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ph_logs2024-06-08 10:59 pm
pumpkinhollow) wrote in ph_logs2024-06-08 10:59 pm
June Event - Cukey-Scary [The Cucumber Festival]
**Plain text version here.
Almost as abundant as the attendees are, the stalls and booths set up with cucumber-centric meals are easily found. much of it is cheap, even free in many cases, and scattered with them are other booths peddling artisan goods.
The Whirling Wyvern is a ride that stands shortly behind a neat arrangement of picnic tables. Rope fences wind around the ride, giving it a safe distance from any bystanders, and the surrounding area is littered with flour bags, densely stuffed to offer padding.
Watching it even briefly makes it very clear why the padding is needed: the platform, raised about two feet off the ground in the middle, begins to spin its seated riders, rotating faster and faster until they topple, roll, and fall off the sides, into the padding below. People can often be heard nearby making bets with friends to see who can stay on the longest. (It's not a recommended ride for anyone who's been drinking!)
Bumpermobiles is another ride, operating on enchantment instead of electricity and a switch, that may look familiar to some of Pumpkin Hollow's residents from more modern times! Though they lack the distinctive roofed building in favor of a section of paved road closed off with wooden beams, the small carts of the bumpermobiles resemble automobiles of the current time, outfitted with wide-edges to brace the impact they'll inevitably have on one-another! Each one seats two, but are able to be driven on their own, if you'd prefer to focus your conversations on heckling your fellow driver.
Hot Air Balloons are set up not on the Green, but just outside of it, taking a spot just off to the side that's unoccupied by booths or frequent foot-traffic. Each ride carries a maximum of three, not counting the operator, and gives any rider an impressive view of marrow isle for thirty minutes.
The Carousel stands in the center of the Festival Green, chiming cheerful music from the pillar in the center. Horses are joined by the addition of shimmering unicorns, beaked pegasi, and colorfully painted pony-drawn carts (which are crafted to be seats, for those who cannot climb on one of the other mounts).
The Wheel of Chance is a vertical wheel, perched between artisan's booths, offering low-stake prizes for a small payment! 5 Brass allows you to spin the wheel, offering one of ten available prizes:
The Cucumber Festival's Raffle is one of the most coveted opportunities to spend a small sum of brass and win one of the many prizes donated by the community, with all contributions going into community services and upkeep.
Each ticket costs 20 Brass, and each person may purchase up to 5 tickets. There will be three drawings total, granting a small prize, a medium prize, and a grand prize to each winner. One person cannot win more than one prize; if the same person draws a second prize after their first, it will be re-rolled.
To purchase a raffle ticket, please reply to the Pumpkin Hollow mod account comment with RAFFLE TICKETS as the title, also linked here, stating how many tickets your character will be buying. On JUNE 14TH, ticket purchasing will be closed, and the prizes will be rolled!
The prizes are as follows:
The Cucumber Growing Competition is a celebration of the farmers who made all this possible, as well as a flexing of gardening prowess. Each cucumber is measured in weight, length, and color! The prize for the best cucumber in show is simply a ribbon, but among the Pumpkin Hollow farmers, it's quite a statement to have. Career farmers, hobby gardeners, and onlookers alike gather to see the town's farmers' handiwork!
The Cooking Competition follows directly after the Cucumber Growing Competition. While the larger of the vegetables don't make for very good foods, sacrificing flavor for size, the rest of the entries are cut up and used for a variety of dishes. Chefs of all varieties are encouraged to participate to show their culinary prowess!
The Great Turnip Smash-Off is a cheeky jab at the prior year's failed festival. Wielding any tools they like, including but not limited to one's hands themselves, each contestant is allotted three minutes to destroy as many turnips as they possibly can. The prize for the cucumber festival's first annual turnip slayer is a small trophy for bragging rights!
The Water Walk is a fun sport for all ages! Lined up in rows with metal spoons full of water, the participants must walk carefully to the end of the "racetrack" to a small glass of water, with a line denoted on the side at the middle. The first person to fill their glass to or above that mark wins!
The Variety Show occurs throughout the week, offering the stage to many people of assorted talents. The first day is booked up for magicians (sleight of hand, specifically - mages are politely requested to refrain from participation), and on the following Monday, a "feat of strength" competition will showcase the might of those strongest in Pumpkin Hollow! The other days are yet to be filled, and several festival attendants are waiting with clipboards to accept submissions. Many newcomers have talents they've never seen before, so new submissions of the musical, magical, or other remarkable talent alike are not only welcome, but strongly encouraged!
CUKEY-SCARY
Come one, come all!
The long-awaited festival to enjoy vegetables and welcome in the summer months has finally arrived - and this time, completely uninhibited by curses!
Pumpkin Hollow's streets are bright and bustling, adorned with green ribbons, baskets of flowers, and freshly arranged shop stalls to market their goods to the festival-goers as they mill about the streets surrounding the Festival Green. Cheering crowds watch performers perched upon stages, jaunty music played by thoroughly energized bands fills the air, and the smell of freshly-cut cucumbers is carried on the breeze.
Welcome to the Cucumber Festival, a sorely-missed holiday held exclusively on Marrow Isle. It is a festival begun at the town's inception to encourage the newly-established farming community, which was rapidly embraced from then on. Many smaller-scale gardeners dedicate vast amounts of energy in joining farmers to make the festival possible, and this year is more abundant than ever, thanks to the efforts of the new arrivals taking up the farming mantles. The merriment sprawls all over the Festival Green, and even further into the town.
One question yet remains: where to begin?
Pumpkin Hollow's streets are bright and bustling, adorned with green ribbons, baskets of flowers, and freshly arranged shop stalls to market their goods to the festival-goers as they mill about the streets surrounding the Festival Green. Cheering crowds watch performers perched upon stages, jaunty music played by thoroughly energized bands fills the air, and the smell of freshly-cut cucumbers is carried on the breeze.
Welcome to the Cucumber Festival, a sorely-missed holiday held exclusively on Marrow Isle. It is a festival begun at the town's inception to encourage the newly-established farming community, which was rapidly embraced from then on. Many smaller-scale gardeners dedicate vast amounts of energy in joining farmers to make the festival possible, and this year is more abundant than ever, thanks to the efforts of the new arrivals taking up the farming mantles. The merriment sprawls all over the Festival Green, and even further into the town.
One question yet remains: where to begin?
Cucumber Celebrations Commence!
Copious Cucumber Cuisine
With the cucumber harvest more bountiful this year than it'd ever been, the booths have a wide assortment of offerings - cucumber chips, fried pickles, bowls of salad, breads with chunks of vegetable in them, fritters, among the wide tide of other culinary delights. If you can make it with a cucumber, these people have!Almost as abundant as the attendees are, the stalls and booths set up with cucumber-centric meals are easily found. much of it is cheap, even free in many cases, and scattered with them are other booths peddling artisan goods.
Challenges of Chance and Cheer
As much as Hollowites enjoy their food, there's rarely an opportunity that they pass up to incorporate games or rides into festivities, and the Cucumber Festival has an extremely wide variety to offer!The Whirling Wyvern is a ride that stands shortly behind a neat arrangement of picnic tables. Rope fences wind around the ride, giving it a safe distance from any bystanders, and the surrounding area is littered with flour bags, densely stuffed to offer padding.
Watching it even briefly makes it very clear why the padding is needed: the platform, raised about two feet off the ground in the middle, begins to spin its seated riders, rotating faster and faster until they topple, roll, and fall off the sides, into the padding below. People can often be heard nearby making bets with friends to see who can stay on the longest. (It's not a recommended ride for anyone who's been drinking!)
Bumpermobiles is another ride, operating on enchantment instead of electricity and a switch, that may look familiar to some of Pumpkin Hollow's residents from more modern times! Though they lack the distinctive roofed building in favor of a section of paved road closed off with wooden beams, the small carts of the bumpermobiles resemble automobiles of the current time, outfitted with wide-edges to brace the impact they'll inevitably have on one-another! Each one seats two, but are able to be driven on their own, if you'd prefer to focus your conversations on heckling your fellow driver.
Hot Air Balloons are set up not on the Green, but just outside of it, taking a spot just off to the side that's unoccupied by booths or frequent foot-traffic. Each ride carries a maximum of three, not counting the operator, and gives any rider an impressive view of marrow isle for thirty minutes.
The Carousel stands in the center of the Festival Green, chiming cheerful music from the pillar in the center. Horses are joined by the addition of shimmering unicorns, beaked pegasi, and colorfully painted pony-drawn carts (which are crafted to be seats, for those who cannot climb on one of the other mounts).
The Wheel of Chance is a vertical wheel, perched between artisan's booths, offering low-stake prizes for a small payment! 5 Brass allows you to spin the wheel, offering one of ten available prizes:
- a cucumber, covered in batter and fried, on a stick.
- a goldfish in a decorative bowl.
- a pair of pants, with several varieties to choose from.
- a deck of playing cards.
- a fine leather-bound notebook.
- a set of six shot glasses.
- a bottle of wine.
- a basket of assorted fruits.
- a glass-blown animal native to Marrow Isle, palm-sized, in assorted species and colors.
- 10 Brass. Double your money!
The Cucumber Festival's Raffle is one of the most coveted opportunities to spend a small sum of brass and win one of the many prizes donated by the community, with all contributions going into community services and upkeep.
Each ticket costs 20 Brass, and each person may purchase up to 5 tickets. There will be three drawings total, granting a small prize, a medium prize, and a grand prize to each winner. One person cannot win more than one prize; if the same person draws a second prize after their first, it will be re-rolled.
To purchase a raffle ticket, please reply to the Pumpkin Hollow mod account comment with RAFFLE TICKETS as the title, also linked here, stating how many tickets your character will be buying. On JUNE 14TH, ticket purchasing will be closed, and the prizes will be rolled!
The prizes are as follows:
- 1st (small): a telescope, with elegant engravings in the metal, donated by Elias Coldwood.
- 2nd (medium): a set of two enchanted tea puppies, one glass and one metal, donated by Neil West.
- 3rd (grand prize): a basket-hilt sword, well-weighted, masterfully crafted, and delightfully ornate, donated by Dahlia Leeds.
Contestants Convene for Competition
Of course, what's a festival without a little bit of friendly competition! Over the week of celebrations, the Cucumber Festival hosts the following activities for any and all participants interested in joining in the fun.The Cucumber Growing Competition is a celebration of the farmers who made all this possible, as well as a flexing of gardening prowess. Each cucumber is measured in weight, length, and color! The prize for the best cucumber in show is simply a ribbon, but among the Pumpkin Hollow farmers, it's quite a statement to have. Career farmers, hobby gardeners, and onlookers alike gather to see the town's farmers' handiwork!
The Cooking Competition follows directly after the Cucumber Growing Competition. While the larger of the vegetables don't make for very good foods, sacrificing flavor for size, the rest of the entries are cut up and used for a variety of dishes. Chefs of all varieties are encouraged to participate to show their culinary prowess!
The Great Turnip Smash-Off is a cheeky jab at the prior year's failed festival. Wielding any tools they like, including but not limited to one's hands themselves, each contestant is allotted three minutes to destroy as many turnips as they possibly can. The prize for the cucumber festival's first annual turnip slayer is a small trophy for bragging rights!
The Water Walk is a fun sport for all ages! Lined up in rows with metal spoons full of water, the participants must walk carefully to the end of the "racetrack" to a small glass of water, with a line denoted on the side at the middle. The first person to fill their glass to or above that mark wins!
The Variety Show occurs throughout the week, offering the stage to many people of assorted talents. The first day is booked up for magicians (sleight of hand, specifically - mages are politely requested to refrain from participation), and on the following Monday, a "feat of strength" competition will showcase the might of those strongest in Pumpkin Hollow! The other days are yet to be filled, and several festival attendants are waiting with clipboards to accept submissions. Many newcomers have talents they've never seen before, so new submissions of the musical, magical, or other remarkable talent alike are not only welcome, but strongly encouraged!
Carnival Complications
Of course, not all things can go entirely peacefully in Pumpkin Hollow's festivities, and the Cucumber Festival has never been exempt from this. Though the prior years' incident was far more disruptive to the festival's celebrations, several things begin to crop up over the span of the week.
The Whack-a-Mole Game, during the first night, becomes the first item to start experiencing a mild haunting. Though the specters only make themselves known when the participant is alone, there's a distinct feeling of guilt that comes with each smack, not unlike stepping on a cat's tail without realizing it. Instead of the triumphant jingle that the machine lets out when the game is complete, a stark silence settles in, as though the entire festival has frozen in time. Only then does a whisper, no louder than a breeze, brush past your ear.
Rolling a D3, the spirits haunting the whack-a-mole machine will tell you the following:
(Mod Note: the information given is always going to be about someone nearby. When tagging into someone's top-level with the Whack-a-Mole Game who's got secrets or gossip, provide a piece of information about your character that the spirits might've said! Additionally, feel free to request a piece of information about an NPC, major or minor. For a lie, anything goes. Have fun with it!)
The Candle-Shooting Game is the next to become haunted, though the haunting is significantly more straightforward. In an act of simple mischief, the flame will occasionally withstand blasts from the water gun that should have surely snuffed it, or the flame will go out just as you line your shot up. These spirits are aiming to ruin this particular game, but not your night.
There is a sign on the double doors that make up the entrance, which reads, "Admission is free, but you must enter in pairs." And true to its word, the doors will not open unless two different people take each door's handle. Otherwise it is definitively locked.
So, choose a companion and go explore! What's the worst that could happen? All you have to do is open the door.
Capricious Crashers
As the festival goes on, it seems that some poltergeists have seen fit to invite themselves to the party. Two games are affected, with varying results.The Whack-a-Mole Game, during the first night, becomes the first item to start experiencing a mild haunting. Though the specters only make themselves known when the participant is alone, there's a distinct feeling of guilt that comes with each smack, not unlike stepping on a cat's tail without realizing it. Instead of the triumphant jingle that the machine lets out when the game is complete, a stark silence settles in, as though the entire festival has frozen in time. Only then does a whisper, no louder than a breeze, brush past your ear.
Rolling a D3, the spirits haunting the whack-a-mole machine will tell you the following:
- a secret that isn't yours to have about someone in town.
- a piece of gossip, a shocking recent happening that may or may not be getting around in whispers.
- a lie, carefully crafted to impact the way you see one of your fellow townsfolk.
(Mod Note: the information given is always going to be about someone nearby. When tagging into someone's top-level with the Whack-a-Mole Game who's got secrets or gossip, provide a piece of information about your character that the spirits might've said! Additionally, feel free to request a piece of information about an NPC, major or minor. For a lie, anything goes. Have fun with it!)
The Candle-Shooting Game is the next to become haunted, though the haunting is significantly more straightforward. In an act of simple mischief, the flame will occasionally withstand blasts from the water gun that should have surely snuffed it, or the flame will go out just as you line your shot up. These spirits are aiming to ruin this particular game, but not your night.
Cards and Consequences
On the outskirts of the festival, there is a strange building set up. Just a small shack, decorated with celestial trappings and a mysterious air. Above the door, a sign painted black with gold lettering says "HOUSE OF CARDS". Is it a funhouse? A fortune teller? No one's sure who set it up. Perhaps another effort of Captain Tuttle or something.There is a sign on the double doors that make up the entrance, which reads, "Admission is free, but you must enter in pairs." And true to its word, the doors will not open unless two different people take each door's handle. Otherwise it is definitively locked.
So, choose a companion and go explore! What's the worst that could happen? All you have to do is open the door.
| CONTENT WARNINGS: mild manipulation, unreality, snakes, possible character death. |
no subject
"Yeah, yeah..." Crichton answers dryly, "it usually is."
Well, here goes nothing. Crichton puts his hand on the door, too, and it finally opens. Who wants to go in first?
"Age before beauty?"
no subject
"I have to deal with two rogues constantly getting me into ridiculous situations, I don't need that with a wizard too." And with that he stalks through the door...
.... and right off the edge of a cliff. Fortunately he levitates so he ends up standing midair with his arms crossed, turning to glare at Crichton because its started already. Maybe Crichton will redeem himself by falling to his death, there's always hope.
Picking Sword
"W-whoa!" he cries as he teeters on the edge of that cliff. Just Imbros's luck, Crichton doesn't fall. "Whew. That was a close one."
When he turns around and finds the exit missing, he plants his hands on his hips with annoyance, but not surprise. What the hell else should he have expected?
"Looks like the only way out is through. Hmm...." He considers the four doors, and then starts pointing at them one by one saying,"...eenie meenie miny moe..." And through the Sword door they will go...
He's bracing for another long drop off a short cliff but... no. It's actually just a big echoing room. That doesn't mean he trusts it to be safe.
"I picked the door. You want dibs on... whatever this is?"
no subject
Hopes shattered he levitates back to the ledge, "Humans are the most obnoxious species in all the realms."
Only a human would be that lucky. Luck isn't even a concept that exists except for them. No elves or orcs or kobolds have the same knack for accidentally being in the right place or having everything go their way while having no idea what they're doing. Which is probably why they're so delicious, but that won't stop him from grumbling.
Swords would not have been his first choice, especially being unarmed. But fine- he follows Crichton in, floating along silently. The man gets all the way to the end while Imbros gets distracted by the images on the ceiling wondering if they have any significance.
"Endless doors. Curious." Technically he could probably levitate over there, but there's no way to leave without choosing a door. He ponders, settling, appropriately, on the orb. Picking it up the stand depresses, chain lowering the door with a dramatic thud at the end.
Grabbing the orb with a tentacle he wraps it up and tucks it away safely, at least he's getting something out of this venture.
Imbros takes a single step into this new space and recoils instantly with a hiss. The lights are far too bright, the hum of machinery abrasively bouncing around his skull.
Pick Wait
And then he's hit with that fluorescent lights. Hold on, he's not actually back in Kansas now, right? His jaw drops. A subway station? A modern subway?
"How the hell did we get inside a subway station...?" he mumbles to himself, letting his fingers trail over the the swinging handholds of the car one by one as he enters.
"Guess we wait for the next stop and see where that lands us?"
Spinning gets us #3
Unlike the actual subway, the doors remain open waiting for him rather than leaving him there to wait for the next one. The jingle plays again and he hesitantly follows Crichton inside, every bit of him tense and expecting to have to fight something maybe even the concept of travel itself.
The train takes off and Imbros nearly falls on his ass, doing a lot of awkward flailing and psionic force pushes to stay stable because as it turns out if you levitate in something that's moving, it just keeps going and you stay in place. Which also almost causes the back door to smack right into him as the train rushes to meet him.
Needless to say he is not having a good time and as soon as the doors open he is out of there. He never wants to see another, whatever Crichton called this thing, Subway? ever again. Without even waiting for him, Imbros yanks open the next door and storms out.
His damaged pride is somewhat soothed by the room he finds himself in - the fortune telling room he'd expected from the start of this journey. The objects themselves are interesting, and he picks up one of the crystals before noticing the wheel.
"If this is anything like the one in the festival, we're both about to get quite a few fried pickles." He approaches it, walking instead of floating, his leather bottomed sandals barely making a sound against the star-map rug. This is actually a nice consolation prize, he'd wanted to spin that wheel, but didn't have the necessary money to do so. Now he gets to. Giving it a rather strong spin for how spindly his arms are, he stands back to watch it, landing on the world symbol.
Re: Spinning gets us #3
"You know, you might want to put your feet on the ground before..." Whoops. Too late.
Crichton doubles over in laughter, cackling like a hyena as Imbros flails to keep his balance. He's leaning heavily on the handlebar, wiping at the tears in his eyes when the doors open, so he's several paces behind getting off the train.
"Whao..." This place is beautiful. The light, the curtains, the rug... he's really tempted to take that rug, honestly.
"I like fried pickles."
Round and round she goes, where she stops...? Huh. A globe symbol. Is that good? Seems like it actually might be. Through the next door is that same cliff they had met at the start. The air is fresh and clear. He takes a long breath in, savoring it as a feeling of accomplishment fills him.
Then he turns to check behind them and, wouldn't you know it? There's the exit. "Hey. I think we won."
no subject
"If that's what happens I'll graciously donate my share." He's pretty sure that the smell of fried pickles is in his clothes now. He's going to need to wash them in lemongrass to get that scent out.
For a moment he's annoyed, thinking that they just went in a circle and have to start all over - but then he realizes what's actually happening and the tension leaves him. For the first time he notices the breeze, that he can hear the sound of the waves, and he actually takes in the view without thinking about anything else.
"I.. admittedly did not think this was something we could win." The feeling of accomplishment is new, especially when it's not accompanied by smug superiority. Is this how humans feel all the time?
"What an odd experience. And we .. get a wish?" Which is exciting, but they have to agree. Him and Crichton. Agree. On a wish. "I'm going to presume wishing to go home is out of the question. Maybe something .. tangible."
no subject
His teasing smile dims into something softer and more genuine when Imbros admits that he doubted they could win this. "I'll be honest, I thought the same. I'm used to things not really going my way." He has to resist the urge to pat Imbros on the back. He's not sure that would go his way, either. (Look! He can learn!)
"Yeah, anything we can agree on. Going home seems pretty out of the question or else others would have done it, right? Maybe... I don't know about you but I could go for some updated clothes. What about wishing for a custom wardrobe?"
no subject
"Clothing?" He looks down at himself, linen clothes that are not designed for someone as stick-skinny as he is, the shirt constantly hanging at weird angles off his shoulders. He has worn the same outfit for the past 190 years in his world so clothes do not rate highly on his list of concerns. But having something that fits might be nice. Oh and one other thing, "If that gets my satchel back, I'll agree to that."
He knows it'll be empty but he desperately needs to be able to carry more books.
no subject
"Okay. I think we can work with that. Let's see... we gotta dummy proof this." Says the dummy. "With these kinds of open ended wishes things you have be really specific. How about, we wish for our most worn outfit and all the matching accessories. That work?"
no subject
"I assure you, you will think it's worse."
Oh, this idiot is actually a lot more clever than he thought he was. Typical human, surprisingly competent when it counts.
"That seems like it would work." He turns that over in his head trying to poke holes in it and look for loopholes. "Did you die in yours? I have a suspicion we're about to receive some very blood soaked garments."
no subject
"You know..." he thinks back for a minute, "I actually wasn't? Huh." Let it be known that he seems remarkably undisturbed by the notion of their clothes arriving bloodied. He's woken up wearing worse.
"So, what do you think we do? Say 'I wish' and just wait?"
no subject
"I'm going to assume this is different than the spells I'm familiar with and we don't need to do any component casting. So perhaps that's all there is to it."
Well he's ready to take one for the team.
"I wish for each of our most worn outfits from our respective realms, and all associated accoutrements with them."
no subject
"I'm with you. I think we get this one for free."
He waits and watches, still expecting some second shoe-drop moment. But the only thing that drops are his literal shoes (well, boots) along with a whole pile of his leather clothing and gear. Imbros's clothing and gear fall right alongside it.
"Hey! What do you know? It worked!"
no subject
Tentatively he picks up his leather robe, then makes an excited squealing noise when beneath it is a black leather satchel, held closed with a silver clasp adorned with a red enamel sigil that looks like a lightning bolt with steam lines.
Reaching into it, he finds it empty, which is disappointing, but it's still better than he had previously.
"Well this was useful and productive." Who knew snarking at someone for a few hours would pay off like this. "My thanks for the suggestion."
no subject
Holy shit, that squeal was actually really cute. What the hell? Squids aren't supposed to be cute. He needs to go get his head checked again.
"You missed that bag, didn't you? It's nice. And, yeah, sure, you're welcome. Thanks for playing along with me. I think I'm going to go find a place to change into these. Have a good rest of the festival. I'm sure I'll see you around town."
Wrap
"In my realm it's an opening to an infinite pocket dimension where I store my books. Four-thousand and thirty-two of them to be precise. But even just having this as a normal bag is better than I previously had, I've been tucking scraps of paper into every pocket."
What's not said is that the Oddish then gets into his pockets and eats half his notes when he's not looking.
"Same, I'm sure we'll run into each other again."
Perhaps at a ritual sacrifice, who can say.