The Challenge Factory discussion

You are lost in the wilderness. Predators roam through the forest. Hot days and cold nights will test your strength. High cliffs, rushing rivers, and deep gorges will block your path. Any wrong decision could be your last.

Will you survive? In this challenge you'll make choices that could mean the difference between life and death.

I'll set the scene. You choose which path to follow. Follow the directions at the bottom of each post.

You can begin as soon as you get your thread.

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Read through the scenario.
2. Make your first decision and read one task for that decision. The fourth task will always be "Read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'". You can use or ignore the articles 'A', 'An', or 'The'.
3. Once you complete one of the tasks, post in your thread the following:
Decision:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:

4. The moderator will then post the related decision result story.

Rules:
Books must be at least 140 pages.
Page count for audio books will be determined the first paper version shown on Goodreads. From the book's page, select “all editions”, then select the first paper edition as your guide.

Do you have what it takes to survive in the wilderness? Far from civilization, everything changes. You can't go to the grocery store. If you're hurt, a doctor isn't a phone call away. If you're cold, you can't turn up the heat. Even finding safe water to drink can be a challenge.

Being lost or stranded in the wilderness will test both your strength and your intelligence. How will you find food? How can you get the attention of rescue aircraft? What would you do if you were staring down the jaws of a hungry predator?

It won't be easy, but if you stay calm and make good choices, you might be able to get out alive. Are you ready to find out whether you have what it takes?

Where would you like to start? The Canadian wilderness, the Blue Mountains of Australia, or Germany's Black Forest?

the Blue Mountains of Australia pls!

PrinzessBookDragon wrote: "the Blue Mountains of Australia pls!"

As you wish! (Sorry, Prinzess. Couldn't resist :)

You're deep in the forests of Australia's Blue Mountains, and nobody knows where you are. You were planning to meet your friend Casey at a campsite later for some hardcore biking. First, though, you decided to take a morning ride on your own.

Now you're lost. The interesting little trail that you had been following has disappeared, and you can't find it again.

You're not too worried at first. You have your bike, and you're an expert rider. There's not much terrain you can't handle. But then your front wheel catches a rock. Your bike skids out from under you and you smash to the ground.

You're just scraped and bruised, but the bike is in far worse shape. The front tire is blown out, the chain is snapped, and the rim is bent beyond repair. That leaves you lost and alone with nothing but your feet to carry you. Not good.

You search your backpack and find a first-aid kit. You wipe down your scrapes and bandage them. As you look through your pack, you realize you're in trouble. You have a bottle of water, but no food. You have a small tool kit, a spare inner tube for the bike, emergency matches, and a windbreaker jacket.

With a sigh, you zip up your backpack and start hiking. You head east, knowing that the coast and civilization lie in that direction. After several hours of walking, your stomach is growling.

You know that the Australian wilderness contains many edible plants. But all around you, you can hear a variety of birdcalls. It's nesting seasons, and finding eggs wouldn't be too difficult. But getting them could be dangerous.

To forage for wild plants:
1. read a book with 'forage' in the text of the book
2. read a book with a wild animal in it
3. read a book with only plants on the cover (nothing else)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try to find bird eggs:
1. read a book by an author that is new to you
2. read a book with a bird as part of the story
3. read a book where something is hatched or a baby is born
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Lanelle wrote: "PrinzessBookDragon wrote: "the Blue Mountains of Australia pls!"

As you wish! (Sorry, Prinzess. Couldn't resist :)"

*snicker* cute!

Decision: To try to find bird eggs
Book: Tentacles & Teeth

Author: Rowan Merrick
Date Read: 10.19.22 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5🌟
Task: read a book by an author that is new to you
How it Fits: Rowan Merrick is a new author for me

Birds are plentiful in this area. And you're in luck, since most are in nesting season. You start searching tree branches for signs of a nest. It doesn't take long to spot one sitting about halfway up a eucalyptus tree. It looks sturdy, but you know that climbing in a survival situation is a big risk.

Carefully, you work your way up the tree. You take your time, knowing that a fall here will likely cost you your life. Soon you've reached the branch that holds the nest. But from up here, it doesn't seem like a very broad branch. You don't know if it will hold your weight. You shake the branch, but you're not sure if the eggs would survive the fall. All your work for nothing.

To try shaking the branch:
1. read a book by an author that you've wanted to try
2. read a book about a topic that might shake you
3. read a book that has branched out from the original series
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

54 To move onto the branch toward the nest:
1. read a book where the MC moves to a new location
2. read a book where 'branch' is found in the text of the book
3. read a book with all the letters of NEST is in the title
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

🧀🌟💞📚

Decision: Try shaking the branch
Book: The Casanova

Author: T L Swan
Date Read: 10.25.22 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 /5🌟
Task: read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'
How it Fits: title starts with a T

Prinzess, instead of sending me a message when you're ready for your next tasks, you can wait to make your Completion Post when you've finished reading your book.

Or if you like filling out the Completion Post early and then adding the Date Read date, you can just post a new message saying, "ready for my next tasks' and I'll see the notification.

You don't trust the branch to support your weight. So instead you brace yourself against the tree's sturdy trunk and start to shake the branch. You quickly build a rhythm and soon the branch is moving back and forth and the nest shakes loose from the tree and tumbles to the ground. Success!

You shimmy down the tree and check the nest. Out of a total of five eggs, three are unbroken. They will provide you with much needed protein and energy.

You gather wood and use your emergency matches to start a small fire. Meanwhile you chip a small hole in the top of each egg. The hole will keep the egg from exploding as it cooks. Put put out the fire and place the eggs on the edge of the hot coals. They're cooked within a few minutes. You peel off the shells and munch them down.

With a little food in your belly, you feel ready to keep moving. You move carefully through the thick forest. Soon you come across a small river. You start to follow it downstream. You know that rivers usually lead to civilization.

As you walk alongside the river, you realize that the sun will set soon. You'll have to make camp soon. This side of the river is rocky and rough. You notice a perfect flat location on the far side. The river is not a very big one. You think it's no deeper that waist level, and the current doesn't seem strong here. You decide to cross.

To strip off your clothes before you cross:
1. read a book where the MC is stripped of their rank, power, or property
2. read a book with a bare chest on the cover
3. read a book that is yours (you own it)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To stay dressed for the crossing:
1. read a book where the MC stays in one location during the story
2. read a book where the MC wears a dress
3. read a book with a street or road on the cover
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Lanelle wrote: "Prinzess, instead of sending me a message when you're ready for your next tasks, you can wait to make your Completion Post when you've finished reading your book.

Or if you like filling out the C..."

k, sounds good <3 THANKS

Decision: To strip off your clothes before you cross
Book: Her Big Neighbor

Author: Penny Wylder
Date Read: 10.30.22 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5🌟
Task: read a book with a bare chest on the cover
How it Fits: see above pic

Nights in this region can be chilly, and you don't want to face one with wet clothing. You strip off every bit of clothing and put it all in your pack. You lift the pack above your head and start across.

The water is ice cold. It's also deeper that you expected. Luckily the current isn't powerful, or you'd be swept away. You manage to make it across, but you're shivering badly. You quickly get dressed, gather wood, and start a fire. You need to get warm as soon as possible. You can't afford to get hypothermia out here!

Within a few hours you're snoozing by the fire. Even with its warmth, it's still a long and cold night. But you make it through and you're off again at dawn.

As you continue to follow the river, you hear a faint roaring. Soon you see why - the river tumbles over a sheer cliff. It's one of the area's many waterfalls.

You peer over the cliff and see that it's easily a 50-foot drop. You gasp as you notice something else far in the distance - a road! If you can get down this cliff, you should be able to reach it before sunset.

To climb down the cliff:
1. read a book with a significant character that is a climber (your definition)
2. read a book that is (or could be) on the Directions in Titles list
3. read a book where the MC is known by a shortened version of their given name (cliff - Clifford)
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

To try walking another direction:
1. read a book where the MC walks a lot
2. read another book in a series that you've already started
3. read a book that is (or could be) on the Cardinal Directions in Titles list
4. read a book with a title that begins with 'L', 'O', 'S' or 'T'

Decision:
Book:
--
Author:
Date Read: 11. ?? 🌟/5🌟
Task:
How it Fits:

(view spoiler)[

You know that in a survival situation, climbing is incredibly dangerous. A fall could kill you. Even a sprained ankle could be the end of you. You decide to walk parallel to the cliff and see if there's a better way down.

After several hours of hiking, you're tired and hungry. The cliff still blocks your way, and it's higher than ever. You haven't had water in hours, and you feel dehydration starting to set in.

You force yourself to keep walking. By evening you feel awful. You are severely dehydrated. You curl up and try to get a few hours of sleep, hoping that will help.

But by morning you're completely drained. You're cold and shivering. You try to stand, but the lack of water leaves you lightheaded. You faint, bashing your head against a rock.

You're dimly aware that you're bleeding. But at this point, you no longer really care. The wilderness of the Blue Mountains has beaten you.

(hide spoiler)]

Sorry, Prinzess :(

You have some choices at this point.
1 - stop this challenge
2 - stay in Australia and start over making different decisions
3 - go to another location and read for that place

There may be other choices that I haven't thought of. What do you want to do?

i hadn't finished my book yet lol

PrinzessBookDragon wrote: "i hadn't finished my book yet lol"

Oops. Sorry. Um, you're welcome to change your mind :)

Decision: To try walking another direction:
Book: Three Hard Lessons

Author: Nikki Sloane
Date Read: 12.14.22 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5🌟
Task: read another book in a series that you've already started
How it Fits: This is book 2 in a series I have already started.

You know that in a survival situation, climbing is incredibly dangerous. A fall could kill you. Even a sprained ankle could be the end of you. You decide to walk parallel to the cliff and see if there's a better way down.

After several hours of hiking, you're tired and hungry. The cliff still blocks your way, and it's higher than ever. You haven't had water in hours, and you feel dehydration starting to set in.

You force yourself to keep walking. By evening you feel awful. You are severely dehydrated. You curl up and try to get a few hours of sleep, hoping that will help.

But by morning you're completely drained. You're cold and shivering. You try to stand, but the lack of water leaves you lightheaded. You faint, bashing your head against a rock.

You're dimly aware that you're bleeding. But at this point, you no longer really care. The wilderness of the Blue Mountains has beaten you.

Sorry :(

What do you want to do now?