To Ebenezer Scrooge
If you are receiving this letter, then you have accepted the Mantle of Santa. That also means I have left this mortal coil.
Do not weep for me. As the Ghost of Christmas Future will tell you, everything must end. Even my time as Santa. But I wouldn't trade my life for anything. All the cheer and hope I brought. All the smiling kids. But then, you already understand more than most.
While I do not know exactly how Amazon was able to take over the North Pole, I can tell you that they had inside help from my former accountant Blake Midwinter. They had access to the financial side of things. Yes, even Santa needs to balance the budget. Milk and cookies add up, after all!
But Greed had entered their heart. I don't know when, but they became more consumed with money and possessions. I tried to guide them away for it, but I underestimated how deep the rot had spread.
I did not expect them to make a deal with Jeffery Bezos to sell Christmas to Amazon. But by the time I was made aware, it was too late. The deal had been struck. I had just enough time to start Weihnachtswunder, and perform a little Naughtiness before my time ended.
To you I give the following Gifts:
The Workshop Seed. Use it to grow a new Workshop. It's bigger on the inside, though you'll still need some physical space. At least big enough to get the Sleigh out. Once you place it, you cannot move it. So be sure you want to set up shop. It also comes with an instruction manual.
Five Years of Christmas Spirit! You'll need it to power the Workshop, build the toys, pay the workers, and other things. The Christmas Spirit is very malleable!
The Sleigh! Ever want to know how I got everywhere in one night? The Sleight was crafted by the Dwarves as a favor, so that I can visit the home of every child in one night. It involves time manipulation in some form, though I never figured out how it worked. It's also pretty well protected from assault, will not let anyone in it fall (even if upside down!), and can even act as ground transportation by itself!
Blitzen. Well, Blitzen isn't a gift, per se. Blitzen is his own Reindeer. But he wants to help get Christmas back on its feet, and he was the only one of the Nine who managed to escape. (I should warn you, do not mention Rudolph around him. Rudolph sided with Midwinter, and helped enslave the rest of the Nine. He isn't taking it well.) He is the fastest of the Nine, and quite maneuverable to boot! Treat him well.
I don't have much time left, so I leave you with only two requests: Save Christmas, and find my wife.
Yours in Spirit
Nicholas of Myra
–
Jack Frost here. Don't have much time, trying to keep my insides inside. Who gave Midwinter a fucking spiritually empowered flamethrower!? That wasn't ice. Hitched a ride with Blitzen as he was leaving.
Some really weird stuff went down. Blitzen knows more than I do, but Midwinter had help. Besides Bezos. Also, Midwinter pulled one over on the CEO, but that's not important right now.
Last I heard, Lady Claus and Vixen are holding up somewhere near the North Pole. They are pissed, but I don't know how long they'll be able to hold up for. No word on Krampus. I might have a lead on where Santa's Coat is.
Conserving my strength. Put me in a freezer as soon as possible. I'll be good after half a year.
–
So, where are you setting up shop?
[ ] Scrooge and Marley's, London, England.
The building you've owned since Queen Victoria was on the Throne. Though you've stopped being a moneylender. Instead, you've become a toy shop. You're known for your fair prices, toys that anyone can enjoy, and of course your charity. Somehow, nobody has been able to piece together you've been alive for a long time. Or that you are that Scrooge.
Note: Regardless of which option you choose to place the Workshop, you still own Scrooge and Marley's.
Home Rule - This is your home. You're known by all the locals, living and dead. You also already have a good reputation. And you'd swear on some days the house itself was a living thing that wants to become the Workshop
Easy to Find - You are not that hard to find. If anyone ever figures out you are Santa, your shop will probably be the first place they'll look.
[ ] Gary, Indiana
The city is… well, it's bad. Real bad. It's a city on the downturn, with high unemployment and decaying infrastructure. There are lots of abandoned properties that nobody wants. But maybe you can turn things around…
Lots of Room for Growth - There is a lot of space to snap up for the Workshop, and there is a population who needs work.
Left to Die - The city is dying, and the Workshop will not be enough to save it. You will have to prop the city up, and possibly even take it over. This will split your focus, and possibly make enemies.
[ ] Bethlehem, Palestine
The birthplace of Jesus Christ, or so the stories go. In the middle of the Israeli-Palestine conflict, it is not a good idea to start the Workshop here. Yet you feel like you've been led here. In fact, you have been…
The Star of Bethlehem - As long as the Factory remains in Bethlehem, nothing can touch you there. You, as well as anyone who works for you and the Workshop itself, are protected from anything less than Deity-level efforts
No Peace Nor Goodwill - But you are only safe inside Bethlehem. The moment you take a step outside it, you are in severe danger on all sides of the Seen and Unseen World. And you cannot stay inside the Workshop forever…
??? - You have been noticed by someone. This can be either good, bad, or both.
[ ] Antarctica
Well, if you can't have the North Pole, you can take the South Pole! Or at least close to it! You can hide pretty well with very little to find you, unless some researcher gets lucky. However, getting supplies out there might be difficult…
Hard to Get To - Unless someone goes looking, no one knows you are there. Furthermore, it's not easy to get to, especially in large enough groups to matter.
Hard to Get To - However, getting supplies to the Workshop will not be easy. You'll either have to make many long trips, or find a way to grow stuff or spend more Christmas Spirit then usual
[ ] Tokyo, Japan
Not your intended destination. But it seems some of the local Spirits have asked you to set up shop there. This could have some interesting possibilities for both the Workshop and the Unseen World. However, the locals don't seem to like you…
Japanese Spirits - Apparently word of what happened in the North Pole has made its way here, and some of the Spirits want to lend a hand.
Foreigner - The locals where you set up shop don't trust you. Too many incidents involving rude Americans. You not being American probably won't matter much. You'll have to earn their trust, and it won't be easy.
[ ] Somewhere Else?
This is a write in. If your option wins, I'll give you one Benefit, and one Problem.