![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pumpkinhollow2025-08-02 08:29 pmEntry tags:
Monthly Plotting Post | August/September
Monthly Plotting Post | Aug & Sept
Hey, everyone! Happy August! Things have been both crazy and slow around here because adult life remains incredibly weird. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m looking forward to getting back to full steam now that this stupid heat is finally moving on. We’ve got some pretty exciting stuff on the docket for these coming months, so this time around I’ll be doing a 2-for-1 plotting post so we can all strategize as far in advance as possible.
Also, just a final reminder that items from the Interdimensional Flea Market will no longer be available for purchase after August, so please get those purchases in!
Alright, there’s a lot of ground to cover, so without further ado, let’s get into it!
Which also means our autumn TDM is right around the corner. Pokemon types will be changing--- September, October, and November will feature Ghost, Dark, Flying, Electric, and Poison type Pokemon available for befriending! As usual, our spooky suggestion box is open for TDM prompt ideas, or just inspo! What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors in the fall? What’s the best Halloween decoration display you’ve ever seen? What’s a story, image, or piece of media that freaked you out lately? We love your input!
And of course we’ll have plenty of our own Halloween tricks and Autumnal treats in store! And of course, as with the other goddesses, Celestine will be here to visit during the TDM. Stay tuned for surprises!
Mendel, the Prince of Fools, was the first demon royal to perish due to Aster’s machination, as well as the one to reveal Dahlia’s true nature as his niece. This wicked jester held domain over madness, lies, and cruel trickery, and while he did not survive the infamous gala, one of his court members did. A face-changing theatrical puppet called Seemingly, whose voice, personality, and gender swap with their faces, remains at large--- and they have a bone to pick with all of you. Especially you, Jonathan Sims.
An elaborate music box is placed in the town square, playing a tune and ticking away. At each week-long interval, a new mask slots into place on the front, representing one of Seemingly’s four faces. Each week, there will be a new affliction making havoc on Marrow Isle--- and a new opportunity to help end the nightmare. Four pairs/groups will be selected to brave the danger and collect one of the keys to unlock the music box, whether on purpose or by happenstance. Efforts to unlock the music box are being led by Jon Sims, who has a long-standing beef with Seemingly and is eager to see them defeated at long last.
The structure of this event is such that it expands and changes each week, representing four separate mini events that make up the larger one, then finally a last push by Jon to take Seemingly down directly once the music box that’s shielding them is opened. The event will launch on August 9th--- but only with the text for the first week! It will update each Saturday evening with the next week’s events.
We’d like to keep as much of the specifics of the event a surprise as possible, but we can tell you up front that each week will feature a new (super)natural disaster with terrifying side effects!
Here’s a brief sneak peek:
Burning Wrath - based on Seemingly’s Wrath face, an intense heatwave that can reach lethal heights and has strange effects on exposed bodies.
Twisting Wind - based on Seemingly’s Twist face, galeforce winds howl through the town, whispering memories, regrets, temptations, and fears… and possibly taking parts of your house along.
Gleeful Tidings - based on Seemingly’s Glee mask, flash floods rip through town from the Paring River down to Tawny Beach, with water so dark that it’s hard to tell what tricks hide underneath.
Hollow Chill - based on Seemingly’s Hollow mask, a cold snap that kills the summer heat with a miniature winter, freezing over all that wet ground, and plenty more besides.
All of these will have opt-outs of some variety, so feel free to sit out parts of the event that aren’t to your taste or handwave whatever you need to in order to manage your thread load. Anyone can sign up to be a part of the teams acquiring keys, but please refrain from volunteering if you don’t believe you could be expected to complete the thread before the start of the next event (Sept 20). I’m going to be working hard to make sure that my plot-vital threads are done before then, too!
It will function with similar rules. Each character can have up to two visitors from their homeworld, living or dead. These guests can be played by you (either from the associated character’s journal or a custom one) or by another player on your behalf. You can even invite non-member players to play that character for the event with moderator approval! For this event, characters will be here for the weekend ICly--- the Saturday of the party and the Sunday after.
Since this event is less intended to inspire deliberate chaos than its predecessor, you are under no obligation to have your visiting characters be more honest than usual about your regular characters’ history. However, this is still a working of Eligos, so feel free to include that if you like. After all, what is a fancy gala without some interpersonal drama? Let’s get this thing as messy as it is glamorous and turn Dahlia’s birthday into a Jane Austen novel in the absence of any spookies! Don’t worry, with October right around the corner, we’ll be right back in horror territory in no time!
The plotting post is a great place for prepping which visitors you'll have for which characters and keeping a reference list, so please feel free to make use of it!
SUMMER & FALL TDMs
June-Aug & Sept-Nov
There’s one more month of our summer TDM! If you were planning to do any more shipwreck dives now’s your chance to get them in!Which also means our autumn TDM is right around the corner. Pokemon types will be changing--- September, October, and November will feature Ghost, Dark, Flying, Electric, and Poison type Pokemon available for befriending! As usual, our spooky suggestion box is open for TDM prompt ideas, or just inspo! What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors in the fall? What’s the best Halloween decoration display you’ve ever seen? What’s a story, image, or piece of media that freaked you out lately? We love your input!
And of course we’ll have plenty of our own Halloween tricks and Autumnal treats in store! And of course, as with the other goddesses, Celestine will be here to visit during the TDM. Stay tuned for surprises!
AUGUST EVENT - Seemingly's Revenge
August 9th
The final living member of the Mendel’s Court of Fools returns after a year in hiding to perform their grand finale.Mendel, the Prince of Fools, was the first demon royal to perish due to Aster’s machination, as well as the one to reveal Dahlia’s true nature as his niece. This wicked jester held domain over madness, lies, and cruel trickery, and while he did not survive the infamous gala, one of his court members did. A face-changing theatrical puppet called Seemingly, whose voice, personality, and gender swap with their faces, remains at large--- and they have a bone to pick with all of you. Especially you, Jonathan Sims.
An elaborate music box is placed in the town square, playing a tune and ticking away. At each week-long interval, a new mask slots into place on the front, representing one of Seemingly’s four faces. Each week, there will be a new affliction making havoc on Marrow Isle--- and a new opportunity to help end the nightmare. Four pairs/groups will be selected to brave the danger and collect one of the keys to unlock the music box, whether on purpose or by happenstance. Efforts to unlock the music box are being led by Jon Sims, who has a long-standing beef with Seemingly and is eager to see them defeated at long last.
The structure of this event is such that it expands and changes each week, representing four separate mini events that make up the larger one, then finally a last push by Jon to take Seemingly down directly once the music box that’s shielding them is opened. The event will launch on August 9th--- but only with the text for the first week! It will update each Saturday evening with the next week’s events.
We’d like to keep as much of the specifics of the event a surprise as possible, but we can tell you up front that each week will feature a new (super)natural disaster with terrifying side effects!
Here’s a brief sneak peek:
Burning Wrath - based on Seemingly’s Wrath face, an intense heatwave that can reach lethal heights and has strange effects on exposed bodies.
Twisting Wind - based on Seemingly’s Twist face, galeforce winds howl through the town, whispering memories, regrets, temptations, and fears… and possibly taking parts of your house along.
Gleeful Tidings - based on Seemingly’s Glee mask, flash floods rip through town from the Paring River down to Tawny Beach, with water so dark that it’s hard to tell what tricks hide underneath.
Hollow Chill - based on Seemingly’s Hollow mask, a cold snap that kills the summer heat with a miniature winter, freezing over all that wet ground, and plenty more besides.
All of these will have opt-outs of some variety, so feel free to sit out parts of the event that aren’t to your taste or handwave whatever you need to in order to manage your thread load. Anyone can sign up to be a part of the teams acquiring keys, but please refrain from volunteering if you don’t believe you could be expected to complete the thread before the start of the next event (Sept 20). I’m going to be working hard to make sure that my plot-vital threads are done before then, too!
SEPTEMBER EVENT - Guest Appearances
September 20th
It’s time once again for Dahlia’s birthday gala, this time with a special surprise. Back by popular demand, Dahlia Leeds’ highly anticipated birthday ball will serve as the stage for a remix of one of our most popular events ever, Ghosts of the Past!It will function with similar rules. Each character can have up to two visitors from their homeworld, living or dead. These guests can be played by you (either from the associated character’s journal or a custom one) or by another player on your behalf. You can even invite non-member players to play that character for the event with moderator approval! For this event, characters will be here for the weekend ICly--- the Saturday of the party and the Sunday after.
Since this event is less intended to inspire deliberate chaos than its predecessor, you are under no obligation to have your visiting characters be more honest than usual about your regular characters’ history. However, this is still a working of Eligos, so feel free to include that if you like. After all, what is a fancy gala without some interpersonal drama? Let’s get this thing as messy as it is glamorous and turn Dahlia’s birthday into a Jane Austen novel in the absence of any spookies! Don’t worry, with October right around the corner, we’ll be right back in horror territory in no time!
The plotting post is a great place for prepping which visitors you'll have for which characters and keeping a reference list, so please feel free to make use of it!
CURRENT METAPLOT
As the five archfey of this world make proper contact for the very first time, we meet not only Elsie’s fairy father in earnest, but also his peers, and learn a bit more about the incredible world of fairies--- whimsical, dangerous, and diverse. Queen Niamh of the Golden Sunspots, angelic bird-fae and celestial creatures who deal in dreams and desire--- often with wicked loopholes.
King Griswold of the Green Willows, classic forest fairies and tree spirits who represent the beauty and brutality of nature without remorse.
Queen Meriadne of the Indigo Scales, a host of naiads, sirens, selkies, and other water fae who sing the praises of the ever-changing fluidity of life.
Regent Copricus of the Teal Rain, myconids and rain spirits who rejoice in the rot and decay of all things--- and the renewed life which comes after.
And King Olwylder of the Red Butterflies, flower and insect fae who celebrate the liberating anarchy of a life unbound, finding joy in the chaos of the natural world.
Their relevance to the world will carry over to Emerald Crown, so don’t feel like there’s a whole new mystery being unveiled at the last minute, but knowing a bit more about the basis for Elsie’s lineage will certainly be helpful for events to come!
Additionally, this month it was OOCly revealed that the true identity of Nyarlathotep is Neil West in our Discord server! Hopefully that allows players to make decisions about how they want to interact with him during the final leg of the game. Do bear in mind that characters do not know this--- please use this metaknowledge appropriately! This reveal was to help players make mischief for themselves later, not give them a leg up in uncovering the mystery, so please don’t info-mod! Thank you, and have fun!
Also, since we have a crop of new people, I thought that a link to our Lore Document would be helpful! It could use a bit of updating but has most of the relevant info to help folks get caught up, so check it out when you have time!
pumpkinhollow2025-07-05 03:17 pmEntry tags:
Monthly Plotting Post | July
Monthly Plotting Post | May
Howdy gang, happy July! Sorry for missing the June plotting post, I'd been pretty sick last month and the heat's had me down, but I am slowly chugging back to life.
Special thanks to Kalineh and Meghan for helping me work on the concepts for the main events for July and August, and to Harvey for putting out this super fun mini event for this month! We're taking a short intermission still from the heavier plot stuff while I get my roll back, but we have some cool treats for you planned in the meantime, so stay tuned!
ALSO, don't forget to mark down whatever goodies you want to get at the Summer Flea Market! That stays open till August and I know y'all want some stuff to make this island weirder.
Toward mid July, the fairy courts of Pumpkin Hollow will be gathering their best and brightest to put on a magical performance for the town. But this is no ordinary three-ring circus. It is a show of whimsy and terror, magic and mystery. Fairies, after all, don't play by our rules.
So far the structure that I'm planning is going to be a large tent full of multiple performance stages and other attractions, such as fun houses and "freak" shows and the like, some of which are pure fun and wonder, others of which are tricks and traps full of genuine danger, all with a nature/fae spin. There'll also be sort of a renaissance faire type campus around the tent. I don't have a ton of specifics hammered out just yet because life has been so crazy, but I did have a few concepts in mind, including something to do with carnivorous mushrooms, fortune telling by Amarantha, and some kind of nightmare funhouse. I plan on taking inspo from the Devil's Carnival! More details as they develop, but please feel free to leave ideas in my suggestion box below <3
Special thanks to Kalineh and Meghan for helping me work on the concepts for the main events for July and August, and to Harvey for putting out this super fun mini event for this month! We're taking a short intermission still from the heavier plot stuff while I get my roll back, but we have some cool treats for you planned in the meantime, so stay tuned!
ALSO, don't forget to mark down whatever goodies you want to get at the Summer Flea Market! That stays open till August and I know y'all want some stuff to make this island weirder.
SUMMER TDM
June thru August
Round 2 of the Summer TDM begins! If you had a character do the treasure dive last month, you can now have the same character play again! You'll also get one more go in August. Also, reminder that while you don't need to actually thread out the obtaining of Pokemon if you don't want to, you should decide if you want any of this season's selection before the end of August. Thanks!
JULY MINI EVENT - Branching Out
July 6th
Thanks to numerous donations, the Autumn Leaves Dormitory House is getting an upgrade. Which means the kids are getting a camping excursion while renovations on their home are underway! And Mr. Pennyburrow is going to need all the help he can get. Guard the youngsters from pesky forest monsters like Brutoks and the River Walker, chase crabs out of the campsite, help to organize activities like skill classes and games, and keep the kiddos out of trouble! There's also a lot of cooking to do to keep these hungry campers fed. Who's ready for spooky summer camp?JULY MAIN EVENT - Cirque du Fae
July 19th
This event is still in the works, which means I get to do one of my favorite things, which is open the floor to you all for suggestions!Toward mid July, the fairy courts of Pumpkin Hollow will be gathering their best and brightest to put on a magical performance for the town. But this is no ordinary three-ring circus. It is a show of whimsy and terror, magic and mystery. Fairies, after all, don't play by our rules.
So far the structure that I'm planning is going to be a large tent full of multiple performance stages and other attractions, such as fun houses and "freak" shows and the like, some of which are pure fun and wonder, others of which are tricks and traps full of genuine danger, all with a nature/fae spin. There'll also be sort of a renaissance faire type campus around the tent. I don't have a ton of specifics hammered out just yet because life has been so crazy, but I did have a few concepts in mind, including something to do with carnivorous mushrooms, fortune telling by Amarantha, and some kind of nightmare funhouse. I plan on taking inspo from the Devil's Carnival! More details as they develop, but please feel free to leave ideas in my suggestion box below <3
CURRENT METAPLOT
Currently we're taking a short break from overarching metaplot developments! However, the current plan is to move into the fall of Eligos as our Halloween event this year. So stay tuned! As with the opera, I will probably make that a two-monther and let that bleed into November. Then we will most likely take down Aster in the spring time and move into our pre-endgame stage around our third anniversary! (Also, if you thought Aster would be the end of this, you got a big surprise on the way, bwahahahaha.)
Which brings me to my last point for this month's meta plot discussion. As mentioned in the SOTG post, we're considering doing an OOC reveal of Nyarlathotep's true identity prior to the IC reveal, similarly to Dahlia. Is this something that people would want? Let me know! We can also tell people on a voluntary basis, so that those who want to keep the surprise can. We have a side-server for people who are aware of the info to shout about it, which we can continue to use.
Also, since we have a crop of new people, I thought that a link to our Lore Document would be helpful! It could use a bit of updating but has most of the relevant info to help folks get caught up, so check it out when you have time!
pumpkinhollow2025-05-24 10:58 pmGreen King Voting Opens Now!
Hey gang! Hope everyone's enjoying the event! Ahead of the Cucumber Festival event for next month, voting for the Green King is now open!
Ballot here! Please read instructions carefully, thanks!
Ballot here! Please read instructions carefully, thanks!
pumpkinhollow2025-05-05 07:58 pmEntry tags:
Monthly Plotting Post | May
Monthly Plotting Post | May
Happy May, everybody!
As you all probably noticed, March and April were a little wonky, with a SUPER late March event, no proper April event, and no TDM reprint. For a variety of reasons, the earlier spring months took the wind out of a lot of folks’ sails this year, and I personally have been fighting an ongoing battle with extremely prolonged double ear infections. But the world keeps on turnin’, Summer is on the way, and we have lots of fun stuff planned! So let’s get into it!
This month’s main event is going to be a surprise plot that is being co-written with long-time Mod Helper and NPC player Meghan, and will be centered around Elsie!
While player character Hector Monaque is in the midst of his deal with King Eligos, which involves writing terrible letters to his neighbors designed to strain their relationships, another letter is snuck into the delivery. One made out to Elsie, containing information that might just change her life.
Check out Meghan’s teaser in the comments below! Further information will be distributed as the event gets closer, but what we can say is that after a few months of magical traps and existential dread, it’ll be nice to have a problem that can be fixed with violence. Any character that has died since arriving in Pumpkin Hollow may want to make sure their death certificates are in order, though!
The Cucumber Festival is a summer holiday celebrated in early June. While it is by and large a carnival and a celebration of agriculture, it is also the time of year to elect a Green King alongside the Flower Queen. Like with the Flower Queen voting back in February, any male or otherwise masculine-identified person over the age of 18 can be nominated for Green King, and must accept the nomination before voting begins.
Because the festival is so early in June, voting will open on May 24th and close on May 31st, so we’ll go ahead and open up nominations below! Discord crowd, you’ll receive reminders as the 24th approaches that nominations will be closing, so please help pass the word along to non-Discord-using players as you’re able. Thanks!
Also, tangentially related: coinciding with the Cucumber Festival will be the 2 year anniversary of Pumpkin Hollow’s first TDM! We’ll be hosting a party in the Discord server on the anniversary itself, June 7th. Thanks so much to all of you who have made this an AMAZING 2 years of mystery-solving horror-comedy fun! More info about the party towards the end of May, but expect a revisit of PH trivia, Jackbox, Among Us, and more! Last year’s party was an epic 14 hour blow-out so feel free to come and go as you’re able!
As you all probably noticed, March and April were a little wonky, with a SUPER late March event, no proper April event, and no TDM reprint. For a variety of reasons, the earlier spring months took the wind out of a lot of folks’ sails this year, and I personally have been fighting an ongoing battle with extremely prolonged double ear infections. But the world keeps on turnin’, Summer is on the way, and we have lots of fun stuff planned! So let’s get into it!
SPRING TDM
March through May
This’ll be the final month of the 2025 Spring TDM, so whether you’ve got a certain type of Pokemon you want or don’t wanna miss your opportunity to get in on flower-based body horror, hop to it! We’ll also have one more run of our Swift Social, so grab a seat and make a friend! That'll be next Saturday, so you've got some time, but since we've lost a few players, we're also looking to start advertising on the EMP again. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for new friends!
MAY EVENT - All Too Familiar
May 18th
A mysterious letter. A missing book. A foul shift in the air.This month’s main event is going to be a surprise plot that is being co-written with long-time Mod Helper and NPC player Meghan, and will be centered around Elsie!
While player character Hector Monaque is in the midst of his deal with King Eligos, which involves writing terrible letters to his neighbors designed to strain their relationships, another letter is snuck into the delivery. One made out to Elsie, containing information that might just change her life.
Check out Meghan’s teaser in the comments below! Further information will be distributed as the event gets closer, but what we can say is that after a few months of magical traps and existential dread, it’ll be nice to have a problem that can be fixed with violence. Any character that has died since arriving in Pumpkin Hollow may want to make sure their death certificates are in order, though!
Green King Voting & Anniversary Prep
Late May
Now that a test year has passed and the residents of Pumpkin Hollow know FOR SURE that the beloved Cucumber Festival isn’t due to have any further interruptions, voting for the Green King will resume as normal! Time to learn about a new Pumpkin Hollow tradition!The Cucumber Festival is a summer holiday celebrated in early June. While it is by and large a carnival and a celebration of agriculture, it is also the time of year to elect a Green King alongside the Flower Queen. Like with the Flower Queen voting back in February, any male or otherwise masculine-identified person over the age of 18 can be nominated for Green King, and must accept the nomination before voting begins.
Because the festival is so early in June, voting will open on May 24th and close on May 31st, so we’ll go ahead and open up nominations below! Discord crowd, you’ll receive reminders as the 24th approaches that nominations will be closing, so please help pass the word along to non-Discord-using players as you’re able. Thanks!
Also, tangentially related: coinciding with the Cucumber Festival will be the 2 year anniversary of Pumpkin Hollow’s first TDM! We’ll be hosting a party in the Discord server on the anniversary itself, June 7th. Thanks so much to all of you who have made this an AMAZING 2 years of mystery-solving horror-comedy fun! More info about the party towards the end of May, but expect a revisit of PH trivia, Jackbox, Among Us, and more! Last year’s party was an epic 14 hour blow-out so feel free to come and go as you’re able!
CURRENT METAPLOT
Efrain, the Prince of Sorrow’s Song, was defeated by Nimona! The end of this is still being threaded out, apologies for delays, but everything from April will have included this information. That means that two of the four Demon Royals who have been making trouble for Pumpkin Hollow residents have been felled. All that remain are the current Regent of Hell, Eligos, the King of Treason, and his conniving youngest son, Prince Aster of the Dark Feast. However, the fewer Demon Royals there are, the more Aster’s half-demon daughter Dahlia comes into her own power. She has begun performing demonic boons, demonstrating that she seems to have her own Infernal Domain. But that should be impossible--- tieflings aren’t part of the infernal hierarchy, and the chain of command doesn’t even have language for women, much less space for them.
Unless someone changed the rules.
Stay tuned to find out what Eligos and Aster have planned for each other, and for Dahlia, in their family feud for the fate of Pumpkin Hollow! And what will our resident Elder One do when the feud resolves? Will anyone be able to identify him through his human disguise before that happens?
Also, since we have a crop of new people, I thought that a link to our Lore Document would be helpful! It could use a bit of updating but has most of the relevant info to help folks get caught up, so check it out when you have time!
pumpkinhollow2025-03-02 01:22 amEntry tags:
Monthly Plotting Post | March
Monthly Plotting Post | March
Happy Spring, gang! February was a tough month for a lot of folks in the game, but with warm weather and more sunshine on the horizon, I am so excited for what’s to come! I’m also SO PLEASED to be celebrating the anniversary of our game’s biggest boost in size to date! Even if the circumstances surrounding the Sail Migration weren’t the best, and we had a lot of growing pains in the aftermath of such a large change, we also gained a lot of beloved and engaged community members and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m so glad you guys are here and I’m so excited to celebrate the anniversary of our time as a community.
In more game-related news: I don’t know about you guys, but with a major plot event on the way (i.e. Efrain’s downfall in the March event), I could use a little extra time to wrap up my current threads and gear up for the big moment. Merrymeet is one of my favorite recurring events, and I’m excited to give it the time it deserves before a major plot development. Plus we’ve got a new TDM going up toward the beginning of March and a small mingle! As such, I’m going to have the March event be a little bit on the late side this month. I’m thinking either the 23rd or the 28th. Thoughts one way or the other? Drop a comment on the mod toplevel or let us know on Discord!
I also want to use this month’s metaplot section to talk about the game’s future--- the roadmap for the rest of the game, and what the sequel game will look like! It’s still a good ways off (like probably 8-12 months if we’re really efficient), but I want to give folks plenty of time to think about their post-game plans! Plus I’ve had it on the brain.
For springtime, you’ll be able to find Grass, Fairy, Ground, Bug, and Normal! (Yep, that’s right--- by popular demand, Eevee will be available with this change!) Rather than a special article, available types will now be listed at the top of the Gazette, and the intro article will make a brief note. We are prepared to roll back this change if it doesn’t work out or if it’s undesirable, but the intention is to make it so that everyone will have a chance to get their faves. Catch responsibly! Each character is still limited to 6 Pokemon pals, as we don’t have a PC for you to send them to!
Also on the agenda for spring right now are the player-requested community laundry days, a potluck as an homage to last year’s, as well as the ever-popular speed-dating from last year. (Although this year it’ll be called “Swift Social” to be inclusive of those looking for platonic CR, though it’ll still have opportunities to indicate you’re looking for love.) I’ve also got some plant-themed and fae-themed spookies on the docket for spring that are still in the works, so stay tuned! As always, I’m also open to suggestions!
A while ago, Nimbus had mentioned offhandedly the idea of a “day at the opera” event which has lived in my head rent-free ever since, and so it’s off to the opera we go. In Efrain’s attempt at a grand demonstration of his power, he will be transporting the islanders to a grand amphitheater, where his demonic orchestra will perform musical interpretations of each islander’s deepest source of pain, regret, and sorrow--- with the subject themself and their loved ones compelled to play the roles on stage while everyone else is a captive audience. Play out musical renditions of scenes from your past with your CR cast as your loved ones or enemies, catch a moment to chat in the Green Room before or after your performance, or find moments of solidarity from the auditorium seats between songs.
Not feeling the limelight? Take on a role as a member of the stage crew for the show and succumb instead to the despair of endless toil for the cruel and merciless stage manager! Take a seat in the pit and play with the orchestra, feeling every moment of others’ pain by proxy from the music your hands are forced to create. Or get saddled with a job in the concession stand for a different flavor of suffering--- mindless drudgery for an uncaring public. The choice is yours! But get too feisty and face the wrath of the security guards: a shade of one of your own loved ones like the false Ballister that had been created for Nimona.
However, Aster will be taking the beginning of March to prepare his assassins. Have a bone to pick with Efrain? Let me know and the demon-killing effort might recruit you! But anyone looking to get too close to Efrain will have to fight their way through his strange bodyguards, creatures of living glass whose creation Pyotr Stamatin may have to answer for later.
Due to the narrative function of the event, I am unfortunately unable to offer a full opt-out aside from a handwave for this event. But hopefully I’ve created enough alternative ways to enjoy this pity party that you’ll be able to find one that suits you! If not, let me know!
In more game-related news: I don’t know about you guys, but with a major plot event on the way (i.e. Efrain’s downfall in the March event), I could use a little extra time to wrap up my current threads and gear up for the big moment. Merrymeet is one of my favorite recurring events, and I’m excited to give it the time it deserves before a major plot development. Plus we’ve got a new TDM going up toward the beginning of March and a small mingle! As such, I’m going to have the March event be a little bit on the late side this month. I’m thinking either the 23rd or the 28th. Thoughts one way or the other? Drop a comment on the mod toplevel or let us know on Discord!
I also want to use this month’s metaplot section to talk about the game’s future--- the roadmap for the rest of the game, and what the sequel game will look like! It’s still a good ways off (like probably 8-12 months if we’re really efficient), but I want to give folks plenty of time to think about their post-game plans! Plus I’ve had it on the brain.
SPRING TDM
March through May
Originally, we had Pokemon acquisition sequestered to specific periods of time and only specific types, and the reason for this is because we didn’t want them to overwhelm the game. However, over the past year and a half, the concerns we had about Pumpkin Hollow developing a heavy culture around Pokemon that overtook the game never really came to pass--- people generally don’t even fill all their slots, and they are used more as a fun accent rather than a main feature! When last we discussed the Pokemon situation in the server, we had people express that they might like to check out some other types and we’d planned to have them available for Summer and Winter this year, but with the understanding that the way Pokemon are treated by the player base will most likely continue, we’d like to go ahead and offer them year-round with types determined by season, and have divided up all the types into a thematically appropriate season! For springtime, you’ll be able to find Grass, Fairy, Ground, Bug, and Normal! (Yep, that’s right--- by popular demand, Eevee will be available with this change!) Rather than a special article, available types will now be listed at the top of the Gazette, and the intro article will make a brief note. We are prepared to roll back this change if it doesn’t work out or if it’s undesirable, but the intention is to make it so that everyone will have a chance to get their faves. Catch responsibly! Each character is still limited to 6 Pokemon pals, as we don’t have a PC for you to send them to!
Also on the agenda for spring right now are the player-requested community laundry days, a potluck as an homage to last year’s, as well as the ever-popular speed-dating from last year. (Although this year it’ll be called “Swift Social” to be inclusive of those looking for platonic CR, though it’ll still have opportunities to indicate you’re looking for love.) I’ve also got some plant-themed and fae-themed spookies on the docket for spring that are still in the works, so stay tuned! As always, I’m also open to suggestions!
HARBOR DAY MINGLE
March 5th
To celebrate the anniversary of the Great Sail Migration, we’ll be doing a simple mingle event called Then and Now--- post a toplevel to invite other characters to comment leaving their first impressions of yours and how they compare to their current feelings. How have things changed since your character arrived? Whether you’ve been here for a year, the whole game, or just a week or two, enjoy reminiscing with your Pumpkin Hollow pals!
MARCH SADNESS
Late March
It’s finally time to take down another Demon Prince! Efrain, the Prince of Sorrow’s Song, is the last thing standing between Prince Aster and becoming heir apparent--- leaving only King Eligos himself as Aster’s final obstacle. A while ago, Nimbus had mentioned offhandedly the idea of a “day at the opera” event which has lived in my head rent-free ever since, and so it’s off to the opera we go. In Efrain’s attempt at a grand demonstration of his power, he will be transporting the islanders to a grand amphitheater, where his demonic orchestra will perform musical interpretations of each islander’s deepest source of pain, regret, and sorrow--- with the subject themself and their loved ones compelled to play the roles on stage while everyone else is a captive audience. Play out musical renditions of scenes from your past with your CR cast as your loved ones or enemies, catch a moment to chat in the Green Room before or after your performance, or find moments of solidarity from the auditorium seats between songs.
Not feeling the limelight? Take on a role as a member of the stage crew for the show and succumb instead to the despair of endless toil for the cruel and merciless stage manager! Take a seat in the pit and play with the orchestra, feeling every moment of others’ pain by proxy from the music your hands are forced to create. Or get saddled with a job in the concession stand for a different flavor of suffering--- mindless drudgery for an uncaring public. The choice is yours! But get too feisty and face the wrath of the security guards: a shade of one of your own loved ones like the false Ballister that had been created for Nimona.
However, Aster will be taking the beginning of March to prepare his assassins. Have a bone to pick with Efrain? Let me know and the demon-killing effort might recruit you! But anyone looking to get too close to Efrain will have to fight their way through his strange bodyguards, creatures of living glass whose creation Pyotr Stamatin may have to answer for later.
Due to the narrative function of the event, I am unfortunately unable to offer a full opt-out aside from a handwave for this event. But hopefully I’ve created enough alternative ways to enjoy this pity party that you’ll be able to find one that suits you! If not, let me know!
CURRENT METAPLOT
A lot has been going on recently in plot town! Primarily, the discovery that Dr. Elias Coldwood, lighthouse keeper and biologist, has a nascent Eldritch godling in his basement! There are two separate threads about this ongoing, one between Shen Qingqiu, Valdis, and Elias himself and the other between Gerry, Arthur, and John Doe. What is this creature that Elias has created? What are its ties--- and his--- to Nyarlathotep? And who was it that posted Elias’ anonymous bail just in time for him to attend Merrymeet? More details to come!With all that’s going on in the game’s present day, I wanted to talk briefly about the trajectory for the game’s future as well! Here’s a basic outline of the major plot beats I’m planning to hit, unless something drastic changes:
➼ At the end of March, individuals chosen by Aster will be given the opportunity to kill Efrain. With Mendel dead, Aster will be the last remaining Prince left to succeed Eligos for the Infernal Throne.As we’re building up to the trials that characters will face during these major plot beats, we’re going to be looking at ways to make characters more formidable through items, skills, transformations, canon updates, and more! We’d like to get as many folks in on it as we can and plan as far in advance as possible. We look forward to seeing what cool ideas we can work out with all of you!
➼ Throughout the Spring, fae involvement will become more prevalent. I’m still working out the exact details, but there are plans for Elsie and Olwylder to become more deeply involved in the plot, including a surprise I’m planning with Meghan!
➼ Also during this time, Eligos will be doing more to work on his contingency plan for dealing with Aster, which will involve turning Aster’s Court and Infernal Servants against him, and powering up his own favored and those of his other two sons.
➼ In the late summer, Eligos will make his own last stand, and he will die--- but not without setting things up for Aster’s eventual downfall in the process.
Aster will ascend the Infernal Throne.
➼ Dahlia will officially become a Prince--- and next in line for succession, as Aster has no other children. The Pine Devil’s curse of consumption will cease to be.
➼ With assistance from those that Eligos granted power to, those given boons by goddesses, and her own newly founded Court of Woman Scorned, Dahlia will strike back at Aster and become the new King of Hell.
As the only one left to maintain the contract with Nyarlathotep, Dahlia will break the truce, lowering the barrier!
➼ However, Nyarlathotep will not take kindly to this--- his reaction will remain a surprise for now, but this will launch us into a pre-endgame state where certain tasks must be accomplished to initiate endgame proper. We’re anticipating this taking several months at least.
➼ Once all tasks are accomplished, the final face-off with Nyarlathotep will occur, and the game will end with it finally being possible and safe to leave Marrow Isle. This will initiate our exploration-based sequel game, Emerald Crown! Pumpkin Hollowites will be given the means to leave this world and come back at will.
We’re also anticipating all of this taking quite some time, so there’s no rush to make major plans right this minute. Additionally, we’re planning to have Emerald Crown be more self-guided in an effort to give ourselves a break from heavy plot. We have more plot-heavy projects to share with you all in the future, and we could use some time to kick back and just play it by ear while we plan ahead! It’s also my plan to run a short-term game alongside Emerald Crown. Harvey, Drake, and I, operating under the name “Team Pumpkin,” have plans to bring you all tons of RP fun for years to come!
PHEW that was a long plotting post--- sorry it’s dropping so late at night for most of you! But we hope you’re as excited as we are to keep going on this adventure together!
pumpkinhollow2025-02-08 09:43 pmFLOWER QUEEN VOTING
Hi all! Thanks to everyone who nominated a potential Flower Queen!
Flower Queen voting is now LIVE until Feb 14th and results will be announced when Rose goes to bed that night so that the winner has time to prepare before the event goes live the following day. (Ideally in the afternoon but we'll see where the wind takes us.)
Vote here! And please be sure to read the rules in the intro carefully!
Flower Queen voting is now LIVE until Feb 14th and results will be announced when Rose goes to bed that night so that the winner has time to prepare before the event goes live the following day. (Ideally in the afternoon but we'll see where the wind takes us.)
Vote here! And please be sure to read the rules in the intro carefully!
pumpkinhollow2025-02-01 03:09 pmMonthly Plotting Post | February
Monthly Plotting Post | Feb
FREAKY FEBRUARY!!
Hey all! Rose here! Blessed Imbolc and Happy Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year to all those who celebrate them! As we start to ring in the spring, Team Pumpkin is SUPER excited to bring you a ton of cool stuff!
I don't have a ton of preamble this month, aside from a few housekeeping items: please read the new game rules on our State of the Game post carefully, as well as the outline for our Merrymeet event. Also just as a heads up, because Merrymeet tends to be somewhat involved, and we have a mingle planned for Harbor Day (the anniversary of the post-Sail Migration potluck event), we will be giving a WIDE berth between our Feb event, Garden of Woe, and our March event, March Sadness. You have a lot of time between the two, so take your time at Merrymeet!
Our Winter TDM has one more reprint before we transition into Spring! The Valentines-esque changes really brought some new life to the event, so we’ll be leaving them as-is this time to give you crazy kids more opportunities to enjoy that Tunnel of Love. We look forward to seeing what epic conclusions the town-wide snowball war reaches by the end of February!
Since we’re going to be changing the Pokemon appearance schedule for 2025, we’re thinking we might like to give people one last crack at getting some cute grass and fairy-type friends during the month of March or April, possibly as a separate mini-event. Outside of that, we’re absolutely open to any Spring themed spookies, hijinks, or fun times you all can think of for the next season’s TDM. It will run through March, April, and May and we’re looking for warm-weather activities, floral themes, and plant-based mischief! Feel free to visit our suggestion box below.
Depression, loss, forced mood alteration
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! It’s time for Pumpkin Hollow’s beloved spring fertility, flower, and romance festival. For those who were not here last year, Merrymeet is a formal outdoor garden party which takes place in the town square and festival green. Attendees are invited to dress in their floral finest to dance, eat, and welcome the spring as the weather slowly grows warmer! The event will commence with the procession of the Floral Court, the crowning of the Flower Queen, and the planting of the first flower!
But before we can have any of those things, we must elect the Flower Queen! Nominations for Flower Queen will be open below from now until 2/7. They can be for any person of a feminine-aligned gender who is over the age of 18, and should be someone who represents kindness, gentleness, and grace, as well as someone who has brought joy to others who deserves to have that joy reciprocated and recognized. You cannot nominate yourself. Once someone has nominated you, you must accept the nomination to be officially considered for candidacy. From 2/8 - 2/14, we will have a ballot box available on Google Forms where everyone can vote for the Flower Queen! (Players can vote once per character.)
Any Flower Queen candidates who did not win the vote will be members of the Floral Court and will be a part of the procession that leads the Queen to her seat of honor, where the rest of her court will share her table. Each member including the Queen will be asked to choose a courtier of any gender to be their plus-one at said head table. Then later, the Queen will be asked to take part in a ceremony in which she places a tulip bulb into the ground and blesses it, thus planting the first flower of the year. Her presence will also be requested the following year to crown the new queen. (Last year’s Flower Queen, Mary Dahl, is sadly no longer present, so the Queen from the year before that will be doing the honors again. Her name is Juniper Sweetwater, the local luthier.)
A note for this event: due to most player characters having heftier budgets this year, free outfit rentals will only be available to laggards and characters who have been in PH less than two months. All other PCs will need to purchase a Stylish or Lavish outfit for the normal price listed on the Shops page.
Of course, not all can be sunshine and rainbows. This is Pumpkin Hollow, after all. Partway through the event, an unfamiliar musical act will take the stage to play a haunting melody that will cause partygoers to think only of lost love, heartbreak, homesickness, and joyful times that can no longer be, filling the hearts of everyone in attendance with pain. This is the work of Efrain, the Prince of Sorrow’s Song, attempting to fuel his grand symphony and make his bid for power in the coming months. The band will be protected, which means that the only way to counteract this cruelty is to find ways within oneself and in others.
But what’s this? A ragtag group of adorable strangers, come to help spread whimsy, have arrived on the island! Thanks to some secret organizing by the mods n’ pals, the February event will have special guest characters played by five of Pumpkin Hollow’s finest! Stay tuned for more details on this special mini-event-within-an-event, March of the Bizzyboys! I’ll leave it to our guest players to reveal themselves via plotting posts so that people can strategize how to get in on the action.
Recap in Brief:
Hey all! Rose here! Blessed Imbolc and Happy Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year to all those who celebrate them! As we start to ring in the spring, Team Pumpkin is SUPER excited to bring you a ton of cool stuff!
I don't have a ton of preamble this month, aside from a few housekeeping items: please read the new game rules on our State of the Game post carefully, as well as the outline for our Merrymeet event. Also just as a heads up, because Merrymeet tends to be somewhat involved, and we have a mingle planned for Harbor Day (the anniversary of the post-Sail Migration potluck event), we will be giving a WIDE berth between our Feb event, Garden of Woe, and our March event, March Sadness. You have a lot of time between the two, so take your time at Merrymeet!
TDM
All Month
Our Winter TDM has one more reprint before we transition into Spring! The Valentines-esque changes really brought some new life to the event, so we’ll be leaving them as-is this time to give you crazy kids more opportunities to enjoy that Tunnel of Love. We look forward to seeing what epic conclusions the town-wide snowball war reaches by the end of February!
Since we’re going to be changing the Pokemon appearance schedule for 2025, we’re thinking we might like to give people one last crack at getting some cute grass and fairy-type friends during the month of March or April, possibly as a separate mini-event. Outside of that, we’re absolutely open to any Spring themed spookies, hijinks, or fun times you all can think of for the next season’s TDM. It will run through March, April, and May and we’re looking for warm-weather activities, floral themes, and plant-based mischief! Feel free to visit our suggestion box below.
GARDEN OF WOE
Main Event - February 15th
Content Warnings:Depression, loss, forced mood alteration
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! It’s time for Pumpkin Hollow’s beloved spring fertility, flower, and romance festival. For those who were not here last year, Merrymeet is a formal outdoor garden party which takes place in the town square and festival green. Attendees are invited to dress in their floral finest to dance, eat, and welcome the spring as the weather slowly grows warmer! The event will commence with the procession of the Floral Court, the crowning of the Flower Queen, and the planting of the first flower!
But before we can have any of those things, we must elect the Flower Queen! Nominations for Flower Queen will be open below from now until 2/7. They can be for any person of a feminine-aligned gender who is over the age of 18, and should be someone who represents kindness, gentleness, and grace, as well as someone who has brought joy to others who deserves to have that joy reciprocated and recognized. You cannot nominate yourself. Once someone has nominated you, you must accept the nomination to be officially considered for candidacy. From 2/8 - 2/14, we will have a ballot box available on Google Forms where everyone can vote for the Flower Queen! (Players can vote once per character.)
Any Flower Queen candidates who did not win the vote will be members of the Floral Court and will be a part of the procession that leads the Queen to her seat of honor, where the rest of her court will share her table. Each member including the Queen will be asked to choose a courtier of any gender to be their plus-one at said head table. Then later, the Queen will be asked to take part in a ceremony in which she places a tulip bulb into the ground and blesses it, thus planting the first flower of the year. Her presence will also be requested the following year to crown the new queen. (Last year’s Flower Queen, Mary Dahl, is sadly no longer present, so the Queen from the year before that will be doing the honors again. Her name is Juniper Sweetwater, the local luthier.)
A note for this event: due to most player characters having heftier budgets this year, free outfit rentals will only be available to laggards and characters who have been in PH less than two months. All other PCs will need to purchase a Stylish or Lavish outfit for the normal price listed on the Shops page.
Of course, not all can be sunshine and rainbows. This is Pumpkin Hollow, after all. Partway through the event, an unfamiliar musical act will take the stage to play a haunting melody that will cause partygoers to think only of lost love, heartbreak, homesickness, and joyful times that can no longer be, filling the hearts of everyone in attendance with pain. This is the work of Efrain, the Prince of Sorrow’s Song, attempting to fuel his grand symphony and make his bid for power in the coming months. The band will be protected, which means that the only way to counteract this cruelty is to find ways within oneself and in others.
But what’s this? A ragtag group of adorable strangers, come to help spread whimsy, have arrived on the island! Thanks to some secret organizing by the mods n’ pals, the February event will have special guest characters played by five of Pumpkin Hollow’s finest! Stay tuned for more details on this special mini-event-within-an-event, March of the Bizzyboys! I’ll leave it to our guest players to reveal themselves via plotting posts so that people can strategize how to get in on the action.
Recap in Brief:
- Flower Queen NOMINATIONS are from Feb 1-7
- Flower Queen VOTING is from Feb 8-14
- Candidates for Flower Queen must be nominated by another person, then accept the nomination to finalize it.
- All candidates get a place in the Floral Court. They will sit at a special table and will each get a plus-one.
- The Flower Queen will have several obligations during the festival and must be prepared to perform them.
- Free formalwear rentals are ONLY available to Laggards and new characters (less than 2 months since apped). More established characters will need to be prepared to spend 300-500B on a formal outfit.
- The latter half of Merrymeet will be when things go sour. Having your character leave early will serve as our opt-out.
- Five guest characters played by non-mods will be available for this event! You are encouraged to plot with them.
CURRENT METAPLOT
The next two months are about to be a doozy when it comes to the meta plot. Efrain will be making appearances in February and March before his final stand at the end of March will take place, which will leave Aster as heir apparent to the Throne of Hell. Meanwhile, Nyarlathotep’s identity remains hidden.Additionally, Shen Qingqiu has discovered something very interesting in the basement of Dr. Elias Coldwood… Perhaps someone should talk to him about that!
Our current roadmap for the main mystery of Pumpkin Hollow is projected to last through to Fall or Winter of 2025, followed by a roughly 4-6 month pre-endgame event series. As we move forward toward many major events, we’re going to be looking for ways to empower characters to fight back against the looming threats through boons, demon deals, items, and rewards for personal achievements.
We’d like to remind folks that we are open to OOC guesses as to Nyarlathotep’s identity! DM Rose on Discord with your guess and three pieces of supporting evidence for a yes or no answer. Regardless of whether you get it right, you cannot tell any other player or use this information ICly, but if you’re correct we’ll add you to a special side chat we’re all piling into like sardines to yell in! Currently there are seven players who know the identity of Nyarlathotep (not counting mods). Come join the Vault of Eldritch Secrets!
pumpkinhollow2025-01-02 09:01 pmMonthly Plotting Post | January
Monthly Plotting Post | January
Happy New Year, everybody!!
First off, I'd like to apologize for never getting up a plotting post in December. I'm still getting used to my new job and the holidays + financial stuff were absolutely kicking my butt. As a result, I wanted to get the plotting post up and running as early as possible! We've done some shuffling around of the order of events, but I think you'll like what we have in store!
In an effort to make the TDM for the next two months slightly less festive, I'm considering giving the event a Valentine's twist, such as morphing the gingerbread curse to chocolate and adjusting the Winter Market somewhat. If anyone has any thoughts on some tweaks that can be made to make a romance-y vibe, I'd love to hear them! The new TDM will launch next week.
unreality, varied nightmare content
In lieu of the originally-planned Efrain-takedown, we've decided to delay the death of the Prince of Sorrow's Song in order to give him a bit more screen-time, and instead we'll be offsetting all the Dahlia-centric events by giving our good friend Neil a turn to shine! While the specifics of the event are still taking shape and likely won't be set in stone until closer to, we have the basic skeleton and will be using people's plotting ideas to help add to the structure.
The idea is this: one night during sleep, the entire island will be trapped in a nightmare dimension--- one that has a physical structure. A constantly shifting structure comprised of the fears and traumas that plague its inhabitants, but a structure nonetheless. The vast majority will be a landscape of horrors that amalgamate from the nightmare of player characters, allowing for the potential for a bit of memshare and a bit a lot of creative freedom to get weird with it. The center will be an oasis of beautiful dreams designed to trap dreamers in a lotus-eater type haven. And the exits will be around the edges. It will only be by travelling through the nightmares.
Traverse your fears together! Learn more about each other's nightmares! Get an escort from the island's local dreamwalker, or wander into Mortanne's domain --- the beyond. Fall into a euphoric time sink at the nucleus of the dream or try to rescue your friends from their sinister bliss. There's plenty to do!
Starting next month, Efrain will be starting to stir things up in the lead-up to his downfall! We'll be seeing him and his minions show up to kill the vibe at Merrymeet. In order for me to not die of perpetual 15 threads in the demon inbox disease, I will need to seriously manage my thread load for Efrain and maybe try to sneak in some unrelated Efrain threads during January, as I got a little obliterated during casino time. And lastly, the herbs granted by Mortanne to Leon Kennedy have now been cultivated enough to harvest in Paradesium! Enjoy some dubious unnamed herbs! When you eat them... something happens! (It's a good something.)
TDM
All Month
Give it up for our first reprint of TDM #9!In an effort to make the TDM for the next two months slightly less festive, I'm considering giving the event a Valentine's twist, such as morphing the gingerbread curse to chocolate and adjusting the Winter Market somewhat. If anyone has any thoughts on some tweaks that can be made to make a romance-y vibe, I'd love to hear them! The new TDM will launch next week.
LOST IN DREAMLAND
Main Event - January 17th
Content Warnings:unreality, varied nightmare content
In lieu of the originally-planned Efrain-takedown, we've decided to delay the death of the Prince of Sorrow's Song in order to give him a bit more screen-time, and instead we'll be offsetting all the Dahlia-centric events by giving our good friend Neil a turn to shine! While the specifics of the event are still taking shape and likely won't be set in stone until closer to, we have the basic skeleton and will be using people's plotting ideas to help add to the structure.
The idea is this: one night during sleep, the entire island will be trapped in a nightmare dimension--- one that has a physical structure. A constantly shifting structure comprised of the fears and traumas that plague its inhabitants, but a structure nonetheless. The vast majority will be a landscape of horrors that amalgamate from the nightmare of player characters, allowing for the potential for a bit of memshare and a bit a lot of creative freedom to get weird with it. The center will be an oasis of beautiful dreams designed to trap dreamers in a lotus-eater type haven. And the exits will be around the edges. It will only be by travelling through the nightmares.
Traverse your fears together! Learn more about each other's nightmares! Get an escort from the island's local dreamwalker, or wander into Mortanne's domain --- the beyond. Fall into a euphoric time sink at the nucleus of the dream or try to rescue your friends from their sinister bliss. There's plenty to do!
CURRENT METAPLOT
Some handwaving of progress is currently being planned for CitrusQuest to expedite the resolution, so stay tuned for how the gang reaches the crack in the world!Starting next month, Efrain will be starting to stir things up in the lead-up to his downfall! We'll be seeing him and his minions show up to kill the vibe at Merrymeet. In order for me to not die of perpetual 15 threads in the demon inbox disease, I will need to seriously manage my thread load for Efrain and maybe try to sneak in some unrelated Efrain threads during January, as I got a little obliterated during casino time. And lastly, the herbs granted by Mortanne to Leon Kennedy have now been cultivated enough to harvest in Paradesium! Enjoy some dubious unnamed herbs! When you eat them... something happens! (It's a good something.)
pumpkinhollow2024-12-13 12:16 am[Plain Text] TDM #9 - The Weather Outside is Frightful
Apologies for the lack of formatting, I was in a bit of a hurry and I figured it'd be better for it to be available and unformatted than to make folks late. I will do my best to remember to format it later for readability's sake.
( Read More )
( Read More )
pumpkinhollow2024-11-07 11:36 amEntry tags:
Monthly Plotting Post | November
Monthly Plotting Post | November
HAPPY NOVEMBER, GANG!
So I know for a lot of us, life has been pretty stressful. It seems like October really kicked a lot of our butts, and it doesn't seem like this month is off to a particularly strong start either. For me, this is compounded by a 2 week gap in employment/income and the financial stress that comes with that, and I know a lot of you are in similar boats with stressful life events. So as a result, along with holidays on the horizon, for this month I've decided to keep things nice and light and fun!
I also want to take this chance to inform everyone that AC is on your honor this month. You do not have to turn in your AC if you haven't done it already--- just go ahead and add your stipend an a rough estimate of your bonus based on how active you believe you were with the character. I won't check your math, just be honest. And if you already turn your AC in, take an extra 100B on me! You're able to spend your Brass at the casino until the next event comes out on the 16th, so use that money sink. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm sharing it with all of you, so happy birthday, everyone <3
Also, speaking of the holidays, some conversation in the Discord server has led me to the conclusion that at least until the end of the year, we'd be better off on a one-event-per-month schedule. This may change and might incorporate a few mini-events here and there, but honestly I'd prefer to give you guys this time to do some catching up and to focus on player plots. So enjoy!
As we all grapple with real-life horrors, let's make Pumpkin Hollow a place of comfort, joy, and friends that we can all escape to together. (Even if our characters might not feel the same way sometimes ;P ) I'm really happy to share this space with all of you and I'm excited to continue having fun with you all!
Last call for TDM #8! That includes opportunities to become a Balverine, if you're into that, as well as Dark and Ghost type Pokemon friends! You'll have until the beginning of December before the next three months belong to a cute wintery TDM and the autumnal spookies move along, so get 'em while they're hot!
Speaking of next TDM, we already have a general overview of our plans for next month, but please feel free to put ideas for non-holiday winter prompts into our little questions/comments/concerns box below! Specifically we are looking for non-holiday things because our December event will include Pumpkin Hollow's holiday schedule, but also because this TDM will need to fit for December, January, and February. A little festive flair for the various holidays during that time won't hurt, but we're really hoping for some more general winter-themed nonsense. Thanks in advance!
some alcohol use
Last year, the Dance of Celestine was a disaster, but not this year.
While the train is still available and thoroughly warded with magic, for those who wish to take it, there will also be some helpful wagons and an organized hiking group for those who wish to hike up to Crane's Ridge on foot!
For those unaware, the Dance of Celestine is a nationally recognized festival in the Emerald Isles--- religious for some, community based for others--- which is a celebration of fall and of the blessings of the sky as well as the end of the harvest. It is celebrated by going to the highest accessible point to get as close to the sky as possible, which in this case is the peak of Crane's Ridge. There, delicious autumnal foods and things cooked over an open flame will be served, a dance performance will be enjoyed before the dance floor is opened to everyone, and weather-themed kites will be flown above the island. Tie prayers to Celestine and wishes for the future to the kite strings or burn offerings or things to leave in the past in the fire, and dance the night away. A lot of work has gone into ensuring that last year's interruptions are not repeated, but that won't stop a few lighthearted surprises from slipping through.
The first is that Celestine herself will be using the Dance as her opportunity to make her in-person appearance for the season. Take the opportunity to meet the Goddess of Autumn and Sky face to face! Priority will be given to existing CR and her favored, but anyone will be welcome to say hello!
The second is a little surprise from Linette Brenning, a local ghost who has been helped immensely by the offworld population over the last year. With her body found and her cause of death uncovered, she no longer curses the graveyard with the hostile walking dead, but that hasn't stopped her from making skeletons move. She'll be exercising this ability for the first time since the well she died in was sealed with anti-magic wards--- which means that both train-riders and hikers alike will run into these skeletons on parade, who mean to attend to the dance! Don't worry, though, they're just here to party!
The bones of those who died in Pumpkin Hollow before the barrier went up will be in attendance at the Dance of Celestine, as dance partners, for family reunions, and for shenanigans. They aren't able to speak, but they can absolutely play music, dance, hug, fly kites, cook, and make mischief!
Since this is not intended as a plot-revealing event, I currently have no plans to make the skeletons available for questioning nor to play them directly. Again, the focus of this event is shenanigans and fun. While I'm not completely opposed to plot stuff coming up, it's really not my focus, and so you can generally assume that the skeletons don't know much more than any other locals do or aren't feeling up to trying to share. They're just here to have fun!
Additionally, CitrusQuest to the crack in the universe continues!
And lastly, Neil West is still seeking assistance in translating his ill-gotten copies of a few pages of the Necronomicon, which is definitely a good idea and will have no negative repercussions whatsoever.
So I know for a lot of us, life has been pretty stressful. It seems like October really kicked a lot of our butts, and it doesn't seem like this month is off to a particularly strong start either. For me, this is compounded by a 2 week gap in employment/income and the financial stress that comes with that, and I know a lot of you are in similar boats with stressful life events. So as a result, along with holidays on the horizon, for this month I've decided to keep things nice and light and fun!
I also want to take this chance to inform everyone that AC is on your honor this month. You do not have to turn in your AC if you haven't done it already--- just go ahead and add your stipend an a rough estimate of your bonus based on how active you believe you were with the character. I won't check your math, just be honest. And if you already turn your AC in, take an extra 100B on me! You're able to spend your Brass at the casino until the next event comes out on the 16th, so use that money sink. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I'm sharing it with all of you, so happy birthday, everyone <3
Also, speaking of the holidays, some conversation in the Discord server has led me to the conclusion that at least until the end of the year, we'd be better off on a one-event-per-month schedule. This may change and might incorporate a few mini-events here and there, but honestly I'd prefer to give you guys this time to do some catching up and to focus on player plots. So enjoy!
As we all grapple with real-life horrors, let's make Pumpkin Hollow a place of comfort, joy, and friends that we can all escape to together. (Even if our characters might not feel the same way sometimes ;P ) I'm really happy to share this space with all of you and I'm excited to continue having fun with you all!
TDM
All Month
Last call for TDM #8! That includes opportunities to become a Balverine, if you're into that, as well as Dark and Ghost type Pokemon friends! You'll have until the beginning of December before the next three months belong to a cute wintery TDM and the autumnal spookies move along, so get 'em while they're hot!
Speaking of next TDM, we already have a general overview of our plans for next month, but please feel free to put ideas for non-holiday winter prompts into our little questions/comments/concerns box below! Specifically we are looking for non-holiday things because our December event will include Pumpkin Hollow's holiday schedule, but also because this TDM will need to fit for December, January, and February. A little festive flair for the various holidays during that time won't hurt, but we're really hoping for some more general winter-themed nonsense. Thanks in advance!
DANCE OF THE DECAYED
Main Event - November 16th
Content Warnings:some alcohol use
Last year, the Dance of Celestine was a disaster, but not this year.
While the train is still available and thoroughly warded with magic, for those who wish to take it, there will also be some helpful wagons and an organized hiking group for those who wish to hike up to Crane's Ridge on foot!
For those unaware, the Dance of Celestine is a nationally recognized festival in the Emerald Isles--- religious for some, community based for others--- which is a celebration of fall and of the blessings of the sky as well as the end of the harvest. It is celebrated by going to the highest accessible point to get as close to the sky as possible, which in this case is the peak of Crane's Ridge. There, delicious autumnal foods and things cooked over an open flame will be served, a dance performance will be enjoyed before the dance floor is opened to everyone, and weather-themed kites will be flown above the island. Tie prayers to Celestine and wishes for the future to the kite strings or burn offerings or things to leave in the past in the fire, and dance the night away. A lot of work has gone into ensuring that last year's interruptions are not repeated, but that won't stop a few lighthearted surprises from slipping through.
The first is that Celestine herself will be using the Dance as her opportunity to make her in-person appearance for the season. Take the opportunity to meet the Goddess of Autumn and Sky face to face! Priority will be given to existing CR and her favored, but anyone will be welcome to say hello!
The second is a little surprise from Linette Brenning, a local ghost who has been helped immensely by the offworld population over the last year. With her body found and her cause of death uncovered, she no longer curses the graveyard with the hostile walking dead, but that hasn't stopped her from making skeletons move. She'll be exercising this ability for the first time since the well she died in was sealed with anti-magic wards--- which means that both train-riders and hikers alike will run into these skeletons on parade, who mean to attend to the dance! Don't worry, though, they're just here to party!
The bones of those who died in Pumpkin Hollow before the barrier went up will be in attendance at the Dance of Celestine, as dance partners, for family reunions, and for shenanigans. They aren't able to speak, but they can absolutely play music, dance, hug, fly kites, cook, and make mischief!
Since this is not intended as a plot-revealing event, I currently have no plans to make the skeletons available for questioning nor to play them directly. Again, the focus of this event is shenanigans and fun. While I'm not completely opposed to plot stuff coming up, it's really not my focus, and so you can generally assume that the skeletons don't know much more than any other locals do or aren't feeling up to trying to share. They're just here to have fun!
CURRENT METAPLOT
Last month, Aster's casino event (which is still technically ongoing until the new event goes up) has revealed and will continue to reveal the nuances of Aster's personality and domain, and will be providing opportunities for guest villains to potentially be onboarded as Infernal Servants to make occasional appearances. If you'd like to do this with your guest villain, please let me know! All three remaining courts are available and some details will be below. Additionally, CitrusQuest to the crack in the universe continues!
And lastly, Neil West is still seeking assistance in translating his ill-gotten copies of a few pages of the Necronomicon, which is definitely a good idea and will have no negative repercussions whatsoever.