The day was growing cool. Jaybird enjoyed that, watching the clouds cover the sky while the sun set over the water. There was soft flakes of snow beginning to fall onto the freezing earth. Her black eyes staring at the slow decent while they touched the tips of her monochrome pelt. She felt strange really, struggling to make sense of how she felt. Sighing she moved towards the edge of the cliffs looking over at the turbulent water below. She wondered how many wolves or other creatures had either fallen or willingly jumped over this edge in seasons past. For her, this was her first winter and everything was a new experience. Deciding whether she liked it or not was a pain.

Tonight felt different. A subtle magic in her chest perhaps. We’re the gods looking over her now? She hoped so. She turned watching the orange and purple glare of the sun power through onto the cool ground. So what had brought her here? Surely there was a point, or maybe she should just go back home. See what Vidarr was up to. After all she was part of a pack now. It was rather a conundrum.

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

Jay felt that she wasn’t alone. As if the heavens on this fine day were gracing her with something. Turning her back to the cliff she watched the three strangers with cold lifeless eyes. She felt at ease for once her normal anxiety seemingly melted away unlike the snow. Her paws delicately trekked forward circling the three of them as she looked them up and down. Who exactly did she want to go with. On the other hand one would think the wagging tail meant safety but for Jay she felt like she had the gods luck on her side tonight.

She turned her attention to the furrowing brow of the black male. Her black eyes staring straight at him while she took a step forward. "Guide me then?" she tilted her head. Not caring whether or not she offended any of them by her choice. She was quick and sure with her decision and her faith would continue to drive her forward. In the end she could only come back stronger correct?

Hard route, the irascible guide

The grumpy wolf's brow relaxes just slightly when you choose him. He seems to give you a moment to reconsider, not answering her question, but huffing lightly. 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.

Jaybird considered it for a moment. The stinging in her eyes made her confused. When it finally seemed clear she was surprised by what was before her. The yearling took a few steps back looking over the old looking bridge. She nodded her head in thanks to the guide that he’d stopped her. So this was lava? Curiosity overcame her as she peered feeling the heat waft over her. Shaking her fur she looked to the guide then back to the bridge, now what was she to do?

She smiled then a rare thing. Looking at the guide she calmly approached his side. "Would you mind showing me how it’s done?" surely her inexperience was to be expected. However he was the guide, surely he knew the safest way across. Then at least if the gods decided to take her, she wouldn’t be alone. After all she didn’t even mind his grumpy demeanor.

Charisma, make the guide go first

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 left front ankle. 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.

Jaybird

She really didn’t appreciate how pushy this guy was. Jaybird complied easily though, despite her scraped paw she calmly looked at the new area they found themselves in. Looking around she saw the stones then her eyes wandered closer up. We’ll asking the guide for help last time didn’t go so well but if anything she was self sufficient. She waited a moment to weigh her options swiftly deciding that ledge would be her route to go. She was confident if she took her time she could get across without much harm.

So she took a look at the guide the lava reflecting off her black pupils then headed over to the beginning of the ledge. Carefully she picked up one paw after the other. Hoping that she could navigate without slipping off that edge. Hopefully if she did she could catch herself on the bridges or the stones. Either way she knew the gods would show her the correct path.

Choice; dexterity, take the ledge

You traverse the thin, crumbling edge around the room. To no one's surprise, it cracks, and your paw slips. You scramble at the surface just enough to save yourself from falling in with a little help of the guide. The lava sputters, splashing you across your left back paw. The lava singes through your fur, leaving a deep burn about the size of a wolf's paw (5in x 4in). Ouch! that's gonna leave a scar.

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

Pain is what she remembered, slipping and then pain. Hissing at the intensity of the heat she growled in frustration. She had been certain she was small enough to traverse that thin ledge, but she supposed maybe her judgement was no as good as she thought. With her paw injured she didn’t think jumping would be a very good idea. But wasn’t there some materials in the recent room? Jay stared at the guide for a few moments but it didn’t seem like he wanted to help so she just kept her mouth shut.

Instead the young wolf got to work. Grabbing stones and whatever other materials that seemed sturdy. This would take her a few minutes, maybe even half an hour. Yet as she worked she concentrated weaving materials into a bridge that seemed sturdy enough to hold her weight. Well what was the worst thing that could happen? She could always end up dead but the gods would take care of her. So Jaybird went with the bridge.

Wisdom, build a bridge with materials from the other room.

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 your snout, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well.

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...

• A sense of pride and accomplishment?
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor Injury - left front ankle
  
• Medium scar - left back paw
  
• Major scar - snout