Yarra picks her way through the grass, eyes flashing through the darkness like twin pinpricks of poisonous light. her steps are slow and measured, ringing with the self-assuredness of a predator who knows she has nothing to fear. she need not be scared of the monsters in the shadows, for she is one such monster, stalking her quarry and waiting eagerly for the chance to strike. licking her lips, she sucks a small bone from between her teeth, left over from her previous meal. it’d been a small thing, a mere sparrow, but it’s bones had crunched so beautifully between her teeth, and the creature had shrieked in such wonderful agony it’d sent a shiver down her spine. yes, she is the scary thing indeed. "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

she’s honestly frightened by the appearance of those spectral figures - but she’ll be damned if she shows it. gritting her teeth against a shout of surprise, Yarra’s eyes flicker from one face to another, fear twisting with anger to create a maelstrom of emotion. who are this creatures to startle her? “what is this?” she demands, lifting her chin in a haughty gesture. “who are you?” she directs the question at the scowling, dark-furred wolf, meeting his gaze with a challenging quirk of their brow. "Speech"

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider, not answering your questions. 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.

Yarra pulls a disgruntled face at the grey wolf's back, lip curving in distaste at his stoic silence and furrowed brow. she doesn't know what he wants from her, but the disrespect is very much not tolerated, thankyouverymuch. of course, she's soon too distracted by the treacherous lava-filled chasm to give too much attention to his prickly disposition. a scoff dispels from the back of her throat as she eyes the situation, a mixture of derision and bewilderment twisting her dark features. "you can't be serious," she sneers, arching an unimpressed brow at the wolf. "you actually expect me to cross that death trap?" she might have the occasional fits of recklessness, but isn't an idiot. "how about this, tough guy," she continues, voice dripping with disdain, "why don't you go first, and if you don't plummet to your immediate death, maybe i'll consider doing the same." an unpleasant smile curls across her lips, revealing a single fang point. "well go on, then." choice: make the guide go first. "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 throat. 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.

Yarra squawks with outrage, thrashing furiously as she’s dragged into the cave. when he finally lets go she’s practically spitting with rage, fur bristling and teeth bared in a snarl. “how dare you! i’ll rip your miserable pelt from your bones, you bastard-” she breaks off as her eyes land on the lava pool, brows shooting up so high they’re practically touching her ears. “again with the lava? you sure have a theme here.” anger and curiosity war through her; half of her wants to tackle the guide and beat some manners into him, while the other half wants to further inspect this strange cave. after much deliberation, Yarra approaches the stepping stones. “just to be clear, i’m still gonna rend your heart from your chest,” she tosses over her shoulder, before leaping to the next stone. choice: take the stepping stones. "Speech"

You coil yourself and jump from one stone to the next. Hey! This isn't too hard. The warm, smooth stone holds steady and after a few jumps you find an item wrapped tightly with fabric - you grab it and decide to investigate it later. After just a few more jumps, you find yourself on the edge of a new lava room.

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

Yarra tosses her head, smirking arrogantly to herself as she clears the stones. nothing to it, really! but as her eyes fall on the lava pool, an impatient snarl curls her lips. just how many obstacles is she going to have clear, exactly? pacing up and down, she inspects the bubbling lava and the stalagmites, venom-green eyes raking across the landscape with thinly veiled exasperation. “you trying to do me in, bastard?” she directs to the guide, sneering over her shoulder. “well, too bad - it takes more than that to stop a Saxe.” she doesn’t allow herself a moment longer to second guess herself - just steps onto the first stalagmite and tries to keep her balance. choice: 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. One in particular will stand out, a deep, ugly wound that lies across your right front outer leg, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 56 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...

• Ghost Bath Bomb
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - throat
  
• Major injury right front outer leg
  
• -30 Intellect Skill points