Lefty supposed they should have been more discontented with their current condition, but they were certainly not. They understood what had been tasked of them-- this was a temporary position of theirs, and they would work their way out of it soon.

Their ears swiveled sharply forward.

The night was long -- the moon, fogged, above. Lefty drifted forward slowly, paws crunching down on the snowpacked earth beneath their feet. March was nowhere to be seen; the wolverine was somewhere, and Lefty decided that they needed to find their companion first before they ventured further out.

Surely, they could find something helpful to do, for Armada.

They tilted their head back and called for March, peering into the shadows to try to spot their companion.

"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

Lefty gave one final call for March before they saw the three wolves before them. Their ears snapped back and a ridge rose across their back, but they stepped forward slowly. Eyes flicked from each wolf to the next. What were they to do with this?

It took them a moment to realize that they were expected to choose. When that became clear, Lefty took to peering at the faces again. Examining the brows and eyes.

After a moment's hesitation, Lefty stepped forward before the center wolf. "So, ah... hello?"

Whatever they were meant to do, they hoped this was it.

Lefty has chosen the MEDIUM path!

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. She dips her head at your greeting politely. 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.

Lefty followed her guide wordlessly. If they weren't going to talk, then Lefty wasn't concerned with words. The blue-toned wolf shook her fur and made sure to keep close to her guide. Normally she would have been more worried about March, but March was smart. The wolverine would be alright.

As they approached the water, Lefty examined the whirlpool from a distance. Hmn. This was ... challenging, to say the least. Still, Lefty braced themselves.

They knew they were strong.

The whirlpool didn't appear to be too bad, but Lefty didn't trust it. They turned to their guide, and spoke: "Surely you know the safe way, here. How strong is that water?"

lefty chooses CHARISMA

You ask the guide for help and she nods, wiping her tears on the back of her paw. She readies herself and in one fluid motion lifts you by your scruff and takes a massive leap into the center of the whirlpool. On your way down, you find 91 Gems.

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.

Ah! Well, that had not been what Lefty expected. They scrambled, slightly, as the borzoi-wolf grabbed them by the scruff, but didn't argue. What would be the point, anyway? The sorrowful-looking cross dragged Lefty into the whirlpool, and they went limp, not bothering to fight or argue it. As they stopped, and Lefty hauled themselves up from the ice cold water, they shook out their coat, pacing in a slow circle before running in a faster one, moving so that their coat would dry out.

No good in dying of the chill.

As they slowed, Lefty took in the wall's appearance, the drawings on the wall standing out to them in an undeniable way. They stepped forward, ears swivelling forward, sharp. Their head tilted, and they approached the wall with its strange writing, leaning close to read it, to try and figure out what it said. Maybe there was a commonality between the drawings that they could spot.

Lefty has chosen WISDOM.

"Speech"

You look at the carvings, but can't discern anything. They're very pretty and very complex, but they don't seem to mean anything, at least not to you.

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.

You have already tried this.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Lefty is not in the business of making foolish mistakes.

At least not on purpose.

As they realize that the writing doesn't mean anything to them, they turn their head towards the guide and their ears flick forward. Lefty clears their throat and speaks:

"I know I've already asked for your help, but you seem to know what's what about here..."

Their smile is somewhat sheepish. It is somewhat embarrassing to have to ask for help again.

LEFTY USES CHARISMA

The guide seems upset by your ignorance and begins to sob. She will be no help here.

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.

You have already tried this.

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.

You have already tried this.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Oh.

Oh, no. No no no.

The dog wolf is crying. Not just little tears but just full on sobbing. Lefty grimaced and fluffy up their coat and turns away because oh thats actually incredibly awkward.

Ahh,

Shit. Shit shit shit, where --

There, okay. Lefty clears their throat and starts to rapidly smack their paws against the thinned ice, trying to just. Quickly get through it because this is fucking unbearable and they can't be here. Absolutely not.

lefty uses strength!! God help her

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. Better to stop now before you get seriously injured. You think that scratch on your throat will likely become a scar. 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

Lefty makes a low noise as they realize their throat is bleeding. Not enough to be lethal. Or anything. But enough to be uncomfortable. She shakes her head and licks at her snout before stretching, just a little, and pacing up and down.

Before her, the cavern looks ruined. Shattered. Lefty huffs quietly and turns her head to the guide, wanting to ask, but knowing better now.

Instead, Lefty studies the path before her. The guide found the way last time. Lefty has full faith she can find it this time, or at least can try.

Lefty uses WISDOM.

You look for the safest path, prodding here and there with your paw. As you take your time, water drips from the top of the cave, landing on your nose. 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. Somehow your right ear gets nicked, and will eventually scar - just another to add to your growing pile of injuries you've accumulated here. You begin to falter, but with a final push from your guide, you make it to a more stable part of the tunnel.

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.

Lefty can accept that this just isn't going to be their time to shine. They twitch their wounded ear, pausing just long enough to reach up and touch it-- augh. Blood. Unfortunate, but... they suppose it can't be helped.

Lefty pauses; their head tilts, and they watch... ah.

The cave.

It doesn't look good.

Lefty purses their lips, glances towards the guide, and tries-- maybe? Maybe it'll work this time? Please don't cry, they think, before clearing their throat and raising their voice just a little: "Ah. You wouldn't have to know your way around here, would you...?" They're almost tense, though, expecting the wolf to just break out into hysterical sobs again. What a mess, all things considered. What a damn mess. At least Lefty hasn't somehow been swept out of the cave, though, so that's a small sort of victory.

Lefty chooses Charisma.

The guide sniffles, considering you for a moment before slowly nodding, she knows a way around. She motions for you to follow and leads you to a still area of icy water and dips her paw in- it's ice. She leads you carefully along a thin ice bridge that is invisible to the naked eye. Along the way, you find a small item bag and decide to take it for later.

Before you reach the exit, the ice around you cracks and water sputters up until you are left stranded with your guide on a large, floating stage of ice. From the frozen depths, a massive, blue tinted worm bursts forth and shrieks. You understand its name immediately: Doug. You know now that you can not leave until you defeat this menace. Your guide looks to you, ready to go on your command.

What do you do?

Strength: Fight the worm head on.

Use whatever strength you have left to charge forward and fight the worm.

Charisma: Convince the worm to let you pass.

Maybe you can reason with the worm instead of using violence to get your way.

Dexterity: Sneak around and attack the worm from behind.

You think maybe you can use the shards of ice as cover to sneak around and attack from behind.

Wisdom: Find the worm's weak point.

If you hang back and study the worm for awhile, maybe you can figure out how to best defeat it.

Lefty wheels up as the worm appears before them: he is a ferocious thing, and they do not hesitate before they act.

Lefty is, simply,

a warrior.

And so they look once to the guide, and they dip their head, and then they charge Doug. Lefty is a heavy-built wolf, and they charge with an immediate and ferocious confidence; their teeth snap, their fur bristles, and they snarl. The move is simple: charge and leap, to try and snag the worm on the face, the jaw, whatever it is that they can reach. A simple move.

They do not try to put up a front of strength. Their motion is practiced, relaxed in a sense, a primitive sort of simplicity; they are used to this, and they do not shy from it. Battle has been beaten into them.

That's all it is.

Battle.

Lefty uses STRENGTH.

You push forward, skittering across the ice. The worm returns the force hungrily and barrels towards you. Even before you make contact, you realize you are no match. You see a blur of your guide as she attempts to intercept, but then everything goes black.

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 outer side of your back left 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 28 intellect 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...

• 91 Gems
  
• Glittering Concoction
  
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor scar - throat
  
• Minor scar - right ear
  
• Major injury - left back outer leg,
  
• -28 Intellect skill points