Operation Weihnachtswunder (A CK2 Style Quest to Save Christmas!)

Note: The Occult Section may be a bit dark. Please be advised.

--

Stewardship: More Employees: 76 + 31 (Jacob Marley's Stewardship Bonus, Doubled via Spirit Boss) + 15 (The Halfway) = 122. Suffering From Success.

Stewardship: Shift Over.

"Ebenezer, do you remember how we agreed to have three shifts per day, and five days a week?"

You look up from your desk. You've been going over possible people to sit on the Chair of Solomon for the last few days. The benefit of knowing a lot of beings over the decades is you have a lot of choice. "Of course. It'll triple our toy output. Why? Did you not find enough spirits?"

"Oh no, quite the opposite actually. I may have found too many…"

–

"Ready to work, boss!"

"Please hire me, I've been bored for the last ten years!"

"It's either this or the colonies again."

"Is this heaven? Please tell me it is!"

Jacob just stares at the number of ghosts gathering towards him. He might have slightly miscalculated on the sales pitch…

–

"Actually, do we count as a type of heaven?" Jacob asks a question you would never have considered even a year ago. "Personally, I would say so."

You just stare at your friend. He's not wrong, in a sense. Most ghosts cannot do anything involving the physical world at all. But for the ones you have employed, the simple ability to lay on a pillow or eat a sandwich after so long could count as heaven for many. Even if you didn't make sure they were paid fair wages and housed, they would consider that payment enough.

But if you tried explaining that to the wrong people, there's a non-zero chance you become the target of a holy crusade. Or a prank war. Neither option appeals to you. "Let's not promise that quite yet. How many did you end up employing?"

"About thirty four. I'm thinking we can go week on, week off for most of the employees. Put one of the original spirits at the head of each shift to show them the ropes. The main issue is we do not have room to house them all."

That is an issue indeed. While ghosts don't need to sleep, you still want them to be able to have a place they call their own. But housing them all is going to be an issue. There are a few options, but you'll want to take some time to think them through. Especially since you're still waiting to hear back from the Germanic Dwarves. "Tell them we'll have something ready for them soon. Three months, at the latest."

Reward: 33 Spirit Employees! 1 Hero Unit: Old Bennett. You now run 3 shifts on the weekdays, raising your toy making ability by three times.

Note: Upkeep has increased. Toys / Season increased

WARNING: You are now Locked In to either choosing "Upgrade The Workshop" on Turn 2, or "Empowered Building" in The Forges of Yggdrasill, and you must spend Building Points on upgrading the Living Quarters and Workshop.



--

Intrigue: Lay Low
Lay Low: Council Diplomacy: 76 + 8 (The Halfway) + 8 (Jack's Diplomacy) = 92. You've Got Some Options.
Chosen: Étaín Uí Macháin

"Hey Blitzen, need to talk with you for a moment."

You are Blitzen, the Speed of the Nine. You trot over to the ice spirit, concerned about the tone in his voice. "Sure, what's up?"

Jack pulled up a nearby stool and sits on it. He seems more serious than usual. Not the "I am going to John Wick everyone in this room." type of serious, which is good. But still, you're now more concerned. "So, the boss wanted me to find a replacement for Asafa. And I have someone in mind, but I wanted to let you know ahead of time who it is."

Why would who he picked for the Chair of Mouths matter to you? Enough for Jack to be nervous? The only way you'd really care was if…

Oh.

Oh.

You close your eyes, and start trying to calm yourself. It's one of two things: Either someone from Amazon, or something related to the Fae. And considering Jack is not drop-dead stupid, it's probably the latter.

Breath in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

(Keep It Together, Blitzen (DC: 60): 85 - 10 (Trauma) = 75.)

Jack… Jack is looking out for you, at least. He's telling you ahead of time, rather than springing it on you. And it's for the position that will be the face a lot of people actually see. Having someone with the grace and charm many high-ranking Fae have would make a lot of sense. If Jack could swing that for a position that needed to be replaced immediately, he should!

If you had to make the decision, you'd probably have made the same.

And you hate that. Not Jack. Just the fact that it makes perfect sense.

You open your eyes, and there is no red. "Alright. Who is it?"

Jack releases a breath he probably didn't realize he was holding. "Étaín Uí Macháin."

Knowledge Check: Natural 100 + 8 (Learning) = 108

Wait, her? The Faebane of Ireland? How the hell did Jack manage to swing that? "Why didn't you start with that? That's amazing. You think she can break the contract?"

You had heard about her from some of the ghosts. The woman who not only stood up to a Faerie Princess, but knocked her into the dirt and stole her grace and poise from her. In fact, if what you've heard was true, she could steal any powers for herself. If there was a poster of her, you'd have put it on your wall. Her long red hair, her large muscles, her ability to make the Fae tap out...

You wonder if she has a fan club you can join.

Come to think of it, you might not even need a lawyer now. You have one of the best possible people on your side. And more than likely willing to help you out. If you could kiss Jack, you would. But right now, you'll accept being seriously happy.

"That's the plan. Blake is up to their eyeballs with the Fae. I want someone who can break that power over her fucking knee…" Oh, there's that damned smile. The moment where Jack Frost ends, and The Hidden Blade really comes out to play. "Maybe that's not what Santa intended. But right now, it's what we need. And the funny thing is?" He leans down to look directly at you. "She could learn to break them more."

Forget joining the fan club. You want to be the president of it.

Reward: +1 Free Jack Action (Used on Council: Diplomacy). Jack Lays Low, and the heat on him dies down a lot. The Faebane now sits on the Chair of Mouths. Blitzen will have no problems with Étaín.


Council Occult: NATURAL 1 + 18 (The Halfway) + 36 (Hands To The Plow) = 55 (SUCCESSFULNESS REDUCED BY NATURAL ONE)
VISIONS OF THE FUTURE

"Nicholas, come and meet my new boss!"

You look past your newest member of the Councilor of Christmas, and look at who is obviously the son of noted occultist Thomas Brown. And as he comes into view, you recognize who this child is.

(Nicholas Brown. Age 12. Has been beaten by his father two nights ago. He has been given money to "make up for it." No permanent injuries. Father not in shop.)

Nicholas doesn't seem excited. He just seems wary of his father. Afraid. Then he is looking at you with the same fear. And why not? You just put him on the Seat of Solomon, after all.

You can't even hide the disgust on your face, knowing what you know. Unfortunately, you're unable to stop yourself from looking at Thomas with that disgust. Which sets the middle-aged man off immediately.

Within two seconds, you're driven into the wall by a blast of Vancian magic. Fortunately, the Coat of Christmas blunts most of the damage. However, you're still stunned by the audacity of the act.

"I don't know how you know." Thomas starts, a fireball spell starting to gather in his hands. Nicholas has backed away, afraid of being noticed. "But you wouldn't understand it's for his own good! He could become one of the best magic users in all of England, as long as he does what I tell him... bloody hell!!"

Thomas' knees forcibly bend, surprising him. The gathered fire dissipates harmlessly, as Wesley is already in your office, though you would swear Thomas kneeled a second before he got there.

Wesley is fast. Already a tea cup has been broken, its jagged edges aimed at Thomas' throat. But any magic user worth their salt has preparations readied. A thin sheet of magic keeps his throat from being opened like a bag of chips, while a pulse of force knocks your maid away.

You can hear commotion as now everybody is trying to get into the office. But it's too late. The Council is now complete, and the Chairs start to give their power. A power that Thomas greedily taps into, as the gates into the Fifth Circle of Hell open right into your office.

The end result isn't pretty. Jacob and most of the working spirits finally finish the job, ripping Thomas apart into chunks. But Cecilia and Jack are dead. The workshop is scarred and burned. The Spirit Generator is damaged. Demons of wrath have escaped, and are now loose in London. There is no way to put this as anything other than a disaster of the highest proportions.

You come to, as the vision of the Ghost of Christmas Yet-To-Be fades. You look towards him, thankful as always that he is looking out for you. But even if this isn't the final fate of this path, Thomas Brown cannot sit on the Chair of Solomon. And young Nicholas must be taken away from him. But it will not be as easy as you had first hoped.

(There will be a vote on how to deal with this matter, after you choose an Occult Adviser.)


Vote: Choose Your Occult Adviser

[ ] William O'Shea (Secondary Stats - Diplomacy) - Some would say he was a violent terrorist during the Troubles. Others would say he was a proud freedom fighter, protecting the Irish people. But now, he's looking to be a man of peace, evoking magic from mana sources within the land. But what he's done still haunts him, and there are people on both sides who want him dead.

[ ] Jessica Good (Secondary Stat - Martial) - Ever want to summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon? How about casting a Channel-Fireball combo? Jessica uses trading card games as summons and spells, pulling them from fiction into reality! However, this can be draining for more powerful casts. Also, she does not take losing well.

[ ] Yukawa Shiori (Secondary Start - Stewardship) - A miko or shrine priestess from Japan, she deals with divine spirits, blessings, and fortunes. Furthermore, she is friendly with many kami in her native Japan. However, she has also made a powerful enemy of a powerful Angel. One that seeks to damn her to Hell, and would not care about who gets in his way.

[ ] Evangeline (Secondary Stat - Diplomacy) - Wait, wasn't she considered for the Chair of Mouths? You suppose she could hold the Chair of Solomon instead?

[ ] Cassandra Copperbottom (Secondary Stat - Learning) - A fox spirit (not a kitsune) alchemist, she knows how to craft potions of all types, and can get a hold of rarer ingredients and equipment. However, she is very bad with money, and must never be left in a gambling hall. Or given a gacha game.

[ ] Nicholas Brown (???) - Well, it'd be one way to get him away from his father, though it would be highly unorthodox. It'll take a lot of work and would be an uphill battle, but you think if you helped the boy, he could grow up to become a great person, and a great mage.

[ ] Before you can make a selection, a man sits in the Chair of Solomon. He is wrapped in mummy wrappings, though you can see his eyes. He wears an Ankh around his neck, and a mask in the visage of Anubis. Jack and Krampus immediately burst into the room, but not to attack the man. No, they know him…

--

QM's Notes - Got it done. Now it's time for sleep. I'll answer any questions in the morning. Xanah beta'd, and gave me the idea for Nicholas on the council. Night.