Your Guide to Trick-or-Treating in the Haunted Woods

     Here are 13 known dangers to keep an eye out for as you explore these dreadful woods, as well as a few tips to maximize your treats and minimize the tricks.

     Esophagor

     RAWRRR! A gaping hole in the ground screams as you wander towards the gates of the Haunted Woods. It gives you quite a fright at first, but when you take a closer look, you spot two glowing red dots staring back at you. The realization dawns: you’ve stumbled upon the infamous Esophagor.

     As you cautiously approach him, the creature bellows, "MUST... EAT..." Don’t worry, he doesn’t mean you (hopefully). He’s just hungry for some spooky food items and wants to send you on a quest. Do not accept, and I repeat, do not accept his quests! This will waste valuable trick-or-treating time.

     Here are a few survival tips: The Esophagor is rooted to the spot, so if you tiptoe carefully around him, you’ll be safe. If a trick-or-treat bag happens to be nearby, grab it quickly while your partner distracts him, maybe with a little dance or some dramatic gestures. He's a curious creature, and will likely take notice. Just don’t let your own curiosity get the better of you for too long, as this beast has to eat something...

     Once you’ve secured your loot, quietly back away and pretend nothing happened. You might still hear a booming "I... AM... STARVING..." echo behind you as you leave, but by then, you’ll be long gone with your treasured goodie bags!

     The Castle of Eliv Thade

     Perched near the entrance of the Haunted Woods, a once grand estate now lies in ruins. The owner was a master of riddles and puzzles who died before he could solve one last, elusive problem. Rumours fly in the Haunted Woods of his lingering spirit. Some say his ghost wanders the castle to this day, still desperately searching for the answer to a long-forgotten riddle.

     His tale is told in hushed tones and careful whispers, even by the frightful denizens of the Haunted Woods. The owner of the Spooky Petpet Shop often reports hearing cackling and nonsensical words echoing from the castle as she locks up in the morning. A local Usul named Gilly even claims to have witnessed him firsthand.

     Dvoia this doomed place if you can! But if you must get close, get your treats and leave quickly, before the shade of Eliv Thade finds you.

     Spooky Petpets

     Ahh, a shop filled with cute, friendly and well-behaved petpets like the Schnelly, Psimouse, and Slymook under the care of the Halloween Cybunny shopkeeper. She keeps them fed, groomed, entertained, and perfectly content, so surely nothing could go wrong...but don’t drop your guard just yet! As you find yourself enchanted by their adorable antics, beware! A notorious, mischievous Petpet lurks among them, waiting for the perfect chance to snatch your candy.

     You guessed it, it’s the Meepit. It’ll chew through your bags (and honestly, anything else) to get to the goods and claim them for itself. Are these little ones really interested in the candies? Not exactly. But are they interested in creating chaos? Absolutely. So, keep a close eye out before you’re swarmed by these deceptively cute Petpets as you reach down to grab the goodie bags and slip out before chaos ensues.

     Brain Tree

     Another iconic Neopian you might stumble upon is the Brain Tree, an ancient tree that has stood tall for as long as Haunted Woods itself. His massive, pulsating brain glows like a lantern in the corner of the Haunted Woods, making him practically impossible to miss. Ever hungry for information, he craves details about the time and place of Neopets’ demise to feed his endless curiosity. Though he bellows loudly, he won’t attack you outright. He’s far too intelligent for that, probably boasting a million IQ points or so. Just offer a polite greeting, make it clear that you’re not there to indulge his morbid thirst for knowledge as you’re only there to collect treats, and continue on your way. A word of caution though, this old tree doesn’t know his size, and he’s prone to swinging his branches while talking. Watch out for those stray, whippy limbs and you should be just fine!

     Stone Dome

     What’s that you hear? Clinks and clanks echo through the air as Neopets clash against some of the most iconic opponents in all of Neopia in this Stonehenge-shaped arena. This place is relatively safe but just be sure to keep an ear out for the cheerful "Fa la la la las" and be ready to dodge the flying Seasonal Attack Peas as they whoosh past, so you can leave without a bruise!

     Edna’s Tower

     The notorious witch Edna loves nothing more than to convince passing travellers to run errands for her. Don’t let her innocent old Zafara act fool you! One wrong step and you’ll be spending your entire Halloween at the marketplace, tracking down potion reagents.

     Take extra caution if something is brewing in her cauldron, as Edna doesn’t seem to have the strongest grip on magic. Any "help" she offers risks you being turned into a Mortog.

     The Deserted Fairground

     A true nightmare for anyone with Neopoints. Forget the ghosts and ghouls, this might be the Haunted Woods at its scariest. Every smile and friendly wave from behind a stall is just a ploy to draw you in. The Cork Gun Gallery and Bagatelle will promise you prizes beyond belief, while games of ability like the Coconut Shy and Test Your Strength might appeal to your Battledome-ready Pet’s bravado.

     Though, you might soon notice that those Gallery prizes seem awfully sturdy or that the Bagatelle board sits just a bit crooked. How is it that your strongest pet can only creak Test Your Strength up a single notch? Why does a solid hit to a coconut only draw laughter from Leeroy?

     It might be a measly few Neopoints per game, but then you miss, and miss, and miss. They urge you to try again. You can't possibly be unlucky so many times in a row! Before you know it, your pockets are empty. These games are not in favour of anyone but their owners. The discerning trick-or-treater should always know when to walk away.

     If you manage to walk through the entire Fairground and still have some cash on hand, you might hear a voice from a lonely corner of the fair...

     Wheel of Misfortune

     This place isn’t dangerous at all or so the looming Shadow assures you, coaxing you to give the wheel just one harmless spin. You think to yourself, well, that’s true... it’s only a spin, right? But once it’s turning, you quickly realize that four out of the eight spaces lead to misfortune such as losing your Neopoints, watching an item dissolve into sludge, or having it stolen by the Pant Devil. The other half aren’t much better, either.

     Before you know it, you’ve been swindled out of your hard-earned NP and valuables by this infamous wheel. You can still collect any treats that might be lurking, of course but just don’t be surprised if you leave a little worse off than when you arrived. So, the advice here is to resist the temptations of the Shadow and don’t give in to the Wheel!

     Carnival of Terror

     Be on your guard if you venture to the edge of the Deserted Fairground. The sound of tinny carnival music will drift through the trees as you leave behind the bustle of the fair. The lights and sounds promise games and rides, but don't be fooled. There are no goodies or treats to be found here, only a remnant of Dr. Sloth himself.

     Mechanical whirring precedes the terrifying Chia Clown Robots that lurk around this once joyous part of the Fairgrounds. That inviting roller coaster? Nothing more than a den for these metallic pests. They ruthlessly attack any intruders with all the antics of a clown. This might be Sloth's idea of a joke, but a pie thrown at terminal velocity is nothing to laugh at. Give this section of the Woods a wide berth to keep yourself, and the night’s spoils, safe and sound.

     Castle Nox

     An imposing castle looms over the Haunted Woods stretching beyond the eerie forest behind the Deserted Fairground. This grand structure serves as the home and the final resting place of Neopia’s most theatrical Chia villain, Hubrid Nox. Just look at the grand self-portrait dominating the main hall, where he strikes a heroic pose beneath a gleaming crescent moon, brandishing a glittering sword. As delightfully cliche as he is villainous, his flair for the dramatic is undeniable.

     In his prime, you might have risked being recruited into his undead army through some sinister sorcery, but these days the castle is mostly deserted. You might still hear the faint echoes of Hubrid’s ghostly laughter or his practical jokes of slinging food items at you, but pay it no attention. Simply collect your goodies if there are any, admire the grand decor, and be on your merry way.

     Grave Danger

     Beneath Neovia lies a winding maze of catacombs. Untold treasures await within this seemingly endless tomb, though they're much too dangerous to retrieve. Curses and hexes abound, placed by cultists who follow a mysterious path. Do not set foot inside yourself! Even your pets are not safe to enter. Let your noble Petpets retrieve any treats found in those halls as you wait safely outside. The curses of the catacombs are useless against these tiny heroes. The cultists also love when you dress them in costume, so try to send in your scariest, most seasoned Petpet. They might even make it back before midnight.

     If you happen across one of the cultists, try to avoid direct eye contact. If eye contact occurs, politely accept any treats, but firmly deny the offered reading material and continue on your way. Do you really want to spend Halloween doing cult on-boarding?

     The Crumpetmonger

     This is quite frankly the nicest-smelling place in all of Neovia. The warm aroma of freshly baked pies, buttery scones, and an array of other delectable treats will draw you in before you even realize it. Unlike the other spots on this list where danger might lurk, here the real risk is falling into a blissful food coma, too dazzled by the many delicious options on the menu to remember you’re still on a trick-or-treating adventure for more treats.

     So get an Apple Strudel on-the-go, take a quick bite of it, savour it, and then quickly leave before the sugar spell takes hold.

     Apple Bobbing

     A Halloween classic, Bart and his cart offer Apple Bobbing year-round in perpetually foggy Neovia. This Gnorbu has obviously taken inspiration from the Wheel of Misfortune, as there are just as many tricks as treats in his apple barrel!

     Those of you brave enough to dance with disaster might come away with a tasty treat to enjoy. While Bart himself seems harmless, members of the Thieves’ Guild have been known to frequent his little slice of the Woods. His lack of attention has also let live Spyders, garbage, and Fyora knows what else builds up in the murky waters of this roadside attraction. If you give Bart’s game a try, you should cross your fingers and choose wisely, as you might bob up more than you bargain for.

     Our Journey Ends Here...

     If you keep these cautions in mind, and don't stay too far from the path, you'll be perfectly fine this Halloween. The Haunted Woods are a strange, but wonderful place. As you gather up your treats, take a moment to appreciate the howls of a distant Werelupe, the flash of a spectre out of the corner of your eye, or the wail of the wind as it whips through the Woods’ shadowy trees. Nowhere else in Neopia can hold a flickering candle to this land when it comes to celebrating the eeriest night of the year.

     Safe travels, dear readers!