into an underground lake. As you pull yourself from the frigid pool, an icy palace opens before your eyes. Thick layers of ice coat the cave's interior and ornate carvings decorate the walls. Your guide stands on the shore, shaking out her fur. She inspects the surroundings, and you do the same. You realize there is no discernable exit, though some of the ice looks thin and even cracked in some spots along the walls.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through one of the weak spots.

The ice looks thin enough, and you feel strong enough to burst through.

Charisma: Ask the guide where to go.

The room seems directionless... Maybe the guide knows something.

Dexterity: Try to squeeze through one of the larger cracks.

Some of the cracks and cervices look large enough for you to squeeze through.

Wisdom: Inspect the drawings on the wall.

The drawings are intricate, they must mean something.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

"Dammit!" The water grabbed Dusk and pulled her under. Soon she was falling, her body crashing into the water below. The liquid was ice cold and Dusk burst above water with a gasp. The dark girl made her way to the bank, teeth chattering already. She barely registered the cut on her ankle with as cold as she was, but surely she'd feel it later.

After Dusk worked to wring the water from her long tail, fiery eyes scanned the cavern. Brows furrowed as she looked around. There were cracks and places where the ice looked thin. She noted the various drawings on the walls and decided to inspect those first. Shaking out her waterlogged coat, Dusk made her way towards the wall.

(Dusk chooses Wisdom)

"Dusk Carpathius"

You observe the markings. They decorate the top and bottom of the room you are in like trim. In one area, instead of going straight across, it juts up, over, and back down in an arc. You realize there the ice is very thin and with a small push, you are able to make it through.

On the other side you find a bag containing an item! Can't wait to open this later.

On the other side of the ice wall, what was once a neat hallway has been utterly destroyed. Carved pillars lay broken and elaborate art shattered.

The tunnel ahead looks a little unstable, and proceeding further may be very dangerous. You know if you go on now, you may not return in the same condition you entered.

What do you do?

Strength: Charge through the tunnel.

If you're plenty quick, the tunnel won't have a chance to collapse!

Charisma: Convince your guide to lead the way.

One wrong step could lead to the tunnel failing. Perhaps the guide knows a better way.

Dexterity: Carefully tread down the hallway.

If you go slow and carefully, you can leave the tunnel undisturbed.

Wisdom: Study the cave and find the safest path.

If you look closely, you can see where the cracks and freshly broken ice are.

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, temporary disabilities, moderate loss of gems/skill points

Once through the ice wall, a bag catches Dusks eye. A small sound of interest leaves her throat and she tucks the bag away to inspect later. For now, she scans her surroundings. A long stretch of ice is laid out before her and it's obvious that she needs to cross. But how to go about it?

The hall is in ruins and Dusk can see the cracks in the ice floor. She wonders if she could make it across if she moved quickly enough. The other side looked stable enough. So, bracing herself, Dusk pushed off of one of the fallen pillars, her dark frame rocketing across the expanse of hallway.

(Dusk chooses Strength)

"Dusk Carpathius"

You decide not to risk getting stuck in the unstable tunnel, and charge forward as fast as you possibly can. Though you hear the shifting of stone and ice that suggests an imminent collapse, you make it through unscathed.

As you charge through the tunnel, you find a bag tied neatly with a ribbon - you'll have to open this later.

At the end of the collapsed tunnel, what appears to have once been an elaborate shrine at some point in time lays demolished. A part of the wall carves out and opens to an open room full of jagged ice floating in deathly waters. In the center, a large, flat expanse is frozen, and on the other side, what look like daylight shines through a small opening.

What do you do?

Strength: Break through the jagged ice to the exit.

The ice doesn't look so tough, you can probably break through the tips and clear a path.

Charisma: Convince your guide to lead the way.

The guide may know how to get through the treacherous cave.

Dexterity: Jump from jagged peak to peak towards the exit.

If you time your jumps just right, you think you'll be able to use them as stepping stones.

Wisdom: Look for the safest path to the exit.

Looking ahead, there has to be one safe path... if only you can spot it.

Luck seemed to be on Dusk's side as she found yet another bag. Again, she set it aside to inspect later. There were more important matters to deal with at present. Across the frigid water, she could see the bright, welcoming light of the outside world. The dark fae cast a glance to her guide, wondering if she saw the potential exit as well. The woman's face was blank as she looked across the room, giving nothing away. Hmmph.

Inhaling deeply, Dusk moved to inspect the area. She was careful not to touch the water. Just looking at it, she could see now nasty and icy it looked. There was no way that she could swim that. The icy spires looked sharp and slippery. She doubted that this was the right path to take. The obsidian lady moved back and forth along the bank, inspecting the area for various ways that may only be seen from a different vantage.

(Dusk chooses wisdom)

"Dusk Carpathius"

You think you've chosen the safest path. You navigate carefully, your eyes scanning for the best route. You didn't choose right, you realize as you look over and see a flatter path. Your distraction costs you, and you slip into the icy spikes below. Above you, now spinning, you see the streaks of your own blood melting down the broken and jagged ice. As your vision tunnels, the guide runs to your side and all you can think about is how warm her tears are.

You awaken out by the lake, battered and beaten and so. so cold. 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 ache, but you will heal fine; 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.

You've made it out alive, though not without injury. You notice a deep wound on your left front inner leg, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). Likewise you feel you've lost some knowledge along the way, losing 41 fighting skill points. Any items you've found lay beside you, and 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...

• Tiger mask
  
• 4 Inches Height/Height Reduction
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - right front ankle
  
• Major injury - left front inner leg,
  
• -41 Fight skill points