He'd gone out on a hunting trip. The elder male had been feeling a little more energetic as of late, and it helped to have his nephew around with him. Today though, he went out on his own with his companion flying overhead as he made his way to the southern coast of Boreas. The pirates weren't there anymore, so he was able to go into the cavern on the beach and explore, to see if there was any prey that called this place home. So far, the stale scent of wolves and bats mostly lingered here, along with the smell of salt water and fish. Maybe this would be a good place to go fishing, but he'd scope that out a little later. The sand shifted beneath his paws as he made his way deeper into the cavern to see what he might find, if anything.

Text speech Thought

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 further he went, the more he figured out that there wasn't much here to prey on other than sea birds and fish. But also the further he went, he found three wolf-dogs standing and...were they waiting for something? He looked from one to the other, gaze settling on the darker wolf. Somehow, he reminds him of his brother...the one that he'd lost years ago now. He had come to terms that Tyranis was never coming back. But it still saddened him. They looked like they were waiting for him to do...something. "You remind me of my brother..." He said softly as he gazed up at him again. Cloudburst chooses the Irascible guide "Speak"

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.

He glanced between the grumpy-looking guy and the others before the one that reminded him of his brother seemed to relax a bit. Cloud nodded, and in turn, the guide would turn and lead him away. The tunnel was filled with a thick smoke that nearly blinded and masked all of his senses. He coughed and his eyes watered as he tried to stay close, though he wasn't sure exactly how far ahead or close by his guide was. Regardless, he felt himself being tugged back and as he coughed a few more times and blinked away the tears, he realized he had almost stepped off the ledge. "Thank you," He murmured, glancing at his guide for a moment before looking over the chasm. How easy it would have been to just...step over and never be seen again. He shuddered to think about the pain from that. Would it be quick and painless? Or would he feel everything and suffer? Intrusive thoughts were interrupted when he realized the guide was showing him a wobbly wooden bridge that connected to the other side of the canyon. He stepped forward, studying it. Observing the integrity of it. He frowned when he thought about how old and creaky and unstable it looked. And his age.... he wasn't so sure that he could just run across quickly enough...He took a deep breath, and slowly crept forward. Surely his experience as a hunter would help him get safely to the other side. Cloud chooses Dexterity "Speak"

art by Risketch

You gingerly step onto the bridge, balancing your weight. The bridge creaks and sways slightly. You inch your way down the bridge, but one paw lands too heavy and the plank below it crumbles, 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 rump. 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.

Step by step, he makes progress on getting across. Though he misjudged the placement of one paw and suddenly he found himself tumbling down. "Help!" He instinctively cried out, but the word was barely out of his mouth before his guide grabbed him and hauled him to safety. He felt stinging on his rump but ignored it. Any bump, bruise, or scrape was better than being dead, and he was glad the guide had saved him from certain death. His heart hammered against his chest as the adrenaline kicked in, though it took him a few, long moments for him to regain his composure. "Th-thank you...not as young as I used to be," He took a deep breath to try and calm himself before finally getting to his feet. In the next area, he looked around to figure out where he needed to go next. Lava bubbled everywhere he looked, and he wasn't so keen on taking another bridge anytime soon...looking ahead of him, he sucks in a deep breath and decides to take the path straight ahead of him. "It's now or never," He murmurs as he takes a running start, jumping for the stepping stones. Cloud chooses strength "Speak"

art by Risketch

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 left ribs. 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

He jumped from stepping stone, to stepping stone. Though he wouldn't quite make it all the way across without incident. Either he hadn't been as perceptive or cautious, or the stones were so worn away after years of being used, Cloud found himself falling after one of the stones broke beneath his feet just as he landed on it. He hardly had time to react, let alone try to quick jump forward. His eyes widened as he silently cried out. Time seemed to slow down and his mind went blank as he scrambled for purchase on the nearby ledge, and miraculously with the help of the guide, he had made it across. But not without earning himself a burn across the left side of his ribs. He was almost able to ignore the searing pain what with the adrenaline coursing through him, but the burn of lava was pretty hard to ignore. Gasping for breath as he grits his teeth through the pain, the old man stood up and once again thanked the guide for helping him. It was embarrassing to have to be saved so many times...but he was grateful the guide was here, otherwise, he would've met his end since the beginning. The burn on his side would keep him occupied, tearing his focus every other moment. He knew once he made it out of here, he'd have to find a healer to help him out so it wouldn't get worse. He's presented with another room, and although he is unsure, he wanted to press forward. He wasn't a coward, but neither was he an idiot. Was he foolish, maybe? For wanting to continue? What did he have to prove? Everyone he once loved was gone, and the only one he had left was his nephew. Maybe he was doing this for him at this point. Gazing around the room, he flexes his paws as he fights the urge to just jump across again. It hadn't worked out so well the last time, but..."I know you've saved me a few times already but...I could really use your help one more time here...please...?" Cloud chooses Charisma "Speak"

art by Risketch

The guide shakes his head. This, you must figure out on your own. He will be no help here.

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.

You have already tried this.

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...

Well, that didn't do any good. His guide opted not to help him, and it made Cloud wonder if he even could at this point or not. He figured probably not, so he returned to looking at potential options. He wasn't so sure that he could move fast enough on each stalagmite to make it across. He was somewhat confident he could jump the gap, but did he really want to test his luck that way again? He almost wasn't so lucky the last time, and he was starting to get tired. Looking back, he wondered if he could use the materials from the other room to build something to get across. It'd take some time, he was sure, but it was the safer option.

Cloud chooses 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 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 66 hunting 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.

Rerolled using Firefly's favor

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 throat left cheek that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 85 88 fighting 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.

Rerolled using firefly's favor

Rerolled yet again!

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 left eye right eye that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 50 fighting 70 Hunting 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.

Rerolled again!!!!

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...

• Nada
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - right rump
  
• Scar left ribs
  
• Major injury - right eye,
  
• -70 Hunting skill points