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[pumpkinhollow]

Welcome to Pumpkin Hollow

Existing in the space between life and death, what was and what could be, you are granted a new life in a small town on a chilly island which suffers from a terrible curse. Start anew here, uncover mysteries with your neighbors, and rub elbows with enigmatic organizations, and you may yet discover what it will take to escape purgatory.

May your lantern always stay lit.
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Pumpkin Hollow is a tongue-in-cheek horror comedy with a collaborative mystery for players to unravel and several fully interactable NPCs.

New TDMs bi-monthly!

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Premise Community Standards Worldbuilding Economy Communities Resources Apply to Join!

Premise

It has been a very strange day. Or… had it been a day? Perhaps longer? It’s difficult to wrap your head around exactly how much time has passed. What you do know is that a great deal has happened to you over a very short time and not all of it feels quite as real as it should. As you sit on a bench of old wooden board, salt assailing your eyes and nose, you distract yourself from the cold chill beginning to set in by letting your mind take you elsewhere. You retrace your steps, trying to make sense of it all.

You woke up on a well-loved and comfortable brown sofa in an unfamiliar room, beige walls and ugly, durable carpet. A heavy, woven blanket depicting a tapestry-like image of a horse and buggy covered most of your body. Across the room you see a desk of beautifully polished dark wood, covered in papers and knickknacks of all shapes and sizes. Your eyes linger on them, taking in the sheer amount of them, and the fact that most of them had to do with horses for some reason. The cork bulletin board behind the desk was adorned with a calendar that was scribbled with handwritten notes, as well as papercraft snowflakes and a snowman that looked as though they’d been there much longer than a single winter.

Sitting up, the world swayed sickly as you tried to piece together what came before. The exact circumstances evaded you then, but the emotions persisted like waking from a terrible dream you can’t recall. Whatever it was, the dread that lingered in the back of your mind gave you the distinct impression that it had not been pretty.

Before you could attempt in earnest to reconstruct your memories, a door opened with a soft creak and brought with it the rich scent of chocolate. A woman entered, her long white hair tied back into a messy low bun, thick-knit black cardigan contrasting starkly against the pale strands. Her facial features made it difficult to discern her age, but she couldn’t be more than just a bit older than you. She pressed a warm mug into your hands, insisting you drink the hot cocoa within, and took a seat at the desk. Once you seemed a bit more settled in, she began to explain.

“You died,” she started, as casual as if she was telling you that you’d stubbed your toe or misplaced a pen. After a beat, she elaborated, “Or at least you may have. It’s not certain yet. You could very well pull through. That’s why I’m here--- to help you determine that.”

She went on to explain that you’d been in a near-death experience, one that was slowly starting to piece together in your memories. The chances of your survival were extremely poor but with a glimmer of hope --- a glimmer which she could offer you the chance to bring to light. The terms of this offer: you must take up a new life, in a far away land, find purpose there, and seek out the path to your own salvation. Do this and you will be returned to your old life, having survived your ordeal. Decline, and accept your fate with no other option but to move on to the afterlife.

You obviously had questions. Anyone would. But the woman refused to provide many of the answers you sought, not even her name, much less what role she has in all this or what your actual goal will be when you arrive. She claimed that she could not tell you because finding out for yourself would be part of the process and that everything would make sense in time.

It certainly hasn’t started to yet.

Having accepted your fate, whether begrudgingly or with enthusiasm, you open your eyes once more to find yourself here, on the swaying, ramshackle ferry where you are now. The vessel carves its way through choppy black waves, like shards of broken obsidian, bearing you to an island on the horizon. Pockets of fog catch on the jagged gray cliffs and the small, stocky mountains. There is one low shore on the island and a hectic marina there that bustles with fishing boats conveying their cargo ashore.

The ferryman silently docks his vessel and gestures for you to pay your fare. You look down at yourself and realize that you have nothing from your previous life. You are dressed only in a simple linen shirt and trousers, but in your pocket, you feel a weight. Two brass coins. The moment you drop them into the toll box, the ferryman moves to lower the ramp.

Marrow Isle greets you with a stiff ocean wind.

Stepping onto the pier, you are quickly and enthusiastically greeted by a short, chipper, loud-mouthed man who calls himself Yorick. He gleefully walks you into the nearby town, marked by a swinging plank sign on a wrought iron lamp post with the words “Pumpkin Hollow” burned into the wood. “It’s good that you’re here,” he prattles. “Not many people come to the island anymore, you know. I think word of the vampire outbreak from a few years ago reached the mainland, and a lot of people left after that incident with the sewer men. By the way, I wouldn’t stand too close to any open manholes downtown. They’re probably gone now, but you can’t be too careful!”

As he explains the town’s plight with more and more glowing reviews of its recent events, he ushers you through the various shops and public service buildings of downtown until reaching Town Hall. He takes you directly to the office of the mayor of Pumpkin Hollow. The desk inside is fitted with a placard reading “Mayor Hellen Poe,” and is manned the most exhausted-looking woman you have ever seen. Dark circles hang beneath her stormy eyes and strands of curly brown hair have fallen loose from her haphazard attempt at a braided bun. Yorick is extremely pleased with himself as he proudly explains that “another one arrived from the ferry today,” and Mayor Poe’s face seems to show just the slightest sign of relief as she asks you to take a seat.

“Thank the gods,” she muttered. “I don’t know how you or the others like you found this place, but thank the gods you did. I’m sure you have questions, so let me explain as best as I can.”

“Our town is dying, but also it cannot die. For decades now we have been plagued with supernatural activity, hauntings, mysterious disappearances, and all other manner of unexplainable things. It started small but has since escalated to a breaking point. The few of us that remain are trapped. We cannot leave, as the only vessel that can sail more than a mile out is that accursed ferry, which seems to be just as much a part of all this paranormal madness as the rest of it. Anyone who has tried to sail past the ring of darker waters around our island has their vessel destroyed. And yet somehow, the usual trappings of what death entails elude us.. Anyone who dies is shortly restored to life in an albeit disheveled state somewhere on the island. Poor Yorick has probably died at least a dozen times now.”

“Because of all the deaths we had prior to losing our ability to properly die and the droves of residents that left the isle when things grew too intense, the remaining population is both unable to perish and unable to escape. It’s unsustainable, and yet we have no choice. We need farmers, fishmongers, blacksmiths, doctors, anything. But now the ferry is bringing people here. People who need a place to go, and I believe we can help each other.”

“There is a tavern up the way. The Oak & Iron. Old and spacious. You are welcome to stay there on the town’s dime while you get settled. However, if you choose to take up work of any kind, we will also assist you with basics. Tools, housing, transport, land if necessary. And of course we’ll pay you.” At this point, she catches herself, not wanting to ramble and certainly not wanting to beg. The situation is obviously quite desperate.

“Things to think about,” the mayor concludes, handing you a map. “Take this, and ask Yorick if you need directions. The tavern is on the corner of Mill Street. They know the drill. And please do let me know if you’re interested in work.”

From there, you are left to your own devices and return to the sleepy cobblestone streets of Pumpkin Hollow. Welcome to your new life. How will you begin?

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Pumpkin Hollow is a horror-comedy game with an underlying mystery for players to collaboratively solve. Inspired by tongue-in-cheek horror like Welcome to Nightvale and Fallen London, Pumpkin Hollow aims to combine blithe humor with creeping dread in a way that allows players to get the best of both worlds. Opportunities for sleuthing, slice of life, adventure, and action are woven into the fabric of this lore-rich horror game so that you can pick your poison, combined with branching paths to create an array of options for how you play the game.

In addition to monthly game-wide events, Pumpkin Hollow also features random events for individuals or small groups that may be influenced by your job, location, or alliances. We also have several fully interactable plot characters amid our colorful cast of NPCs. Interview them and swap clues with your neighbors to uncover the dark secrets of Marrow Isle and find your way home!

To get started, the main things you'll want to read over are the Rules, Applications, Taken Page, Economy, Locations, and Death. Don't feel obligated to read all of the subsections under Economy-- you can take your time with that as long as you get the gist. If you have any questions, your friendly mod duo is here to help! Hit up our FAQ or chat with us directly on Discord and we'll get back to you ASAP. [Note: links will be added to this page when they are ready! We are still under construction.]

Keep your lantern lit, and good luck!

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Community Standards

General Game Rules

Here at Pumpkin Hollow, we have a handful of common sense rules that we require players to adhere to. They are as follows:

- The Usual. Don't god-mod, info-mod, powergame, ect. Don't try to force or coerce other players into situations that make them uncomfortable. Harassment and bigotry are strictly prohibited.

- Stay Informed. It is the responsibility of all players to make themselves aware of all rules and expectations, and maintain game duties. We will do our due diligence by making sure all the information you need is available to you, please do yours by using it!

- This Tall to Ride. Players must be over the age of 18 to play. Pumpkin Hollow will feature a variety of horror content and is NSFW-friendly, and we don't feel comfortable being responsible for curating an age-appropriate experience for minors.

- Strike System & Bans. We operate on a standard three-strike system for failure to adhere to the rules. Mods reserve the right to issue multiple strikes or an automatic ban for behavior deemed especially severe. We will always do our best to discuss issues with players in an informal capacity before taking disciplinary action, if we're able and it's appropriate to the situation.

- Reader Safety. Because Pumpkin Hollow is a horror game, it's important that as a courtesy to other players, tags containing sensitive content be labeled prominently with a content warning. We have a list below of what we consider "sensitive content", and players can request things be added to the list if needed. Everyone has the right to make informed decisions about what they read and when!

- Communication is Imperative. Roleplay is an inherently collaborative hobby. As such, we expect straightforward, good-faith communication from players. If you run into an issue with another player, please do your best to resolve it with maturity and compassion. And don't be afraid to reach out to your mod team! We can't keep an eye on everything, and your communication is valuable!

- Be Good to Each Other. At the end of the day, respect is the most important aspect of any community-driven space. Be respectful to one another, always act in good faith, and have fun!

Sensitive Content

As previously mentioned, some content may not be safe for all players or in all circumstances. Tags or threads that contain these subjects should have a prominently displayed warning, such as in the title of the comment. The topics in question are:

- Self-Harm (self-injury, eating disorders, ect.)
- Suicide or suicidal ideation
- Gratuitous violence, gore, graphic injury
- Body Horror
- Needles
- Drug abuse or alcoholism
- Domestic abuse
- Kidnapping
- Character death
- Pregnancy/childbirth
- Miscarriage
- NSFW
- Animal abuse and/or death
- Ageplay fetish (i.e. DDLG and associated words)
- Pedophilia, adult/minor romantic or sexual relationships
- Incest
- Child abuse
- Bigotry of any kind (includes fatphobia)
- Sexual assault/non-con/dub-con
- Bestiality/zoophilia (does not apply to fantasy creatures capable of giving consent)

Banned Content

In addition to sensitive content, we have a short list topics that we do not allow to appear in threads. No judgement to those who enjoy RP with these topics, we just don't feel comfortable hosting them in Pumpkin Hollow. PLEASE NOTE: this does not mean that these subjects cannot be discussed ICly or be a part of your character's backstory, we just ask that your characters do not participate in these activities in Pumpkin Hollow. The activities in question are:

- Pedophilia, or any sexual or romantic relationship between an adult and a minor
- Incest
- Animal abuse
- Child abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Bigotry of any kind
- Sexual assault, non-con, sexual violence
- Bestiality/zoophilia

Thank you for understanding!

Please reach out to us if you have any questions regarding our community standards. You'll be asked to consent to these terms in your application, so if there's anything you're unsure about, hit us up at our FAQ, found under the Resources tab!

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Worldbuilding

Relevant Links

CAST ✦ LOCATIONS ✦ ORGANIZATIONS✦ ZODIAC✦ DEATH

Overview

Pumpkin Hollow is set in a fictional world similar to Earth. The setting is reminiscent of early-Industrial Revolution Europe, with a very slight steampunk edge. A good example would be Studio Ghibli's "Castle in the Sky". No real-world locations or existing fictional locations exist within the world of Pumpkin Hollow.

Common technology includes rudimentary electricity, oil lamps, dated indoor plumbing, telegrams, and the occasional rotary phone. The town also has a short trolley route and a small railroad loop. Airships exist, but cannot be found on Marrow Isle, and early forms of cars exist but are seldom seen on Marrow Isle due to the size and isolation of the island.

Denizens of Pumpkin Hollow are somewhat accustomed to paranormal activity. In this world, proper magic is not unheard of (though somewhat rare). Encountering non-humans is an infrequent but not terribly remarkable occurrence. At worst, those who are non-human or have some kind of power might be treated with wariness.

The primary religion on Pumpkin Hollow does not have a proper name for itself, but is so widespread in the world that it hardly seems necessary to bother. Its followers are sometimes referred to as Children of the Earth. It has its roots in the calendar and wheel of the year, venerating the seasons and the natural world. It worships four goddesses who each represent a season, an element, and a realm of the natural world. More on this can be learned through the Sacred Roots Temple of Our Four Earthly Mothers, sometimes called the Temple of Seasons, which is the lone church on Marrow Isle.

Pumpkin Hollow has only been established on Marrow Isle for approximately 50 years. Due to its propensity for paranormal activity, life here has always been a bit of a struggle, though its troubles have intensified significantly over the past few decades. While mostly safe during the day, the setting of the sun marks the height of the danger. Many places on the island observe the suggested curfew very strictly. It is particularly dangerous to be caught in complete darkness, giving rise to a unique Pumpkin Hollow send-off. The phrase "keep your lantern lit" is obviously quite literal, but also is a more general warning to be cautious, and the phrase "may your lantern always be lit" is local slang wishing someone safety.

For additional information on the island, its inhabitants, and its quirks, the links above will prove useful as you learn more about your new surroundings. May your lantern always be lit!

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Economy

Relevant Links

ACTIVITY CHECK ✦ BANK ✦ JOBS✦ SHOPS

Economy Overview

Pumpkin Hollow runs on a currency called Brass, so named for the brass coins imprinted with images of the Four Goddesses. You will have to pay for everything you want or need here--- food, clothing, upgrades to your tools, various weapons, transportation, special items, and more.

Universal basic income is guaranteed. We’re cursed, not capitalists! Everyone receives a stipend each month of 100 Brass. The first is given when you arrive, and each one after is distributed when you turn in your Community Engagement Survey (otherwise known as “Activity Check”) to Town Hall.

Want to make more money than the monthly stipend? The best way to do that is by getting a job. Pumpkin Hollow is looking for economic growth, so Town Hall is giving away starter packages and incentives to get people started if they want to work, filling important roles in the town. Anyone with one of these jobs can start earning bonuses to their monthly stipend. Your profits will increase based on your engagement in the community--- the more time you spend interacting with others, the better your reputation among the townspeople, and the more business you receive.

As such, when you turn in your Activity Check each month, you will have an opportunity to turn in links to up to ten RP threads. Submitted threads must have at least 10 replies dated within that month, but for each thread submitted, you will earn an extra 50 Brass, meaning you can earn up to an extra 500B a month, just by spending time with your fellow residents. Make upgrades to your business for even higher bonuses!

Of course, some people may not want to work. Perhaps working just isn’t your style, you haven’t decided what would be a good fit for you as a job, or you just can’t be bothered to deal with accounting. Should you choose to remain unemployed there will always be space for you at the Oak and Iron, Pumpkin Hollow’s most established inn, and you will still receive your 100B stipend at each Activity Check.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that your monthly Activity Check is a REQUIREMENT for membership to Pumpkin Hollow, and players who do not turn in their Activity Check by the deadline will not receive stipends for their characters that month, creating IC problems for your character as well as OOCly putting you on activity probation (meaning that if you miss the next check, you will be swept).

We know that money management in Pumpkin Hollow can be tricky at first or a lot to keep track of, which is why our Bank page has a ledger via Google Sheets to allow players and mods to work together to keep tabs on finances. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to answer, so please don’t hesitate to ask!

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Communities

There are three communities under the Pumpkin Hollow umbrella. The first two are members only and will require you to request access, but our meme community is open to the public!

IN CHARACTER OUT OF CHARACTER MEMES

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Resources

A directory of links to miscellaneous useful pages, assembled here for your convenience. TAKEN CHARACTERS HIATUS & DROP FAQ ACTIVITY CHECK CALENDAR BANK BIRTHDAY CHART

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Moderator Contact

|| Rose | WeirdAlchemy#9271 || daranon | discord: daranon || Game Plurk | @PumpkinHollow
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