He made sure to stay away from the water as it exploded out of the earth. Despite the snow covering the ground the -laces around those geysers were steaming. The snow melted from the force of nature. So then he could see a few corpses scattering the edges. Prey and other animals who had wandered too close to the hot water in search of warmth. We’ll Req was fine where he was then, but curiosity drove him onward. Picking his paw steps carefully while he made it through the geysers.

If he was honest this might’ve been the perfect place to bring Ruby and any new siblings she happened to pick up. During the winter the territory was dangerous if you didn’t know it well enough, or were an ignorant fool. The night sky sparkled above him, his red eyes watching the water spray up then recede every so often. He wondered…. What sort of others would he meet on his journey?

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

Reqouis stared on when he watched the geysers receded and before him appeared three strangers. He didn’t know what he’d stumbled upon, some sort of magic gathering? The albino man tilted his head the three were obviously waiting for him to choose one. Carefully his red eyes wandered over the trio. What sort of trip did they want to take him on he wondered and what would come of it. The black one seemed to have something wrong with him or maybe it was Req owns mood reflected back.

Regardless his attention pulled towards the sorrowful slate wolf. They looked so sad making him push forward as he silently dipped his head to them. Perhaps they could show him the path he needed to follow. The air around him seemed thick with something he couldn’t understand. Yet for him the choice was pretty clear.

Medium route, the sorrowful guide

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.

Reqouis watched the sorrowful girl with interest. Turning his attention to the water then. What was this? Some sort of puzzle. It didn’t appear to be a trick and he was nearly certain that he wasn’t dreaming either. So this was real and he was eager to see where it would all lead him. Her anticipation fueled him the whirlpool in the middle eh. He wasn’t dumb enough to go trying to swim in it.

He thought carefully, then decided it would be best if he researched it first. He nodded his head to the guide, walking forward to get a better look. He tried to see what was in the whirlpool. How it’s current reacted to the mirror like pool reflecting his white coat. Req went from side to side almost pacing outside the water. Were there any clues he could pick up from this?

Wisdom; inspect the water

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 throat.

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 discernible 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.

Well that didn’t go as planned. The albino man felt himself slip into the pool covered by all sides with water. His limbs flailed uselessly against the currents that swirled around him. To top it all off some piece of stone or something scratched his throat. He grunted and even though it felt like he would simply drown he eventually found himself crawling pitifully out of the icy pool of water. Shaking himself with a shiver before his eyes adjusted so he could get a feeling of his surroundings once more.

The guide stood there at the shore too. While there were some weird etchings req was losing patience with this task now. Yet he wouldn’t hold the guide responsible he was the one whose slipped after all. As Req moved towards the ice, he used his body to slide along until he could feel what was best described to him as the thinnest part. Then taking a few steps backwards he out enough space before he began ramming his shoulder into the wall of ice.


Strength; break through one of the weak spots

You find a spot on the wall and push on it. Then slam against it. It doesn't move. After another smash hit, you realize the ice has bested you and now drips with your blood. A shard of ice shatters across your right eye, surely leaving a small scar. Better to stop now before you get seriously injured. Besides, the guide has already found an opening to squeeze through.

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

You blink. How long have you been standing here? With a rumble, you realize too long as the cave begins to crumble around you.

As the tunnel behind you begins to collapse, you find yourself getting battered and bruised by a multitude of ice shards, their blades cutting through your fur and smashing onto the ground below. You begin to falter, but with a final push from your guide, you make it to a more stable part of the tunnel.

In the chaos, a shard of ice slices through your left ear, which will leave a scar.

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.

You wait and the floor below you caves, plummeting you towards the jagged ice. You close your eyes and all is dark.

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 the right abdomen, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). Likewise you feel you've lost some knowledge along the way. 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...

• nothin!
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - throat
  
• Minor scar - right eye
  
• Minor scar - left ear
  
• Major Injury - right abdomen