Recap: Turf & Twig April 2025

Some property rights are held by deed, but the Dragon's Eye Detective's Agency holds its rights from a Turf and Twig ceremony (called the livery of seisin) held in ancient times with a local troll named Gruntle. Our April vacation mystery featured a a deep dive into the Turf by our detectives, disguised as Tomtes (tiny house gnomes).

Each layer of the Turf had to be explored, starting with the grassy upper level, where the twig grows beside a serpent well. Our team interviewed the inhabitants of the grasslands, who told them what they knew about the troubles. Each clue confirmed the information from their 3-Penny Dream: A volcano deep inside the Turf was heating the water and rumbling the earth, sending sulphuric fumes into the air and threatening the safety of all of the Turf and Twig inhabitants.

The journey into the heart of the Turf and Twig spiraled lower and lower, following underground tunnels formed by the ancient Worm that hides inside every turf. One of our team's first questions was: Is this a worm, a wurm, a wirm, or a wyrm? (The answer is yes.)

Our team snuck through the tunnels, avoiding the green eyes that glowed in every nook and cranny. Some of them were friendly, and others tried to capture them with shadowy spells. Their 3-Penny nightmare had revealed the presence of a dangerous shadowslug, so the Detectives were happy when their efforts led to the rare procurement of a Light Jewel.

Each level brought new challenges. Fossils came to life. Underground rivers were uncovered, and a plan was made. The final showdown with the shadowslug and its minions will live as a legendary blowout featuring one team sneaking toward the volcano while a second team used the flying dragon forms to distract the enemies. 

A third team flew quietly to the spot where they could unleash their plan: A net of light refracted from the rainstorms unleashed by a detective's artifact, that would shower light upon the army, trapping each shadowslug in a waterdroplet. A beautiful plan that will look amazing when the movie finally arrives onscreen.

All of this teamwork was anchored by the fourth team -- the healers and anchors who kept the backup plan alive, just in case all of this glory went awry. Fortune shone down on our Heroes of the Dragon's Eye -- their plan worked. The first team captured the Black Stone Egg in the center of the volcano, while the second team drew fire. The third team unleashed their magic, and the slug and its minions were neatly trapped.

All's well that ends well ... but not quite!

The volcano started to erupt. A fissure split open and a huge roar was heard ... and Gruntle the Troll awoke from his long slumber.

He was none too happy to have a volcano raging on his head, or blinding rainbow light pouring into his eyes, or the water washing overhead. Yes. Gruntled was disgruntled.

Fortunately for him, our Detectives did a very courteous job of cleaning up. Stories and explanations were told and all ended well for our team. Not so well for our shadowslug and his minions, who remain in their light-filled cells, facing further inquiry by the Dragonmages. Rumor has it the Black Stone Egg may return this summer -- but for now, it rests safely in the hands of Rebecca the Dragonmage.

Congratulations to a fine team of detectives! We had an extraordinary week of teamwork and laughs. The Tomtes they made are on the Dragon's Eye Adventures Facebook page, along with an album of photos from the adventure! 

Many thanks to RSU5 and Chris Guerette, and the staff at Durham Community School. I'm amazed we didn't have a single Tomte in the lights and pipes above our head -- that may be our most surprising success yet! What's a mystery in Durham without someone needing a rescue from our friends on staff!

Spring 2025, Session B: Turf & Twig

Turf & Twig
RL McNulty 2025
Colored Pencil & Micron Pen

Spring vacation will run from April 22 - 25. This four-day adventure for grades 3 though 8 will run from Tuesday through Friday, in the Art Room at Durham Community School (654 Hallowell Rd,  Durham, ME).

 

Our story will be Turf and Twig, featuring Scandinavian folklore.

Madog and Rhosyn are the Tomte couple who guard the Dragon’s Eye Detective’s Agency. These tiny house gnomes keep the Turf and Twig safe from thieves. Something strange is happening to these ancient artifacts, so our heroes transform into Micro Tomte to investigate. What could go wrong within a three-inch square of grass and dirt? Something only a shadowslug would believe.

We will craft our own tiny Tomten for this adventure.

The Gentleman Caller -- Recap -- Feb. 2019

Fourteen detectives gathered for winter vacation at the Landing YMCA, to take on the challenge of "The Gentleman Caller." We had a wonderful week, trying to save the Tomte from Nurarihyon, the Japanese yokai who has taken over the Dragon's Eye Detectives' Agency.

Nurarihyon was trying to steal ownership of the agency by forcing Madog to perform an old ceremony called the livery of seisin. This ceremony predates written deeds of property. It involves handing over the Dragon's Eye Twig and Turf, two items that represent the land, along with a cup of water from any river, creek or well on the property.

Madog refused and a chase ensued. The Tomte evaded the yokai and his shadowy serpents. When the detectives arrived, Nurarihyon tried to learn where the Tomte was hiding by sending a shadow serpent to listen to Madame Drak's dream. Fortunately, the ice blue dragon unfolded his wings at jsut the right moment to block Watatsumi from seeing where the Tomte went.

Madog dove into the tea cup that Rebecca kept filling with the best Dragon's Eye tea, for the Gentleman Caller. Several detectives remembered a similar trip they took in the tea cup of the Raven King, using troll magic and a mini whirlpool.

The detectives set off to rescue their Tomte, but Nurarihyon had other plans. He sent Rebecca on long, arduous tasks, so he could go after the detectives without a full dragonmage hindering him. It was pretty hilarious -- our lovely guest would go full-on demon, sending his shadow serpents after the detectives, and then stopping when Rebecca re-entered the room.

The detectives told Nurarihyon that Madog was in his tomte house. He, of course, wasn't there, but his family was, so Nurarihyon captured them in a demon sock. The detectives rescued them, only to be shrunk and swallowed by the demon socks themselves.

Rebecca came back, and Nurarihyon stashed the sock on the top of the bookshelf near the tomte house. The Gentleman Caller sent Rebecca on a quest to bring back chocolate chip cookies made by Izanami in the Japanese Underworld.

Meanwhile, the detectives escaped from the sock with the help of one of their own artifacts. They discovered two spirit cats with double tails waiting for them. They cleverly fed the cats and turned their allegiance from Nurarihyon to the detectives.

The tiny detectives made it to the Tomte's home and met the whole family: Megwyn the Mama Tomte, Meriodoc and Merdoc the twins, plus Miriam, Morwen, and Mimi the baby. They discovered a secret message written by Madog and quickly turned in into English of a sort. (Tomtes don't spell very well.) The message revealed his plan, and the secret to diving into the tea cup.

They promptly forgot this information, so they had a teensy bit of trouble diving into the whirlpool when they finally made it to the tea cup. The whirlpool transported them to the Raven King's palace in Dun Raven, Wales. There, they found Madog and were able to hatch a plan with the Raven King's help.

They summoned all of their own family Tomtes for some powerful homing magic, and went back to face Nurarihyon and his henchsnake, Watatsumi. Once again, our heroes triumphed and Nurarihyon's attempts to steal the Twig and Turf were foiled.

Watatsumi turned out to be ... not Watatsumi, but a one inch creature called a Blue Dragon Sea Slug. Here's a link to a YouTube video with an image of the sea slug. It's a real creature--and be careful not to touch one, since they siphon the power of a Man-o-War's poison.

The detectives celebrated their victory with a party at the Tomte village that grew on the shelf. Fireworks were provided by the Grey One. The Gentleman Caller isn't gone yet--and Rebecca has not returned from the Underworld, but there is hope -- with the Tomte strengthened by the power of a whole village of Tomtes, and the help of the Raven King, Nurarihyon's days at the Dragon's Eye Detectives Agency are numbered.

Visit the Dragon's Eye Adventures Facebook page, to see photos of the delightful Tomtes and tiny houses that the detectives made this week! Here is the link.