Locations

[pumpkinhollow]

MARROW ISLE

questionable real estate

A craggy, spacious island, surrounded by the dark, choppy waves of the Black Jade Sea. This strange island and its surrounding waters hold many mysteries and secrets, as well as fertile farmland and a wealth of natural resources. Explore towering bluffs, rocky hills, thick pine woodlands, lonely beaches, sprawling countryside, and a once-bustling community of hardworking people. However, beware of the strange happenings that take place here, and watch your step after dark.

PUMPKIN HOLLOW

Literal ghost town

At the center, a condensed industrial town with cobblestone streets and tudor-style buildings all piled on top of each other in a way that seems almost a bit precarious, clearly outfitted for a much larger population than it currently has. At its outskirts, sparse cottages and farmhouses dotting a brisk but charming countryside. And of course, overlooking the town, an aging but austere mansion, enveloped in the edges of the woodlands. This town is where you will begin to make your new life, so get comfortable! You’ll likely be here a while.

DOWNTOWN

curfew in place for your safety

The heart of the town. Somewhat uneven roads paved with gray stones curl less-than-sensibly through a confusing but charming commercial district where various shops and markets can be found, along with the all-important Magpie National Bank. Not too far from this financial institution, you’ll also find Town Hall, a rather unremarkable brick building where the mayor and town council spend their days. And then, a short walk beyond that will reveal the Temple of Seasons, the quaint village church where the troubled townspeople seek the wisdom and comfort of the Four Goddesses. Additionally, there are large rows of tightly-packed townhouses and a few apartment complexes, some elegant and some ragged, to be found here. On the corner of main street, very prominently displayed, there is a very old but well-kept tavern inn called the Oak & Iron. Downtown Pumpkin Hollow is packed quite densely with much to explore, but try not to stay out after dark.

NORTHWEST HOLLOW

are there fewer screams or is it just harder to hear them?

As implied by the name, the Northwestern end of town is home to sleepier streets dotted with cottages and larger homes, as well as numerous plots of farmland beyond that, each with its own small farmhouse. Generally this is considered a safer place to live than downtown, though it’s hard to say whether that’s really true. The distance from the clinics in town does cause one to wonder. It is, however, inarguably quite beautiful, with short walls of stacked flagstone serving as fences for yards and gardens and breathtaking countryside views of rolling hills and grassy fields which flower in the spring and summer. In the distance, the horizon is accented by a small cluster of stout and stony mountains called Crane’s Ridge, which is deceptively scenic considering the dangerous mines it hosts. A train track wraps around the farmland and up toward the mountain before turning back into town, curving effortlessly with the land as if the earth had formed around it. There are a few stops along the track that will take you into town to coincide helpfully with the trolleys there, providing miners and the like a simple commute to their posts.

LOCKWOOD FOREST

don't look into the trees. they look back.

A thick forest which wraps around the Northern part of the island, beginning from the foot of Crane’s Ridge and extending around the outside of Pumpkin Hollow and filling out the space around the mansion looming above town. It is mostly pine, and contains only one main path, which it is best to stick to unless you’re familiar with the lay of the land. A number of animals live in the woods, and hunting for deer, elk, rabbits, or grouse is easily done here. However, there are a number of predators, as well as other things, and the forest is extremely dangerous after dark. There seem to be some old cabins and shacks among the trees off the beaten path, dilapidated and abandoned. It’s unclear what they were ever for.

LEEDS ESTATE

Forever watchful

The aforementioned manor, perched high on a hill above town and partially consumed by pine trees. Opulent and aging, this estate belongs to an established old-money dynasty who originally invested in Pumpkin Hollow’s founding and development, the Leeds family. It is currently occupied solely by the family’s youngest daughter, Dahlia, who despite her isolated location is quite the well-loved socialite. She is friendly and deeply engaged in town matters, being a member of town council herself, but is a bit guarded, and so getting an invitation to her home is quite uncommon and considered a bit of a privilege.

FALL'S PROMISE CEMETERY

rest in peace, to those few who are able

Located south of town, Pumpkin Hollow has a rather expansive cemetery for a place where people don’t stay permanently dead. Seems that wasn’t always the case. The peaceful graveyard has its gates positioned almost pointedly between the ferry dock and the Southern edge of town, hugging the Southeastern edge of the island. It features a plethora of carved headstones of varying ages and states of care, along with a large stone mausoleum which houses the departed members of the Leeds family. Additionally, toward the back of the grounds there is a dry, sealed well which has fallen out of use.

THE BLUFFS

Don't look down

While most of the shores of Marrow Isle are craggy gray stones, “the bluffs” specifically refers to the highest seaside cliff along the Eastern portion of the island. It is from here that the oft-mentioned “mainland” can be seen--- a broad and sprawling shore in the distance. You can also see a strange ring where the water around Marrow Isle seems to grow darker. How unusual.

LARKIN MANOR

An empty vessel.

The hollowed out shell of the home of Christopher Larkin, a former mayor of Pumpkin Hollow who died during his time in office before the barrier. It is extremely haunted and deeply cursed, which was recently revealed to be a side effect of its time serving as a meeting place for a cult to a dark, extradimensional god of chaos. However, all traces of cult meeting spaces are no longer present amid the ashen husk.

PARADESIUM

An untamed subterranean gem.

At the base of Crane's Ridge, a collapsed mine tunnel was cleared out to reveal the entrance to an underground jungle full of tropical foods and vibrant creatures. The dwarven temple whose ruins remain at its center indicate that this place was once a part of Hepogaia, a sprawling underground nation connected by caverns, but the barrier clearly cut it off from the rest of the world along with Pumpkin Hollow. Now it functions as a massive magical greenhouse, and is a great place to find rare and valuable delicacies--- if you don't mind braving its dangerous ecosystem.

TAWNY BEACH

terribly windy

So-named for its tan sand flecked with brown stone particles, Tawny Beach is located along the Southwest side of the island and is the only stretch of Marrow Isle’s coast that is not just a sheer, stony drop into the dark water below. This beach is only really fun to spend time on in the summer, as the Black Jade Sea is quite cold for most of the year. However, it is home to Jack’s Moor, the marina that houses various fishing boats, and the arrival dock for the only vessel that seems to be able to get past a certain point outside local waters--- the ferry. Additionally, there is a lovely remembrance ceremony held on the beach every fall. On the far side of the beach from the moor where the sand meets the cliffside, there is the mouth of a cave which is heavily boarded up and covered in thick chains. It is covered with weather-worn warning signs that are hard to read now.

CARE FOR A MAP?

More details to come

More details about Pumpkin Hollow's locations will come in the future as the plot develops! In the meantime, get a feel for the scope of the island from this helpful map.

CODE BY TESSISAMESS