Discovery of the Money Pumpkin Field

Summary

In Session 5, while Sucks and Cat scouted ahead discussing cow pies, they rounded a bend in the road past a large boulder and discovered a massive clearing filled with fruiting plants. The field contained an enormous number of pumpkins, which were quickly identified as Money Pumpkins—fantasy pumpkins whose seeds are round, flat, hard, and used as currency. The discovery prompted both in-character interest from the party about harvesting the valuable seeds and out-of-character debate about pumpkin taxonomy, ultimately leading to Vasso attempting to Discern Realities to determine whether the field was wild or cultivated.

Details

As Sucks and Cat continued their conversation about cow pies while scouting ahead of the group, they came around a bend in the road where a boulder sat next to the trail. The GM described the scene: "And as you're having this conversation, you round a bend in the road, coming around like a boulder that was set next to the trail, and you see a field, like a huge clearing, absolutely full of fruiting plants."

Sucks immediately asked, "Are there any cows?"—still fixated on finding cow pies. When another player asked what kind of fruit filled the field, the GM revealed: "Pumpkins."

This revelation sparked an out-of-character discussion about whether pumpkins are technically fruits, with references to taxonomy and comparisons to various other produce. During this discussion, Abdul's player suggested, "They have money inside of them." The GM embraced this idea, establishing the pumpkins as Money Pumpkins: "Actually, you know what? I don't hate the idea that the seeds inside of the pumpkins are like. Like round and flat and hard. And people do trade them honey pumpkins."

Erin proposed a use for the discovery: "You should collect these and give them to Goober." Vasso's player, Dayna, wanted to investigate whether these were wild or cultivated pumpkins, prompting a Discern Realities roll to gather more information about the Money Pumpkin Field.

Participants

• Sucks — Scouting ahead with Cat when the field was discovered; immediately asked about cows
• Cat — Scouting partner who was present for the discovery
• Vasso — Rolled Discern Realities to investigate whether the pumpkins were wild or cultivated
• Safia — Present with the party during the discovery
• Abdul's player — Suggested the pumpkins contain money, which the GM incorporated into the campaign
• Erin — Suggested collecting the pumpkins to give to Goober

Consequences

• The party discovered a potentially valuable resource in the form of Money Pumpkins, whose seeds serve as currency
• Vasso made a Discern Realities roll to learn more about the field's nature
• The discovery set up an encounter with whatever creature or force was guarding the valuable field
• The party gained knowledge of a harvestable source of currency that could be given to Goober
• The GM established new campaign lore about Money Pumpkins as a form of currency with seeds that are "round and flat and hard"