A Ray of Light Waking from a deep slumber, Calyrex lifted his pale cranium up to assess his surroundings. Pleasant dreams had visited the wolf and this had attributed to his uplifted mood. Pulling himself into an upright position, placing all four paws on the soft grass below him. Golden orbs begun to clear and he was able to focus on the beautiful scenery that was ahead. Flowers of all the colours of the rainbow set out in the little patches as far as the eye could see. After sometime the male was finally ready to make haste and was ready to face whatever adventures the day may bring. One paw after another the canine pushed forward in anticipation.

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

A Ray of Light A sudden flash of light, orbs losing focus and body tensing. Before the male, stood three silhouetted figures, well of what he could make out and squinting eyes had allowed him to finally make out their true forms. Three canine's was the most he could make out, one blue, one white and the last a grey/ black hue. Calyrex lowered his body to show respect to the newcomers, tail tucked neatly below his belly and hackles as low as he could make them. There was something other-worldly and of a higher power about them and he surely liked making friends rather than being on the defensive. "He...Hello! Please may I take the path for the average wolf" There was an overwhelming feeling that he had to make a choice. The male had not been the best with choices in the past, but he could not dilly dally about and they were waiting for his reply. It was time to make a decisive choice and that he did. .

Calyrex will take the Medium Path

The tearful wolf seems almost surprised you chose her. 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.

A Ray of Light The male cocked his head to the side, as he observed that the blue wolf appeared to be upset and he pondered for a moment of what could have caused this. Before he could make another movement he was surrounded in a shroud of mist. An overwhelming feeling came over Calyrex of fear, he shut his eyes and hoped for the best and for some reason he felt he could trust this canine. One eye slowly opening, he realised the mist had gone and before him was a pool of water surrounded by ghostly trees. Was he still asleep? A few paces forward and the loner was able to see his reflection on the water and accompanying it was the blue hue of the other, which now appeared to be directing him into the pool. What a ridiculous thought, padding into a small pool of water in this cold season, but before he knew it, his white paws were stepping out towards the first stepping stone. This was easy Cal thought to himself, one by one the white wolf had made his way cautiously over each stone, further and further into the pool. Taking brief glances back, to assure himself that he was doing the right thing.

Calyrex will take the Dexterity

You ready yourself and jump to the first rock, then the next. So far so good. On your third jump, your paw slips, but you are able to recover. The last step is an easy one and as you go to stick the landing, the rock dissolves into 56 gems. You slide down the whirlpool in one thrilling swoop, the guide jumping in after you looking unworried by your descent.

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.

A Ray of Light It had been a little slippery but the male had made it to what appeared to be the last stone, one paw placed cautiously onto the cold surface. Suddenly the rock disintegrated into sparkling gems, causing him to loose his footing and fall face first into the water. As fast as the wolf had fallen into the pool, he was out and it had all fallen like a blur and left him wondering what magic this was, is it the work of a God? Heaving his body from the waters, he rubbed his coat against the icy surface, before coming to his feet and lightly shaking his fur. A great cavern of ice loomed before him, thick walls gave off a pure white glow reflecting off the canine's fur and giving the place an other worldly appearance. He begun to study the walls, it did not appear there was a way through, although there was some beautifully designed carvings in the ice. Carefully he studied each carving in detail, hoping to find out why he was here and where he was supposed to go.

Calyrex will choose Wisdom

You look at the carvings, but can't discern anything. They're very pretty and very complex, but they don't seem to mean anything, at least not to you.

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.

You tried this already.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

A Ray of Light After looking for some time, Calyrex understood that the carvings were of no use. Scanning the ice cavern for any other way he could escape this frozen palace. Although he knew he could ask the blue wolf, but he was stubborn and wouldn't make it easy for himself, this would be last option he would take. The male's head had stopped swivelling, as his gaze met what appeared to be a thinner part of ice. His body tensing, as he begun bounding towards that part of the wall, mustering all his speed and hoping to to break a way through.

Calyrex will choose Strength.

You find a small spot that seems lighter than the others and slam your body against it. You are rewarded with a satisfying crack and decide to try again. This time, you break through and the rest of the thin sheet crumples around you.

On the other side you find a bag containing an item! Can't wait to open this later.

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

A Ray of Light Calyrex's body slams hard against the icy wall, a large crack echos through the cave. One more push should do it, he pawed back a few steps and ran towards the wall slamming into it hard with the side of his body. A large crack begun forming at the bottom, slowly making it's way to the top and viola the ice shattered before him exposing a tunnel through the wall. The cautious wolf now studied the tunnel, icy pillars scattered the floor of the tunnel. He sniffed, hoping to find a scent or trace of a previous cave explorer. There was only one scent which he followed and led him to discover a small bag which he collected to open later. Looking ahead at the passageaway before him, he realised that this would be a rather treacherous. Although he could hit it head on, carefully placing each paw and avoid a collapse. He knew his best chances was to better acknowledge his surroundings, before endangering his life.

Calyrex will take the path of WISDOM

You look for the safest path, prodding here and there with your paw. As you take your time, water drips from the top of the cave, landing on your nose. How long have you been standing here? With a rumble, you realize too long as the cave begins to crumble around you.

As the tunnel behind you begins to collapse, you find yourself  getting battered and bruised by a multitude of ice shards, their blades cutting through your fur and smashing onto the ground below. You begin to falter, but with a final push from your guide, you make it to a more stable part of the tunnel, scraping your left shoulder in a long slash the size of a paw print that is sure to leave a scar.

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.

You wait and the floor below you caves, plummeting you towards the jagged ice. You close your eyes and all is dark.

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 the left back leg, which will no doubt turn into a noticeable scar (about 6 inches long). Likewise you feel you've lost some knowledge along the way. 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...

• 56 Gems
  
• Grow potion
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor scar - left shoulder
  
• major injury - left back leg