The Spooky Pumpkin Patch

[Silky Gooseness]

It is a beautiful autumn day in Rohan, and the harvest is looking ripe and full - but in the pumpkin patch, something strange is occurring.

Ealdwine and his friends have been competing to see who can grow the largest pumpkin - and they’ve invited many other folks too, hobbits and Elves and sundry included - but some strange ingredients have been added to the compost to make the plants grow… and it looks like something odd may be occurring.

Wander the pumpkin patch, admire the produce, maybe even pick a few - but beware!

This is a free RP for all to join but I will be providing prompts if you choose a square! A-E, I-IV.

No godmoding please except by the thread runner, who will only do so in prompt form! All are welcome, please mark OOC as OOC.

[Drífa]

Chester of the Folde

There was only one way that Chester, the ground squirrel, who had skittered upon the pumpkin patch, was going to get the seeds from the largest pumpkins he had ever seen - and that was by chewing his way in. He could smell the seeds within, but the skin of the gourd was different from anything he had encountered before. There was a strange scent to the compost that covered the ground. But the thought of all the seeds that he could gather made him throw caution to the wind. After all, winter was coming, and it was time to 'squirrel' away provisions.
Chester, selecting an inconspicuous spot, started chewing on one of the large pumpkins.

C III, please.

[Eldrith]

They had a garden. Eamila tended to the Aern Frebalod garden, and Eldrith helped, though she listened to what Eamila told her. There were few as skilled as hobbits in tending a garden and growing food. And then there was Cnith who also grew a great deal of the vegetables for the inn, especially his famed turnips. She didn't NEED more vegetables, but there was something about a pumpkin patch that was hard to resist.
She walked the rows, trying to select a the best one, nearly tripping over a squirrel that was daring past, and muttered something about 'rats with a bushy tail" but finally reaching row d. The second pumpkin there just... seemed charming. Big enough for a good pot of soup as well. Add that with some carrots, some cheese.. yes, it might make a good special, and she would definitely not be glared at for bringing in yet another thing to be cut up. Or she'd do it herself. She was quite handy with a knife.

DII, please

[Silky Gooseness]

Chester begins to nibble on the pumpkin. It smells a little different from other pumpkins - but it is still tasty. In fact, it’s making Chester feel stronger than ever. Supersquirrelly strong, in fact…

Meanwhile Eamila begins to harvest her pumpkin. Nothing seems to go wrong, for now, but she can hear a peculiar song, just out of the range of her hearing to make out all the words fully… how strange!

@Drífa @Eamila Bolger

[Drífa]

Chester of the Folde

The unusual smell of the pumpkin patch began to energize Chester. With each bite he took from the pumpkin's skin, he felt his jaw muscles bulging. In fact, if he focused hard enough, he was convinced he could bite the enormous pumpkin in half with just one chomp. Standing up straight, he sensed his leg muscles rippling beneath his furry skin. He opened his mouth as wide as he could—much wider, in his mind, than any pumpkin—and bit down.

A I, please.

[Eamila Bolger]

(OOC @Silky Gooseness I think you should have tagged @Eldrith here, not me! But I'd be happy to take part)

'Well well!' Eamila had followed Eldrith to the pumpkin patch. Here mouth started watering upon seeing all that orange goodness. How she longed to try out some new recipes together with Cnith! There were pumpkins in a beautiful green too, she saw. 'Great for sweet pumpkin treats', she muttered.
Eldrith was already on her way to pick a nice one. She better make sure she did the same. But how to choose?
'Well... someone once said that you can always follow your nose if your eyes cannot make the decision for you...' There was a strange, but wonderful smell coming from row B. Carefully she walked over to the end of the row, and picked B IV.

[Eldrith]

Busted. At least that was what went through her head when she heard that 'well, well", but lucky it didn't seem to be an annoyed 'well, well' instead she could almost see her friend's mind race. So she smiled up. There was.. that song though.. She looked around, trying to see if Eamila was singing? They were alone here. Certainly that SQUIRREL could not be singing, though to be fair, it acted somewhat peculiar, and she kept an eye on it as it went to another pumpkin. It better stay out of their garden. She didn't want to add to the mole problem. Shaking her head... she called out to the hobbit. "You hear anything too? Is there singing in the great hall?"
Her attention though was attracted by a different pumpkin. Maybe she shouldn't go with first impulse. And if Eamila had that look on her face.. a FEW pumpkins might be required, right? She moved one row further to e III[/b



@Eamila Bolger @Drífa @Silky Gooseness

[Silky Gooseness]

OOC: Apologies for dragging you into this @Eamila Bolger when I meant @Eldrith

@Drífa Chester bites into the pumpkin… and finds it’s absolutely delicious. In fact Chester has the urge for more - and hopping over to A1 is about to feast again - when he finds ANOTHER animal to face off against. Yep, it’s a badger. What do?

@Eamila Bolger You follow your nose as you’re picking pumpkins and find that it’s not only pumpkins growing there! There’s a strange flower you’ve never seen before - large and very sweet smelling, full of a sort of nectar. Hmm

@Eldrith You pick up the pumpkin to find to your disappointment the bottom of it is all squidgy, and worm-eaten! Is there anything you could do with such a squash?

[Eldrith]

"UGh"... She dropped that worm eaten pumpkin. It ... just.. squelched and spattered her shoes, she sighed and quickly looked around. "Any better luck?" She called out to @Eamila Bolger. First there had been that song, and she still wasn't quite sure if she just had heard something from a distance, maybe someone singing int he barracks or not. Then there was this... That pumpkin should not make it into any dish they would be serving anywhere! Well, let's try.. one more... the squirrel at least seemed to be having a good time, except... on no! Was that a badger? She remembered the badger times!!! Moles, badgers, what was next??
She moved a bit more careful this time, heading towards a different row. C IV please

[Silky Gooseness]

@Eldrith You discard your gooey pumpkin, and are rewarded by an ABSOLUTELY PERFECT pumpkin. It’s huge, its skin is glowing and perfect, it comes away easily from the stalk! What are your plans for it?

@Drífa @Eamila Bolger you have not chosen a pumpkin this round but your previous prompts are still active!

[Eldrith]

This time.. this time she had chosen right! And she was grateful for it indeed. She looked over at Eamila with a sense of triumph. This one. THIS was the one. She grinned from ear to ear. "This one for the Ealniwe inn!" She called out. "Even Cnith won't be able to find fault with this one! I am thinking his roast pumpkin with bacon and goat cheese. What do you think?"
Since Eamila had joined her, she usually left the sourcing of ingredients to her friend. But the pumpkin patch had been there, and had been so inviting. She looked at her shoes. Well, those would need cleaning this evening, but perhaps that was just the price for the hunt for perfection. Her hands slid over the smooth skin. Might see if it could serve as a decoration for the next few days after it was hollowed out as well.


@Eamila Bolger

[Eamila Bolger]

'What on Arda?'
The desire for pumpkin soup or pie was gone, the minute a sweet scent filled Eamila's nose. This was... simply lovely! But what kind of flower was this?
She kneeled down to check it out. The blue colour was almost magic, as if it wanted all of her attention. It had a golden heart and nectar was simply dripping from the nectaries. Without even thinking, Ea stuck her finger in the flower and then in her mouth, to taste it.
Heavenly. Pure bliss. Nothing more than...
Wait a second. A strange tingling started on her tongue, quickly spreading to the rest of her mouth. Her eyes started to water, and her nose... oh, the itchy feeling all of a sudden! Without a real warning, an enormous sneeze just erupted from inside. With horror, Eamila saw how she sprayed all over the flower and how it suddenly closed its petals.
'Sorry 'bout that..' she whispered, although she wondered if this perhaps the flower's defense against intruders stealing the nectar.
She got up quickly, straightened her skirt and looked around hoping nobody had seen this.
'Nothing here', she said, her voice still a bit coarse. She smiled sheepishly at Eldrith and complimented her on finding the most perfect pumpkin she had ever seen. 'That's going to taste wonderful! I guess I'll look further and go to E 1.'
@Silky Gooseness (OOC thanks for the reminder!) @Eldrith

[Drífa]

Chester of the Folde

Chester hid himself in tumbledown hay bales, scuttling from one pile to another, eyeing the badger who was waddling over at the far end of the field. Chester was making his way towards an old wooden wagon with high wooden slatted sides. He had escaped many a badger in his day, being much faster and attempting to keep to high ground, but badgers could climb, and Chester believed that moving about from one hiding place to another was his best bet. Besides, there stood one lone tree near the wagon and the edge of the pumpkin patch. He only had to make it to he wagon, then jump from the high seat to the tree. As he carefully moved, a sudden growl startled him, making his heart race with surprise and tension.

"Who goes there?" It was the badger speaking in squirrel squeak.

Chester stopped a slide as he turned (for the ground was now frozen and ice and snow covered the field of pumpkins). He looked back and saw that the badger was staring at him, its dark eyes lit by a reflection of moonlight off an icy spot.

"Why, it is I, Chester of the Folde!" Exclaimed Chester in a shrill voice. "What can I do for you, Mr. Badger?"

As he asked his question, he continued to move backwards towards the wagon, nervously, wondering how a badger knew how to speak squirrel speech.

"I have eaten my fill tonight, Chester of the Folde," said the badger, whose shiny black fur glistened under the moonlight and whose eyes sparkled with mischief. "And I am now only looking for a hole to hold up in until the long day has gone by. Do you know of such a place?"

Cheste twitched his nose, flabbergasted. He wondered if the pumpkin skin he had been eating as he chewed his way in in search of seeds was causing him to hallucinate. How could he understand badger speech? He felt puzzled and a little confused about himself, not knowing what was real and what was not. Stuttering a bit from being out in the open and not much space between him and an enemy, he replied.

"Over by the graves. There is fresh soil turned, and a deep hole dug. The soil may be frozen, but I am sure (Chester stuttered here, and all that came out was) your sharp claws, you could dig in and find a secure tunnel for the day, yes? You seem (stutter) to have sharp claws, capable from what I see. And once (and yet another stutter), I saw sharp claws can dig quickly. Why,..."

But before Chester could finish speaking, the badger growled in a fur-raising, vicious voice.

"How did you know my name?"

"Eek", Chester squeaked! "Name? What Name? I do not recall naming anyone."

"You named me thrice. Sharp Claws, is my Name! And those who utter a badger's Name thrice in a pumpkin patch frozen with ice and snow are cursed. And now I must eat you!"

The badger's claws seemed to grow longer suddenly, and shine like the edge of a keen, sharp sword, stretching eerily towards the frightened squirrel.
The fur between Chester's ears stood up like a stiff crest, and his big dark eyes widened with fear and surprise, swallowing his face till he appeared to have only eyes. Then he turned and sprinted for the lone tree, all the while praying that the talking Sharp Claws would slip and break a few of those sharp claws, Sharp Claws' namesake and maybe his neck. And he swore that he would never eat pumpkin skin again.

C II