Gloom was still settling in a at the Hallows, but for reasons she had yet to fully grasp she found herself drawn to the Wildberry Grove, maybe because it reminded her of the place she'd started this whole journey. He ankle was all better now and she knew to keep an eye out for snakes but there was something almost pleasantly nostalgic about being here despite the last time. This time it wasn't in a magical autumnal bubble and the full bloom of summer was all around, maybe she'd try and find any of the plants Gloom had noticed Audra kept for her healing jobs, or maybe she'd just pick up whatever flowers she found pretty. The world was her oyster and definitely wasn't about to remind her about her last trip here at all.

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

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

Not again! Gloom practically jumped out of her skin as the three figures seemed to appear right in front of her. She seemed to falter as she fought to keep her paws under her and herself upright, but she did manage it, even if her tail started to tuck and ears pulled back nervously. She watched the trio carefully, dual toned eyes jumping between all three but it seemed they were doing the same, watching... Waiting. For her? To do what? Gloom swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She observed them all again, closer this time and though she probably should have ultimately chosen the excited looking stranger she felt her heart tugging with empathy towards the one straight ahead, with a sad expression.

Gloom moved slowly towards her. "Are- Are you okay?" Not that she was sure she could help considering the canine before her seemed in a bad way.

(Gloom is choosing the Medium Route: The Sorrowful Guide)

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. She gives her head a slow shake, but says nothing in response to your question. 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.

Gloom frowned as the crying woman merely shook her head and then gestured for her to follow. The Destruction woman considered for a moment but something was drawing her forward, almost seeming to move her paws for her and by the time she realized the fog was rolling in thick it was too late. Panic flared in her chest and Gloom was suddenly very aware she wasn't totally familiar with the lands here yet, she was very aware how easy it'd be to wander off with so many of her senses impeded. And then she stepped out of the fog and was no longer in the grove, instead her gaze landing on a lake. Gloom glanced nervously over at the crying woman and she tried to ignore the bells ringing in her head. She stepped towards the lake carefully, the whirlpool made her nervous but it was strange for the rest of the water to be... so eerily calm? It was likely that because of the path she was expected to make her way towards the centre but she was suspicious of the water, she wasn't exactly keen to throw herself into it without more information.

(Gloom is choosing Wisdom: Inspect the water)

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

You inspect the water and the unnatural whirlpool in the center. You see something gleaming and pick up 79 Gems. As you look closer, you think you see an opening in the middle. The guide is already on her way down, wet but unbothered. You decide to follow.

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.

Well if it was good enough for her guide it was good enough for Gloom and she followed after the woman into the whirlpool, blinking against the spray as it pelted them, luckily they were soon at the bottom. Gloom shook the remaining water from her pelt, it was cold down here and the last thing she wanted was to risk ice forming on her. Good thing too considering it was in fact quite icy down here. The Destruction woman took some time to look around surely there had to be a passage through right? Nope! Gloom frowned and moved back towards where they'd come in from. To her eyes there was really only one option. She supposed if she was someone else there'd be breaking down a wall too but she wasn't nearly strong enough for that. Gloom padded towards the biggest crack she could spot, it was possible there were others but it started getting hard to tell that. She tried her shoulder against it and feeling like yeah she probably could fit started trying to squeeze herself through.

(Gloom is choosing Dexterity: Try to squeeze through one of the larger cracks.)

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

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. That wound across your right brow is 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

Ow. Gloom rubbed gingerly at her brow, paw coming away wet with blood but as she continued to daub at it she could tell it wasn't a big scratch just painful... Probably just nasty enough to leave a mark... How would she explain this one to Audra? The path ahead of her didn't do much to help set her at ease and Gloom glanced back over her shoulder but honestly she didn't want to go back the way she'd come either so only place to go was... Forward. Swallowing the lump forming in her throat Gloom forced herself to focus on her breathing. With her nerves calmed somewhat she told herself she had time, she could use it. Gloom focused on the space around her, looking for structural issues. Cracks, puddles of water that implied the ice was melting. Anything to help her discern where she might be able to safely put her paws.

(Gloom is choosing Wisdom: Study the cave and find the safest path.)

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

You scan the treacherous tunnel ahead, finding hints that indicate which sections of ice have been standing for a long time, and which are fresher, and likely more unstable. You're cautious as you begin to creep through.

As you tip toe through the tunnel, you find a bag tied neatly with a ribbon - you'll have to open this later.

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.

Okay this time things had worked out better for her, no scrapes she'd have to explain to Audra later. So silver linings but she wasn't out of danger yet. The woman reminded herself to just breathe, take her time and work through it; that's what had worked best so far. Gloom closed her eyes for a moment and centred herself before she opened them again and really took in her surroundings. Was the end just beyond her reach? She wasn't sure but Gloom couldn't help a tiny bit of hope, of excitement. But she wouldn't rush, no she'd take her time and do her best to identify the safest possible way to get across to the sunlit door.

(Gloom is choosing Wisdom: Look for the safest path to the exit.)

"Speech"

Image by AlienLion

You think you've chosen the safest path. You navigate carefully, your eyes scanning for the best route. You didn't choose right, you realize as you look over and see a flatter path. Your distraction costs you, and you slip into the icy spikes below. 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 your right front outer leg, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). 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...

• 79 gems
  
• Xtra Shrink Potion
  
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor scar - right brow
  
• major injury/scar - right front outer leg,