The Springtide Howl Fayre event features a brief storyline following alongside your progression through the event. This month's storyline is driven by its mechanics, and you will be unable to progress in the story until you have completed specific event-related tasks. The story will automatically begin when you visit the Gardening page for the first time.
This storyline will present you with the option to become either a rival or a friend to the main character. So far, this choice seems to only change the text associated with each stage of the story and only grants a unique achievement without a unique reward.
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| Characters |
| Introduction |
| Rival Path |
| Friend Path |
| Abilene | Wolf |
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The reigning champion of the Springtide Howl Fayre gardening contest, Abilene is passionate about her craft. She could be a helpful mentor and teammate if you choose, or a friendly competitor in your gardening adventure. |
| She/Her | |
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"Hey! Hey! Watch where you're stepping!"
A mottled green female shoves you so hard that you stumble, struggling to keep your paws. She scowls at you and leans down to gingerly sniff the ground and pat the mound of dirt gently.
"Don't you know there's things growing here?"
"Look! Don't you see all these mounds in neat little orderly rows as if someone did it on purpose?"
You look around you curiously. She's right-the dirt has been churned up evenly and in an organized way. You look at her again, noticing that her white patches are covered with dirt and her claws are thick with soil.
You look around you curiously. She's right-the dirt has been churned up evenly and in an organized way. You look at her again, noticing that her white patches are covered with dirt and her claws are thick with soil.
"Yes, I did. I'm preparing for the Springtide Howl Fayre-aren't you?"
She's more earnest now, looking you up and down as if assessing you for a friend...or a rival.
"You...don't know what the Springtide Howl Fayre is?" she questions incredulously. "You're joking, right?"
When your dumbfounded expression doesn't change, she stares at you for a moment as if gathering her thoughts.
Then, quite abruptly, her entire demeanor changes-with an excited gasp she's pushing you over to a row of dirt mounds, tail wagging so hard that it's a blue.
"The Springtide Howl Fayre happens every year. Wolves from all over work hard to grow a variety of crops to enter and be judged by their fellow wolves. The better the quality of the crop, the higher you score. Which is why it's important to not step on your crops," she adds pointedly.
"Luckily you didn't do any damage. Anyway...are you going to enter this year? You still can! It's only just started. It's so much fun...and I can teach you what you need to do."
She flops down on her haunches and fixes you with a curious look.
"My name's Abilene, and just so you know, I'm the reigning champion. It would be fun to team up though...unless you mean to try and beat me."
* This option begins the rival path
** This option begins the friend path
"Fat chance, but you're welcome to try. I'm not intimidated by your amateur skills."
She rises to her paws and nods at the growing plants.
"Although, I guess I have to tell you how this works if you're going to be any sort of competition. Not that you will be, but just in case, you know."
She stares you down pointedly.
"I'm thrilled to hear that! I'm just as excited and can't wait to see what you can do when we put our heads together. It's a lot more fun than when you're alone. With our combined knowledge and experience, I'm sure we'll achieve amazing results."
She pauses, as if uncertain.
"Come to think of it, do you actually have any experience? If not, that's fine-I'll be here every step of the way!"
She scratches her ear with a paw before continuing.
"You can buy more seeds from that weird groundhog. The better you get, the more plots you'll have access to choose from. As you garden you'll notice that you may get more seeds from better plants, and sometimes even mutations, too. But I'll let you figure that out on your own."
She taps a paw as if thinking to herself, and brightens as if a light bulb has come on in her brain.
"You can buy more seeds from that nice groundhog. The better you get, the more plots you'll have access to choose from. As you garden you'll notice that you may get more seeds from better plants, and sometimes even mutations, too. But...well, I'll let you figure that out yourself. I can't reveal all of my secrets!"
"I expect a decent attempt to live up to your threat, [NAME]. Come find me when you think you've improved your skills enough to be worth my while. I'll be waiting."
She saunters off without another word, leaving you to test out your new green paws.
"I think you're ready, [NAME]! The first steps are always that hardest, but you'll find it gets easier with time. I have faith in your natural talent. You seem to grasp the idea, and I'm sure you'll develop your own strategy for the best results."
She looks at you, wagging her tail gentle.
"When you grow something, come and show it to me! That way, we can work together to improve things or buckle down on our successful techniques and jump ahead!"
She turns back to her plants with a murmur of farewell.
"All right, let's see how you've done. I bet it took you a long time to reach that level of gardening, didn't it? Not everyone has the green paw."
"You're not even close to my level, but you're good enough for now. But just because you're good at growing them doesn't mean you can grow a lot of them. That takes even more skill. Let's see how you do with a bit more of a challenge this time. Grow 20 crops. Perhaps that will get you stumped, hmm?"
"Did you even try, [NAME]? You've barely made an attempt to improve yourself. At this rate I'll be the champion again this year. Go try again...and again, and yes even again after that until you're a halfway decent gardener."
Frowning, she seems to consider her next words before continuing:
"How are you with numbers? Not as good as me I'm sure, but you can try. Grow at least 20 crops and I'd better not see your dumb face back here until you do."
She turns to you expectantly.
"Well, come to brag about how many crops you've grown, hmm? Let's see if it's really worth bragging about."
"Well, it's a good start, I'll give you that. But you'll have to do better if you want to beat me."
She turns and hovers over her own, seemingly trying to block your view of the number she managed to grow.
"Shame, really, that you only managed to grow this many...not everyone is as talented as I am, of course. Maybe you'll catch up...one day."
She struts back to her crops, taking the time to count each one loudly so that you can hear.
"Oh, hello, [NAME]. I'm just checking on my latest batch of crops. Aren't they lovely? They're winners, for sure."
She sits regally in front of them, eyeing you almost warily.
"Come to check and see if your little crops live up to these? Let's see them, then."
"Yeah, yeah, so you've been working a lot, haven't you? Your skills are better than last time, You'd probably come in second to me, at least."
That's as good as an admission of excellence coming from her.
"Go away now, I'm busy," she snaps, and stalks back to her crops.
"Have you even been trying? Maybe your skills have reached their limit at this point. You're clearly struggling. Well, I might give you some pointers after this is all over, if you ask nicely."
She turns away with a snort and doesn't spare you another glance.
"You won't believe how many competitions my crops have won! I've entered as many as I could, and I of course won all of them."
She puffs her chest out proudly and peers down her nose at you.
"Let's have it, newbie. Did you win anything?"
"That's...well, good, I guess," she mumbles. "You told them who taught you all you know, right? I'm sure that's why you won so much; the judges know me and did you a favor."
With a shrug she turns away, as if unbothered by your recent success. There was a prickly feeling about her, though.
"Off with you. It's time I went back to my own crops and you tend to yours."
"Too bad, [NAME]. I suppose you can't win them when I'm winning them all myself. Chin up, you're still in second place! That's only a step under me. Consider that a victory. I'm unbeatable."
She barks out a laugh and doesn't look your way again as she pads back to her own business. Sheesh! Someone sure is full of herself...
Abilene approaches you with curiosity when you arrive, sniffing around and eyeing your dirty paws.
"Let's see how you've done! I hope you've been working hard, [NAME]. I know it may not seem like it, but it will pay off in the end. Now then..."
"Yes! Well done. An amazing start. Practice makes perfect, and you've done your share haven't you? You are learning fast, my friend. Let's keep it going. I have another challenge for you--grow as many crops as you can! Make sure you get at least 20. I'm sure you'll find this easy. Come show me when you're done!"
"Quality is the most important, but we can't neglect the numbers. Quantity will be judged as well so let me see what you've got there..."
"Oh my, look at this! You have a real talent, you know that? Keep it up and we'll have this thing in the bag!"
"Let me take a closer look... Sometimes things appear fine from a distance, but there might be issues that aren't immediately obvious. Trust me, I've been through this many times before."
"Not a single mistake here. Let me tell you, if this wasn't our work, I'd be really jealous right now. No one can stop us with beautiful crops like these!"
"I know a lot about plants, but in the end, it's not just my opinion that counts. Did you show your crops in any competitions? Did you win?"
"I didn't expect anything less than that, you know. I shared my knowledge, but it's your hard work that led to every single victory. You can be proud, just as I am now."
