This story was originally intended for my IRL role play group. Unfortunately, my friends aren't fans of slow burn scary stories. I'm looking to run a group of 5-7. I decided to make the time period slightly historical to capture that campfire story feel.
As for the story itself, it revolves around the village's harvest festival and the popular purple pumpkins that only grow in the area. Slymere is quaint and isolated, situated on a cliff above the nearby settlements. Growing up in the valley, you might have heard old wives' tales about people vanishing in the woods without a trace. It's a popular story for scaring local kids into staying out of the woods, at least.
I want to focus on mystery, detective work, and suspense over gore and jump scares. Something a group of people can puzzle over, and an open setting to explore.