The whole reason he was out was to collect things to make something for Enki. After that smile at the meeting and the fabulous hug, he wanted nothing more than to see it again. Mostly for his own sake, but also for Enki as well. The boy needed to smile more! He was cute regardless, but there was something different about him when he smiled. It made Tazzy feel warm inside!

He saw some birds resting on a nearby island and decided to brave the shallow waters to investigate. He hadn't worked with feathers yet beyond using the downy soft feathers to stuff something once for Widow, but he had only been doing as he was told. He'd watched her make lovely jewelry and the like with it, so maybe if he took her some supplies, she could show him how to make something! Though, there was nothing but boring old seagull feathers scattered around when he got there. He pouted for a bit, but as he was about to leave the small island, he noticed a shell nearby. Perking up a bit, he walked over to the conch and sniffed it a bit. Well, this was certainly interesting! He wondered if there were more?

Pivoting towards a new idea, one he hadn't even thought of yet, Tazzy started to beach comb, and anything of interest he found (shells of any sort, interesting pebbles, and even a weird glass bottle) he brought back to where the conch shell had been found.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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

You would think that he stuck his head in the sand; who doesn't notice three weird looking wolf-things walk up in this tiny, private island? Apparently Tazzy, who was definitely far too busy hunting pretty things to notice strangers approach him.

He jumped a bit as he saw twelve legs standing before him, his gaze slowly raising to the three faces of the wolves. One seemed super friendly, so that made him feel a little better. One seemed sad, maybe, and the other could use some cheering up! He was tempted to go with the super friendly one, but he had made Enki smile so the challenge to make the moody one smile was on already! They seemed to want something from him too, which made taking a flying leap in the direction of the darker wolf even easier than it already was. "The beach is supposed to be fun!" He tried to exclaim, even though this beach was very far from being fun aside from collecting shells and trinkets to be brutally honest.

"Speech!"

tazzy chooses the hard route

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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 grumpy man had nothing to say, causing the young man's face to wrinkle in mild annoyance. How rude! That didn't stop him from following him though, even if the billowing smoke and stench of something foul made him want to vomit. It was absolutely horrible, wherever it had come from, but hopefully it would be gone as soon as it came.

He felt a paw pulling him back before it was almost too late. His eyes widened as he stared at the lava below - wasn't he on a beach?! There hadn't been any chasm or lava a few minutes ago! His gaze followed the guide's motion towards the bridge, making rainbow-brite-boy and he was convinced he was dreaming. None of this was here before! But the look on the guides face told him he needed to do something, and he guessed that something was crossing the bridge.

He swallowed as he examined the bridge, immediately noticing that some looked less sound than others. He didn't weigh much though, certainly he could just balance well enough, none of them would break!

Tazzy has chosen dexterity.

"Speech!"

Art & Code © Rex/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

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 back inner leg. 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.

Well, he almost didn't make it across but at least this kind man had grabbed him before it was too late! Curling his body up like a pup because he was so small he allowed the man to carry him across. The scrape to his leg stung a bit, but he was fine. He was too focused in the cave they were now in anyway. There was even more bubbling lava and now it seemed that he had yet another choice; to cross a stone path, an9ther rickety looking bridge, or a narrow path. After the last nese-drath experience, he figured the bridge wasn't that great of an idea. The stones even seemed too far apart for him to comfortably hop across, but that path seemed alright! He was pretty small so he didn't think he'd have to worry much about it and it was the furthest from the lava, so he felt pretty confident in his choice as he headed for the narrow path, not even  considering that the burly wolf-thing might be too big for it.

Phantasm has chosen dexterity

You decide to follow the thin edge around the room. The guide seems surprised, but follows your lead. It's tall and narrow, but you scoot your way along. In your path, you find an item... better take it with you. Eventually, the path widens and you find yourself in another room full of lava.

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

Presented with a new area, this was perhaps the most intimated Tazzy had felt since this whole thing started. That was a huge gap between the stone he supposed he needed to get to, not to mention the stalagmites in the way! There was no way he was going to be able to jump that, and he figured that it was even to big of a gap for the guide to carry him again. He was at a loss...  but wait, maybe he could use the stalagmites? Some of them didn't look as sharp as the others, even seeming to have a wider spot to balance. They weren't too terribly tall, at least not all of them, so that seemed like his most viable option.

Taking a deep and slow breath, Tazzy  readied himself before jumping onto one of the stalagmites. Well, that wasn't so hard... but now he had to jump from stalagmite to stalagmite just to get there....

tazzy chose dexterity

You decide to use the stalagmites as stepping stones. At first it seems like a solid plan as you begin to make your way across, but then suddenly the one you're standing on begins to crack and splinter, giving out completely beneath your paws.

Somehow you manage to scramble almost all the way across, but as you make the final leap to the edge of solid ground you feel yourself begin to fall...

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 neck, that will leave an impressive scar (about 6 inches long). You feel less knowledgeable at having gone on that adventure as well, losing 56 Intellect 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...

• 2" Deluxe Growth Spurt Pass
  
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• minor injury right back inner leg
  
• Major injury - right neck,
  
• -56 Intellect Skill points