Dulla’s encounter with that man on the beach had left her light-headed and easily distracted, staring off into the distance and lapsing into thoughtful silences. the truth was that she’d never met someone like him, had never known someone who could stir her up so completely, could twist her up in knots and leave her flushed and breathless.

it was…disconcerting, to say the least, but also undeniably thrilling. and after only one encounter, she craved him, craved to know him and see him in ways she didn’t entirely understand herself. sitting back against a tree trunk, the woman lifted her head to the stars and gave a low, dreamy sigh.

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 cry of surprise left Medulla’s mouth, falling backward on her rump as she gazed beseechingly up at that trio of spectral figures. terror gripped her bones, a mix of disbelief and fear making her almost dizzy in their wake. she’d long stopped believing in her parents’ God, had decided religion a farce long ago. had she been wrong? had they been sent to cast judgement upon her? if so, then perhaps it was best to attempt to reason with them, maybe plead her case. eyes shifting from one face to another, Dulla’s gaze eventually faces on the pale wolf with the green eyes, drawn to their open, friendly expression. “please,” she whispered, voice trembling about the edges, “why do you visit me? have i been condemned?”

The welcoming and charming borzoi flashes you a bright smile when you choose them. They shakes their head at the ask of being condemned, offering a welcoming motion of their paw instead. They greet you readily and turn, eager for you to follow.

The cheerful wolf prances off, turning every so often with a smile to make sure you're still following. The sun seems to shine brighter around this wolf, and after a while it becomes almost blinding. When you are finally able to focus again, you find you are in a lush meadow with a gentle breeze causing the flowers to bow to you in greeting. In the center of this meadow, there is an impossibly large pine tree. Your companion sits, motioning towards the tree enthusiastically.

What do you do?

Strength: Push on the tree

You decide to push on the tree. Maybe it will yield to your sheer power.

Charisma: Ask the guide what to do.

You turn to the guide, asking them for advice.

Dexterity: Climb up the tree.

You size up the tree, deciding to climb it.

Wisdom: Inspect the tree.

You decide to get a closer look at this tree.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

the guide’s reassuring smiles served to satisfy Dulla’s initial panic, and she followed dutifully after the wolf, not wanting to cause further damage by being difficult. they came to a pause by the base of a tree, and Dulla craned her neck to stare up into its branches before glancing dubiously at the smiling guide, confusion and nerves writhing in the pit of her stomach. was this a test? was her moral fibre being tested? pacing a tight circle around the tree, Dulla hesitates a few seconds before raising up onto her hind legs and examining the trunk, scenting it with a furrowed brow. just what was so special about this particular tree?

choice: inspect the tree.

You can tell it's a tree because of the way it is. How neat is that? That's pretty neat.

After a few moments too long of staring at the tree, your guide walks ahead of you and pushes in some bark to reveal a door. With a chuckle and an eye roll, they lead you into the tree.

Inside, the tree somehow seems even bigger, the inside carved out to reveal multiple floors. Some are connected with large turkey mushrooms, others with vines, and some not at all. Many inhabitants seem to skitter in the shadows, but never clearly in your vision. Your guide motions to the top of the tree almost desperately. Something is there, something they want and need you to help them with.

What do you do?

Strength: Climb up the mushrooms.

The turkey mushrooms have a wide surface and a solid base, they should be easy enough to climb.

Charisma: Call out to the other inhabitants.

The others in the tree seem to know the way around. Maybe they'll share their secrets.

Dexterity: Weave your way up the vines.

With a little flexibility, you think you could maneuver your way up the vines that climb the side of the tree.

Wisdom: Look around for an easier way up.

Trees and mushrooms and asking for advice are all good and well, but there has got to be an easier way.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

Dulla frowned at the guide’s back, vaguely perturbed at their obvious exasperation. if this was some kind of deity sent to guide them, they were certainly an impatient one! stepping into the tree, Dulla observed her surroundings with wide-eyed wonder, lips parting in surprise. it was like something from her childhood fairytales, like the stories she’d been fed by her parents with unsubtle metaphors and obvious morals. she’d dismissed them long ago as complete rubbish, but…had she been wrong?

in any case, it was obvious that her guide wanted her to find a way up to the top of the tree. after inspecting the vines winding up the side of it, Dulla set her foot in a gap near the trunk and began attempting to shimmy her way up, grunting with the effort.

choice: weave your way up the vines.

You start at the vines. They seem secure enough to hold your weight, if only you were nimble enough to climb them. After a few desperate attempts, your paw slips and you slide back down to the ground.

The guide laughs and tries to cover it by coughing as they lead you to a wooden platform hanging by vines in the back of the room. They invite you on and the small wooden platform lifts you to the top.

At the top of the tree, there is a large spider web with an even larger spider on top. It's legs titter angrily on the threads of the web. It seems agitated. In it's state, its web has fallen into disrepair and you see a family of the tree's inhabitants stuck in the webbing just behind the spider.

What do you do?

Strength: Fight the spider.

The spider has trapped that poor family! As an adversary, you must defeat her!

Charisma: Calm the spider down.

The spider's obviously bothered by something. Maybe you can calm her down.

Dexterity: Tiptoe to sneakily save the family.

If you're extra cautious, then you can save the family without ever alerting the spider.

Wisdom: Figure out what's agitating the spider.

There must be more to the story than is going on, if only you could figure out what...

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

okay, this guide was really getting on their nerves now. “i’m trying, okay?” Dulla protested to the guide, glaring as the platform lifted them to the top. “you could’ve told me about this way instead of watching me flail around.” huffing, she stepped off the platform and began to inspect the spider, perturbed by its obvious agitation and many-eyed stare. initially it appeared villainous - trapping a family was generally frowned upon - but after a few moments of consideration, Dulla began to note the apprehension in its face. if she didn’t know any better, she’d say it was…scared. and spider’s weren’t generally frightened for no reason. “er…hello?” she attempted, hoping to keep her voice calm and pleasant. “is everything alright?”

choice: figure out what’s agitating the spider

You try to talk to the spider, her beady eyes staring at you unblinkingly. She chitters for a moment before lunging.

The guide jumps in and thrums on the strings, gaining the spider's attention. With the spider distracted, the family of creatures are able to get free and usher you to a safer space alongside them.

After a jaunting struggle, the guide is able to escape the web. Once back to the safety of the base of the tree, you take a moment to recoup.

The inhabitants tell you of something causing the tree to vibrate, which is making the spider's web give her false signals. This has become confusing for her, and the once guardian of the tree has been blindly attacking anything she finds in her web. They explain the vibration comes from underground and show you to a hatch in the floor that leads to a cave.

The cave is small and seems fairly fresh, with loamy soil still clinging to the roof and walls like a newly dug den. It is dark, but your eyes adjust and you see a series of paths you can choose to take.

What do you do?

Strength: Take the straightforward path.

Stop wasting time and just go until you find something.

Charisma: Call out to the void.

Why try to find the source of the vibration, when you can let the source of the vibration find you?

Dexterity: Squeeze through the newest tunnel.

The freshest tunnel should lead to the one digging it, right?

Wisdom: Follow the vibration.

If you feel through your paws, you can distinguish where the vibrations are the strongest and follow those there.

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

“i don’t suppose you’ll be any help here, huh?” Dulla said to the guide, breathing an impairment sigh through her nostrils. who knew deities could be so…irritating? turning her back on them, Dulla lowered her head to the ground, pressing her ear to it and closing her eyes to better focus on the tremors. after a few moments she began to take slow, hesitant steps in what she thought might be the direction of the tremors, pausing occasionally to take better stock of her surroundings. she really did want to help the family, after all, no matter how badly the guide got on her nerves.

choice: follow the vibration.

You look, or rather feel around for the vibrations, but they seem to be coming from everywhere. In your moment of hesitation, something stirs, then lashes out hitting the base of your tail.

Before you writhes a large brown worm with markings resembling carved rock. This eyeless creature shrieks at you, revealing a mouth with too many sharp points. For some reason, you immediately understand it's name: David. This must be the source of the vibration! That means it must be dealt with. Your guide nods to you, ready to follow your lead.

What do you do?

Strength: Fight it head on.

You gather your strength, this is going to be a tough battle.

Charisma: Tell the worm it needs to move somewhere else.

If the critters in the tree can talk, maybe this worm can be reasoned with too.

Dexterity: Sneak behind the worm and go for a stealth kill.

The worm is enormous! Better be sneaky about it then off him.

Wisdom:  Find something else to ward away the worm.

You think back. There has to be some herbs or something that can ward off worms...

Leave.

Leave and exit the event.

the initial shock of the worm startled them, of course - but it only took a few seconds for Dulla’s fear to be replaced with annoyance. honestly, this whole thing was just a huge pain in the ass! she’d been laughed at by a rude guide who seemed to delight in their confusion, faced with a giant angry spider, and now this ugly creature was snarking in her face! the audacity of it! all she’d been trying to do was help, after all. “David, that’s enough!” she snapped, stamping a foot.

disapproval rolled off her in waves, followed by a sharp tsk as she shook her head. “stop making a fuss and move along, now. the good people of this tree have had it with your nonsense - and quite frankly, so have i.” she lifted a challenging brow as she stared down the worm, daring it to refuse.

choice: tell the worm it needs to move elsewhere.

You try to talk to the worm, to ask it to leave. The guide is ready to back you up, though they look somewhat surprised. After a moment, the worm seems to consider your words and leaves.

You return to the surface and notify the tree's residents, they cheer your praises and patch you up. They adorn you with a flower cape the spider wove for you, asking you to stay for a while. They throw a feast in your honor, and as the sun dips low, you feel it is time to leave.

As you leave the celebration, your guide follows. It is their time to leave as well. They nod and bid you farewell, walking away with a hum until you blink and they are gone, only a few fireflies buzzing lazily where the guide once was.

You receive a Dire Character Pass. Other prizes 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...

• Dire wolf character pass
  

You Lost These Along the Way...

• Minor injury - base of tail