Al Howin's Gift

Al Howin was the greatest Pumpkwin farmer on the continent. Unfortunately, he was also apprentice to a certain Bwork Magus who was far too interested in arcane knowledge for his own good. In order to win the 'Biggest Pumpkwin Cultivated with Lousy Pig Slurry' contest, Al Howin cheated by enlisting the help of the Bwork Magus, who decided to test a new incantation on the Pumpkwins... As a result of his idiocy, anyone who ate the bewitched fruits at a certain time of year wound up transformed into strange, misshapen creatures for several days... Apparently, the curse even spread to adventurers who got too close to the bewitched creatures. In desperation, the inhabitants of Amakna decided to start wearing Pumpkwins on their heads, hoping that this might somehow save them. The most surprising thing of all is that it seems to work!