TDM #8 - Harvest Havoc! [REPRINT]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette: October Issue

We ask that all toplevels include the age of the character (or at least a rough estimate) for TDM posts, to ensure that players both old and new can quickly make informed decisions about how to interact with a given character. We also ask that if someone lists a prompt as having an age preference, that it be respected. This is specifically for TDMs unless otherwise stated. Thank you! [Our Plain Text version is available here!]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette

9/19/24 | TDM #9 - Harvest Havoc! [Reprint]
Weather Forecast: Detailed report within!

WELCOME TO PUMPKIN HOLLOW

By Yorick Aberdeen

The crop for which the town is named.

TOWNWIDE - Hello and welcome, one and all! As time marches on and the ferry continues bringing newcomers to our fair land, we start our newest edition of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette with a warm welcome to anyone who has just made landfall in our accursed but cozy little town. It’s autumn, which means you’ll be just in time to join us for festive fall affairs such as Pumpkinfest and the Dance of Celestine! And we are predicting with 87% certainty that they will not go horrifically wrong in psychologically traumatic ways, per the recent numbers provided by the Pumpkin Hollow Board of Safety.

We invite you, as with all those who came before you, to enjoy your stay at the Oak & Iron tavern inn while you settle in. Please stop by Town Hall to discuss opportunities for work and more permanent housing! All newcomers get 100 Brass in their pocket upon arrival as well, so we encourage you to take advantage of this as well. Reach out to your neighbors for help if you need it, and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Pumpkin Hollow Gazette whenever you need the local news!

WHO’S HUNGRY? AUTUMN HARVEST SEASON BEGINS!

By Timothy Stoker

A brief glimpse into the orchards of Starr Farms.

NORTHWEST HOLLOW (Farmlands) - Each season has its own unique charms, but few will argue the fact that fall is, without a doubt, the best season for food. And that’s never more true than when you’re living in a town with home-grown feasts finding their way from a local farm right to your table. Over the course of this year, Pumpkin Hollow’s farmers have been hard at work to provide for the town, and these next couple of months are when we’ll be seeing the payoff of their efforts here in town.

Due to high demand, it’s recommended you get your pumpkins early! They’re in no short supply, of course, being Pumpkin Hollow’s most iconic and abundant crop, but trust us when we say you’ll want to beat the rush for Pumpkinfest. There is a fantastic selection of pumpkins for carving and for cooking available at the market.

Last but not least, Pumpkin Hollow now has its very own u-pick apple orchard! The Mr. Mime of the former owners of Starr Farms, who were called back to the ferry some months prior, has turned their apple orchard into a lovely community feature with some help from friends and neighbors. For a small donation of wild berries for the little guy running the place, you can get yourself a hefty bag of fresh apples picked right from the tree by your own hands, including the first crop of “ghost apples” developed specially by the orchard. These pure white apples are said to be super sweet, great for eating raw or for juicing, and might even make you feel a little spooky.

Check the community bulletin or the information boards by the farm for apple schedules. Great as an outing with friends, as a date, or just as a way to get yourself some pie ingredients!

OCTOBER WEATHER FORECAST

By Phil Connors

A calm night after a long day's storm.

MARROW ISLE - We're finally getting a break from the heat waves, folks! The temperature is beginning to drop. Expect some chilly, foggy mornings, especially further into the season. That's when we could even start seeing frost on the ground. Don't put those umbrellas away just yet: the thunder might be done, but the rain isn't, and it can come on fast. Don't let it into your house. It just wants to sell you something.

SPECTRAL VISITORS RETURN WITH PLUS-ONES

By Cecil Gershwin Palmer

Strange, easily-befriendable creatures of all shapes and sizes!

LOCKWOOD FOREST - Making their repeat visit from their ghostly homelands, the spirits that visited us this time last year from Lockwood Forest--- the very same that have become near and dear friends to so many people in our town--- have returned! During this new stay in our forests, however, they've decided to bring along companions of their own. These new creatures, though distinctly more tangible, are not only just as mischievous as their counterparts, but are more emboldened to cause mild to moderate havoc in town, including thievery from our force of intrepid reporters. The little gem-eyed rascal that pilfered this reporter’s preferred pen remains at large.

The Gazette reminds residents that while these little guys are exceedingly cute, just so very cute, we do recommend an abundance of caution, an awareness of one's surroundings, and a keen eye on anything that you would like to have continued ownership of. They have also been known to cause collateral damage to their surroundings and to each other, via setting things on fire. Or crushing them under rocks. Or freezing them in ice. Or hurling shadowy orbs at them. Or shooting leaves at them. Or casting psychic spells.

RESIDENTS WARNED AGAINST WOODLAND TRAVEL AFTER REPORTS OF WOLF ATTACKS

By Yorick Aberdeen

A photograph of the animals taken in prior years.

LOCKWOOD FOREST - Though there are many delightful visitors in our midst during these fall months, the changing of the seasons hasn't come without the anticipated perils. This year, it seems as though the wolf population of Marrow Island has increased dramatically - not only that, but they've become quite aggressive, and have begun seeking out those who go deep enough into Lockwood Forest. First-hand reports have mentioned that the wolf population this year is not only larger in number, but also in size, and have a few somewhat-odd mannerisms, but seem to be otherwise entirely normal wolves.

For the time being, Town Hall has advised for most of our townsfolk to steer clear from any forest strolls beyond the edge of the woods, and for the farmers of Northwest Hollow to exercise caution on the forested edge of their land. Additionally, Town Hall would like to request the assistance of any adventurers to attempt to push back the wolves. Adventuring parties who are successful in doing so will be rewarded with free food and drink during this year's Pumpkinfest as thanks for their tireless work to keep our community safe!

DISCOUNT DRINKS FOR OPEN MIC NIGHT: NOW WITH REAL MICS!

By Timothy Stoker

The lovely interior of the Empty Pockets Music Lounge.

DOWNTOWN HOLLOW (Empty Pockets Music Lounge) - After a great deal of confusion between locals and newcomers about the use of the phrase “open mic” to describe their “volunteer performer nights” at the local music lounge, Empty Pockets is pleased to announce the addition of new equipment for their stage! Through a collaboration with offworlders to create drawings of what a “microphone” ought to look like and a commission project with local engineers, we have now officially reinvented the microphone for use in Pumpkin Hollow. The local music scene is a flurry of excitement about this development--- local luthier Juniper Sweetwater already has expressed an interest in electric guitars and amplifiers. Seems like music and electricity will be getting a big boom here in town!

In the meantime, owner Dottie Siward has announced that drinks will be 30% off during open mic nights in celebration for a limited time! Check out the Empty Pockets Music Lounge any Friday or Saturday evening during the fall to take advantage of a little liquid courage, and hey, maybe put yourself out there. Could you be Pumpkin Hollow’s next big thing? You never know!

Page 1

code

Further Details...

Pokémon

Befriendable Pokemon make their semi-annual return! For the fall season, we will be seeing Dark and Ghost type Pokemon (with the exception of legendary Pokemon) in the forest that can be befriended up until this TDM leaves circulation in early December. Any character can have up to six Pokemon friends, and pre-evolutions of Dark and Ghost types that don’t have the correct type yet are also obtainable. (ex. Sprigatito, who can later evolve into a Dark/Grass Meowscarada.) We do not have Pokeballs in Pumpkin Hollow, but enough snacks or attention should be enough to get one to follow you home! Any Pokemon that have not chosen a friend to stay with will leave the island at the end of November.

Wolves

The wolves mentioned by Yorick are, contrary to his assertions, not normal wolves. They are actually monstrous creatures from another world known as Balverines, who were once people. The Wiki entry for Balverines can be found here, but we'll summarize them down below as well! While werewolf-like in many respects, there are several key differences. Balverines can change at any time, night or day, regardless of the status of the moon. Commonly when first turned, a person will become a “lesser” Balverine who will transform by force every night after dark and lose all sense of self to the urge for bloodlust. However, with training and practice, that person can eventually become a “greater” Balverine, capable of controlling their transformations and retaining their faculties. This “greater” status can also be achieved automatically if the person is changed within the hour of midnight. Additionally, if the victim is infected at midnight during a full moon, they can become an exceptionally powerful White Balverine, marked by a pallid coat of wiry fur. Infection occurs when a person is bitten by a Balverine while still alive. Dying to a Balverine bite or being struck with claws, which are more likely to happen during an encounter, do not cause a transformation. Existing greater Balverines do not intend to make many conversions to their fold, and lesser Balverines will generally only do this by accident, so actually acquiring the infection is quite rare. However, if this does happen, it can be cured by having silver placed inside the body, either via insertion (like with a weapon) or ingestion (such as swallowing silver shavings). Doing so is exceptionally painful and may result in death, but dying to any other means will not rid you of the curse. However, you may wish to stay a Balverine once the greater status is achieved, as Balverines are exceptionally powerful creatures. Things to consider! As previously mentioned, Balverines primarily fight with their strong arms and long claws with the occasional bite or lunge. They are also capable of jumping so high in the air that they remain airborne for several seconds and often use this ability to travel quickly or get behind enemies. They have incredibly thick skin and are challenging to kill without silver. They also tend to hide until they can lure prey into an ambush unless pushed to defend themselves. On very infrequent occasions, they may come into town to terrorize folks, but they will largely be attempting to get the jump on people who have gone into the woods. They prefer to keep their presence subtle and are also not necessarily accosting everyone who gets near. Good luck if you plan to fight them!

Open Mic Night

Drinks at Empty Pockets can be handwaved for costs--- existing players can consider it part of their grocery budget, and test driving characters can just not worry about it. This prompt is just for funsies.

In addition to all of the above, feel free to mine last year's Pumpkinfest post for prompts! Have a happy harvest, and may your lanterns ever be bright!

Comments

[ghostbullet]

"Uh— pint of Cider for me, thanks. I assume that's an option." Whole separate world, and all, but if there's a word for it in the local language they're apparently speaking and Watson can ask for an ale she assumes the availabilities aren't that different. "I guess some of you have been here a long time, if you've you know, settled enough to have partners and stuff."

It should be noted that this is coming from someone on the 'took literal years to start dating the girl she had a bit of a crush on' end of the spectrum.

[lightconductor]

"A cider, then," he repeats, and when the bartender brings it, he slides hers across the counter towards her.

"It's been roughly a year, for me," Watson says, as though this were not coming from someone who proposed to his wife after about three days. "And there are those who have been here longer yet." He sips his own drink. "I suspect most of us find a source of comfort in companionship, here."

[ghostbullet]

Melanie does give a quick 'thanks', when she gets the drink.

"Seems— complicated?" For lack of a better word. She takes a drink from her own glass. "I mean, with everyone being from different times and worlds and all that stuff. I had a hard enough time dating without all this in the mix."

[lightconductor]

"It is certainly complicated," Watson says, with a soft laugh. "And yet... well, I believe there is something to be said for having someone to go back home to after your commute is interrupted by a monstrous spider."

[ghostbullet]

Melanie lets out a laugh. "You know what, I can understand that. Georgie's place was... a welcome reprieve from the weird stuff at work. We even had monstrous spiders. Or... spider monsters. I think there's a difference."

[lightconductor]

"I'm sure there is a difference, though what the specifics might be, I'm sure I don't know. We might also have both."

He laughs, sardonically, into his drink.

[ghostbullet]

"Well our spider monster was also just... a woman filled with spider webs who really liked manipulating people? Like, supernaturally. Seriously, my job was..." she blows air and drinks.

[lightconductor]

He makes a face, and a small, uncomfortable sound -- if not in part because it comes a bit close to his experiences being a Hollow Man. "I had not considered that possibility. Your former position sounds quite difficult, I must say."

[ghostbullet]

"It was the pits," she says frankly, because it really was. "We dealt with a lot of stuff like that. Monsters swanned in and out like they owned the place."

Beat.

"Which I guess some of them sort of did."

[lightconductor]

"Did they? I would think that to be a rather complex situation. Employers or landlords?"

Once, this would have been a ridiculous question to him.

[ghostbullet]

"Employers. Though Elias might have owned the building?" She shakes her head, she doesn't know how ownership of a stronghold of an eldritch being that is also just a normal place of employment for a lot of academics works. "Anyway, yeah, our bosses were literal monsters. One of them used to vanish employees into the void or... something."

It was a really shitty place to work.

[lightconductor]

"In case the threat of the loss of wages were not severe enough," Watson grumbles. "Hm. I suppose it is worth mentioning before you discover it yourself that there are any number of individuals here who are not human, but are certainly not monsters. If you haven't run into any of them yourself, yet, don't be startled when you do."

[ghostbullet]

Melanie exhales. "Right, I suppose that makes sense. I guess I might not even notice if they don't tell me. For all I know even you could have the head of a fly or something."

She's pretty sure he doesn't, he seems so... normal, in a way that's actually rather comforting after everything, but the point stands.

"But anyway, I'll do my best not to be startled, then. I mean, I was sort of friends with a different monster back home, so."

Being on decent terms with non-humans who don't want to kill her or eat her trauma isn't entirely foreign to her.

[lightconductor]

Watson chuckles. "I am quite human, I assure you. It was rather a shock to me at first. I think I've adjusted quite well. I only knew the human sort of monsters before I came here, so you have an advantage on me."

[ghostbullet]

"For some definitions of advantage. No, I mean— Daisy was mostly cool. If the non-humans and/or monsters around here can also be mostly cool, then we're cool."

...now she's said cool too many times. She shakes her head. "Can't imagine adjusting to all this without already being aware of things that go bump in the night, honestly."

[lightconductor]

"If I must be honest, there is something unsettling about meeting people who come from a world familiar to me, and yet they have tales of things I would call impossible. Oh, certainly people perform their seances and talk of the occult, but every so-called 'devil' I've encountered has had a mortal agent."

Watson lets out a small, sardonic laugh. "I hate to think I was so unobservant as that."

[ghostbullet]

"Y'know, on the other side of the coin I actually like the idea that there's worlds mostly the same as mine without the supernatural stuff. In mine, it's all bad news. Better that there's Earths without that."

The dramatic irony of her saying this given opinions she'll later hold about the Fears ending up in other universes is entirely lost on her.

[lightconductor]

"Different versions of the same world," Watson muses. "What a strange thought, that there are other Londons from the one I know. I encountered a hell hound, once. It was a large, vicious dog painted with phosphorus. In another reality..."

He trails off, unsure how to finish that thought.

[ghostbullet]

"In mine it probably would have been an actual hell hound. Or... close enough," Melanie finishes frankly. She's not sure her world has such thing as heaven and hell, but the Fears definitely borrow aesthetics. "Most people still never encounter that stuff, at least? Like, most people just live normal shitty lives instead of supernaturally shitty lives."

[lightconductor]

"Well," Watson says with a helpless laugh, "there, at least, our worlds are identical."

It's one of the more unfortunate things to be a commonality.

"To be perfectly honest, I can't say that the false hell hound was exactly a common occurrence, either."

[ghostbullet]

"Yeah, that does seem like a rather one-of-a-kind encounter," Melanie says with a furrowed expression. "Why did someone paint a dog with phosphorous and pass it off as a hell hound, exactly?"

[lightconductor]

"Oh, it's a grand story, if I can ever get it written down properly." Watson is entirely incapable of hiding his enjoyment of this topic, in either expression or voice. He practically sparkles. "There was a local legend about a hell hound that haunted the descendants a wicked lord, and his descendants were also in possession of a very large estate. People will do some quite astonishing things for a chance at so great a fortune."

[ghostbullet]

"Huh." Melanie drinks, wipes her mouth. "Yeah, that sounds like the kind of weird family curse rich families love to talk about. So someone was using the fake hell hound to spook the family or something?"

cw: mention of death/murder/abuse

[lightconductor]

"An unknown son of the black sheep of the family," Watson says, enjoying himself, "living under an assumed name, working on removing those between him and the fortune. The lord of the manor suffered from heart disease, and was inclined to be superstitious, so his death was easily ruled to be natural causes. The heir, his nephew, found himself the next target."

He takes a sip of his drink. "You may be pleased to know that the culprit, when we thwarted his plan, fled off into a nigh-impassable mire on a foggy night, unknowing that his wife -- who, incidentally, he treated abominably -- had pulled up the markers that showed where one could pass safely. I think he made his own fate, there."

[ghostbullet]

Melanie listens keenly and whistles low with the ending. "Well, damn. Good for her, honestly. That's a convenient way to get shot of a your murdering, arsehole husband."