Pumpkin

Pumpkin was a ground vine that produced large, yellow-orange gourds (called pumpkins) with edible flesh, similar to squash in flavor and consistency, that were a staple crop in the north and central regions of Faerûn.
==Description==
The tendrils of a pumpkin vine could grow quite lengthy and become thick and woody at the places where the gourds sprouted. Depending on conditions and cultivation, pumpkins could grow big enough that a medium-sized human could not get their arms around one, and would be hard-pressed to lift it unaided. Truly spectacular specimens were often grown by cloud giants in their gardens, producing pumpkins the size of a human carriage or caravan wagon.
==Locations==
Pumpkins favored the temperate regions of Faerûn and were known to be cultivated in Cormyr, the Dalelands, the upper Dessarin Valley, the Trielta Hills, and along the Sword Coast. But the best specimens came from the Goldenfields abbey east of Waterdeep.
At some point in time, pumpkins were either relatively unknown, or scarce for some reason, because Aurora's Emporium of Waterdeep once sold an ounce of pumpkin seeds for twenty gold pieces, circa the mid–14 century DR. But considering that over a hundred years later pumpkins were used for decoration in the City of Splendors, the shortage was only temporary.
Pumpkins were also known to be eaten in Kara-Tur.
==Uses==
The rind of a pumpkin was usually skinned and boiled to soften it, then used in soups or mashed and used as a side dish. It was also used to make desserts, such as pumpkin pie. The many seeds found in each pumpkin gourd could be salted and roasted to make a crispy, chewy snack food, very popular in the Tashalar circa the late 15 century DR.
Pumpkins were a big part of the Waterdhavian festival of Liar's Night, celebrated at the end of Marpenoth each year. Pumpkins and other gourds were hollowed out and a face was carved into each one to represent the facade of a person participating in the revel. A candle was placed inside and lit to represent the person's true self. It was considered bad luck for the candle to go out while the person was away at the festival. Likewise, anyone snuffing out someone else's candle or smashing their pumpkin risked drawing the enmity of both Mask and Leira. Especially large pumpkins were offered to the goddess Chauntea during Highharvestide.
Pumpkins were one possible component for the head of a construct called a scarecrow. A whole field of pumpkin plants could be conjured almost instantaneously as one possible outcome when using a bag of beans. Unfortunately, they grew, ripened, rotted, and exploded in a stinking cloud in a matter of moments, also leaving behind one or more evil scarecrows.
If boulders were not handy, oversized pumpkins made a good substitute for hurling by giants with no change to range, accuracy, or damage to people and other soft targets.
==Rumors & Legends==
The elves had a humorous myth about pumpkins being created by Aerdrie Faenya using the heads of orcs that were killed in innumerable battles. The joke was that the elves made much better use of the orcs' heads than the orcs ever did.
Whenever a pumpkin grew unusually big in their garden, halflings believed it was the work of Yondalla showing them favor or bringing them luck.
It was said by some topsiders that the cavern holding the Underdark city of Sshamath (full of thousands of stalactites and stalagmites connected by columns and bridges) resembled the stringy guts inside of a raw pumpkin.
==Appendix==
===Notes===
===Gallery===
Mouth of grolantor-5e.jpg|A mouth of Grolantor terrorizes a pumpkin patch.
===Further Reading===
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===Appearances===
===External Links===
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===References===
Category:Fruits
Category:Gourds
Category:Food and drink from Waterdeep
Category:Food and drink from Baldur's Gate
Category:Food and drink from the Sword Coast
Category:Food and drink from the Sword Coast North
Category:Food and drink from the Dalelands
Category:Food and drink from Deepingdale
Category:Food and drink from Selgaunt
Category:Food and drink from Sembia
Category:Food and drink from Goldenfields
Category:Food and drink from the Savage Frontier
Category:Food and drink from Northwest Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from North Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from Wheloon
Category:Food and drink from Cormyr
Category:Food and drink from Interior Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from West Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from Northwest Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from the Trielta Hills
Category:Food and drink from the Western Heartlands
Category:Food and drink from Myth Drannor
Category:Food and drink from Cormanthor
Category:Food and drink from Targos
Category:Food and drink from the Ten Towns
Category:Food and drink from Icewind Dale
Category:Food and drink from Faerûn
Category:Food and drink from Toril
Category:Food and drink from Kara-Tur
Category:Food and drink from the Feywild
Category:Food and drink from Sigil
Category:Food and drink
Category:0-24 gold pieces