i was more on about those stories where someone/some animal wants to be XYZ and gets it as a christmas miracle, or ones where they're turned into a specific animal as karmic punishment, but that works too ig
Operation Weihnachtswunder (A CK2 Style Quest to Save Christmas!)
- Thread starter Novus Ordo Mundi
- Start date
- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Good news! I am not dead!
I will need to see a doctor for labwork, and I've got some meds I've never heard of, but I should be good to go for a bit.
I won't lie, that wasn't intentional. But I love that it's sparked some conversation!
I will say that there are some options that deal with this in multiple directions.
Admittedly, I do wonder if the CK2 (Crusader Kings 2) style of Quest may be in play here, as usually this style is more for Nation/Faction Building, which does require the gathering of resources and making sure you run at a profit. (Also, I am going to have an Avenger's moment with the Council of Christmas somehow!
)
Hey, I'm cool with some constructive criticism! I can't say I'll always agree, but I'm always be willing to listen and try to give reason (though sometimes I must declare spoilers.)
Fun fact: This was Scrooge before his redemption. To quote TV Tropes: It's made clear that Scrooge could live very comfortably if he wanted to, but his obsession with hoarding money and spending as little as possible means that his home is quite spartan and barren. The narrator even describes Scrooge not spending much on candles and keeping his rooms dark, because "darkness is cheap" compared to keeping it all lit.
I will need to see a doctor for labwork, and I've got some meds I've never heard of, but I should be good to go for a bit.
I won't lie, that wasn't intentional. But I love that it's sparked some conversation!
I will say that there are some options that deal with this in multiple directions.
Admittedly, I do wonder if the CK2 (Crusader Kings 2) style of Quest may be in play here, as usually this style is more for Nation/Faction Building, which does require the gathering of resources and making sure you run at a profit. (Also, I am going to have an Avenger's moment with the Council of Christmas somehow!
)Hey, I'm cool with some constructive criticism! I can't say I'll always agree, but I'm always be willing to listen and try to give reason (though sometimes I must declare spoilers.)
Fun fact: This was Scrooge before his redemption. To quote TV Tropes: It's made clear that Scrooge could live very comfortably if he wanted to, but his obsession with hoarding money and spending as little as possible means that his home is quite spartan and barren. The narrator even describes Scrooge not spending much on candles and keeping his rooms dark, because "darkness is cheap" compared to keeping it all lit.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Even gift economies have a return on investments; they function based on reciprocity.
Random question @Novus Ordo Mundi but do you have a reference for what Jack Frost looks like? Because I've realized the image I have in my head is the jackass from Persona, and I don't think that's quite right
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- He/They
You know, I just realized, is there a possibility of descendants of the Cratchits/our nephew being around? Maybe even among our existing employees?
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- He/Him
What I'm hearing is that Santa can hand out (possibly baleful) polymorphs like Christmas toys. I am incredibly okay with this.
- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Random question @Novus Ordo Mundi but do you have a reference for what Jack Frost looks like? Because I've realized the image I have in my head is the jackass from Persona, and I don't think that's quite right
I'm still deciding that. The main issue is finding good pictures for an Intrigue Jack Frost. Especially since I'm either buying art adoptable (Cecilia, for example), or commissioning (Wesley, eventually). I did like the reference I got for Ebenezer, though he too will probably get commissioned art. (Though I had considered using Ebenezer and the Invisible World's version as a possibility.)
You will have one for each Stat! (Also, I'll probably give a list of who was on the original Council. Though you can probably guess Blake and Jack were originally Stewardship and Intrigue.)
I think I said there was a Cratchit? I'd have to double check where I said that.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
You rolled to check and declared that there was a Cratchit among our current employees.
Ah... the "gift" in this case is usually the humanized reindeer in question... often wearing little to no clothing, often wrapped up in ribbon and tied with a bow. We... probably won't be taking this quest in that particular direction.
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- He/Him
Probably for the best; 'enjoyable' and 'tasteful' are two remarkably different things.
- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Thanks for the reminder!
No plans to go in that direction or have explicit sex scenes in the quest.
(Though I should note, Krampus' mother is a legitimate candidate for Stewardship Advisor.)
just something like a disguised snowman could probably work? it doesn't need to line up exactly after all
i guess quests using established characters have it easier here, huh?
the whole point of this is to *prevent* slavery, i don't think this is in line with our goals very much >_>
(i'm sure things can be kept sfw, don't worry)
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I've been imagining him as a cross between the Rankin-Bass version and the Guardians version.Random question @Novus Ordo Mundi but do you have a reference for what Jack Frost looks like? Because I've realized the image I have in my head is the jackass from Persona, and I don't think that's quite right
Imagine if Santa recruits a Eurofurence worth of Furries, smuggles them to Amazon hq as a flashmob or whatever, and then gifts them all a transformation into their Fursona using Christmas Spirit.
A Furry invasion while Jack Frost and Marley infiltrate.
Its not slavery if the reindeer is into it and could just leave anytime if they wanted!
- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Update is now being examined for impurities and flaws. Please Wait Warmly.
Turn 0 - Twelve Nights 2024/5 Interlude - Getting To Know One Another (Part 3)
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- The Usual Room
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Turn 0 Interlude (Twelve Nights 2024/5)
Getting To Know One Another (Part 3)
Getting To Know One Another (Part 3)
"Did you know Christmas Spirit can be a renewable resource?"
For Cecilia, this meant listening to her as she told you her ideas.
Cecilia has taken over the one remaining table in the workshop, and had already gotten to work putting up plans, schematics, and tools all over the place. It's fine for now, as you don't have enough employees to fill all the tables for one shift anyways.
You raise an eyebrow. "Really? How so?"
Plop!
As a response, Cecilia drops a tiny brick of Christmas Spirit onto the table.
"Think about it! We spread peace, goodwill, charity, and toys!" She loudly proclaims as she turns towards what looks to be a small brass toy train, with a little hole in the back. "And in return, we get Christmas Spirit! Now, raw Christmas Spirit is pretty much a tangible gas of possibility. It can be molded, spun, folded, etched and whittled with tools. But you know what really helps give it form and use?
You do know, thanks to a set of working instructions that came with the Workshop Seed. But Cecilia seems like she's on a roll, and you don't want to stop it. "Why don't you tell me?"
"The Will of the Shaper!" Cecilia yells, as she shoves the brick into the toy train, before closing the door over it
For a moment, nothing happens. Then small clouds of Christmas Spirit start to puff out of the train, as it begins rolling forward on its own. You watch as it makes its way towards the edge of the table, making no attempt to turn. "Now, imagine willing it into workable fuel for a steam engine! No need for oil, coal, or any other type of fuel!"
The train falls off the table, and lands with a thud and a crunch. Cecilia ignores it as she continues. "Now I won't lie, Spirit isn't foolproof. Toys are so much easier than anything else. Makes sense, Santa was a toymaker first! But I have ideas…"
She turns, and grabs a random blueprint, and spreads it out across the table.
The Cecilia Temperance Fuel Maker, Version 0.75
And from there, it's a whirlwind of explanations, ideas, and blueprints.
You won't lie, it's hard to keep up with her. Between her excitement, moving from point to point, and then switching to another idea, it is taking all of your experience with excited employees and inventors to keep up with her. But you are still getting the general gist of everything.
And every so often, she'll also bring out a version of what is on the blueprint. Already she has made working miniature versions, similar to the train. All in her trademark style of steam and brass.
Granted, they are just miniature versions. But they are physical, tangible proof of concepts. Like something that looks like an Easy Bake Oven. Except it takes the Christmas Spirit, and turns it into a cookie. A horribly tasting cookie, but still a cookie.
Cecilia admits that it still needs a lot of work.
But she seems happy that you're at least interested in her work. Apparently someone named Eldras always shot down her ideas. Time inventing things was time not spent on toy making. And they already could make toys for two billion plus children, even with a reduction in Christmas Spirit. Why burn Christmas Spirit on things that may pan out? Though Cecilia makes sure to assure you Eldras wasn't a bad elf. Just one with no vision or maidens.
You're about to ask how maidens would have helped Eldras when you see a new blueprint. And Cecilia stops talking.
The Cecilia Temperance Mechanized Suit, Version 1.00 (Prototype)
The Joulupukki
Oh.
You can tell it's more detailed than the rest of the schematics. A lot of work was put into this, which is saying something, considering the work you had seen so far.
"We… We can skip this one. And the weapons, too. We don't need to see those either… Or anything else."
You quickly take the blueprint and start rolling it up. She doesn't need to dwell on it. And then you remember what Krampus told you. "I don't know all the details of what happened, but Krampus wants you to know it's not your fault."
"I know…" Cecilia slumps into her chair. "I mean, I get that we've all been played. But I still see him all bloody and bruised. Krampus was our heaviest hitter! And my mech just… broke him. And it broke him protecting me." She looks towards you, and any of her prior excitement and energy is gone. Replaced by sadness and hurt. "You wanna know the funny thing? The Joulupukki was supposed to be for defense! Allowing even a human to go toe-to-toe with anything, to at least a standstill. Not to mention the secret weapon: Fists coated with Corrupting Niceness! Perfect for wearing down the toughest opponents!"
She pauses, as she looks at the schematics for the Joulupukki.
"Well, it worked, exactly as advertised."
You probably shouldn't let her stew in her self-loathing. But what would you say to help her spirits?
–
Vote: How do you help Cecilia? (Note: None of these options fully resolves her Minor Trauma. But they all do help her.)
[ ] - By telling her about a past spirit you met, of a person in a similar situation as hers. Maybe it could help.
[ ] - By blaming everything on Jeff Bezos and Blake Midwinter. If she must have someone to blame, she should blame the true culprits, not herself.
[ ] - By showing that you believe in her. And you think you can make something that can cheer her up.
[ ] - By shifting the conversation. Talk to Cecilia about herself. What did she do when she wasn't inventing?
[ ] - By giving her the rest of the Twelve Nights off. You're not going to ask her to work in her current state. She needs time to heal.
[ ] - Krampus Interrupt
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QM's Notes: So, my plans for the vote changes as I wrote this. But it feels like a good spot for a vote. Now, for dinner!
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- Location
- The Usual Room
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh shit, vote open
- Location
- California,USA
[X] - By telling her about a past spirit you met, of a person in a similar situation as hers. Maybe it could help.
Scrooge STORY TIME!
A Classic Victorian Tradition.
Scrooge STORY TIME!
A Classic Victorian Tradition.
[X] - By telling her about a past spirit you met, of a person in a similar situation as hers. Maybe it could help.
I'm tempted by Krampus, but no.
I'm tempted by Krampus, but no.
[X] - By telling her about a past spirit you met, of a person in a similar situation as hers. Maybe it could help.
