Aris stretched, cat like, coming awake in the chill winter air to shake snow from her coat. It would have been probably more pleasant to sleep in her well-appointed, fire warmed den in the col, but she'd been on a patrol and had strayed far from the border tracking a cougar to be certain it wasn't going to return, and by then it had been late enough that she had figured she'd rather sleep in the snow than trudge all the way home before getting shut eye. So she'd tucked herself up under a tree where the snow wasn't so deep and she'd gotten decently good sleep. Now, she might as well be heading back to check in and get something to eat before she'd head back out again. Pausing midshake, she tilted her head, certain she'd heard something.

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

Aris' ears had not apparently deceived her, but she was still surprised when three weird looking dog things appeared out of the snowy forest in front of her. All three seemed to be trying to get her to go with them in a different direction, and she glanced back and forth between them, her eyes narrowing. What the fuck? Well, she definitely didn't want to follow Bawling Betty over there, all teary eyed and mopey and undoubtedly looking for - shudder - a shoulder to cry on. No thanks. She wasn't in the mood for some sunshine and daisies type frolicking along bugging her either. Anger, though... she could do anger. Her eyes sparked at the idea of a fight, her fangs practically itching to do some damage. Maybe that's what Grumpkins had in mind. If so, she was definitely in.

Making her choice, she turned and followed Mr. Grumpy Pants, the angry guide.

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 guide led her through a choking, stinking cloud of smoke, and Aris already found herself annoyed and regretting ever following the beast, when suddenly he jerked her to a stop and she blinked the smoke out of her eyes to see that she'd almost stepped into a river of lava. Well that would have been less than ideal for sure! Shit. An inappropriate laugh bubbled up from her chest and she eyed the lava with a crooked grin before turning her attention to where the guide wanted to go. Over that rickety ass bridge? Another laugh escaped her, half incredulous and half with an edge of excitement. "Ok, then, I guess we take your shitty bridge then," she said mockingly. Bracing herself, she focused her attention on the way ahead, then threw herself forward, dashing across the bridge in the hopes that she'd be over it before it had a chance to collapse under her.

You kick off, launching yourself down the shaky bridge. You can hear the guide grunt in surprise behind you. Your paws crash down on the warm, dry wood. About halfway through the bridge, your paw crashes through a plank, 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 realize you've scraped across your left eye. 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.

Aris charged across the bridge, certain she would make it... Only to have it crumble beneath her and send her tumbling for the molten rock below. Snarling in terrified rage she scrabbled at the planks as she fell, and felt teeth meet in her scruff to drag her back up, dragging her stumbling and bumping along to all but toss her off the end of it. Rumpled and filled with adrenaline, eye stinging where it had been caught by a board, she rounded on the dog creature. She couldn't really yell at him for saving her life though, so in the end she just huffed angrily and stomped over to where he had indicated they continue. She glanced over her options. The bridges had failed her once already, so she wasn't going to trust them again. Instead she set out to take the stepping stones.

You jump rock to rock. They're sturdy and secure. A few jumps in, and one cracks, falling into the lava. 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 right front outer leg. 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

It seemed Aris was destined to not make it over any of the obstacles unscathed, though at first it seemed otherwise. But she was a few stones in when suddenly she felt the surface beneath her paws crumble as she landed, and nearly went headfirst into the magma. It was only a mad scramble and the unexpected help of the taciturn guide that got her feet back on solid ground at all, and even then it was with a bad burn to the outside of her foreleg. She tested her weight on the leg, wincing, but it could hold her weight even if it was pretty damn painful. Good enough to make the leap to the next place she was being led, anyway, so with a growl of determination she attempted to jump the gap because if you're going to be stupid enough to keep following some dumb half-breed to your certain doom at least do it spectacularly right?

You decide to kick off hard, hoping to close the gap using your sheer strength. Only when you're almost to the other side do you realize you underestimated the size of the gap, and you feel yourself falling, falling, 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 right cheek, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 81 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...

• Stuff? No things here
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - left eye
  
• medium scar - right front outer leg
  
• major injury - right cheek,  
  
• -81 Fighting skill points