This ship, Bylgja decided, was strange, foreign, and entirely beyond her interest. She had crossed into the ship with little concern, but now, as she stood several feet within it, glancing into the darkness of the chilled monolith, she felt... concerned, to say the least. There were faint smells of other wolves, the smell of blood. There was no sky! The Gods could not see her so easily here. Still, she eased forward, her head dipping down as she peered into a spilled-over cabinet. With her snout, Bylgja snuffled about for something to salvage. Perhaps, she supposed, she could find something to make a bandage with? Whatever there was within the Antiox, Bylgja was somewhat reluctant to find it. She was not afraid of death, but she was afraid of... well. This. Whatever it was. Ghosts lingered here, she decided. She was not so fond of that. BYLGJA IS READY FOR ADVENTURE! "Bylgja"

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

Bylgja hadn't expected to see one wolf, or... wolf dog-- let alone three. Her ears flicked forward and she looked from one face to the next.

The one on the right looked impatient, but the blonde looked... goofy. Not like Bylgja's sort of scene.

She stepped forward and touched her nose to the nose of the center wolf, tail wagging twice. That was clear, wasn't it? It had to be. How they'd gotten there she didn't know, and didn't want to ask.

BYLGJA CHOOSES THE MEDIUM PATH.

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.

The large woman found it quite interesting, the way that this sad dogwolf looked at her. She didn't know what either of them were doing.

Still, Bylgja followed.

Something struck the viking as being... wrong about the water before her, and she jerked her head towards the tearful woman before skulking closer to the water. Bylgja leaned down, sniffing, peering into the water, her tail up. The axe-woman began to wonder what was wrong.

She hoped that she would be able to figure it out.

BYLGJA CHOOSES WISDOM.

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 left back leg.

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.

Bylgja yowlped as her back leg caught on something. She'd not intended to fall, not intended to crash through the water, not intended for any of this; as the viking stood, dripping wet and bloodied, she shook out her leg and squinted angrily at the ice wall before her. Fine, fine. Fine. If the weather-- if the water, if the world -- wanted to be this way, she'd be that way just in turn.

So, the tattooed she-wolf snarled, reared up on her hind legs, and charged.

She sought to slam her weight against one of the weak spots, bringing all her force to bear on the thin-looking spot. Was it smart? Certainly not. But she didn't care. What was the point of giving a damn about that, anyway? Trying to be smart got her hurt!

Bylgja uses STRENGTH

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. Glancing at yourself, you realize an icy shard cut about an inch into your front right outer leg. That'll leave a 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

Bylgja pants. Her sides heave and she looks down at the broken skin on her leg. It doesn't hurt too bad and she takes a moment to lower her head and lick the wound clean. It'll scar, but Bylgja has plenty of scars.

Her head jerks to the morose guide. Bylgja's lip twitches just a little and she narrows her eyes at the guide before jerking her chin toward the guide.

She doesn't speak, though, and instead fixes her eyes to the top of the tunnel, trying to find the safest route. Where does the ice seem to be holding...

Bylgja uses WISDOM.

You study the room for a long while until you figure out the safest path to the exit. Avoiding the frigid cold waters, you find a solid path toward the small opening on the other side of the room, grabbing a carefully bundled item along your way. You make a note to examine it 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.

The scarred wolf huffs lowly in pride as she finds a bundle and carries it-- she carries on, peering around the new room with a quirked brow.

Part of the wall has collapsed; here is a vast landscape. Bylgja peers across the frost. The ice. The last time she stopped to survey the area it worked out well, so she does it again, stopping and peering around to examine the space around her.

It looks treacherous.

Still... there's a way somewhere. She knows that much. There must be.

Bylgja uses WISDOM.

You look and look and look some more, and 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. Your right brow is throbbing painfully, and you realize with a start that your sight in that eye is temporarily gone... it will quickly be regained, but will no doubt leave a nasty scar on your right brow behind. You also lose 15 healing 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...

• Date Night Kit
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left back leg
  
• Medium scar - right front outer leg
  
• Major injury - right brow/temp loss sight in eye