Warden knows better than to leave the den right now. The flooding, and what he'd done after... well, there'd been a fair bit of water in his lungs. Though he'd seemed fine at first, the boy had taken rather ill after. It was only with round the clock care from his mother than he'd managed to pull out of it... well. Warden was still mostly whole, and he's still entirely himself. It's on a particularly warm day that he ventures out, into the dappled sunlight. Halo had slipped away to tend to an injury from training, something moderate enough to need her care would have her gone from some time.

Tilting his face to the warm sunlight, Warden strides out into it tentatively. A sigh stretches his lungs, and he comes away coughing. Right, well, that's okay. The burning meant that he was still here. It meant that he was still alive. Still... he was still breathing. Shaking his head, as if to clear it, Warden took a few steps forward. His gaze keen, eyes bright. He'd enjoy a warm afternoon, filled with fresh air, at least for as long as he could manage it.

"Speech"

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

Warden doesn't look over his shoulder when the strangers appear. There's something about them... they draw him in. A moth to flame. Gaze glimmering ever so softly as he approaches the trio, he needs... he needs to know. He needs to know who they are. For some reason, it makes sense to Warden why they've come.

They were... here for him? He'd been having some weird dreams ever since getting so sick. Ever since the flood. Ever since things had damn near been turned upside down. Was he allowed to use the word damn in his own head? Mom didn't have to know. It seemed like things of that sort hurt her feelings. Right, back to the three strangers. It's without hesitation or second thoughts that Warden steps to the side of the solid, grey man. Looking up into his stern face, the boy was admittedly curious. "Where are we going?" The words spoken brightly, clearly. Warden was quite composed for a boy of his age, at least.

"Speech"

choice: hard route

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.

Oh, oh gosh that was a lot of smoke. Warden can hardly breathe, beginning to hack and cough. It's hard enough that his nose starts to run, his eyes start to water. Still, when he finally lets himself focus on the world around him... right. Okay, a bridge. A bridge and-- shit was that lava?

Well, there's a bridge to the other side. Thinking his lightest thoughts, the young boy made himself to the first. Alright, sure. If he balanced himself evenly enough, then he'd be able to make it happen. He had to, right? Think light thoughts, look down only enough to see where he was going, balance his weight as best he could How hard could it be? There was no looking back now.

"Speech"

Choice: dexterity

You gingerly step onto the bridge, balancing your weight. The bridge creaks and sways slightly. You inch your way across and the guide follows you. After what seems like eons, you make it across the bridge and the guide leads you into the shelter of the cave ahead. Just as you enter you find 162 gems.

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.

Warden is fast, light on his feet. Swift of foot and keen of eye. The boy's head was nearly spinning with the gravity of the situation, though, taking in the room spread before him. The cave. Lava lighting the way around him, the glow pretty but... well, he knows just about what will happen with one wrong move. Better make the right ones as fast as possible, then.

The pup's gaze landed on the stepping stones, and he knew exactly what he needed to do. All he'd need to do was jump a little, and his legs were long-- that would do. That would do him great, he decided. Gathering himself over his hind legs, Warden leapt for the first stone.

"Speech"

choice: strength

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 carefully bundled item. You grab it, deciding to check it out 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

It wasn't too bad, Warden decided. He was growing more confident as he made his way across, eyes bright, gaze at least trying to stay trained on the path ahead of him. In the midst, an item in his possession too. Really, this was going pretty well, if you were to ask Warden. Confidence radiating from the boy as he finally makes it to the other side, a twitch to his striped tail.

Right, well with nothing other than a gap laid before him, Warden couldn't let his confidence falter now. Nope, he'd have to go full send. With a gathering of his muscles and a grunt for the effort, Warden tries to jump the gap. He'd done well so far, right? Yeah, he's ready for this. It'll be awesome!

"Speech"

choice: strength

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, your mangled right front paw. You can't tell the extent now, but it's still attached. You think you may be missing something, though (2 toes), and you're sure the majority of that paw will scar. You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 30 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...

• 162 Gems
  
• Xtra Shrink Potion
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Major injury - right front paw
  
• -30 Fighting skill points