Triss was... safe... despite everything she'd been through and they'd both been given promotions. She couldn't be happier for her daughter, enjoying watching Triss excel despite all the hardships she'd had. Widow had holed herself up during her dark period, but Triss just kept a smile on her face as she kept going. She even seemed to be growing fond of a boy from the Armada, but knowing how Medusa felt about the pack, Widow herself was wary. While she didn't think the kid had any ulterior motives, what about his father? Would he leech off a child's innocent friendship? She didn't want to forbid her from seeing the boy, that would only make things worse, but she didn't know how else she was supposed to go about it. Her walk now was filled with thoughts and ideas, all of them quickly being scrapped. Was there even a right answer to this problem?

Widow sighed and looked up finally, the scent of heat and earth filling her nostrils. She couldn't remember ever making it this far north, except for her ventures to the battlegrounds, and wondered how close the Armada was from here. Maybe she should go and talk to the boys father? She didn't want to undermine Medusa though, of course. Perhaps talking to her would be the best start, and going from there. Until then, at least, she could explore this strange place full of lava and heat. She didn't want to get too close though, doubting anything of any real use being so close to the melted earth, and so she explored the outskirts and searched for anything she could take back instead.

"Speech!"

Art by SkeletonDragoness Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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 was searching so intently that she didn't even notice the three figures appear before her until she had nearly ran into them. Startled, her instinct was to snarl, but something seemed off about them and immediately distracted her. What did they want? It seemed as though she was supposed to follow one of them, but she didn't know how she came to that conclusion or why, and if it was safe. Who even were they?

Maybe they were involved in Triss' kidnapping? Best to play dumb if so, but that didn't negate the fact that she had to make a choice... and now. Was it hot in here or was it just her? Probably both, honestly.

The darker wolf had her attention immediately, possibly the one she would need to worry about if they were going to try anything. She looked at the dark wolf and took a step towards him, keeping her guard raised just in case the others took advantage of her while her shoulder was turned to them.

"Where are you going to take me?" She asked, concern taking over her voice despite what little confidence she could muster in a cave with lava pits bubbling all around her.

"Speech!"

widow chooses the hard route

Art by SkeletonDragoness Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider. 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.

The stranger seemed to hesitate, as if he was giving her a chance to reconsider, but she stood firm with her choice and soon they were off. Smoke clouded around them, obscuring her vision, and the scent in the air was absolutely putrid, though she was wise to hide her expressions on the matter she thought. The stranger hardly seemed bothered, so why should she? She didn't want to seem weak after all.

She took a step too many it seemed as the stranger pulled her back, the smoke clearing just enough to see the bridge and the bubbling lava below. She nodded in thanks to him before evaluating the bridge he motioned to. She was a big girl, so she doubted that making a mad dash across the bridge would be that great of an idea. Balancing wouldn't work either she figured, giving the boards plenty of time to crack beneath her weight. Making him go first didn't even cross her mind, leaving her to study the bridge and pick out the safest planks, those that appeared as if they could hold her weight.

Widow has picked wisdom.

"Speech!"

Art by SkeletonDragoness Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

You observe the planks one by one. Some are well worn, some are charred. You do your best to pick the most solid looking ones, but some are not too obvious. You choose one, but it cracks and splinters under your weight, sending your body tumbling into the weakened structure. The guide is fast behind you, scruffing you and shoving you down the bridge one step at a time. At the end, he releases you and ushers you quickly into the cave with an eyeroll.

In the struggle, you scrape your right abdomen. 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 is 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.

She thought she was going to fall to her sizzling death in the lava below as a leg went through one of the boards, effectively scraping up her right side a bit before she felt the teeth of the strange man scruff her and finish dragging her across the bridge. She wanted to scowl at him, but in reality he had saved her life and she was thankful, though he could've been a bit nicer with those teeth!

Taking a deep breath, she calmed her brewing attitude and exhaled it as she surveyed what was now before her in the cave. Lava pooled around and stones made what seemed like a sturdy path through. She almost hadn't noticed the small bridges or the narrow path, and after her last experience with a bridge, she wasn't so keen on trying that route again. Plus, she was probably too big and heavy for either the bridges or the path anyway, making the sturdy looking stones appear to be the best option.

Widow has chosen strength.

"Speech!"

Art by SkeletonDragoness Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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 a bag - you'll have to open this 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

As she hopped across the stones from one to the other, Widow couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Was this a dream or reality? It all certainly felt real, but at the same time it didn't. And who were these canines, anyway? Though now as she was faced with more and more lava and yet another treacherous route that looked far more dangerous than the last, she weighed her options. Maybe she could jump across? Widow hadn't tried jumping anything this wide, so she immediately scratched that idea out. She didn't see the stalagmites as an option to cross but she did, however, decide to look around.

There wasn't much, if anything really, that she could use to make this any easier so she headed back into the last room. There had been bridges and whatnot, but those were likely going to get ruined if she tried to salvage them. Instead however, she found a long plank laying off to the side that appeared as if it would be long enough to bridge the gap.

Grabbing it, Widow carried it back to the guide and the lava mote before dropping it at her paws and slowly sliding it across the gap to reach the other side. Now she only needed to worry about whether it would hold her weight or not.

widow picked wisdom

You decide that building a bridge across is your best bet. Gathering materials from the other room, you get to building, only stopping once you're sure the bridge is sturdy.

You begin to make your way across, though when you're nearly at the other side you feel the materials begin to splinter and crack beneath you. You try to scramble to the other side, but you feel yourself falling...

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 the base of your tail, where the remainder of your tail is missing. You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 67 Fighting 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...

• Fun Shroom
  
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Right abdomen minor injury
  
• Major injury/scar - base of tail,
  
• -67 Fighting skill points