A gust of wind blows through the small farming village of Alderton, sending a few fall leaves skittering through the air. The village is quiet, and the sun has only just begun to peak over the horizon. One or two people have begun to leave their houses, going to work, but most are still in bed or making themselves porridge, preparing for a day of hard work out on the river or in the fields. The gust of wind weaves down the cobblestone streets, out through the far side of the village, towards a place you would know as Farmer Gourd's estate - a large two-story house, with a thatched roof and pale cream walls, overlooking a massive field of pumpkins. It seems Farmer Gourd has been making himself busy, though, as his horse-drawn carriage is tethered up, and the slightly grizzled farmer with his salt-and-pepper beard and hair places pumpkins into the back of the cart. One of his three sons tends to the horses, feeding them long and vibrantly colored carrots, while the other two sons pick cabbages and take them to their father.
"We might be able to fit the whole batch in the one cart this year!" One of the sons states, grinning from ear to ear. It had been his idea to buy the new cart, and it had turned out to be an especially good purchase.
Farmer Gourd sighed, rubbing his hands together to warm himself up - the crisp morning air was very cold. "I hope we do, son. I'm not sure I have multiple trips in me today. It's too damn cold! My joints are sieving, I tell you." The older man squinted as he grabbed another pumpkin, gingerly placing it in the back of the cart. "James, any more of those pumpkins left?"
James, the taller and scrawnier of the two boys carrying the pumpkins, shook his head. "These two are the last." He whistled as he handed his large, orange squash to his father, his brother following suit a few moments later.
"Good," Farmer Gourd nodded. "Hamitch, I think the horses have been fed enough." The farmer gingerly climbed up one side of the cart, settling himself into the driver's seat. "Come on, boy, you know I can't drive this thing myself."
The boy feeding the horses nodded, clambering up onto the other side of the cart. "Remember, it's one short flick of the reigns. Like you're doing your sheets."
Farmer Gourd growled as he tugged on the reigns, sending the horses into a slow trot. "You know full well I don't make my bed, boy. Shame on you for your bitter tongue!"
Hamitch laughed merrily as the cart slowly rounded the bend at the end of the driveway, leading onto the main cobblestone road, but didn't say anything more.
--- --- ---
After around a minute, the cart began to near the village proper. The horses kept up their respectable trot, but Farmer Gourd stiffened as another gust of air blew over him. "Hmm. Something fishy going on here, boy, don't you think?"
Hamitch shrugged. "You always say that, da! Come on, lighten up for once!"
"I mean what I say, boy. Something's wrong." A tinge of worry had entered the old man's voice. Eyes wide, he directed the horses in front to stop, before clambering out of his cart and looking around. "Something's prowling around here. An Owlbear. I'm sure of it. I know that stench anywhere."
"What stench?" Hamitch asked, unsure. He'd never seen his father look that nervous before. However, Farmer Gourd didn't respond, as a black shape leapt out of the nearby bushes, smashing him across the head with something. "Da!" Hamitch yelled, before the world around himself fell into darkness, as the figure threw whatever they used to knock out Farmer Gourd at him.
--- --- ---
You awaken to the sounds of shouting in the village. There's not normally much shouting in Alderton, and any disputes tended to be resolved over a drink and a bit of light betting on who would win that week's local darts competition at the tavern. You dart out of your beds, looking out the window - you can see a number of people in the village, clustering around a bruised and bloodied man and his son. You recognize the man as being Farmer Gourd, the jack o' lantern supplier and veritable hero of the village. Who on earth would have done that to him! Your interest is piqued yet further, as someone knocks on your door.
"Child, it's meeeeeee.... Granny!" The face of a withered old woman, her brown skin glittering warmly in the late morning sun and her eyes as wide as dinnerplates, appears in your window, startling you. You can see she's collected a bunch of the other village children behind her already. "Today, we're going to do something very fun! Come on out, sleepyhead! Come on, come on! We don't have all day! You can sleep on the job, but we have a mystery to solve!"
If you all could describe and introduce your characters as they each come out of their houses (I'm assuming Granny pulls the same routine for each of you), we can begin the adventure proper, and finally find out the answer to the mystery of the missing pumpkins!
Knopper throws a sheet over his head (people are more likely to notice a ghost than a kobold) and rushes down to the kitchen to grab some tools for self-defense. His primary weapon: his dad's big, sharp, pumpkin carving knife, which he puts in his belt. He also brings his own calibrated ratting slingshot, just in case.
The rust-brown kobold sprints outside, making spooky ghost noises.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
Granny Nauseas smiles wickedly at Knopper. "Perfect, you're ready to solve a mystery! All the adults are bickering about what to do, but I think we can find those pumpkins first!"
You notice Granny's voice is quite rough and hoarse, an effect that only seems to come on when she's in cheeky plotting mode.
Granny Nauseas smiles wickedly at Knopper. "Perfect, you're ready to solve a mystery! All the adults are bickering about what to do, but I think we can find those pumpkins first!"
You notice Granny's voice is quite rough and hoarse, an effect that only seems to come on when she's in cheeky plotting mode.
Knopper is shooketh. "All the pumpkins, gone? You're right, we don't have time for complaining! Let's get the others and get looking!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
Granny Nauseas smiles wickedly at Knopper. "Perfect, you're ready to solve a mystery! All the adults are bickering about what to do, but I think we can find those pumpkins first!"
You notice Granny's voice is quite rough and hoarse, an effect that only seems to come on when she's in cheeky plotting mode.
Knopper is shooketh. "All the pumpkins, gone? You're right, we don't have time for complaining! Let's get the others and get looking!"
"To the batmobile! Oh. Wait. That's not one of this world's customary sayings, is it? Ah, well. To the next house then!"
Upon hearing the word "mystery", Aurora eyes go wide with excitement. "A mystery? I'll be to you in a minute Granny!" She tells through the window. She quickly gets dressed, picks up her book and her satchel and heads towards the front door. "Mother! Father! I'm going out with Granny Nauseas! I'll come back later!" She shouts to her parents. Without waiting for their answer, she hurries outside of her house. Her hair, ginger as the autumn leaves, shines at the light of the sun. "Here I am Granny, what's the matter?"
(I wanted to ask, can Aurora have her familiar already summoned? Sorry, I forgot to ask before...)
Upon hearing the word "mystery", Aurora eyes go wide with excitement. "A mystery? I'll be to you in a minute Granny!" She tells through the window. She quickly gets dressed, picks up her book and her satchel and heads towards the front door. "Mother! Father! I'm going out with Granny Nauseas! I'll come back later!" She shouts to her parents. Without waiting for their answer, she hurries outside of her house. Her hair, ginger as the autumn leaves, shines at the light of the sun. "Here I am Granny, what's the matter?"
(I wanted to ask, can Aurora have her familiar already summoned? Sorry, I forgot to ask before...)
*Of course! Also, for those excellent introductions, you and Baalz can have inspiration!*
"Something has stolen the pumpkins! Without them, spoooooky spirits can get into the village and cause havoc all winter! Also, without them, there's no pumpkin pies, and you know how I love my pumpkin pies!"
Mira awakens blearily at the sounds of shouting. She had stayed awake late into the night, performing her nightly prayers and rituals to Mani. Rubbing her eyes and letting out a yawn, she looks out the window and sees Farmer Gourd and his son hurt. Her eyes widen in alarm and she hurriedly puts on her boots and grabs the mace and shield propped up next to the front door.
Mira is a 7ft tall firbolg with bluish-grey skin, long midnight blue hair typically braided to the left side, and long bovine shaped ears.
Mira awakens blearily at the sounds of shouting. She had stayed awake late into the night, performing her nightly prayers and rituals to Mani. Rubbing her eyes and letting out a yawn, she looks out the window and sees Farmer Gourd and his son hurt. Her eyes widen in alarm and she hurriedly puts on her boots and grabs the mace and shield propped up next to the front door.
*More inspiration!* Granny Nauseas takes several steps back in order not to be barreled over by Mira. "Oh, dearie me. Such a rush!" They sigh, although obviously pleased with Mira's compassionate leanings.
Upon hearing the word "mystery", Aurora eyes go wide with excitement. "A mystery? I'll be to you in a minute Granny!" She tells through the window. She quickly gets dressed, picks up her book and her satchel and heads towards the front door. "Mother! Father! I'm going out with Granny Nauseas! I'll come back later!" She shouts to her parents. Without waiting for their answer, she hurries outside of her house. Her hair, ginger as the autumn leaves, shines at the light of the sun. "Here I am Granny, what's the matter?"
(I wanted to ask, can Aurora have her familiar already summoned? Sorry, I forgot to ask before...)
*Of course! Also, for those excellent introductions, you and Baalz can have inspiration!*
"Something has stolen the pumpkins! Without them, spoooooky spirits can get into the village and cause havoc all winter! Also, without them, there's no pumpkin pies, and you know how I love my pumpkin pies!"
"Oh my! That's terrible! You can count on me and Archimedes to solve this mystery" she says, gesturing at the little owl landing on her shoulder.
Upon hearing the word "mystery", Aurora eyes go wide with excitement. "A mystery? I'll be to you in a minute Granny!" She tells through the window. She quickly gets dressed, picks up her book and her satchel and heads towards the front door. "Mother! Father! I'm going out with Granny Nauseas! I'll come back later!" She shouts to her parents. Without waiting for their answer, she hurries outside of her house. Her hair, ginger as the autumn leaves, shines at the light of the sun. "Here I am Granny, what's the matter?"
(I wanted to ask, can Aurora have her familiar already summoned? Sorry, I forgot to ask before...)
*Of course! Also, for those excellent introductions, you and Baalz can have inspiration!*
"Something has stolen the pumpkins! Without them, spoooooky spirits can get into the village and cause havoc all winter! Also, without them, there's no pumpkin pies, and you know how I love my pumpkin pies!"
"Oh my! That's terrible! You can count on me and Archimedes to solve this mystery" she says, gesturing at the little owl landing on her shoulder.
"I hope so! Your parents will likely be politicking or some such nonsense. Whereas, we detectives will solve the case!"
"Granny Nauseas, what happened to Farmer Gourd? Is everyone all right?"
"We'll have to go ask, won't we! No-one's badly hurt, thank goodness. Mostly just bumps and bruises. Whomever stole the pumpkins clearly didn't like the thought of murder."
Granny Nauseas walks over towards Farmer Gourd and Hamitch, who are sitting on a bench outside with a magically chilled ice-pack pressed to bruises on their foreheads and temples. "Farmer Gourd, me and my detective associates would like to ask some questions!"
The farmer simply grunts. "Fire away. Not like I haven't told the adults everything I know already."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Resident Mushroom 🍄
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
A gust of wind blows through the small farming village of Alderton, sending a few fall leaves skittering through the air. The village is quiet, and the sun has only just begun to peak over the horizon. One or two people have begun to leave their houses, going to work, but most are still in bed or making themselves porridge, preparing for a day of hard work out on the river or in the fields. The gust of wind weaves down the cobblestone streets, out through the far side of the village, towards a place you would know as Farmer Gourd's estate - a large two-story house, with a thatched roof and pale cream walls, overlooking a massive field of pumpkins. It seems Farmer Gourd has been making himself busy, though, as his horse-drawn carriage is tethered up, and the slightly grizzled farmer with his salt-and-pepper beard and hair places pumpkins into the back of the cart. One of his three sons tends to the horses, feeding them long and vibrantly colored carrots, while the other two sons pick cabbages and take them to their father.
"We might be able to fit the whole batch in the one cart this year!" One of the sons states, grinning from ear to ear. It had been his idea to buy the new cart, and it had turned out to be an especially good purchase.
Farmer Gourd sighed, rubbing his hands together to warm himself up - the crisp morning air was very cold. "I hope we do, son. I'm not sure I have multiple trips in me today. It's too damn cold! My joints are sieving, I tell you." The older man squinted as he grabbed another pumpkin, gingerly placing it in the back of the cart. "James, any more of those pumpkins left?"
James, the taller and scrawnier of the two boys carrying the pumpkins, shook his head. "These two are the last." He whistled as he handed his large, orange squash to his father, his brother following suit a few moments later.
"Good," Farmer Gourd nodded. "Hamitch, I think the horses have been fed enough." The farmer gingerly climbed up one side of the cart, settling himself into the driver's seat. "Come on, boy, you know I can't drive this thing myself."
The boy feeding the horses nodded, clambering up onto the other side of the cart. "Remember, it's one short flick of the reigns. Like you're doing your sheets."
Farmer Gourd growled as he tugged on the reigns, sending the horses into a slow trot. "You know full well I don't make my bed, boy. Shame on you for your bitter tongue!"
Hamitch laughed merrily as the cart slowly rounded the bend at the end of the driveway, leading onto the main cobblestone road, but didn't say anything more.
--- --- ---
After around a minute, the cart began to near the village proper. The horses kept up their respectable trot, but Farmer Gourd stiffened as another gust of air blew over him. "Hmm. Something fishy going on here, boy, don't you think?"
Hamitch shrugged. "You always say that, da! Come on, lighten up for once!"
"I mean what I say, boy. Something's wrong." A tinge of worry had entered the old man's voice. Eyes wide, he directed the horses in front to stop, before clambering out of his cart and looking around. "Something's prowling around here. An Owlbear. I'm sure of it. I know that stench anywhere."
"What stench?" Hamitch asked, unsure. He'd never seen his father look that nervous before. However, Farmer Gourd didn't respond, as a black shape leapt out of the nearby bushes, smashing him across the head with something. "Da!" Hamitch yelled, before the world around himself fell into darkness, as the figure threw whatever they used to knock out Farmer Gourd at him.
--- --- ---
You awaken to the sounds of shouting in the village. There's not normally much shouting in Alderton, and any disputes tended to be resolved over a drink and a bit of light betting on who would win that week's local darts competition at the tavern. You dart out of your beds, looking out the window - you can see a number of people in the village, clustering around a bruised and bloodied man and his son. You recognize the man as being Farmer Gourd, the jack o' lantern supplier and veritable hero of the village. Who on earth would have done that to him! Your interest is piqued yet further, as someone knocks on your door.
"Child, it's meeeeeee.... Granny!" The face of a withered old woman, her brown skin glittering warmly in the late morning sun and her eyes as wide as dinnerplates, appears in your window, startling you. You can see she's collected a bunch of the other village children behind her already. "Today, we're going to do something very fun! Come on out, sleepyhead! Come on, come on! We don't have all day! You can sleep on the job, but we have a mystery to solve!"
If you all could describe and introduce your characters as they each come out of their houses (I'm assuming Granny pulls the same routine for each of you), we can begin the adventure proper, and finally find out the answer to the mystery of the missing pumpkins!
Resident Mushroom 🍄
Knopper throws a sheet over his head (people are more likely to notice a ghost than a kobold) and rushes down to the kitchen to grab some tools for self-defense. His primary weapon: his dad's big, sharp, pumpkin carving knife, which he puts in his belt. He also brings his own calibrated ratting slingshot, just in case.
The rust-brown kobold sprints outside, making spooky ghost noises.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
(Thought this was tavern lol sorry)
Your friendly trans bard!
She/They pronouns
The Goddess of the Strings (thanks for the title Drummer!)
Granny Nauseas smiles wickedly at Knopper. "Perfect, you're ready to solve a mystery! All the adults are bickering about what to do, but I think we can find those pumpkins first!"
You notice Granny's voice is quite rough and hoarse, an effect that only seems to come on when she's in cheeky plotting mode.
Resident Mushroom 🍄
*All good!*
Resident Mushroom 🍄
Knopper is shooketh. "All the pumpkins, gone? You're right, we don't have time for complaining! Let's get the others and get looking!"
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
"To the batmobile! Oh. Wait. That's not one of this world's customary sayings, is it? Ah, well. To the next house then!"
Resident Mushroom 🍄
Upon hearing the word "mystery", Aurora eyes go wide with excitement. "A mystery? I'll be to you in a minute Granny!" She tells through the window. She quickly gets dressed, picks up her book and her satchel and heads towards the front door. "Mother! Father! I'm going out with Granny Nauseas! I'll come back later!" She shouts to her parents. Without waiting for their answer, she hurries outside of her house. Her hair, ginger as the autumn leaves, shines at the light of the sun. "Here I am Granny, what's the matter?"
(I wanted to ask, can Aurora have her familiar already summoned? Sorry, I forgot to ask before...)
*Of course! Also, for those excellent introductions, you and Baalz can have inspiration!*
"Something has stolen the pumpkins! Without them, spoooooky spirits can get into the village and cause havoc all winter! Also, without them, there's no pumpkin pies, and you know how I love my pumpkin pies!"
Resident Mushroom 🍄
Mira awakens blearily at the sounds of shouting. She had stayed awake late into the night, performing her nightly prayers and rituals to Mani. Rubbing her eyes and letting out a yawn, she looks out the window and sees Farmer Gourd and his son hurt. Her eyes widen in alarm and she hurriedly puts on her boots and grabs the mace and shield propped up next to the front door.
Mira is a 7ft tall firbolg with bluish-grey skin, long midnight blue hair typically braided to the left side, and long bovine shaped ears.
*More inspiration!* Granny Nauseas takes several steps back in order not to be barreled over by Mira. "Oh, dearie me. Such a rush!" They sigh, although obviously pleased with Mira's compassionate leanings.
Resident Mushroom 🍄
"Oh my! That's terrible! You can count on me and Archimedes to solve this mystery" she says, gesturing at the little owl landing on her shoulder.
"I hope so! Your parents will likely be politicking or some such nonsense. Whereas, we detectives will solve the case!"
Resident Mushroom 🍄
"Granny Nauseas, what happened to Farmer Gourd? Is everyone all right?"
"We'll have to go ask, won't we! No-one's badly hurt, thank goodness. Mostly just bumps and bruises. Whomever stole the pumpkins clearly didn't like the thought of murder."
Resident Mushroom 🍄
(If you guys are okay with it, we can RP Calo's joining later! I'm really keen to start this pbp off on the right foot iykwim!)
Resident Mushroom 🍄
(Sure! Calo has been very busy lately, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind. And if he for some reason does, you can just blame it on me! It's foolproof!)
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
May each word that I speak be backed by each of my teeth.
(Calo PMed me at the start of the PM thread about it, I'll make sure they're included anyways! They seem very sweet :D)
Resident Mushroom 🍄
(Sure! It's fine by me)
Granny Nauseas walks over towards Farmer Gourd and Hamitch, who are sitting on a bench outside with a magically chilled ice-pack pressed to bruises on their foreheads and temples. "Farmer Gourd, me and my detective associates would like to ask some questions!"
The farmer simply grunts. "Fire away. Not like I haven't told the adults everything I know already."
Resident Mushroom 🍄