Varwolf Mini Plot
The Varwolf mini plot was released on November 26, 2025. It is not time-limited; you can complete it at any time! It is only available to accounts that are at least 3 months old.
This mini plot is not required in order to create a Varwolf. If you simply want to create a Varwolf, either on your main or a side account, skip directly to Step 6 and turn in your completed treasure map. Varwolves can also be created at any time on account with Premium, via the annual species change perk.
Heads up! Because this plot involves earning items, you cannot complete it, or earn the associated avatar, on a
side account. You
can create a Varwolf on your side—skip directly to
Step 6 to learn more.
The avatar is only awarded via successful completion of the plot. This means it is not currently obtainable on side accounts, as portions of this plot involve earning items and completing activities that are prohibited on side accounts.
Step 1: Visit the Scary Cave
Start your journey by visiting the Scary Cave.
Scroll down past the text from Pan Almas, and click the yellow "Yes, I do!" button. You will see a pop-up awarding a Scary Cave Map Piece.
This button will not appear for some players. If it is missing, it will prevent you from being able to claim a Scary Cave Map Piece from Pan, but you can continue to step 2. This will not affect your ability to redeem the map or receive the avatar later on.
Step 2: Visit Other Haunted Woods Locations
Following Pan's instructions, visit these three locations around the Haunted Woods, in any order.
Apple Bobbing
At Apple Bobbing, receive another Scary Cave Map Piece from Bart.
Forgotten Graveyard
At the Forgotten Graveyard, answer the Strange Spectre's question with the word ROT to receive another Scary Cave Map Piece.
Wanderer Camp
At the Wanderer Camp, answer Gilly's question with the word MAP to receive another Scary Cave Map Piece.
Step 3: Return to the Scary Cave
After collecting your free map pieces, return to the Scary Cave for further instruction from Pan.
Pan should now offer up the following dialogue:
"We don't seem to have found all the Map Pieces yet," he muses, "and unfortunately, it seems the trail has run cold. I doubt there are any more clues in here... But, ah, if it's a legend we seek to uncover, perhaps others may have heard whispers of it as well?"
As he speaks, his bushy eyebrows lift and a smile begins to dawn across his face. "Yes, that's it! I'm certain I know of a few knowledgeable Neopians who could help point us in the right direction. It'll be a long journey to go speak with all of them, of course, but anything worth doing is worth a bit of trouble, or something like that."
You ask Pan if there's anyone in particular he's thinking of, and after a moment of consideration, he counts out a list on his claws:
"Well... I used to run with a group of other archaeologists and myth-chasers. They might know something about Haunted Woods Legends. It's been some time since I last brushed tails with them, but last I heard they were investigating some old ruins that popped up in Tyrannia...
"Who else? Oh, there's an old friend of mine in Altador who's always got his beak in a book...
"Speaking of books, libraries and bookshops are always worth 'checking out!' Hoh hoh, a little library humour there...
"But where else would we find learned individuals? Ah, if I recall, I've had some rather pleasant experiences in Brightvale. Some of the wisest Neopians I've ever met have called that kingdom home!
"And surely there are some savvy inhabitants of these very woods. I confess, though, that I'm not acquainted with many. Something about the more, erm, shall we say, 'cerebral' creatures here frightens me a little.
"Neovia, though... I'm a touch more comfortable there, eerie though the perpetual fog can be... But I'm certain that's where we'd be able to find someone knowledgeable about these woods and the creatures that inhabit them.
"Now," Pan says, "Let's go seek out some scholars!"
(Explore Neopia and find someone who might know about legends in the Haunted Woods!)
Step 4: Visit Other Neopian Locations
You will now seek wisdom from other places around Neopia! Visit these locations in any order.
Obelisk
At the Obelisk, answer Sandro's question with the phrase Haunted Woods Legends.
Wise Old King
Visit the Wise Old King to speak with King Hagan and share your wisdom. (What you tell him does not matter).
Altador Archives
Visit the Altadorian Archives to speak with Finneus.
Neovian Printing Press
Visit the Neovian Printing Press to speak with Reginald and Willa to receive another Scary Cave Map Piece.
Brain Tree
Visit the Brain Tree and complete a quest for him! This will require completing two quests for the Esophagor before the Brain Tree's time runs out.
Faerieland Bookshop
At the Faerieland Bookshop, answer Seshatia's question with the phrase Ferment Forager.
Step 5: Collect Map Pieces
After completing the steps so far, you should have either 4 or 5 (not necessarily unique) Scary Cave Map pieces.
Pan's dialogue should now be updated to the following:
Pan's dialogue is not updating for all players! If his dialogue still matches Step 3, regarding visiting the scholars, first make sure you have completed all of Step 4, including the Obelisk step. If your dialogue is still incorrect, complete a second Brain Tree quest. Remember that you can only complete one Brain Tree quest per day. You will need to complete this step in order to receive the avatar.
You make your way back to the Scary Cave once more, wiser than you were before. Pan, exhausted, takes a seat on the ground and mops his brow with a handkerchief. When he's caught his breath, he starts to arrange the Map Pieces the two of you have found in front of him.
"We're making excellent progress, my friend," he says, flattening out some wrinkles in one of the Map Pieces. "But have we made enough? We'll have to examine these Map Pieces more closely, and if we've managed to find them all, then we'll have to put 'em together and turn 'em in. If not..."
Despite the tired droop in his wings, Pan smiles at you. "We'll just have to keep looking, and see if any other Neopians have had any luck! Some may even be willing to sell or trade us what we're missing, if by some stroke they've found it before us."
In order to redeem the map, you will need to obtain any pieces you are missing. They can be purchased or traded from other players, as well as won as potential prizes from Haunted Woods Hunt, the Wheel of Extravagance, and obtained via Random Events.
If you are attempting to create a Varwolf on your side account, you will need to purchase all 9 pieces on your main account, and send them over. You are not permitted to earn your 5 free pieces from the above plot steps, as earning items on side accounts is against the rules.
Step 6: Find the Treasure!
Once you have all nine pieces of the map, you have two choices. You can either navigate directly to the Treasure Maps page, or return to the Scary Cave.
Heads up! It is against the rules to earn items on a
side account. If you want to redeem the map on a side, ensure all pieces are purchased or earned on your main account, and transferred over.
If you choose to return to the Scary Cave, you have two more pathways to redeem your map. You either select the green "Venture deeper into the cave..." button or click the yellow "View My Map Pieces" button.
If you choose to venture deeper, you will be redirected to the Treasure Maps page. If you choose to view your pieces, Pan will then have the following dialogue, after which you will select the green "Complete the Map" button and be redirected to the Treasure Maps page.
My word, it looks like we've collected all the pieces of the Treasure Map!
He exclaims, leaping up into the air and doing a little flip.
Now let's put them all together and examine them a touch more closely.
Regardless of the path you chose, you will end up on the Treasure Maps page, at which point you will need to need to select "Find the Treasure!".
The path through the Scary Cave has been unlocked! Venture in to see what's on the other side...
Step 7: The Hollow Grove
Once you've successfully redeemed your map, you will be directed back to the Scary Cave (yes, again!). Pan's dialogue will show the following:
Pan hovers a few inches off of the floor, wings flapping as he examines the completed Scary Cave Treasure Map.
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, I do believe this map will lead us right through the Scary Cave and out to the other side!" he exclaims. "Ah, we're so close to uncovering the truth behind the legends we've been chasing I can nearly taste it. Come on, then—shall we bring this chapter of Neopian lore to a close?"
Pan's dialogue is not updating for all players! If his dialogue still matches Step 3, regarding visiting the scholars, first make sure you have completed all of Step 4, including the Obelisk step. If your dialogue is still incorrect, complete a second Brain Tree quest. Remember that you can only complete one Brain Tree quest per day. You will need to complete this step in order to receive the avatar.
This time when you click the "Venture deeper into the cave..."button you will be successful and will emerge in a new location: the Hollow Grove.
With the guidance of your completed map, you emerge safely from the Scary Cave. Before you is a large clearing of dead, hollowed-out trees and dens dug into the ground. The fog is dense, and it's hard to see, but you're certain that something is watching you...
You swear you can see something move out of the corner of your eye, but no matter how hard you look you just can't seem to spot it. It doesn't seem malicious, though... Perhaps you could lure it out with something to eat?
You will need to scrounge up an especially delicious meal in order for the Varwolf to appear:
This item can be created at the Cooking Pot using three items available as prizes from the Haunted Woods Hunt, or obtained by purchasing it directly from another player.
Decaying Pumpkin Surprise Recipe
Step 8: Create a Varwolf
With a Decaying Pumpkin Surprise in your inventory, return to the Hollow Grove. This time, you might notice some new friends poking their heads out from behind the trees.
A prompt at the bottom of the page will offer for you to create a Varwolf in exchange for your Decaying Pumpkin Surprise! If you want to make additional Varwolf in the future, you will need to return to the Grove with another Decaying Pumpkin Surprise in your inventory.
By clicking "yes", you will proceed to the adoption screen, where you can pick out your Varwolf's name, gender, and colour.
"Yay, thank you!" the voice says. The air ripples, and all of a sudden, a Neopet appears! Their large ears flatten against their head and they give you a big, wide, sabre-toothed smile before they dive in to devour your Decaying Pumpkin Surprise.
When they're done, they look up. "That was so good!" they say. "Thanks again for the meal. By the way, I'm a Varwolf. Did you come from outside the Hollow Grove? I've never met anyone not from here before... I bet there's a whole wide world out there I've never seen. If you're leaving, is it okay if I come with you?"
You nod your head and tell them yes. "Hooray!" the Varwolf cheers. And just like that, your new friend bounds around you in a circle, laughing and wagging their tail and shaking out their fur. They disappear every time their fur fluffs out, so you'd better come up with a name to call them in case you ever lose sight of them!
Avatar
After creating your Varwolf, a pop-up will appear, and you should receive the following avatar if you completed all necessary steps of the plot. If you are creating your Varwolf on a side account, you will not, and cannot, receive this avatar.
As your new friend starts to run in excited circles, jumping up and pawing affectionately at you, Pan looks on with a beaming smile on his face.
"Well, what do you know," he begins, "it turns out the legends of invisible creatures in the Haunted Woods were true—but who would have guessed they were actually a whole new species of Neopet?"
He laughs heartily and flies over to you, clapping you on the shoulder. "My friend, it seems we have come to the end of our journey. It's been great fun, and I couldn't think of a better companion to have been by my side on this adventure."
You concur. But what about the Hollow Grove? It's been hidden for so long; does Pan have any plans to reveal its existence to the rest of Neopia?
"I think not," Pan says once you ask him. "I can see how shy most of these Varwolves are, and the fact that they've remained the stuff of rumours and ghost stories for so long without being discovered is proof enough to me that they'd rather not be intruded upon. Perhaps other Neopians will stumble into this grove some day, but I think for now, it's best we keep its location a secret."
He winks at you, and you wink back. Your new Varwolf friend smiles up at him, and together, the three of you leave the Hollow Grove.
Congratulations on discovering the secrets of the Hollow Grove!
You have received:
A Secret Avatar!
This avatar did not appear to be activated until mid-day on November 29, 2025. If your Varwolf was created between November 26th and 29th, 2025 and you did not receive the avatar, revisiting the Hollow Grove should trigger the pop-up.
Glitched! Users are currently reporting that the avatar will not award if your plot did not show the correct dialogue during earlier steps. If Pan's dialogue at the
Scary Cave still shows the dialogue from
Step 3 about visiting the scholars, complete a second Brain Tree quest to advance the dialogue.
Once your dialogue is corrected, revisiting the Hollow Grove should trigger the pop-up.
Premium Prize
Users with an active Premium subscription will also receive a Howling Varwolf Background after creating their Varwolf. Users without Premium will be prompted to subscribe and return to the page to redeem it.
New Account Restriction
Your account must be at least 3 months old to participate in the Varwolf Mini Plot.
This page was written by noileh & Kenny and last updated on March 2, 2026.
