As they made their way south towards Valta, Mariah had found herself trailing her brother through a patch of particularly thick undergrowth. It snagged in her fur, raked across her skin- and she was quite a bit smaller than Malico … she could only imagine how much more of a difficult time he was having. It took a lot of concentration to be able to weave in and out of the brush- so much so, she hadn’t realized how far her path had drifted from her brothers. He was deaf for the most part. Yelling was of no use. If she kept going, surely they could find each other on the other side of this mess. Picking up her pace, Mariah pressed forward, wanting to quickly get through whatever lay before her.

"Mariah Mendacium"

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

The sudden appearance of the three ethereal guides was surprising, to say the least. Was she dreaming? Likely a result of some kind of plant matter she had handled incorrectly. With a sigh and a panning glance, Mariah slowly investigates each one. They all seemed to be wanting something for her- awaiting her response to a silent invitation. Weighing her odds between the very obvious demeanor of the three separate individuals, she ultimately made the decision to acknowledge the slate-blue fae in the middle. “As to what do I owe the pleasure?” She asked, making eye contact with her saddened emerald gaze.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen the Medium Route.

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.

While the mournful wolf almost seemed surprise in the selection made, Mariah maintained a blank expression. She was confident in her choice, and wouldn’t allow for any second guessing on her behalf or the guide’s.

As they traveled through the fog, it became difficult for her to keep track of the blue woman- she blended in with very little to differentiate from the background. When the curtains finally drew back, her line of sight opened up into a small clearing surrounded by willow trees. A small pond that contorted into a spiral in the middle. The guide gestures her on- Mariah’s attention settling on the stepping stones that lead out to the center of the pool.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen dexterity.

You ready yourself and jump to the first rock, then the next. So far so good. On your third jump, your paw slips and you plunge 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 shoulder.

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.

Mariah's entrance into the whirlpool had certainly been less than ideal. Plunging into the freezing water after her missed attempt at a stepping stone left her dizzy. As she struggled against the currents, Mariah felt a sharp pain on her left shoulder. She grimaced in pain, wondering what she had scratched herself on. Despite her efforts, the currents continued to drag her down and around in circles. Panic set in as she wondered if she would ever make it out alive.

Suddenly, Mariah felt herself being pulled towards a waterfall. The force of the water pushed her through the cascading falls and into an underground lake. As she pulled herself out of the frigid pool, Mariah couldn't believe her eyes. Before her was an icy palace with ornate carvings decorating the walls. There wasn't a clear path to take that she could tell- only some cracks in the ice that she may be able to slip through.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen dexterity.

You try to squeeze through and almost make it. You can see the other room! One problem being... you're stuck. It takes the guide several moments before she's able to push you through, a sharp piece of ice scraping into your flesh as you plop out the other side. You feel a wound on the back of your head that's sure to leave a small scar.

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

Mariah swallowed and took a deep breath. The tension surrounding her was stifling, like a living thing that struggled to breathe every time she moved. She edged forward, the silence wrapping around her  fearful of disturbing the rubble any more than necessary. She was surrounded by a stillness that made her skin crawl. She took a deep breath and held it, determined to take her first step forward. Her feet felt like lead as she inched forward, never breaking the oppressive stillness that surrounded her. The walls seemed to be closing in on her, and the tunnel seemed to stretch for eternity.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen dexterity.

Slowly you start working your way down the hallway, though you take far too long to traverse it and you hear the tunnel beginning to crack and splinter 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. You notice an injury on the back of your neck that's sure to 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.

As Mariah emerges from the collapsing tunnel, an icy chill grips her body, sending shivers down her spine. The resounding echoes of cracking ice still ring in her ears, a constant reminder of the dangers she faced. Her hand instinctively reaches up to touch the throbbing wound on the back of her neck, a silent warning to proceed with caution. But Mariah's determined gaze remains fixed on the open room ahead, sunlight beckoning from a distant opening. Brimming with confidence and resolve, she strides forward towards the jagged shards of ice that block her path. With calculated movements and unwavering determination, she begins an effort at chipping away the tips, each strike resonating through the icy chamber.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen strength.

You bash through the ice and the cold soothes and numbs your skin. You are able to bash through the ice with minor bruising, but not worse for wear. After what feels like an icy eternity, you clear a path near the exit. You also find a item bag, neat!

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: Fred. 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.

Mariah's fur bristled against the biting cold as she assessed the situation- her heart pounding in her chest as the massive, blue-tinted worm, known as Fred, surfaces from the frozen depths. Its razor-sharp teeth glint in the dim light, and Mariah can feel the frigid air grow even colder with its presence. But as the situation begins to unfold, her instinct for survival kicked in. With a silent nod to her guide, she moved swiftly, her paws barely making a sound on the ice. Her muscles tense as she creeps around, using the floating stage of ice as cover. Her keen senses guide her, allowing her to position herself strategically behind the creature. She eyed its movements, calculating the perfect moment to strike.

"Mariah Mendacium"OOC. Mariah has chosen dexterity.

You jump to the first peak and your adept paws grip the surface. After the second or third jump, your paws feel numb. A few more jumps and you slip, the icy peak beneath you racing to meet your flesh. 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 the right jaw, 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 44 Fighting skill points. Any items you've found lay beside you, and will be revealed later.

Rerolling with firefly's favor

You dive behind the ice shards as the worm writhes and screeches. The guide lends her aid as well. You're able to navigate closer and when the time is right, you strike the worm, teeth meeting a cold exterior, then the warm gush of its inner fluids. You jump back and the worm rears back, plunging below the surface and leaving a cloud of blue blood in the water.

The worm bubbles beneath the icy surface and after a moment, no more bubbles float up. The worm is gone and the guide quickly ushers the two of you outside.



Outside the night seems clear and calm and you realize you are back where the adventure started.

Your guide stops weeping for just a moment and offers a soft, genuine smile. In a flash, she is gone, only a few fireflies buzzing lazily where the guide once was.

The cave, now peaceful, stands to be explored by any who come across it. Maybe you can remember your way back sometime.
You have unlocked a new site land: Crystal Cathedral!

You receive: 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea Bundle:

• Boosted Companion Pass
  
• 3rd companion slot
  
• 1 Item reward from stage 4 (to 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...

• Full Accessory Pass
  
• 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea Bundle
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left shoulder
  
• Minor scar - back of head
  
• Minor scar - back of neck