Turn 0 (Twelve Nights 2024/5)
"Tell me, good Spirits. How close are we to the edge?"
It is the Ghost of Christmas Future that acts first, looking off to the side. But you know him better than most. He's not looking away. He is looking
towards. More specifically, towards the next Christmas.
You and the other Ghosts wait with baited breath, while the robed specter examines your
possible future on Christmas. You must stress, it is a
possible future. If it was static and unchanging, then there would never have been a hope of your redemption. But it still helps to know what could come up, if nothing changes.
Finally, he turns back towards you. "..."
And with that, you sigh a breath of relief, like a man who's been told by his doctor he will live another year. At the very least, it seems you will manage to start the delivery of Christmas. With Blitzen carrying the Sleigh and Wesley seated at your side, you can get a small amount of the world's children their presents. Not ideal, but a start.
You are Ebenezer Scrooge. The second to hold the mantle of Santa Claus. And the last twenty-four hours have been the most chaotic you've ever experienced.
It started when Blitzen, a delightful Reindeer whom you had given lessons about finance and contracts via letters throughout the year, parked the very Sleigh of Santa in the shop's loading dock with an injured passenger, a contract, and a letter from Nicholas.
Soon, after accepting the position, the three Ghosts of Christmas had come to you. But not as friends, though they will always remain that way. They came as employees, and you as their boss. Which made sense with what you know. On one of their visits, they had told you how they operated and who they served. Which was now you.
Once more, you find yourself thankful they are here. You need guidance, and they are the most qualified. Not to mention the others have their own issues.
Blitzen claims he is fine, but you can see it in the way he acts. He's always looking over his shoulder, like Ol' Scratch himself was after him. And any red light sets him off. Or anything involving Rudolph. He became violent the moment he saw a plush of his former friend, requiring you and Jack to talk him down from his mania before he destroyed the entire aisle.
And speaking of Santa's former spymaster and hidden blade against the enemies of Christmas, he had overtaxed his control over the cold to keep himself alive. You had needed to clear out the freezer of frozen treats so he could have a temporary place to recover. Fortunately, the new Workshop came with a series of walk-in freezers. Useful for freezing perishables and allowing Jack to recover much faster. Already he is thinking of designs for weaving a web of informants crossing London.
As for Wesley, your new Maid, he had just gained physical form, and was still getting used to the Workshop. As much as he wanted to be by your side, It would not be fair to burden him with this. At least until he had some time to adjust. But he was happy to entertain Ignorance and Want for the time being. Turns out, he liked Football like many good Englishmen, and knew how to kick the ball around.
Meanwhile Jacob Marley was busy getting the new employees situated. Many of them were once like him, spirits chained in death by the actions of their lives. It was an irony for many spirits, they wanted to help more in death than in life, but they were no longer able to. However, the Spirit Solidifer had allowed them to interact with the Seen World once more, provided they were in the Workshop. They almost ran your poor friend over scrambling to the crafting tables, their excitement in being useful once more overwhelming their sense of decorum.
"Ha! I knew you had it in you!" The Ghost of Christmas Present says, the big burly bearded man drinking a mug of mead. It is unusual for the Present to be around outside of Christmas proper, but you need him now more than ever. Already he is preparing a feast for everyone of the choicest meats. "These are indeed good tidings!"
"However, that does not mean you should rest on your laurels." The Ghost of Christmas Past says, her form shifting and his flame flickering. "We must prepare ourselves accordingly, so this vision can come to pass."
They're right, of course. "Then, we shouldn't dally. We have a lot of fires, and few hands to put them out. What should we focus on first?"
–
Bonuses Applied:
New Santa: Holiday (+5)
Ghost of Christmas Present: Feast of Merriment (Holiday)
Ghost of Christmas Future: Visions of the Future (Random - Favors Failing Actions)
Status Applied:
Important Event: Random Event Roll Replaced with Twelve Nights 2024/5 Interlude - A Tour of the Workshop
Note: Due to all the chaos going on, Turn 0 will be a bit different from the rest of the Turns. All options use your Stats. Remember to vote as a plan, and to note which option gets the Feast of Merriment bonus
Select 3 Options
[ ] For Those Without: There are plenty of people who are still going without. This cannot stand. And now that you are Santa, a little Christmas Spirit means you can reach more people!
Cost: 20 CS. DC: 30 / 60 / 90 / 120 / 150. Bonus Applied: Stewardship. Result: Charity spread, Goodwill done, Christmas Spirit gained, ???, ???
[ ] Now Hiring - Spirits: Thanks to the Spirit Solidifier, you can now hire Spirits and Ghosts. And you know plenty of Ghosts that could use some work.
Cost: 0 CS. DC: 40 / 70 / 100 / 130. Bonus Applied: Diplomacy. Result: Gain a number of Employees. ???
[ ] Is There Anyone Else?: You're sure everyone who could have made it to you has. But is there any way to safely double-check? Maybe send the Ghosts out to see if they find anything?
Cost: 10 CS (Success Only). DC: 50 / 100 / 150. Bonus: Occult. Rewards: ???
[ ] Word on the Unseen Street: Obviously the death of the first Santa is going to shake up the Unseen World. Which means the Spirits will be talking. Find out what they're saying.
Cost: 0 (Initially). DC: 1 / 30 / 60 / 100. Bonus: Intrigue. Rewards: Rumors, News, ???
[ ] Shopping Spree: You have a lot of things you need to buy for the Workshop. Not all of them are in the Seen World.
Cost: 0 (Initially). DC: 30 / 60 / 100 / 150. Bonus: Stewardship. Rewards: Interlude: Shopping Trip (Twelve Nights 2024/5)
[ ] Getting to Know One Another: You have a traumatized Reindeer, an injured Winter Spirit, and a new Maid. You want to get to know them, see how they're doing, and see how you can help them.
Cost: 0 CS. DC: None. Bonus: None. Rewards: Interlude: Getting To Know One Another
[ ] Your Mortal Employees: Scrooge and Marley's has six Employees that man the shop. As risky as it might be, you feel that they should know, especially since they or their families might be at risk if Midwinter ever figures out you're Santa. While you gave them the time off until the 7th of January, you can invite them to a party and break the news.
Cost: 5 CS. DC: 130. Bonus: Diplomacy + Occult. Rewards: Your Employees are brought into the knowledge of the Unseen World.
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Beta'd by
@GrayGriffin. Vote is open.
