TDM #8 - Harvest Havoc! [REPRINT]

[pumpkinhollow]

Pumpkin Hollow Gazette: October Issue

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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!

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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

[stalkholmed]

"Seven's still a really long time, dude. But hey, we're both out now! Gotta make the most of it, right?" Johnny smiles; it's not a conversation for on the sidewalk but maybe after a drink or two, they could get into the real shit.

"Yeah, I've heard it gets dangerous after dark... I don't think I need to be carried just yet, but uh. If I could hold onto your arm, maybe?" It still feels awkward to ask that from a stranger, but-- well, he offered first.

[maximumcake]

"Right. Believe me, I am. Being a baker is all I ever wanted to do when I grew up, and now I run the bakery. I'm doing so much better." He's being utterly sincere. His life, since he came to this island, has been the best he's ever had.

"Sure. No problem at all. If it makes you feel a little less awkward about it, I have a very good friend named Helena who is blind and uses a cane. I offer the same to her when she needs it, too. It's not a big deal. I like helping where I can. I can put you in touch with her, if you want?"

Max figures that Helena would have the best tips for getting around and navigating the sightless world here. And, maybe it would be nice to know they aren't alone.

[stalkholmed]

"That's awesome, man. I-- yeah, I have no idea what I want to do, really. So figuring that out is step one." Johnny's honestly a little envious-- he wishes he had something clear like that, a goal, something he always wanted to do with his life. He couldn't even figure it out enough to pick a major in college before Ralph took him.

He takes Max's arm (damn, he's beefed! Well, he is a baker, and it's not like they have stand mixers in Victorian times), letting him lead them back to the inn. "Sure, I like meeting new people. I didn't really get the chance to like... connect with any other blind folks before coming here, so... that's good too."

[maximumcake]

"If you only just got out of that basement then... maybe give yourself some time to adjust to things. There's no hurry. I've been free for close to three years now." He wasn't anything near as well put-together in those first few months of freedom. He can remember how overwhelming literally everything felt before. Even picking breakfast in the morning.

He walks them back to the inn at a slow and steady pace, still happily chatting, "I'll be sure to introduce you to her, and to everyone else I know. You should meet my two girlfriends, Valdis and Ylva. They are both wonderful. Here, we're at the door, let me hold it for you. There's a half step up to get inside." Wood creaks and then a subtle whoosh as the air pressure changes. Inside the inn is warm and filled with inviting smells of food and drink. The wood fired are all lit as well.

"After you."

[stalkholmed]

"I-- guess there's not any hurry." That he hadn't even considered that before is apparent in his voice. Before he came here, Johnny hadn't known if the world was going to end the very next day, or any other day following it. He'd been determined to make the most of things even if it did, but... it did put more of a time pressure on things.

He really can give himself time to adjust here.

His mind spins its wheels processing that as they walk, so he's a little quieter as Max chats on, but he's listening, head tilted in interest and a faint smile on his lips. "Two girlfriends? Is this a poly kinda situation?" He's sure hoping so, especially since Max has seemed like such a stand-up guy so far. He mutters a thanks as Max helps him get himself through the door to the inn, the scents and warmth of it growing more familiar to him by the day. "Any open tables?"

[maximumcake]

Max knows that tone when he hears it. He just blew this guy's mind a little bit. Bound to happen when everything is so different from before. It's a little strange to be standing on the other side of it, now that Max thinks about it.

"It is, yeah. Kind of. Ylva and Valdis aren't also intimate with each other but they can also have other people they're with besides me. It's an open relationship so no need to worry, I promise." It also means Max, despite having two girlfriends, is still very much available to others too as long as they can share.

"Yep," he says, taking Johnny gently by the hand. "I see one just to the right of the door here, it's against the wall. Let me take you. It's a little bit cramped in here."

[stalkholmed]

"That's cool. I knew that's a thing people did, but never met anyone who was actually making it work before." Yeah, Johnny can easily see how a sweet guy like this ends up with multiple partners. "Sure, go ahead." Johnny gives her permission to be led to the table, and it's kinda nice to have his back to a wall. It's easier to figure out where he is in the room that way, and the instinctual sense of security is nothing to sneeze at.

He rests his cane against the wall, stretching his legs out under the table with a grunt of discomfort. The promise of fresh baked goods is a good distraction from it, though. "I am so ready to find out if those croissants taste as good as they smell."

[maximumcake]

"It's not for everyone, that's for sure, but there are a surprisingly large number of us here that it really is working for," Max answers proudly, "Maybe because this town doesn't really have any bias about it." In fact, it seems like more and more of the new arrivals are opening up to the idea themselves after arriving here--like John Rambo, who asked Max about it in hopes of seeing if it could work for him, too.

Max carefully guides them both to the table and waits to say more until Johnny looks good and situated. There isn't much to it, just rough wood pockmarked from years of tankards being slammed too hard on the surface.

"May I ask a little more about what's going on with your health? I don't want to be nosy so you can tell me to mind my own business if you want." Sorry, Johnny, but at least there is still bread.

"I'll signal the waiter to brings us plates and some drinks to go with them." There's a rustle of fabric as he lifts his hand. He used to work here so he has good non-verbal communication with the staff. The cute blond serving them tonight nods from all the way across the room and goes to the cupboard to grab them utensils immediately.

cw: discussions of prolonged captivity, implied disordered eating, oh boy we're getting into it now

[stalkholmed]

Somehow he's not surprised at Max's line of questioning. "Oh, uh... I don't mind. Just, y'know. It's not a pleasant story, obviously. I've avoided talking about the details with people for the most part, 'cause... don't wanna freak out someone I just met, y'know?" And, truthfully, he doesn't want to have to explain why he still feels so much sympathy for Ralph, why he's still mourning him. But he already knows Max has been through something pretty similar. If there's anyone he can talk to about it, it'd have to be him, right? "Kinda hard to talk about my health without what happened to me coming up in some way, though."

Johnny waits until the clink of drinks and plates being set on the table comes, and the sound of the waiter's footsteps fade into the general noise of the tavern. "...I guess I'll start with the legs. Muscle atrophy." That's usually where he stops for his explanation. "For the first eight years I was being held hostage, it was uh. In a big dog crate. Really fucked up my legs." He pauses to take a long drink and shove some of the croissant into his mouth before he loses his appetite. It's a finicky thing, has been for years now. "
Damn, that's some good bread. It's during the last two years that he let me out, and-- he helped me regain my strength, enough that I can stand and walk around on my own now. Except for the-- keeping me hostage in the first place, and the sacrifices, Ralph... really did try to take good care of me. I know that sounds insane, like I'm just-- coping or something, but it's true."

cw: discussions of prolonged captivity, implied disordered eating cont.

[maximumcake]

"Yeah, I get that," Max answers with warm understanding. Max sometimes still dreads getting into his past with new people for similar reasons.

He busies himself distributing their snacks while the waiter pours some water. Said waiter was kind enough to bring some butter over, as well, "on the house" as he explained in the most coy of tones. Max does his best to stuff down some of the embarrassment at this poor timing. Flirting while his new friend confesses seems... wrong.

"Oh... wow," He's really trying not to be one of those people to immediately leap to shock and horror, even though that really is horrifying. Watching Johnny enjoy the croissant during this does actually help. If he can still find the joy in things, then he'll be okay. He just needs time and someone to help, right?

"To most people, yeah, that's going to sound insane. For me, I guess what I really want to know is... why he kept you like that for so long in the first place? He had a reason, right?"

[stalkholmed]

The flirtatious tone of the waiter definitely implies that Max is as attractive as Johnny had sort of assumed he was; honestly, the break in tension is a little funny, though maybe he just has a strange sense of humor anymore.

"Yeah... he did. Buckle up for this, it's-- weird. But I guess people here are used to certain kinds of weird. Ralph was... chosen, I guess, by the God of the world I come from. And this God, Zimforth-- ridiculous name, I know-- he demanded a human sacrifice once a year, or he would end the world. And Ralph had to be the one to carry it out. I think-- it being so awful for him to have to do was part of it for Zimforth. He was told who his target was each year, and had to-- to grab them, and do this horrible ritual." Well, there goes the appetite. "All to save the fucking world, and no one could ever know, because-- well, they'd obviously think he was a delusional killer. And then they'd stop him, and the world would end." He picks one of the croissants into smaller and smaller pieces. "I wasn't one of his targets. I just... happened to notice him. Remember his name. Apparently no one else did, and he relied on that to... do what he had to. I think he panicked, and-- well, how can he trust the guy he kidnapped and locked in a cage to not tell anyone about that, no matter how much he promises he won't? He was so... sad and apologetic the whole time, no matter what I did or said to him. That just made me even angrier at him for a while." He sighs. "But the anger burned out eventually. It was obvious he wanted to... try and make up for it in whatever ways he could. He just... wasn't really able to be a whole person himself, so... how could he understand what another one needed to thrive?"

There is a pause, and he smiles apologetically. "Sorry. I warned you it was a lot."

[maximumcake]

Is it weird? Yes. But Max doesn't doubt a single word. Look where he is, where he's been, and where his friends are all from. This could easily line up with half a dozen other stories he's heard--minus the long-term kidnapping. (Actually... maybe not even minus that.) His benchmark for weird is, apparently, somewhere on planet Mars.

"It's horrible," Max says, sadly, after a few seconds of mulling it over. His appetite is gone too, and he's glad Johnny can't see how pale his face is in this candlelight. "But I believe you. I couldn't... couldn't imagine feeling responsible for the whole world. I wish it didn't have to be like that for either of you. But, like... I do get it. I was the same way with Erik at first. He didn't keep me in a cage, though. I was a lot better off than that." The stakes were much lower, too, he reminds himself. He'll have to keep reminding himself every time outrage tries to take over. It was to save the world! That has to mean more.

"After so long... what convinced him to let you out of the cage?"