  
ClubFloyd Transcript:
The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each
week at a pre-arranged time, a group of
people meet online to cooperatively play
a game of interactive fiction.
|
|
ClubFloyd Transcript:
The idea behind ClubFloyd is that each
week at a pre-arranged time, a group of
people meet online to cooperatively play
a game of interactive fiction.
|
|
ToyShop & Floyditorium
|
#ClubFloyd Discussion
|
|
| ##### Session 1 | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "load mrsclaus" | ||
Floyd | [IMAGE: Chapter One Special Delivery] Floyd | You arrive at the house at midnight on Christmas Eve. The mortal world Floyd | always takes a bit to fade in. The cold hits you first, then the Floyd | smells—asphalt, pine, fresh snow. The roar in your ears settles down Floyd | to the rushing of the wind. Floyd | Floyd | Behind you lies your entrance into this world, a small faerie ring Floyd | hidden by a bush. You don't have to use a faerie ring, but it's easier Floyd | that way. You wait for a car to pass by and then creep out. Floyd | Floyd | It's good to be in the mortal world again. This is your chance to... Floyd | Floyd | A) ...reinvent myself. Floyd | B) ...get some fresh air. Floyd | C) ...prove myself again to Mrs. Claus. Floyd | D) ...spread some joy to those in need. Floyd | E) ...show some spoiled kids the rougher side of Yuletide. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "X ME. Oh, wait." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "So, we're presumably an elf?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I suppose we are." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Well, I'm lawful good, so I like D" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A or D I'd say." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Are we Santa?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I... I guess we *could* be" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, still an elf. But yeah, I guess that could make a difference." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm confused on what we should do if I don't know who we are." | ||
| DavidW says, "But sure: A or D." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We could just do our first playthrough (though I suspect we will only play once, as these games are generally quite long)... we could just play being the worst at every turn. If people wanted to try that for once, we could go with E." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Do people wanna be naughty or nice?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Nice" | ||
| Roger says, "I'm in for nice" | ||
| Jacqueline sighs. "Fine." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So D?" | ||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You are, of course, an elf. In fact, you are The Elf: Official Second Floyd | List-Checker, Winner of the Golden Tannenbaum award. Floyd | Floyd | Out of all the Council of Seven, supreme rulers of the Fae world, Mrs. Floyd | Claus is the most respected and admired. And you are Mrs. Claus's right Floyd | hand. It's the highest position an elf can hold. Floyd | Floyd | There are many kinds of elves, and elves do many things. There are Floyd | nimble-fingered toymaker elves that are masters of clockwork and Floyd | innovation. Floyd | Floyd | There are shadowy elves that are nothing more than a whisper in the Floyd | night. Floyd | Floyd | There are jolly old elves who love spreading Christmas magic. Floyd | Floyd | There are wild elves that take the form of every animal they see. Floyd | Floyd | There are fluttering elves with gossamer wings who hear everything and Floyd | know everybody. Floyd | Floyd | No elf is tied down to their form. They can change their shape, gender, Floyd | and species at will. Floyd | Floyd | As for you, you've taken your usual form today. It's changed a bit over Floyd | the centuries, but you've figured out what you like best: Floyd | Floyd | A) I am a jolly old elf with red cheeks and a bright nose. Floyd | B) I am a lurking goblin wearing soot-stained rags. Floyd | C) I am a slender fairy with a fondant dress, sugarspun wings and Floyd | sugarplum slippers. Floyd | D) I am a glass golem filled with fog, subtle and quick. Floyd | E) I am a small but regal figure, with a holly crown and a white Floyd | mantle. I command respect. Floyd | F) I am a wizened hermit with an apron full of tools, springs, and Floyd | wires. Floyd | G) I am an eerie, ghostly child. Floyd | H) Actually, I don't like to settle down. That's where all the fun is! Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Well, we now know who we are, and who we could be." | |
| Jacqueline says, "yeah" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, in real life I aspire to be either F or G, but for the game I'm thinking either A or H" | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm now wondering who all is in the Council of Seven and why Mrs C ranks so highly." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It sounds like elves can't be on the Council proper." | ||
| DavidW says, "I was leaning towards D or F." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I could go with either of those." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "KO (Roger? You here?) What're you feeling?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I could be convinced to go with any option, really." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thank you for helping us narrow it down." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Though H has a certain appeal." | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Would you be okay with H?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Just keep it open?" | ||
| DavidW says, "uh, these choice games never ever actually let you commit to an H style option really. I get disappointed." | ||
| DavidW says, "but whatever." | ||
| DavidW says, "You'll be forced into *something*." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You may be right. But yeah, let's see if you are." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "h" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Yesterday you were a quartz spider golem. Today you're a satyr. Floyd | Tomorrow, who knows? But that's part of the fun in life. You excel at Floyd | changing shape, but not at commitment. Floyd | Floyd | Switching forms can be fun, but not everyone does it. Mrs. Claus hasn't Floyd | changed forms since she took her current name. Candid Mistletoe, on the Floyd | other hand, will be a faerie princess one night and a goblin king the Floyd | next. Floyd | Floyd | You pause as you see headlights down the road and hear the crunching of Floyd | tires in the snow. They turn before they reach the street you're on, Floyd | and you step silently out. Floyd | Floyd | It's interesting to compare this house to the buildings at home. It's a Floyd | long, brick structure with some weathered wooden trimming on the lower Floyd | level. The house is dark, set away from the streetlights and from its Floyd | cheerily-lit neighbors. It has simple sliding windows obscured by dark Floyd | curtains. Floyd | Floyd | Your eyes take in all the possible entrances and exits. Front door, Floyd | mail slot but no doggy door. Upstairs window, probably locked, too far Floyd | to reach from any trees. No basement windows. Probably a back door, but Floyd | it's unlikely you'll need one. After all, you intend to: Floyd | Floyd | A) Melt into a mist and flow inside the house. Floyd | B) Pick the lock. Floyd | C) Ask the local raven how to get in. Floyd | D) Go down the chimney, of course! Floyd | | Knight_Otu exclaims, "I thought we were a nice elf, not a trespasser!" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Apparently we're here to force people into decorate their houses." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If I'm right, I hate us." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Anyway, I like A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Suew." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Er, sure." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Is that what we're doing? Forced redecoration?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It's implied. I'm really not sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We said we were going to spread cheer." | ||
| DavidW says, "It's all so vague." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I suggested it. I didn't think it would involve trespassing." | ||
| DavidW says, "I hope it all becomes less vague soon." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It's using the 'show don't tell' approach." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | It's quiet. It's easy. Changing shape is something that comes naturally Floyd | to you. After all, you can do anything if you have the right body for Floyd | it. Floyd | Floyd | Yes, that ought to do the trick. Although it may be more difficult than Floyd | that, given the report from last year's present delivery team. This is Floyd | no ordinary kid. You review her file: Floyd | Floyd | Name: Katya Andreeva Floyd | Location: Volgograd, Russia Floyd | Age: Eleven years old. Floyd | Behavior to Date: Suspended from school for several fist-fights. Floyd | Charged with vandalism for spray-painting an abandoned store. Floyd | Disqualified from the Krinkle Corp Young Einstein inventor's Floyd | competition for creating a functioning weapon. Floyd | Notes: Katya is known for rigging her house with improvised traps. Two | DavidW says, "A" | |
Floyd | elves were sent to the infirmary last year. Floyd | Floyd | You look at the house again, thinking of what waits for you inside. You Floyd | can't help but compare it to the buildings at Claus Castle. In fact, Floyd | your own house has unusual defenses. Floyd | Floyd | A) I enchanted it to blend into shadows when enemies approach. Floyd | B) It has a fully automated entry and defense system. Floyd | C) My troll buddy, Unsuspected Bruiser, keeps watch. Floyd | D) It is surrounded by a moat of boiling chocolate and a candy cane Floyd | fence. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "My." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Indeed." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I will go with any of these choices." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "It feels like there are three of us playing, so does agreement by two of us constitute agreement to proceed?" | ||
| DavidW says, "It seems all options aren't foolproof." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "That is true" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I've also been thinking, 'Enh, but will she have anticipated fog coming through the mail slot? Really?' but of course she will have." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "This is like Marika the Offering, but in reverse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Nothing ever is foolproof." | ||
| DavidW says, "D is fine, I guess. I hate the idea of outdoor chocolate, though. Bugs and twigs and so on it in." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "hee" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You used Christmas magic to do it, of course. It's easy to summon Floyd | holiday goodies with Yuletide sorcery, even in a weaponized form. You'd Floyd | be surprised how often a tactical marshmallow comes in handy. Floyd | Floyd | It always pays to be cautious. You shouldn't have thought of home, Floyd | though. You have a sudden twinge of discomfort as you remember the Floyd | ceremony last night: your Golden Tannenbaum award. Floyd | Floyd | You were summoned thirty minutes before the feast began, and sat on the Floyd | stage as all of the delegations from allied principalities arrived one Floyd | at a time. It went efficiently, with group after group ushered in. You Floyd | heard the crowd gasp and murmur when the more unusual ambassadors Floyd | arrived. But you were especially impressed by: Floyd | Floyd | A) The cat ambassador from the mortal world, of course. Floyd | B) The Emerald Empress on her throne. Floyd | C) The tooth fairies, with their bakers and sweetsmiths. Floyd | D) The Skeleton King and his entourage. Floyd | E) The ascetic Clockwork Women of Antikythera. Floyd | | DavidW says, "sigh. This game is all over the place." | |
| Jacqueline says, "The PC's brain is all over the place, yes." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But it's trying to paint the world for us." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like A, but then, I like cats." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm fine with that." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "When you're last, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to progress if KO and I agree..." | ||
| DavidW says, "you are allowed" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I can wait if you want me to." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Cats have always fascinated you, weaving between the worlds without Floyd | impediment. Your mutual curiosity has led to several discussions over Floyd | the years, lasting long into the night. The ambassador was luxuriously Floyd | combed, with a blood-red ruby on a silken collar. Floyd | Floyd | They brought six barrels of fresh ahi and assorted organs and giblets Floyd | for the other carnivores. Floyd | Floyd | Candid Mistletoe, the Chief Elf Officer, was on stage next to you, Floyd | constantly leaning over to whisper congratulations and to point out Floyd | interesting guests. Glass Ghost was there, too, the mysterious head of Floyd | security at Claus Castle. They were in the back, wearing the mirrored Floyd | helmet you've never seen them without. Floyd | Floyd | Even some of Cai's bodies were present! Cai isn't officially part of Floyd | Claus Castle, or any organization for that matter. Cai is a collective Floyd | of thousands of bodies sharing the same consciousness. Together, Floyd | they're the best magician you've ever met. Although their fashion sense Floyd | could use some work. Floyd | Floyd | But Mrs. Claus was absent. She only slipped onto the stage as the last Floyd | group trailed out. She gave you a nod and a small smile as she passed Floyd | by and sat in her chair. Her eyes scanned the crowd restlessly. Floyd | Floyd | You graciously accepted the trophy that Candid Mistletoe handed you, Floyd | and the hall burst into applause. You heard clatters from the Floyd | skeletons, claps and cheers from the elves, and unidentifiable sounds Floyd | from the Emerald Empress's table. Floyd | Floyd | A) I bowed graciously and calmly. Floyd | B) I blushed and looked down. Floyd | C) I waved back excitedly. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "mmm ahi" | |
| DavidW asks, "what is ahi?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It's a type of fish. Popular in Hawaii." | ||
| DavidW says, "ah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "No, ahi." | ||
| Jacqueline rolls her eyes and smiles. | ||
| DavidW says, "A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Agree." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You snap out of your memories and look at Katya's house again. Floyd | Floyd | Just like you planned, you melt into a mist and flow through the Floyd | keyhole. You solidify back into your ordinary self, slightly Floyd | disoriented. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline pushes the green 'space' button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --You make it into the entryway. The laminate floor was Floyd | possibly red once. More importantly, it's covered in broken glass. Not Floyd | much of an impediment for a thief, let alone a trained elf. You can Floyd | read Katya's name on a variety of trophies and medals on a shelf with a Floyd | shattered glass cover. Floyd | Floyd | Your thoughts fly immediately to the ceremony last night. Floyd | Floyd | They handed you the Golden Tannenbaum with your name engraved on it. Floyd | Your current name, that is. Elf names tend to change over time to Floyd | reflect the character of their bearer. Floyd | Floyd | What was the first name on the trophy? Floyd | Floyd | A) Silent. Floyd | B) Luminous. Floyd | C) Rancid. Floyd | D) Crystal. Floyd | E) Ebony. Floyd | F) Hopeful. Floyd | G) Lightfinger. Floyd | H) Trueheart. Floyd | I) Rosewood. Floyd | J) I have a more unusual first name. Floyd | | Roger says, "Rancid Hardthews" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I thought it was Floyd." | ||
| DavidW says, "That's the SECOND name." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Okay then, Club?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "j" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | What is your name? Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Club" | ||
Floyd | >
Floyd | What was the second name on the trophy?
Floyd |
Floyd | A) Spirit.
Floyd | B) Snowflake.
Floyd | C) Crankshaft.
Floyd | D) Changeling.
Floyd | E) Shadow.
Floyd | F) Thorns.
Floyd | G) I have a more unusual second name.
Floyd |
| ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "g" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | What is your name? Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "But then shouldm't... right." | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "Floyd" | ||
Floyd | >
Floyd | Right. The trophy was engraved with the name "Club Floyd." That makes
Floyd | you the only elf to receive all three Tannenbaum awards.
Floyd |
Floyd | However, you can't help but think of Mrs. Claus's face. She hardly
Floyd | smiled and didn't join in the applause.
Floyd |
Floyd | After the clapping died down, she rose to speak. "Welcome, Citizens of
Floyd | all worlds. We have gathered here to honor one of Claus Castle's
Floyd | greatest citizens, Club Floyd. This elf..."
Floyd |
| Roger says, "Rancid Crankshaft is pretty excellent" | |
| Jacqueline says, "True." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Roger), "Keep it in mind if you have another sprogling." | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Her speech was heartfelt in its words and structure, but her Floyd | tone and delivery were distant. You wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't Floyd | known her so well. It was painful, and it felt like hours before it Floyd | ended. Floyd | Floyd | "...and serves as one of our best examples of originality, Floyd | cheerfulness, and elegance. And, last of all, Club Floyd is my friend." Floyd | At this, she turned and gave you a genuine smile. Her smile faded, Floyd | though, as she looked behind you. You tried to see what it was, but no Floyd | one was there, and when you turned around, she had already sat down. Floyd | Floyd | It just wasn't like her. She's always been supportive of you and the Floyd | other elves. Floyd | Floyd | What was wrong? Why didn't you measure up? Maybe things weren't good Floyd | between you anymore. Floyd | Floyd | A) I feel like we've grown apart. Floyd | B) I don't get it; we've always gotten along just fine! Floyd | C) I'm not sure if we ever really liked each other. It's a business Floyd | relationship. Floyd | D) I always thought of her as someone I can trust. I wish she felt the Floyd | same way. Floyd | | DavidW says, "One wonders why Mrs C is less than happy." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Something's up." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm not thinking it's us, though. It's something else." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd assume so." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So I don't like any of these options." | ||
| DavidW says, "I agree. It's not us she's concerned about." | ||
| DavidW asks, "B?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, of these answers that I do not like, the least worst is -- yeah, B.'" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Seems the best option." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You push your thoughts of last night to the side, and proceed down the Floyd | hallway. But one step forward sends sharp pains through your foot. You Floyd | inhale sharply and step back. Katya must be a bleeder. No wonder the Floyd | team had so much trouble last year. Floyd | Floyd | Bleeders straddle the boundary between worlds, living in the mortal Floyd | world but able to affect the unseen. Their very existence brings the Floyd | worlds closer together. Some Fae find this exciting, yearning for Floyd | easier travel to the humans and the possibility of making mortal Floyd | friends. Others fear it, remembering the days when humans and gods Floyd | warred together. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus is neutral on the issue, preferring to keep things as they Floyd | are. She's distributed special bleeder procedures to all elves that Floyd | enter the mortal world. You're more familiar with them than most. After Floyd | all... Floyd | Floyd | A) I wrote the rules myself! Floyd | B) I've been reminded of the rules too many times. Floyd | C) I'm scrupulous in my attention to detail. Floyd | D) I've experienced just about everything. Floyd | | DavidW says, "D" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Procedure for Elimination of Bleeder Threats Floyd | Remember, knowledge is safety, and safety is success. Contrary to Floyd | rumors, bleeders are not changelings, half-Fae, or tall gnomes. A Floyd | bleeder is a human being with a subconscious ability to affect both the Floyd | Fae and mortal world. Floyd | Floyd | A bleeder's feelings will leak, or bleed, from the human world into our Floyd | own. These feelings exist in a concentrated form, known as "bleed" or Floyd | "heartbleed," and present a clear danger to Fae beings. Thus, we have Floyd | recommended the following protocol: Floyd | Step 1: Identify the nature of the threat. Floyd | Step 2: Draw on memories with antithetical characteristics. Floyd | Step 3: Focus on the selected memories until the threat is neutralized. Floyd | | DavidW asks, "for example???" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I dunno" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, wait." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Those aren't choices." | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --You look around for context. The heartbleed is thickest Floyd | around the trophy case, dripping down onto the floor. It's a painful Floyd | emotion, obviously. Fear? No—anger. You're surprised you can see it Floyd | at all. Most bleeds are invisible, even to a trained elf like yourself. Floyd | Floyd | It'll take effort to defeat it. You'll need to draw on something Floyd | special to overcome it. You breathe deeply and focus on your fondest Floyd | memory at work, something cheerful. Your brain fills with thoughts Floyd | of... Floyd | Floyd | A) ...the feast at the Great Unbanning Party of 1660. The food! Floyd | B) ...my billionth list-check. My work is my reward. Floyd | C) ...the joyous day that Mr. and Mrs. Claus went into business Floyd | together. I was so happy! Floyd | D) ...the time the workshop got indoor plumbing. I enjoy the comforts Floyd | in life. Floyd | | DavidW says, "I may need to look up what antithetical means." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "um, incompatible?" | ||
| Roger says, "anti-thesis" | ||
| DavidW says (to Roger), "I understand the anti- part." | ||
| Roger says, "oh okay" | ||
| DavidW says, "But a dissertation about why tadpoles turn into frogs doesn't help me here." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I think the technique being suggested is to counter bad emotions with good memories." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Fighting fire with water, elementally speaking." | ||
| DavidW says, "C then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That or A." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I was gonna go with food or comfort, as I am generally a fan of food and comfort, but I could go with altruistic happiness, sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "I feel strongly about C." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Of course, that was right around the time of the wedding, so it's all Floyd | jumbled together. But that was your first real taste of Christmas, and Floyd | you loved it. Floyd | Floyd | Holding onto your happy memory, you navigate carefully across the Floyd | glass, shard by shard. The bleed slowly fades as you pass. When you Floyd | reach the end, the bleed is gone. You give a satisfied smile. Floyd | Floyd | Now that it's done, though, you can't help but think of your absolute Floyd | worst day at work. It was the day that Santa died. You were in shock Floyd | all day. Floyd | Floyd | A) I went far into the mountains and cried alone. Floyd | B) I buried myself in my work. Floyd | C) I couldn't eat all week. Floyd | D) I was angry and snapped at my clerks. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh." | |
| Roger says, "whoops killed santa" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "shit" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Christmas cancelled forever." | ||
| DavidW says, "I hope he didn't fall into any chocolate moats." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Probably B" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "ha" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You don't like to dwell on it. Centuries later, and it's still hard. Floyd | And Mrs. Claus was so heartbroken. Although, you've wondered recently Floyd | if she's ready to open her heart again. Floyd | Floyd | Of course, you've had your own experiences with love. Floyd | Floyd | A) I've been pursued a few times, but I'm just not interested in Floyd | romance. I have better things to do. Floyd | B) I was in love, once. I vowed to never fall in love again. And that's Floyd | a promise I'll keep. Floyd | C) I believe in romance, but it's hard for me to initiate it. I prefer Floyd | the other person to bring it up. Floyd | D) I'm a hopeless romantic. If there's someone I like, I'm not afraid Floyd | to tell them. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "I have no preference. What do you all want?" | |
| DavidW asks, "oh, is Mrs C in love with us but she has another suitor?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Gosh" | ||
| Roger says, "I've no strong feelings either" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I did not anticipate a twisted sordid romance today" | ||
| Roger says, "let's sordid it up" | ||
| DavidW says, "I like C here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess I can go with that." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | With all the eligible Fae in the world, it's possible that friendship Floyd | may lead to something more. Of course, Fae romance is quite different Floyd | from that of humans. For one, Fae can change gender and species at Floyd | will. For another, Fae can carry a lot of baggage after millennia Floyd | filled with relationships. But such is the life of a romantic. Floyd | Floyd | You look around you. The house divides in two here, with a kitchen and Floyd | dining area on the left and a living room on the right. Floyd | Floyd | Peering in the living room, you see stairs on the opposite side. Floyd | Everything else is blocked from view. According to standard protocol, Floyd | you intend to clear out the whole bottom floor before proceeding Floyd | upstairs. Floyd | Floyd | So you slip into the kitchen. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Oak cabinets, granite countertops, rooster drapes, a rooster Floyd | cookie jar, a rooster...well, pretty much rooster everything. And an Floyd | empty bucket of fried chicken. Hypocrites. Floyd | Floyd | A plate of cookies and milk sits on the counter. _For Santa._ The Floyd | thought strikes you unexpectedly, and you find it hard to breathe for a Floyd | second. Floyd | Floyd | There must be some sort of trap here, but you can't see anything, or Floyd | feel anything for that matter. You look for trouble areas that Katya Floyd | might have tinkered with. The oven is, thankfully, free from tampering. Floyd | No knives seem to be missing. No forks in the microwave or broken Floyd | glass. No bombs in the trash. You sigh in relief. So many ways an Floyd | inventive kid could damage themselves in a kitchen. Floyd | Floyd | You eye the cookies. You're very particular about your cookies. Most Floyd | elves are. Floyd | Floyd | A) I like to transform into a harvest pixie and carefully stir the Floyd | batter by hand. Floyd | B) I know the castle baker personally, and he gets me my favorites. Floyd | C) I always summon the finest cookies possible out of sheer force of Floyd | Christmas will. Floyd | D) I don't have a special way to bake them, but I devised a complex Floyd | series of enchantments to keep them hidden. Floyd | | DavidW says, "Standard protocol for breaking into houses." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yes" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But we're Fae, so it's cool." | ||
| Roger says, "santa follows standard dracula rules" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I think, in viewing the rooster-everything kitchen, we have discovered the source of the psychological trauma that has led this child to petty crimes." | ||
| Roger says, "eww" | ||
| DavidW asks, "'Look at all those chickens!'?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "She was woken up by a rooster's cry one too many times?" | ||
| Roger says, "so many cocks" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Roger" | ||
| Roger exclaims, "I thought that's what you were getting at!" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, um, D?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You lean closer to smell them and unintentionally trip. There's a clear Floyd | liquid on the floor around the table. Its odor fills your nose when you Floyd | bend and sniff it: superglue. The Broken Soldiers squad at the workshop Floyd | uses the same kind of glue to fix cracked toys. Floyd | Floyd | Glue may annoy a human robber, but is no bother to you. More concerning Floyd | is the fact that it has been imbued with sapping energy from Katya. Floyd | Ennui, boredom, days alone, all of them congealed into the pool. It's Floyd | hard to move. Floyd | Floyd | You'll need to think of something exciting to get out of this one. Floyd | Floyd | A) The time Glass Ghost thought a banshee was stuck in the basement. Floyd | B) The time two of Cai's bodies got in a fight with each other. Floyd | C) The time Candid Mistletoe turned into a yule log in the hay loft. Floyd | D) The time Donner ate a pile of oats that had fermented. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "Whatever. B?" | |
| DavidW says, "I like A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm fine with A." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "A" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | As head of the security department, they evacuated the whole building Floyd | and took a team equipped with noise-canceling headphones. Floyd | Floyd | It was just a rusty waterwheel, but at least you all got a good laugh Floyd | out of it. Glass Ghost even chuckled for once. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --The bleed evaporates until it is gone, leaving only the glue. Floyd | But Katya and her father can deal with that. Floyd | Floyd | The milk and cookies remind you that you haven't eaten since the Floyd | ceremony. Floyd | Floyd | There was a great feast beforehand, with piles of food for everyone. Floyd | There were mountains of mashed potatoes and stuffing for the elves, Floyd | rocks for the trolls, and broken dreams for the hags. You fit in, as Floyd | usual, hopping from form to form as you pass different groups. Floyd | Floyd | The different diplomatic groups had gotten along surprisingly well, Floyd | despite their longstanding differences. You even saw a troll raising a Floyd | glass with a forest elf. Floyd | Floyd | A) I mingled with everyone. We dined together on roast beef and gravy. Floyd | B) I kept myself aloof, and ate a simple meal in my room later. Floyd | C) I wished to be alone, but couldn't resist a dish of spiced plums. Floyd | D) I was having too much fun to eat, laughing and running from table to Floyd | table. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "A" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "A." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You love a good party, and you love good friends. You can still taste Floyd | the sauce in your mind. Floyd | Floyd | With a few extra cookies in your stomach (you couldn't resist after Floyd | all), you head into the dining room. Your bones are aching. It's been Floyd | centuries since you've dealt with a bleeder this strong, and you're not Floyd | sure you're up to any more of this tonight. Floyd | Floyd | You hear a low growl as you enter the living room. You spy a Floyd | thick-jowled, heavyset dog in the corner, lying on a rug. She's waking Floyd | up. And she looks mad. There's no heartbleed here, but animals have Floyd | always had the second sight. Floyd | Floyd | A) What a cute little doggy! I'll conjure a treat. Floyd | B) I have some spare parts. A robot spider might keep the beast away. Floyd | C) I take a form that she might be more comforted by. Floyd | | Roger says, "I'm afraid of C, so A" | |
| DavidW says, "I like C." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh gosh." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Disagreement" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "KO?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I think A is a trap." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I had that same thought, actually - it's kind of a trope" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A or Cwould be my vote but that doesn't narrow it down yet." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "C" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | In your youth, you ran in the great hunt with Odin and his pack on a Floyd | visit to Asgard. You slip into your old wolf form long enough to cross Floyd | to the stairs. She watches you intently, but without fear or anger. Floyd | Floyd | There are many pets at the castle. Although, it's hard to distinguish Floyd | who is the pet and who is the master. It took you three weeks to figure Floyd | out that the new chief doll maker was a ferret and not the burly elf Floyd | who always accompanied her. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus is fond of the pets, including her poor father, of course. Floyd | She visits Donner almost every day. Floyd | Floyd | The ancient gods, fearful of mortality, had refused to kill their Floyd | enemies in battle, instead reshaping them into animals and brutes. Even Floyd | the mighty Zeus, reduced to the form of a reindeer, had lost almost all Floyd | power. Only slowly has his power of speech returned, and everyone | Knight_Otu asks, "A?" | |
Floyd | approaches him in their own way. Floyd | Floyd | A) I could never stand the reindeer. Filthy beasts! Floyd | B) I enjoy getting up early to pitch the hay and shovel the, uh, the Floyd | droppings. Floyd | C) I like to sneak him some leftover treats from my pockets. Floyd | D) I groom him for ceremonies until he gleams, while avoiding his nasty Floyd | bite. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oops." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Sorry, you said either, so I voted" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "No worries." | ||
| Roger asks, "was this a collaboratively-written game?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It's Brian Rushton, I thought." | ||
| Roger says, "ok" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah." | ||
| DavidW says, "This style of presentation is like trying to play two games simulataneously." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But it's collaboratively-experienced right now." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "C?" | ||
Floyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, or
Floyd | QUIT
| Jacqueline says, "oops" | |
| Jacqueline asks, "c?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You pause and look back at the living room. There's another problem: Floyd | where is the tree? You were expecting it to be here. Katya must have Floyd | hidden it. No, that's too difficult, even for a child of Katya's Floyd | capabilities. Maybe money was tight this year. There should at least be Floyd | a stocking, though. Times are tough for everybody these days, even you, Floyd | in a way. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Your earlier doubts resurface and multiply. It wasn't just Floyd | the ceremony. Mrs. Claus was acting so differently afterwards. She Floyd | walked away right when it concluded, and disappeared. Later, you saw Floyd | her huddled with security. When she passed you in the hallway she Floyd | didn't even notice you. Floyd | Floyd | Are you worried? Floyd | Floyd | A) Yes, because I've actually been entertaining thoughts about moving Floyd | on, recently. Floyd | B) Yes, because I don't know what I'd do without her. Floyd | C) No, because I signed up for this of my own free will. Floyd | D) No, because I'm loyal to Christmas itself, not Claus. Floyd | | DavidW says, "Dog ate the tree." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "So Zeus is Mrs. Claus's father, turned into Donner." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Apparently" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I found that surprising." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "C?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Zeus is everyone's father." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure. And I guess it's close to true." | ||
| DavidW says, "sure, C" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Wish I'd known that when my 'dad' was criticizing my choice of majors at university." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "You're not my dad! Zeus is!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Not sure that would have gone over well, though, tbh" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Sure, you were young, but you've had plenty of chances to do something Floyd | else. Only a few hundred years ago, Changing Woman offered you a Floyd | position that you turned down. A rock troll who left for Wall Street in Floyd | the mortal world invited you to join their accounting department. Floyd | Floyd | But you turned them all down. Out of all jobs you could have, this is Floyd | your very favorite. Floyd | Floyd | Why would she not trust you anymore? What does she find wrong with you? Floyd | Sure, you have your faults. Your worst fault is that you can be Floyd | Floyd | A) Pig-headed. Floyd | B) Snooty. Floyd | C) Crude. Floyd | D) Grouchy. Floyd | E) Sentimental. Floyd | F) Easily swayed. Floyd | | DavidW says, "C or E." | |
| DavidW says, "or F" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "I guess E?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of KO), "Yeah, but Roger's playing with us this week, so C?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Kidding. I'm fine with E." | ||
| DavidW says, "G) Addicted to pumpkin spice." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | But no matter. It's time to go up the stairs. Katya has to have set Floyd | something up here, as well. You can sense anger rolling off of the Floyd | stairs. Floyd | Floyd | A) I send up a tin soldier. Floyd | B) I turn into a tarantula and climb the walls. Floyd | C) I summon an extra-long candy cane to poke the stairs. Floyd | D) One of the elves from last year's crew told me about this... Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "I like any of these." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I kinda like the spider idea." | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "That elf's info is so last year!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "hee" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, B." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | After you make it up, you see an almost invisible string. You tug it, Floyd | safely setting off the trap, and two paint cans on ropes swing down, Floyd | swaying violently through the air a few times before slowing and Floyd | stopping. Floyd | Floyd | Those anger-charged paint cans could have left a sizable dent in your Floyd | brain, one way or another. Floyd | Floyd | Now that the physical threat is gone, you can deal with the bleed. Floyd | You'll need to focus on your calmest memories. What brings you peace? Floyd | Floyd | A) Going for a hike in the woods around the castle. Floyd | B) Cleaning up the workshop after everyone has gone to bed. Floyd | C) Finding time by myself. Floyd | D) Bingeing on gingerbread cookie dough ice cream and watching Floyd | claymation. Floyd | E) Rearranging my snowflake collection. Floyd | | DavidW says, "Go ahead with spider-CF" | |
| DavidW asks, "A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "okay" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Focusing on your peaceful thoughts, you push your way through the storm Floyd | of angry emotions around you. Soon the bleed is gone, and you are at Floyd | the top of the stairs. Floyd | Floyd | Your mind runs back to the medal ceremony and Mrs. Claus. Maybe you're Floyd | wrong, after all. She's been under a lot of pressure recently, what Floyd | with all the rumors. Floyd | Floyd | Flickering Flame, who once stood at Claus's right hand before Floyd | abandoning her, has become more active in the last few years. They say Floyd | he's building an army in the Iron Mountains, and elves at the castle Floyd | have been leaving to join him on a daily basis. Floyd | Floyd | A new religion has started in the wastes called the Kingdom of Dreams. Floyd | Their prophet, a rock troll, has said that a being of unimaginable Floyd | power is coming to destroy the worlds. More than once, you've heard Floyd | elves in the hallway evangelizing to each other. It's hard to know how Floyd | seriously to take their prophecies. Floyd | Floyd | And Krinkle Corp, a human toymaking company, has been occupying your Floyd | mind more recently. Elves report that their toys and factories seem to Floyd | be infused with dark energies, far different from the usual emotions of Floyd | joy or fun pooled around mortal toys. Floyd | Floyd | It'll take careful preparation to withstand these forces. Floyd | Unfortunately, you don't have the resources to investigate all of them. Floyd | The one you're most concerned about is: Floyd | Floyd | A) Flickering Flame's recruitment efforts. Floyd | B) That religious revival in the Gray Wastes. Floyd | C) Krinkle Corp's latest acquisition. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "Rumors." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| DavidW says, "These all seem serious." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We need more us-es." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Those are all kinda bad. Why can't we have nice things?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess I'm most worried about b" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Destroying all the worlds sounds really bad" | ||
| DavidW says, "B is the most insidious." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, B." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You haven't heard anything particularly bad about their teachings, Floyd | except for the world ending, of course. Floyd | Floyd | But those who join them are reluctant to talk to anyone except a Floyd | potential convert. And Claus Castle's local congregation has been Floyd | distancing themselves from their friends and family. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --You look around. This is a smaller floor, with only a couple Floyd | of rooms. Then you peek in the master bedroom. Very clean, but Floyd | everything is worn: faded sheets, chipped dresser, cracked molding, Floyd | drippy sink, clanky radiator. Floyd | Floyd | Looking in the List, you find the father: Floyd | Floyd | VASILY ANDREEV: NICE Floyd | Floyd | You nod and add a check. That's done. But as Second List-Checker, you Floyd | have some discretion to do something nice for him, an extra bonus to Floyd | help out this Christmas. Floyd | Floyd | A) Fix the sink and the radiator. I have the tools at hand. Floyd | B) Ask the Tooth Fairy to leave a refund. I know just the one. Floyd | C) Enchant the phone to ward off debt collectors. I do the same at Floyd | home. Floyd | D) Shift into a silk werespider and spin off fresh sheets. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "A" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm, sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | It makes you smile. You enjoy setting up little surprises like this, Floyd | when you can. Last night's party was one of the few things you didn't Floyd | have a part in setting up. Candid Mistletoe took over instead. Floyd | Floyd | You managed to sneak a peek into the ballroom hours before the Floyd | ceremony. Candid was a sugarplum fairy, summoning cakes, pies, and Floyd | candied fruit on the tables. But Mrs. Claus was nowhere to be seen. Floyd | Despite wandering around the whole castle, you never found her. Floyd | Instead, you found your best work friend. Floyd | Floyd | A) I visited Donner in the stables. Floyd | B) I talked to Glass Ghost from security. Floyd | C) I talked to two or three of Cai's bodies that I found wandering Floyd | around. Floyd | D) I came back to talk to Candid. Floyd | | DavidW asks, "D?" | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Could I please have a moment or two to switch chairs?" | ||
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure. and of course." | ||
| Jacqueline says, ";;Huh" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "That did not work out like I'd hoped." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'll make a choice, read, and then move again." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Candid is the castle stalwart, and you all rely on her. You helped her Floyd | set the tables and you laughed together at your old stories. She sang Floyd | you a new carol she heard from the mortal realm. The two of you agreed Floyd | it wasn't as good as the old ones, but it was nice to see people Floyd | innovating. Floyd | Floyd | Not that Mrs. Claus isn't your friend. But she's something more, too. Floyd | Your relationship runs deep. Floyd | Floyd | It's not like that with the other elves. Candid Mistletoe joined back Floyd | when the bubonic plague struck the mortals, looking for an organization Floyd | that cared about and helped humans. Glass Ghost came aboard just ten Floyd | years ago, quickly rising through the ranks of security. Floyd | Floyd | But you, you remember when Mrs. Claus first found you, before Egypt. Floyd | She had no name then, and you were so very, very young, just like her. Floyd | Floyd | Where did she find you? Floyd | Floyd | A) Flitting from dream to dream in the Realm of Sleep. Floyd | B) Sparkling into being from a child's laughter. Floyd | C) Riding a bucking boar across a meadow. Floyd | D) Hidden inside an ancient geode. Floyd | E) Hatched from an egg warmed by a toad. Floyd | F) Unwound and waiting patiently in an ancient toymaker's workshop. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Origin story time." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Okay. Comfy now, and in a place where I can actually read the screen." | ||
| DavidW says, "I've forgotten what room we're currently in with all these asides and asides within asides." | ||
| Roger asks, "stables?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We were in the father's room I believe." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh yeah, fixing a sink and radiator." | ||
| DavidW says, "I like A or F." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like A" | ||
| Roger says, "sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | She called to you, with her youthful exuberance, and you followed. She Floyd | took you everywhere with her, and you were enthralled. Others were, Floyd | too. She was worshiped as Bast in Egypt, as Artemis in Greece, Diana in Floyd | Rome. And after the great fall, she found Mr. Claus, and you both Floyd | assumed new roles. It's been a wild ride. Floyd | Floyd | But of all the places you've worked together, your favorite was: Floyd | Floyd | A) The temples of Egypt. Floyd | B) The islands of Greece. Floyd | C) The halls of Asgard. Floyd | D) The Austrian Empire. Floyd | E) New York City. Floyd | | DavidW says, "A" | |
| Jacqueline says, "sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | After all, serving the Lady of the Ointment Jar in Bubastis was one of Floyd | the most pleasingly fragrant experiences you've ever had. The Floyd | cleanliness of the cats was an enjoyable contrast to the wolf packs you Floyd | later served in. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --It's time to finish here, though. Most of the house is clear, Floyd | and the delivery team shouldn't have any problems. But your job isn't Floyd | done until no creature is stirring throughout all of the house, not Floyd | just part of it. And you haven't made your final decision on Katya: Floyd | naughty, or nice? Floyd | Floyd | You cautiously tread down the hallway and approach the final room. You Floyd | feel a bleed coming up, and it's a big one. You feel...elated? Floyd | Floyd | Peering into Katya's bedroom, you see a fort made from pillows and Floyd | blankets blocking the doorway. Katya is passed out behind, asleep on Floyd | the floor. One hand clutches an improvised crossbow, which you Floyd | delicately disarm and draw away. The other clutches a stuffed alligator Floyd | that is threadbare. Floyd | Floyd | A visible mass of blue lights sparkle and swarm throughout the room. Floyd | It's the strongest bleed you've seen tonight. It seems to be happy Floyd | memories. No need to neutralize this one. Floyd | Floyd | You withdraw carefully, leaving her to her privacy. The team will be Floyd | fine, tonight. Floyd | Floyd | One last duty before you can go: Is Katya Andreeva naughty or nice? Floyd | Floyd | A) Naughty. I can't overlook the dangerous things she did. Floyd | B) Nice. She was only trying to protect her family. Floyd | C) Naughty. She rubs me the wrong way. Floyd | D) Nice. The kid can use a break. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "I don't know her motivations." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "D?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You pull out your quill and your inkpot, carefully dip the nib, and Floyd | write "NICE" next to her name. This is your kind of child! You look Floyd | over her file for a bit, learning more about her and her rambunctious Floyd | deeds. Floyd | Floyd | What gift are you going to recommend? Floyd | Floyd | A) Something soft and harmless, like sculpting dough. Floyd | B) Something exciting, like a rocket. Floyd | C) Something calming, like lavender soap. Floyd | D) Something enlightening, like a math book. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Maybe not B." | |
| Jacqueline says, "It seems like B is the thing she'd like most, though." | ||
| DavidW says, "D" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "D to teach her to make her own rocket science?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "She can learn programming." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | With that done, you walk out of the house, a lightness in your step. Floyd | You're doing the good work here. And who cares if things were hard last Floyd | night? You're part of Christmas. Floyd | Floyd | After all, you signed up for this. Your mistress's alliance with St. Floyd | Nicholas turned into something more. They forged a new identity as the Floyd | Claus family. You stood willingly beside them. And it was you who gave Floyd | the eulogy at Mr. Claus's funeral, by his own request. You chose where Floyd | to hold the funeral: Floyd | Floyd | A) In a grove of fir trees on a crisp clear day. Floyd | B) In the grand hall with a hundred roast geese. Floyd | C) In the graveyard, with only a handful of witnesses. Floyd | D) In the courtyard, with full ceremony. Floyd | | DavidW says, "She might even spawn new Fae in *her* workshop." | |
| Jacqueline says, "God bless us, every one." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You'll never forget that day. Mrs. Claus had never been so distraught, Floyd | and never has been since then. You'll never know why she chose Santa Floyd | over you back then, but even you had to admit that they went well Floyd | together. And you treasured them both. Floyd | Floyd | You know things will get better. Mrs. Claus sticks to those who stick Floyd | to her. And you know exactly why you've stuck with Mrs. Claus all these Floyd | years. Floyd | Floyd | A) I prize loyalty above all else. Floyd | B) It lets me meet so many interesting people. Floyd | C) It's the free access to the candy factory. Floyd | D) I want to touch as many lives as possible. Floyd | E) I enjoy overseeing the coal shipments to naughty children. Floyd | F) I enjoy the rigor and discipline it requires. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "D" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Or that, too." | ||
| DavidW says, "D" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Admittedly, I'm projecting, but... yeah. D." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | And you know who you are: you are Club Floyd, a master elf who was born Floyd | from a dream. You may not be the fanciest or have the most Floyd | self-control, but you're one of the kindest, most open-minded elves in Floyd | all of Claus Castle. It's time to head back. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Two Castle Intruder] Floyd | Easing back into the Fae is like stepping into a hot spring. You feel Floyd | yourself relax and unwind as you return to your native element. The Floyd | mortal world around you fades away until only the faerie ring is left, Floyd | and then even that is gone. Floyd | Floyd | You could take your time, but you know you're expected. So you push Floyd | through the last bit of the barrier between the worlds and open your Floyd | eyes at Claus Castle. Floyd | Floyd | To your surprise, you find Mrs. Claus herself. No one else is around. Floyd | She is swathed in red fur, an annual gift from the foxvipers during Floyd | their shedding season. Her head and neck are muffled with a heavy wool Floyd | scarf, but her breath still steams in the air. Floyd | Floyd | How do you usually address Mrs. Claus? Floyd | Floyd | A) Boss. Floyd | B) Mistress. Floyd | C) Ma'am. Floyd | D) Mrs. Claus. Floyd | E) Goddess. Floyd | F) Sir. Floyd | G) Claus. Floyd | H) Milord. Floyd | I) Milady. Floyd | J) Actually, I call her something else. Floyd | | DavidW says, "oh good, she's not dead." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I like e" | ||
| Roger says, "I've got my own Jish thoughts but sure E will do" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Jish?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I suppose it might be an old habit." | ||
| Roger says, "J-ish" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "oh" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Want to share?" | ||
| DavidW says, "'Mary Christmas'" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Calling her goddess I mean." | ||
| Roger says (to DavidW), "ha yes" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "noooooo" | ||
| Roger says, "Sugar Plums" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Also no." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm feeling strongly here." | ||
| Roger says, "make it so" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "e" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | And how do the other elves address you? Floyd | Floyd | A) Boss. Floyd | B) Ma'am. Floyd | C) Club. Floyd | D) Your Secondness. Floyd | E) Sir. Floyd | F) Floyd. Floyd | G) Milord. Floyd | H) Milady. Floyd | I) Actually, they call me something else. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "Just... just FLoyd, right?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Or Club?" | ||
| DavidW says, "either" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Nice that C and F align with our names." | ||
| Roger says, "they named me after the sandwich" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I was just noticing that." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Anybody opposed to F?" | ||
| Roger says, "sounds good to me" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not really opposed, no." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "f" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You bow deeply and say "Goddess, I've completed my mission. Katya Floyd | Andreeva's house is safe for the present delivery team." Floyd | Floyd | She nods and says, "Thank you, Club. I knew I could count on you." She Floyd | sighs, and says, "I'm glad you're back. There's a problem. Come with Floyd | me." Floyd | Floyd | Intrigued and worried, you follow her. She is quiet as you walk through Floyd | the hallways of Claus Castle. A scattered group of passing elves waves Floyd | at you, saying, "Hello, Floyd!" You go through one of the gingerbread Floyd | hallways with rock candy doors, down the staircase made of lead glass, Floyd | and through a cozy brick passage to Mrs. Claus's sitting room. Floyd | Floyd | She offers you a chair next to the fireplace and sits across from you. Floyd | You take the glass of peppermint tea that has been placed for you on an Floyd | end table. She doesn't speak. Floyd | Floyd | It's hard to read her mood. She seems agitated, or maybe unhappy. You Floyd | try to think of something to discuss with her, something neutral. It Floyd | would be unwise to upset her more. Floyd | Floyd | A) I discuss the menu for the Christmas wrap-up tonight. Floyd | B) I discuss the new decorations we'll be putting up for the new year. Floyd | C) I try to tell her a joke. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "I predict any of these will backfire" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Probably, but we have to choose one." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yes" | ||
| DavidW says, "Doomed to peppermint failure." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "Wintermint Is Coming" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So she can use it as a segue about the growing threat that will appear..." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "Exactly" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "I hope they have porridge on the menu again this year. I'm getting Floyd | sick of the rich food the kitchen's been putting out recently." Floyd | Floyd | She sighs and murmurs into her tea. "I was hoping they'd have my Floyd | favorite pie tonight." She shakes her head, then clears her throat. Floyd | Floyd | "Club, I don't know what to do. The castle has been breached, Glass Floyd | Ghost is missing, our supplies have been sabotaged, and there may be an Floyd | assassination attempt on my life tonight." Floyd | Floyd | A) "What? Why didn't you send for me earlier?" Floyd | B) "But you're on the Council of Seven! Who would dare to attack you?" Floyd | C) "I'm so sorry, goddess. What would you have me do?" Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I figured it was something along these lines." | ||
| Roger says, "there's a lot of this game, but I guess the multiple-choice structure means a lot less time writing text for various dead ends and shenanigans" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And we have three potential enemies to choose from. That we know of." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "C or A, I guess." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'd choose A myself" | ||
| Roger says, "maybe we're the killers" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Two of you want A, so." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It's not 9:05, and there's no bed to look under." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "I just discovered it moments ago," she said. "I noticed Glass Ghost Floyd | was missing, and went to investigate. And then you returned." Floyd | Floyd | You give a low whistle, trying to play it smooth, but your tea begins Floyd | to cool and frost over as your emotions spill out. Mrs. Claus Floyd | studiously takes no notice. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm not sure if it's me they're going after. There are old secrets in Floyd | this castle, Club, and our enemies are aware of this." Floyd | Floyd | A) "Goddess, who is behind this?" Floyd | B) "If I'm going to help, I need to know what evidence you found." Floyd | C) "Glass Ghost is gone? Are they involved?" Floyd | | DavidW says (to Roger), "Our evil doppelganger from the dreams of beards" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "A or B?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | She shakes her head. "I don't know. My wards alert me when they are Floyd | breached, but no more. I can think of a few possibilities. The Kingdom Floyd | of Dreams; a group of mortal bleeders; Flickering Flame." You see a Floyd | flash of pain in her eyes as she says the last name. Floyd | Floyd | She takes a sip of her tea, thoughtful. "Here's what I want you to do. Floyd | The after-party is starting soon. I need you to go out there and mix Floyd | with the crowd for a minute. Make them feel good. But keep a watchful Floyd | eye. I want you backstage during my speech as my replacement head of Floyd | security. And I'll need your help assessing our losses afterward." Floyd | Floyd | Your head is reeling as you walk through the hallways and out onto the Floyd | auditorium floor. But Mrs. Claus knows you can come up with something Floyd | to fix this. Floyd | Floyd | You look askance at each elf you pass. Thoughts fly through your mind. Floyd | Floyd | A) I could ask these elves if they've noticed anything unusual tonight. Floyd | B) Any of them could be traitors. I'll try to find anything out of Floyd | place. Floyd | C) I have no time for this. Claus gave me a mission! Floyd | | DavidW says, "hmm. A or B, I guess." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "So, C is 'do what we were told to do,' isn't it?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "Doesn't A count as mingling?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, we may have time to do some investigation on the way." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It does, but it also doesn't exactly cheer people up." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Of A and B, I prefer B" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd think B." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You inspect each elf as you pass by. The more timid ones shrink away Floyd | from your intense gaze, while a few bolder elves glare right back at Floyd | you. Floyd | Floyd | They're all elves you recognize, but they seem nervous. Word must be Floyd | spreading. You head to the party. Floyd | Floyd | The first thing you notice as you walk into the party is that all the Floyd | elves are nervous. A group of tall, gnarled wood-elves is glowering in Floyd | the corner, and you can see that they've brought their bows. A couple Floyd | of rock trolls from the new exchange program are getting scowls from Floyd | everyone. There has to be a way to calm the crowd down. Floyd | Floyd | A) I start up a punch-drinking contest. Floyd | B) I stick on a smile and chat with someone at each table. Floyd | C) I grab some new and unusual visitors for an impromptu talent show. Floyd | D) I grab some dance costumes from my room and lead a waltz. Floyd | | DavidW says, "I liked A because of more eyes to see clues." | |
| Jacqueline says, "But any of them could also be in on it." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "C would entertain and also let us get a look at visitors" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | DavidW says, "Pie eating contest!" | |
Floyd | # Floyd | First, you wander around the meeting hall, pulling people aside. You Floyd | tap a big black dragon that's been sleeping in the corner, a Floyd | were-ocelot that's been climbing the rafters, and a pair of cats Floyd | wearing boots. Floyd | Floyd | In a few minutes, you've thrown together a talent show. The dragon does Floyd | aerobatics and mock-dives at the ocelot who springs out of the way, Floyd | dodging gouts of flame. Then the cats take turns juggling eggs and Floyd | throwing daggers. It's a smash hit, and the tension in the room drains Floyd | completely away. Floyd | Floyd | After everything dies down, you wander around the room. You keep an eye Floyd | out as you go along. Near the back of the room, you spy an elf that Floyd | looks familiar: a little rock-elf. Floyd | Floyd | They look like one that you remember from a different party a few Floyd | decades back. This rock-elf was friends with Flickering Flame before Floyd | Flame went bad. A lot of people left the organization back then to Floyd | follow Flickering Flame, and you could have sworn this elf was one of Floyd | them. Floyd | Floyd | That was years ago, of course. But it's the only lead you've got. So Floyd | you follow the rock-elf. Floyd | Floyd | It's harder than it seems. The rock-elf is only the size of a cat, and Floyd | they keep weaving and bobbing through the crowd. Just when you are Floyd | almost caught up to them, you come across a whole herd of rock-elves, Floyd | with your target headed straight into the crowd. You're going to lose Floyd | them if you don't do something. Floyd | Floyd | A) There must be another rock-elf around here who can help me track Floyd | them. Floyd | B) I'll test out my new tracker drone. Floyd | C) I blend into the shadows and follow closely. Floyd | D) I morph into a rock-elf and join the group. Hopefully, they don't Floyd | notice a difference. Floyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Is it a candy-cane drone?" | |
| Guest1 arrives, full of fun and funk. | DavidW says, "I don't know what choice is best here." | |
| Jacqueline says, "D is attractive but could so badly backfire" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Me neither. C?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I could go with C" | ||
| DavidW says, "sure, C" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You close your eyes and let yourself drift, trying to think of nothing, Floyd | becoming unnoticeable. Your breathing slows and almost stops, and you Floyd | feel yourself fading away. Floyd | Floyd | You open your eyes, and look for the rock-elf. There they are, near the Floyd | edge of your vision! You turn and follow them, passing unnoticed, like Floyd | a breath of wind. With the loud party goings-on and the crush of Floyd | guests, you might as well be completely invisible. It's an easy task. Floyd | Floyd | You are closing in on the rock-elf when you hear a quiet beeping sound. Floyd | A small light flashes from the rock-elf's waist. Startled, they look Floyd | down at the light, and then up at you. They bound away from you and Floyd | through an exit at an incredible speed. Floyd | Floyd | You take off, activate your communications device, and broadcast Floyd | instructions to your security team as you run. Floyd | Floyd | "Sigma Team Red, do you copy?" you whisper. Floyd | Floyd | "This is Sigma 5, I copy," you hear. Floyd | Floyd | "I am in pursuit. Suspect is a rock-elf, in lower quadrant 7." Floyd | Floyd | "Copy. What are your orders?" Floyd | Floyd | A) "Keep Mrs. Claus safe!" Floyd | B) "Monitor the guests. Watch for anyone suspicious." Floyd | C) "Secure the castle perimeter. Don't let them escape!" Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "D, all of the above." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Gosh" | ||
| DavidW asks, "C?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You race down the hallway and do your best to catch up with them. The Floyd | patter of hard little feet comes from ahead and to the right. With a Floyd | burst of speed, you round the corner. There they are! Floyd | Floyd | They peer over their shoulder and cry out. Anxious to dodge you, they Floyd | dive down a flight of stairs. Floyd | Floyd | But you aren't Second List Checker for nothing. You throw yourself down Floyd | the stairs, landing nimbly at the bottom. Floyd | Floyd | Your target tries to escape down a long meandering hallway, but you Floyd | don't follow. That area was a guest suite designed for will-o'-wisps, Floyd | with winding hallways to provide them amusement. You stop and think for Floyd | a second. Floyd | Floyd | A shortcut would help you catch up to the rock-elf. There are two or Floyd | three ways to get there quicker, but each of them goes through the Floyd | private quarters of some guests. Of course, you can bash your way in, Floyd | but they might cause you some problems. Floyd | Floyd | The Emerald Empress's official envoy has an enormous room that spans Floyd | the length of these hallways. You could go straight through to the end. Floyd | But the Empress is one of the Fae world's most powerful monarchs, and Floyd | her envoy demands respect, formality, and proper conduct. You'd have to Floyd | figure out a way to barrel through a room in the most polite way Floyd | possible or face the wrath of someone much stronger than yourself. Floyd | Floyd | Alternatively, you could also go up a floor to Threimir the frost Floyd | giant's rooms. There's a servant's staircase in the back of his rooms Floyd | that leads right to the end of the will-o'-wisps' hallway. But he's Floyd | irritable, foul-tempered, and resentful for having to humble himself Floyd | and beg for shelter. He'll throw you right out again if you're not Floyd | stern with him. Floyd | Floyd | And, finally, there are the kitchens one floor below, which run through Floyd | the entire building. But the old, rotund head cook Simmering Stew holds Floyd | a grudge like no one else and hates elves who sneak treats. You'd Floyd | better not go that way unless you're sure your conscience is clean. Floyd | Floyd | A) I'll try my luck with the Empress's envoy. Floyd | B) I'll bully my way through Threimir's rooms. Floyd | C) I'll brave the kitchens and the wrath of Simmering Stew. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I really want an all of the above though." | |
| Jacqueline says, "That would have been nice, yes" | ||
| Guest1 goes home. | Jacqueline asks, "B?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "We can be stern. We're Acting Head of Security" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Hrm. Okay?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "They're all Not Good" | ||
| mathbrush1 arrives, full of neither funk nor fun. | Jacqueline exclaims, "Brian!" | |
| DavidW says, "I have no idea. We keep pulling ex machina out of back pockets." | ||
| * Jacqueline has added mathbrush to the channel. | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Brian!" | ||
| Roger says, "mathbrush1" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "I guess kitchen might be less bad, though we kind of snuck cookies from the house in the first chapter. Does that count?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You can @recap #toyshop to see where we are, and you can @recap #clubfloyd to see what we're thinking" | ||
| * mathbrush1 has joined the channel. | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Brian!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You can @recap #toyshop to see where we are, and you can @recap #clubfloyd to see what we're thinking" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Roger), "Now I get what you were trying to tell me." | ||
| Roger says, "sorry someone set me to terse" | ||
| Roger says, "but yes hello and welcome mathbrush" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hey there." | ||
| DavidW says, "Explain how to talk on channel." | ||
| Roger says, "#clubflo hello club" | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "hello club" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Hello!" | ||
| DavidW says, "yay!" | ||
| DavidW says, "hi mathbrush" | ||
| Roger mathbrush1's score increases by 1. | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "Thanks for showing me how! i actually found a mobile mud client" | ||
| mathbrush1 exclaims, "thanks for inviting me!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You're welcome. :)" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, we are chasing the rock troll. Should we go through Threimir's rooms?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Once you're on channel, you can use ; instead of #clubflo to continue talking on your current channel." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We could do that." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm gonna just do it, then." | ||
| DavidW says, "It may be the simplest." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You race up the stairs to the giant's door. It's five times your height Floyd | and covered in ice, but a small wicker door has been cut out to allow Floyd | entry for elf servants such as yourself. Floyd | Floyd | You try to look stern and push the wicker gate open. "Threimir?" you Floyd | say, "I was wondering if could use your private staircase." Floyd | Floyd | Threimir's enormous room has walls of muddy wattle with occasional Floyd | support beams as thick as three elves. A few giant cows are housed in a Floyd | byre at one end, and Threimir himself is frosting a barrel of mead in Floyd | his ice pit in the center of the room. Floyd | Floyd | He scowls at you and rears to his full height, dropping the mead. "And Floyd | just who do ya think you are, bustin' in here so?" Floyd | Floyd | You shrink away as you notice his horrible scowl and his thick biceps, Floyd | and you say, "I'm the Second List-Checker, and I'm trying to—" Floyd | Floyd | He chortles loud enough to shake bits of dirt off the ceiling and onto Floyd | your hair. "Ho! A list-checker! Aye, I should fear a list-checker! What Floyd | will you do to me, child, not check me down on your list? But yer just Floyd | the second one, so I can have the first one check it for me! A Floyd | list-checker! Ho, ho ho!" Floyd | Floyd | You try to pass around him, but he grabs you and hurls you back through Floyd | the wicker gate. There's a huge slam as he places a heavy beam against Floyd | it, locking it tight. Floyd | Floyd | It then takes ten minutes racing through the will-o'-wisp hallways as Floyd | fast as you can, trying to run down the rock-elf. Floyd | | DavidW says, "Sternness is probably an easier needle to thread than protocol." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Well that could have gone worse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Better, too, but also worse." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Why didn't we say we were acting security head?" | ||
| DavidW says, "We used the wrong authority lever." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "yeah" | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "Threimir?s room is a grumpiness check" | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --You catch your breath, then hear a scattering sound of feet Floyd | from just down the hallway. Charging past the doors, you turn a corner Floyd | and find yourself inches away from the rock-elf. Floyd | Floyd | A smile comes to your lips, because this miscreant is reaching the end Floyd | of their line. This hallway is a dead-end, full of guest rooms. Floyd | Floyd | The rock-elf reaches the end and doesn't stop. They jump and burst Floyd | through a stained-glass window, plummeting down to the ravine below. Floyd | Floyd | You run to the window and look down, trying to see where they land, but Floyd | to your relief, you see a familiar sight: one of the reindeer is diving Floyd | to catch them. It's too far away to see who it is. Donner? Cupid? Floyd | Floyd | Your relief turns to horror when you see the reindeer keep low and fly Floyd | away from Claus Castle. Soon, they are gone. Floyd | Floyd | You turn around only to see yourself surrounded by anxious elves. A Floyd | second-generation elf dentist that you recognize asks you, "Floyd, Floyd | what's going on?" Floyd | Floyd | A) I ask them to trust me and tell them that I'll take care of it. Floyd | B) I scowl and tell them to beat it. Floyd | C) I tell them I was having an eating contest with some owlbears and we Floyd | got too excited. Floyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Not as used to being it as being second list checker?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I guess, yeah" | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of mathbrush), "Ah... so, we weren't grumpy enough?" | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "yeah everything is one stat or another. so B would be a bad choice here lol" | ||
| mathbrush1 asks, "is there any way to check stats on Floyd?" | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "stats" | ||
Floyd | Name: Club Floyd
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Traits]
Floyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93%
Floyd | Steadfast: 21% / Open Minded: 79%
Floyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47%
Floyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Skills]
Floyd | Shifting: 80%
Floyd | Tinkering: 44%
Floyd | Trickery: 44%
Floyd | Cheer: 44%
Floyd | Connections: 20%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Relationships]
Floyd | Mrs. Claus: 68%
Floyd | Candid Mistletoe: 70%
Floyd | Flickering Flame: 50%
Floyd | Cai the Magician: 50%
Floyd | Donner: 65%
Floyd | Fractured Quartz: 50%
Floyd | Nightmare King: 50%
Floyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50%
Floyd | Copper Crank: 50%
Floyd | Glass Ghost: 50%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Other]
Floyd | Christmas Spirit: 72%
Floyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note
Floyd |
Floyd | *A Brief Explanation*
Floyd |
Floyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into various
Floyd | shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic others or,
Floyd | more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. Low shifting may
Floyd | cause you to shift into something slightly different than what you were
Floyd | going for, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand complicated
Floyd | devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment of mechanical
Floyd | pieces and tools with them at all times. High tinkering also represents
Floyd | scientific understanding and spatial reasoning.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery allows
Floyd | an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other magic
Floyd | tricks, and to be stealthy.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to
Floyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects.
Floyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical
Floyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you
Floyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low
Floyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper is
Floyd | more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy Goose to
Floyd | knock some sense into people.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast elf
Floyd | is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open Minded
Floyd | elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and viewpoints
Floyd | with ease.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and fun. A
Floyd | Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with self-control, while
Floyd | a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is
Floyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while a
Floyd | Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in
Floyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power
Floyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves her
Floyd | deceased husband.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf rank
Floyd | allows you to command their respect and obedience.
Floyd |
Floyd | A) Return to the game.
Floyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions
Floyd |
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Good guess!" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I think of that as cheating, but I guess if we were playing the normal way we could see all this." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah. That would be available to us." | ||
| mathbrush1 exclaims, "wow, you?ve got to be the happiest players I?ve ever seen. I didnt know 93% was possible!" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "hahaha. HOORAY FOR US!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Heh." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess that's why we failed the grumpiness check." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We might not have made it through any of the rooms though." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "More gluttonous than temperate - kitchen off limits, at least." | ||
| DavidW says, "That explains all the tempting food choices." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "A lot of the most intereting content is only available when you fail, but most people never see it" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "huh" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Back to the game, or learn about American Christmas?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Back to the game, please." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You catch your breath, then hear a scattering sound of feet from just Floyd | down the hallway. Charging past the doors, you turn a corner and find Floyd | yourself inches away from the rock-elf. Floyd | Floyd | A smile comes to your lips, because this miscreant is reaching the end Floyd | of their line. This hallway is a dead-end, full of guest rooms. Floyd | Floyd | The rock-elf reaches the end and doesn't stop. They jump and burst Floyd | through a stained-glass window, plummeting down to the ravine below. Floyd | Floyd | You run to the window and look down, trying to see where they land, but Floyd | to your relief, you see a familiar sight: one of the reindeer is diving Floyd | to catch them. It's too far away to see who it is. Donner? Cupid? Floyd | Floyd | Your relief turns to horror when you see the reindeer keep low and fly Floyd | away from Claus Castle. Soon, they are gone. Floyd | Floyd | You turn around only to see yourself surrounded by anxious elves. A Floyd | second-generation elf dentist that you recognize asks you, "Floyd, Floyd | what's going on?" Floyd | Floyd | A) I ask them to trust me and tell them that I'll take care of it. Floyd | B) I scowl and tell them to beat it. Floyd | C) I tell them I was having an eating contest with some owlbears and we Floyd | got too excited. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "So A?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We are an Elf of Note, after all" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You look over the tense faces of the elves, and say, "There's been a Floyd | small mishap, but no one's been harmed. I'm taking care of it." Floyd | Floyd | The dentist (whose name you just can't recall) frowns and says, "I Floyd | don't know, Floyd. It doesn't look like it's being taken care of. And Floyd | you were chasing that rock-elf really fast before they jumped out the Floyd | window." Floyd | Floyd | The crowd of elves murmurs and nods. Floyd | Floyd | A big elf from maintenance says, "Yeah, and what about this window? Floyd | This is an historic monument. The crystal was made from the first batch Floyd | of rock candy brewed in Claus Castle." Floyd | Floyd | You respond, "Oh, I—uh—you know, I think I need to check on the Floyd | preparations." On your way back to the stage, you message your security Floyd | team for a report. Floyd | Floyd | You concentrate and think, saying, "Sigma Team Red, what happened out Floyd | there? My suspect escaped with an accomplice." Floyd | Floyd | "Sigma 4 reporting, Commander. My apologies. We received instructions Floyd | to vacate that area shortly after your instructions." Floyd | Floyd | "Who gave you instructions?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | "We don't know, Commander. They knew the right channel and the correct Floyd | call signs, though." Floyd | Floyd | "I'll look into it. Continue monitoring the perimeter. And make sure Floyd | you cover that side, regardless of instructions to the contrary." Floyd | Floyd | You feel unsettled in your stomach. But there's no time to waste before Floyd | the ceremony. Floyd | Floyd | By the time you get back to the auditorium, the speech has almost Floyd | started. You have to hurry into the auditorium and onto the stage just Floyd | a minute or two before it all begins. Floyd | Floyd | It would have been so much better if Glass Ghost had been there. As Floyd | head of security, they would have protocols in place for this. But Floyd | Glass Ghost is gone. It can't be coincidence, can it? Glass Ghost has Floyd | always seemed a bit off to you. They had unsettling habits. Floyd | Floyd | A) Keeping aloof from everyone in the castle. Floyd | B) Never speaking above a whisper. Floyd | C) Stalking the castle halls at night like a cat. Floyd | D) Claiming that everything Security did was confidential. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I guess, sure." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Inside job" | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "this choice is completely irrelevant, tbh" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "The choice we just made or the one we're about to make?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Glass Ghost is still in the castle, surely." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "just gives you different story bits. the one you are about to make" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like you sharing after the fact, but we want to avoid spoilers." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Ah. Still." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B seems sufficiently ghostly." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "I?ll hush and watch" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "We're at least supposed to suspect Glass Ghost, yeah" | ||
| DavidW says, "I'd choose A." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to mathbru), "Oh, I don't mind a peak behind the curtain, just want it in retrospect. ;)" | ||
| mathbrush1 exclaims, "Yeah!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I"m fine with any of these. B is fine." | ||
| DavidW says, "also, we might want to check ACHIEVEMENTS at some point." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "achievements" | ||
Floyd | Achieved 0 out of 15
Floyd | Score: 0 out of 550
Floyd |
Floyd | Achievements remaining:
Floyd | Dark Secrets: Learn the truth about Santa's death. (25 points)
Floyd | A Mini Me: Witness the birth of a smaller piece of you. (25 points)
Floyd | Nine to Five: Find a job in the mortal world. (25 points)
Floyd | Ten Thousand Followers: Become the head of a cult. (25 points)
Floyd | Friends in High Places: Have your heart's wish granted by an
Floyd | extradimensional being. (25 points)
Floyd | Scrooge: Destroy Christmas. (25 points)
Floyd | There Can Be Only One: Be the last person standing at the end. (25
Floyd | points)
Floyd | Shocking: Meet Shank Zappa. (25 points)
Floyd | Ho Ho Ho: Deliver presents in Santa's sleigh. (25 points)
Floyd | Three-headed Friend: Befriend Cerberus. (25 points)
Floyd | Wedding Bells: Celebrate your wedding day! (50 points)
Floyd | Elf Triumphant: Win a war decisively. (50 points)
Floyd | Turncoat: Betray Mrs. Claus and the rest of the elves. (50 points)
Floyd | It's Alive: Bring someone back from the dead. (50 points)
Floyd | Christmas Eternal: Save Christmas for future generations. (100 points)
Floyd |
| Jacqueline says, "Gosh" | |
| Knight_Otu blinks. | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Also, we just hit the two hour mark. How long do we want to go today before we pick back up next week?" | ||
| DavidW says, "We haven't done any of that. We fixed a sink." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I feel like we should have gotten 5 points for fixing that sink." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I can go for another hour." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm tiring but I should be able to manage another hour if we wish to." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm also okay with stopping here." | ||
| DavidW says, "and continuing next week." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, one more hour before I nap. :)" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | But you never would have suspected them of treason. They had a perfect Floyd | track record. It's an enigma, you suppose. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus's speech begins, but you are now backstage, keeping a Floyd | watchful eye over the audience. Nothing further happens until the Floyd | speech is over and she joins you. Floyd | Floyd | "Club, thank you. What did you find?" Floyd | Floyd | You explain everything to her: the suspicious friend of Flickering Floyd | Flame's, their flight, their escape. Floyd | Floyd | She nods. "I have my own reasons to suspect Flame. But that's for Floyd | later. Now, come with me; we have something much more worrisome to Floyd | attend to." Floyd | Floyd | "The robbery?" you ask. "Is it really that important?" Floyd | Floyd | "Yes. It was the most serious robbery possible." She leads you off the Floyd | stage and down a rather foul-smelling corridor. Floyd | Floyd | You make idle conversation as you go, avoiding the topic of the Floyd | robbery. The two of you walk down a set of dank stairs and to an old Floyd | wooden door. Of course, you recognize it. Floyd | Floyd | "Why are we going to the junkyard?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | She says, "Because that's where I kept my late husband's heart." Floyd | Floyd | You feel another chill sweep through your body. Together, you pass Floyd | through the door and enter the junkyard. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Wha." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yup" | ||
| DavidW says, "Gods liked to keep their hearts in odd places." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That's... uh... hrm." | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Of course, it's not exactly a yard. Claus Castle was built Floyd | over a series of old caverns in the Fae world which originally belonged Floyd | to Mrs. Claus. When one cavern gets full, everything gets shipped down Floyd | lower. The layers of the junkyard would delight an archaeologist, with Floyd | strata of Christmas mementos spanning centuries. Floyd | Floyd | The floor crunches as you step through the door. You are walking on an Floyd | enormous pile of pink aluminum Christmas trees which slopes from the Floyd | entrance down to the cavern floor. To either side are swathes of broken Floyd | toys that didn't make the cut for Christmas, as well as empty popcorn Floyd | tins, candy wrappers, and jugs of eggnog from elf parties. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus leads you to a pile of model ships that are mangled, Floyd | smashed, damaged in transit, and otherwise defective. You can sense a Floyd | negative aura of frustration pooled around a slew of batteries. Floyd | Floyd | "You put this here? This negative aura?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | "It was a defense. I collected these batteries over the years, Floyd | gathering those with the strongest bleeds of emotion. This pool was Floyd | much stronger, before. Someone has weakened it significantly, someone Floyd | who knew where it was." Floyd | Floyd | A look passes between the two of you. You both know who is behind this. Floyd | Floyd | Flickering Flame. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus looks devastated. You know she cared for him. She seems Floyd | paralyzed with sadness. Maybe you can help her. Floyd | Floyd | A) "I know how you feel. I've always hoped that he'd come back." Floyd | B) "Cheer up, goddess, we've never been beaten before, and Flame won't Floyd | beat us now." Floyd | C) "Snap out of it, goddess, we have work to do!" Floyd | | DavidW says, "You'll never guess which li'l bo peep that the Easter Bunny's heart is in." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | She smiles. "My happy elf; you always know how to cheer me up." Floyd | Floyd | She sighs and looks away. "Flickering Flame was never like that. He Floyd | wasn't consistent. That's why I gave him that name when I took him in. Floyd | I knew he would be like this. Everyone warned me." Floyd | Floyd | She looks back at you. "I know what you're thinking; why did I take him Floyd | in at all?" She puts a hand on your shoulder. "I have survived when so Floyd | many of the old ones have failed and died. It gets unbearably lonely at Floyd | times. Sometimes it's better to have some excitement in life, to take Floyd | on a challenge and really live, instead of just existing for century Floyd | after century. I just feel sorry for how it's affected all of you." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus reaches her gloved hand through the pool of frustration. She Floyd | doesn't seem to take notice of the violent emotion, but you know it has Floyd | to be uncomfortable. She scatters the batteries with one hand, which Floyd | disperses the pool and reveals a closed trapdoor. Floyd | Floyd | "Nice of him to close it after he went through," you say. Floyd | Floyd | "The door latches automatically," she says. "To keep thieves in. Given Floyd | the sophistication level of this theft, though, I suspect it didn't Floyd | work." Floyd | Floyd | She unlocks and lifts up the trapdoor, and a cloud of hot ash billows Floyd | up. Floyd | Floyd | "There's a fire below!" you exclaim. Floyd | Floyd | She sniffs the air for a bit. Then she says, "It's almost out," and Floyd | dives through the trapdoor to the ground below. Floyd | Floyd | A) I follow her immediately. Floyd | B) I hesitate before going in. Floyd | C) I trust Mrs. Claus; I look to see if anyone followed us, then dive Floyd | in. Floyd | | DavidW says, "C" | |
| Knight_Otu C. | Knight_Otu says, "Oops, C." | |
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You take a quick look around you. No one's around, so you dive down Floyd | through the trapdoor. The trapdoor closes behind you, latching itself. Floyd | Floyd | A strong wind boils up out of nowhere and blows the smoke away from Floyd | you. Floyd | Floyd | You see Mrs. Claus standing a few feet from you. Her right hand is Floyd | stretched forward, channeling the wind. The smoke boils and surges as Floyd | it's pushed back, but it has nowhere to go. Floyd | Floyd | "Club," says Mrs. Claus, "would you mind letting the smoke out?" Floyd | Floyd | A) I turn into a giant badger and burrow through a wall. Floyd | B) I use smoke and fog all the time, for cover and for magic tricks. I Floyd | know how to get rid of it. Floyd | C) I climb back up to the trap door and try to pick the lock. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "A, we're a shifter after all." | |
| DavidW says, "I like B here." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like B as well" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | With well-practiced fingers, you palm a deceptively small bottle. You Floyd | pry it open and send a sharp jab of magical intent at the cloud. Floyd | Floyd | It resists you for a time, but then it relents, and swirls towards the Floyd | opening. In a few seconds, the smoke is trapped within the bottle. You Floyd | snap your fingers, and the bottle is gone again. Mrs. Claus smiles Floyd | approvingly. Floyd | Floyd | She drops her hand. Her glove has been shredded away, and two of her Floyd | fingernails are bleeding. She removes both of her gloves, and folds Floyd | them carefully before putting them in a pocket. Floyd | Floyd | You get a chance to look around. This cavern is older than the other. Floyd | Real Christmas trees had been stored here (which explains the fire). A Floyd | disturbingly squishy mound of withered and singed old oranges lies next Floyd | to you, and the ground is littered with sizzling, sooty copper pennies Floyd | stamped with Queen Victoria's image. Floyd | Floyd | Toeing through an unusually large pile of ash, you see a few fragments Floyd | of what must have been thousands of cornhusk dolls. Floyd | Floyd | "I'm sorry so much was lost, goddess." Floyd | Floyd | "It's all right; I've been meaning to clean out these caverns for Floyd | years. But look, I think I discovered the cause of this." Floyd | Floyd | You bend down with her and look at her discovery. A mostly-melted Floyd | fragment of steel lies on the ground, labeled Krinkle Corp. Other, Floyd | smaller fragments are nearby. Floyd | Floyd | Asking Mrs. Claus, you say, "How could Krinkle Corp be here? They're Floyd | mortal." Floyd | Floyd | "But Flickering Flame has been here, too," she answers. "A Floyd | collaboration would explain our intruders' success." Floyd | Floyd | You look over the fragments on the ground. It might be possible to get Floyd | more information from them. Floyd | Floyd | A) I piece together the fragments. It seems impossible, but it would be Floyd | very useful. Floyd | B) I send the fragment up to a discreet friend in Forensics. Floyd | C) I shift into a bloodhound and sniff it for clues. Floyd | | DavidW asks, "C?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "c" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "So, goddess, I was thinking that I could just shift into a bloodhound Floyd | and try to smell out the clues." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus nods, and says "Of course, that's a wonderful idea." You Floyd | concentrate, and your body shrinks down. You have become a powerful Floyd | beast, albeit with long, cute, droopy ears which Mrs. Claus can't help Floyd | tousling. Floyd | Floyd | You leap forward eagerly and sniff all about the fragments. There are a Floyd | variety of scents: smoke, fire, metal, yours and Mrs. Claus's. Floyd | Floyd | As you sniff more and more, though, you begin to sniff out something Floyd | that seems deeply familiar, something from a long time ago. Greece? Floyd | Floyd | You shift back, stretching your muscles and sniffing a few times to get Floyd | used to your normal nose, and then you tell Mrs. Claus what you've Floyd | discovered. Floyd | Floyd | "Very interesting," she says. "I wonder what it could mean." Floyd | Floyd | Together, you move on down into the next layer, this one a few hundred Floyd | years old. You're struck by the amount and variety of bones here. Bird Floyd | bones of every size, from quail to what looks suspiciously like dodo. Floyd | Goat femurs, beef ribs, boar skulls, and strange parts of deer are all Floyd | piled up in their respective areas. Floyd | Floyd | You take a step forward and sink knee-deep into a collection of rotted Floyd | fruit. It smells like oranges, lemons, and...pastry? Ah, you remember Floyd | this era of Christmas very well; the 1600's were a time of great Floyd | feasting. Half of Claus Castle was taken up by the kitchens. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus steps gracefully onto a pair of oyster shells and lifts you Floyd | from the muck. You regain your footing and continue to slog on Floyd | together, Mrs. Claus leading the way. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus stops, and you almost run into her. Peering over her Floyd | shoulder, you see something that you have never, ever encountered Floyd | before. The passageway leading downwards is...twisted. Like a bubble, Floyd | or a partially melted mirror. You see many reflected images of the Floyd | passageway down, but it's not a mirror. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus says, "Club, do you have any idea what this is?" Floyd | Floyd | You shake your head. "Some sort of maze? I don't know how they did Floyd | this." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus stretches her hand towards it. "Feel this," she says. "It's Floyd | like my bones are stretching." She pulls her hand back. "And it doesn't Floyd | seem to have any lasting effect." She looks at you. "Do you think you Floyd | can get us through this? This is beyond my expertise." Floyd | Floyd | You consider the warped space. How do you analyze the anomaly? Floyd | Floyd | A) I stay out and rely on the years I've spent studying instead of Floyd | going to feasts. Floyd | B) My mind is flexible. I throw myself in and learn as I go. Floyd | C) I love to work with elegant glass, diamond, and mirror in my Floyd | decorating. I find the pattern. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW asks, "uh, do we need to check our stats?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Might not hurt, yeah" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "stats" | ||
Floyd | Name: Club Floyd
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Traits]
Floyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93%
Floyd | Steadfast: 21% / Open Minded: 79%
Floyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47%
Floyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Skills]
Floyd | Shifting: 80%
Floyd | Tinkering: 44%
Floyd | Trickery: 44%
Floyd | Cheer: 44%
Floyd | Connections: 20%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Relationships]
Floyd | Mrs. Claus: 77%
Floyd | Candid Mistletoe: 70%
Floyd | Flickering Flame: 43%
Floyd | Cai the Magician: 50%
Floyd | Donner: 65%
Floyd | Fractured Quartz: 50%
Floyd | Nightmare King: 50%
Floyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50%
Floyd | Copper Crank: 50%
Floyd | Glass Ghost: 50%
Floyd |
Floyd | [IMAGE: Other]
Floyd | Christmas Spirit: 72%
Floyd | Elf Rank: Respected
Floyd |
Floyd | *A Brief Explanation*
Floyd |
Floyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into various
Floyd | shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic others or,
Floyd | more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. Low shifting may
Floyd | cause you to shift into something slightly different than what you were
Floyd | going for, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand complicated
Floyd | devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment of mechanical
Floyd | pieces and tools with them at all times. High tinkering also represents
Floyd | scientific understanding and spatial reasoning.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery allows
Floyd | an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other magic
Floyd | tricks, and to be stealthy.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to
Floyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects.
Floyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical
Floyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you
Floyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low
Floyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper is
Floyd | more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy Goose to
Floyd | knock some sense into people.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast elf
Floyd | is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open Minded
Floyd | elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and viewpoints
Floyd | with ease.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and fun. A
Floyd | Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with self-control, while
Floyd | a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is
Floyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while a
Floyd | Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in
Floyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power
Floyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves her
Floyd | deceased husband.
Floyd |
Floyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf rank
Floyd | allows you to command their respect and obedience.
Floyd |
Floyd | A) Return to the game.
Floyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions
Floyd |
| ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "So, goddess, I was thinking that I could just shift into a bloodhound Floyd | and try to smell out the clues." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus nods, and says "Of course, that's a wonderful idea." You Floyd | concentrate, and your body shrinks down. You have become a powerful Floyd | beast, albeit with long, cute, droopy ears which Mrs. Claus can't help Floyd | tousling. Floyd | Floyd | You leap forward eagerly and sniff all about the fragments. There are a Floyd | variety of scents: smoke, fire, metal, yours and Mrs. Claus's. Floyd | Floyd | As you sniff more and more, though, you begin to sniff out something Floyd | that seems deeply familiar, something from a long time ago. Greece? Floyd | Floyd | You shift back, stretching your muscles and sniffing a few times to get Floyd | used to your normal nose, and then you tell Mrs. Claus what you've Floyd | discovered. Floyd | Floyd | "Very interesting," she says. "I wonder what it could mean." Floyd | Floyd | Together, you move on down into the next layer, this one a few hundred Floyd | years old. You're struck by the amount and variety of bones here. Bird Floyd | bones of every size, from quail to what looks suspiciously like dodo. Floyd | Goat femurs, beef ribs, boar skulls, and strange parts of deer are all Floyd | piled up in their respective areas. Floyd | Floyd | You take a step forward and sink knee-deep into a collection of rotted Floyd | fruit. It smells like oranges, lemons, and...pastry? Ah, you remember Floyd | this era of Christmas very well; the 1600's were a time of great Floyd | feasting. Half of Claus Castle was taken up by the kitchens. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus steps gracefully onto a pair of oyster shells and lifts you Floyd | from the muck. You regain your footing and continue to slog on Floyd | together, Mrs. Claus leading the way. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus stops, and you almost run into her. Peering over her Floyd | shoulder, you see something that you have never, ever encountered Floyd | before. The passageway leading downwards is...twisted. Like a bubble, Floyd | or a partially melted mirror. You see many reflected images of the Floyd | passageway down, but it's not a mirror. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus says, "Club, do you have any idea what this is?" Floyd | Floyd | You shake your head. "Some sort of maze? I don't know how they did Floyd | this." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus stretches her hand towards it. "Feel this," she says. "It's Floyd | like my bones are stretching." She pulls her hand back. "And it doesn't Floyd | seem to have any lasting effect." She looks at you. "Do you think you Floyd | can get us through this? This is beyond my expertise." Floyd | Floyd | You consider the warped space. How do you analyze the anomaly? Floyd | Floyd | A) I stay out and rely on the years I've spent studying instead of Floyd | going to feasts. Floyd | B) My mind is flexible. I throw myself in and learn as I go. Floyd | C) I love to work with elegant glass, diamond, and mirror in my Floyd | decorating. I find the pattern. Floyd | | DavidW asks, "I'm thinking B for using our Open-Minded skill?" | |
| DavidW asks, "I hope?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I would say so." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You find yourself in a tangle of places and things and reflections, Floyd | like a funhouse full of mirrors. Every move you make is imitated by Floyd | several of your own distorted reflections. All of the images of you Floyd | scramble around and around, trying to find a pattern. Floyd | Floyd | Soon you stumble upon the way down to the next cavern. You leave a mark Floyd | of chalk on the ground and try to work your way backwards. Every time Floyd | you pass your old marks, you go through and shorten the loop. Floyd | Eventually you find your way back to Mrs. Claus with a big grin on your Floyd | face. Floyd | Floyd | She smiles back, and says, "Well done, Club." Floyd | Floyd | You respond, and say, "There's more. I think I know how to fix it." Floyd | Floyd | She raises one eyebrow, and says, "Fix it? That seems like a tall Floyd | order." Floyd | Floyd | You say, "It's simple. If we knock down this wall here," you say, Floyd | indicating a thin place between two wavering reflections, "the anomaly Floyd | should re-align itself and shrink out of existence." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus answers, "Well, it's worth trying." You fish out some Floyd | chisels and a pair of hammers and the two of you get to work. Together Floyd | you break through in seconds, and feel a strange rippling in your gut Floyd | as space around you bends. Before you can react, it's over, and the Floyd | room looks right again—almost. It's a little bit odd, but it's the Floyd | best you can do. Together, you walk to the exit. Floyd | Floyd | You leave the twisted space above and scramble downwards, passing older Floyd | and older mementos of Mrs. Claus and her past. The two of you emerge in Floyd | a small Roman village recreated in a cavern. The cavern is filled with Floyd | carvings: reliefs on the walls, decorations on columns, inscriptions on Floyd | buildings. Graceful marble statues, still painted in bright and vivid Floyd | colors, are arranged in rows down a wide arcade. A bower in the center Floyd | of the miniature village contains a white dress, a _tunica recta_, Floyd | bound with a wool belt in the knot of Hercules. Nearby hangs an ornate, Floyd | jeweled robe. An air of great age lies on the cavern. Floyd | Floyd | "I didn't know you kept your wedding dress," you say. Floyd | Floyd | She smiles and says, "Yes, with the entire town we were wed in. The Floyd | marriage of Diana and St. Nicholas." Floyd | Floyd | You remember that day. She looked stunning in her simple dress, with Floyd | tiny snowflakes following her as she walked. You were in awe of her at Floyd | the time, proud to be in the service of such a regal queen, and Floyd | intrigued by her exuberant groom. Floyd | Floyd | Her smile falters a bit. You know she's thinking about her husband's Floyd | death. Floyd | Floyd | A) I reach out and take her hand for comfort. Floyd | B) I remain respectfully silent. Floyd | C) "I know how you feel, goddess. I'm here for you." Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "b?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'd've chosen A, but okay." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We can do A if you want, that's why I waited." | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of KO), "You mind A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not particularly." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | She squeezes your hand back, tighter than you would have expected. With Floyd | her other hand she wipes a tear from her eye. The two of you stand Floyd | there for a moment, hand in hand, before she looks at you and lets go. Floyd | "Thanks," she says. You acknowledge her with a small smile, and move Floyd | on. The moment passes. Floyd | Floyd | At the end of the arcade is a plain wooden door. A silk string across Floyd | the door has been neatly severed. Floyd | Floyd | The door opens easily when you push it. You don't want to offend Mrs. Floyd | Claus, but you have to ask. Floyd | Floyd | A) "Not much of a protection, is it?" Floyd | B) "You know I trust you, but I have to ask about the string." Floyd | C) "This silk is gorgeous. But I'm sure it's more than just Floyd | decorative." Floyd | D) "I'm curious. Why didn't the string do anything?." Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "C?" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | ||
| DavidW says, "B" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "oh dear." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Roger, you still here?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Now Roger needs to say A." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "hee" | ||
| DavidW says, "I suspect the choice here doesn't matter much." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "All right. I'll change my vote." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | She looks at you archly and says, "You've questioned me plenty in the Floyd | past. No need to hide it, now." She says, "This was one of my most Floyd | powerful wards. I imbued this string on the day that we were married, Floyd | and saved it. Once Santa died, I knew I needed to keep his heart safe." Floyd | She bends down to pick up an obsidian knife. It is positively glowing Floyd | with hatred. "They must have gotten in with this. Who knows what Floyd | unsavory practices they used to fill this one with power." Floyd | Floyd | She crushes the obsidian dagger with her fist, and you move through the Floyd | doorway and into a tight cave. Floyd | Floyd | You climb through a narrow tube and over a dip to get to the next Floyd | cavern. At first glance, it looks like it's filled with a dense forest Floyd | of birch trees, covered in white ash. But soon you realize that it is a Floyd | forest of stone, with the dust of ages gathered on the branches. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus follows your eyes as they scan the room. She smiles. "I Floyd | didn't want to leave my grove behind when I was driven from Tegea. This Floyd | was the only way to preserve them; they would have rotted away Floyd | thousands of years ago, otherwise." Floyd | Floyd | There are a few snapped-off branches in the trees. When you tell Mrs. Floyd | Claus, she asks you to investigate. As you wander through the forest, Floyd | looking for clues, you kick a stone chip. It flies through the air and Floyd | hits a tree with a satisfying clack. You keep walking and kick another Floyd | chip. Clack. Another kick. But this one never lands. Floyd | Floyd | You focus and look up quickly. A ragged ball of inky blackness is only Floyd | a couple of inches from your feet. It looks like a hole that has been Floyd | ripped in the air, but there's nothing behind it. Floyd | Floyd | Unfortunately, your forward momentum is carrying you towards the hole. Floyd | Floyd | A) Shift into something smaller to avoid it. Floyd | B) Summon and fire off a giant snowball to counteract my momentum. Floyd | C) Deploy the safety harness I've been working on. Floyd | | DavidW says, "A" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You shift yourself into a cat and narrowly avoid the hole, smashing Floyd | into some delicate stone bushes instead. You roll over and shift back, Floyd | laying on the ground for a moment. Floyd | Floyd | You pick yourself up again and look in alarm at the hole. The bush that Floyd | you crashed into has been completely sheared off near the hole. A chill Floyd | runs up your back. It's frightening to think what the hole could have Floyd | done to you. Floyd | Floyd | You scramble back from the blot, calling out for Mrs. Claus. She runs Floyd | to you in seconds, pulling you up. Then you point to the hole. Floyd | Floyd | "It's some sort of, I don't know, a sort of nothing, a big hole in the Floyd | air," you say. "Watch." You push a stick into it, then pull it out Floyd | again. The end has been cleanly sheared off. Floyd | Floyd | She says, "It's not like a black hole in the mortal world. Those Floyd | distort space around them. This looks different, like a rip, or tear." Floyd | Floyd | You ask, "Is this something Flickering Flame could do?" Floyd | Floyd | She shakes her head, and says, "No. I don't know anyone could do this Floyd | in either realm. The Emerald Empress might know, but even she couldn't Floyd | do this herself. There is more going on in these caverns than a simple Floyd | theft." Floyd | Floyd | "Should we do something with it? It seems dangerous," you say. Floyd | Floyd | She asks, "Do you have any ideas on how to make it safe? No matter what Floyd | you do, it will be incredibly difficult." Floyd | Floyd | A) "I can encase it in pure, compressed candy cane." Floyd | B) "I can shift into a caterpillar and cocoon it, let it heal." Floyd | C) "I know a golem who's out of work. I'll see if she can guard it." Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "So the three threats from the first chapter seem to collaborate." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "There was the army, the thing coming to end the worlds, and... what was was the third thing again?" | ||
| DavidW says, "They can't all have the same goals, though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The toy company." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to David), "True." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Right. Thank you." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "b?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "I'm not sure we have time for that," says Claus. Floyd | Floyd | "There's a rare form of caterpillar in the Red Swamps that can spin a Floyd | cocoon in 30 seconds." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus nods and stands back. Floyd | Floyd | You concentrate on the creature's shape, smell, sounds. Then you close Floyd | your eyes and feel yourself shrinking. When you open them, you have Floyd | become a Red Swamp webworm, exactly as you pictured. You squirm your Floyd | way around underneath the hole in repeated circles until you reach the Floyd | top and it is completely encased in shining gold thread. Floyd | Floyd | After you shift back, Mrs. Claus steps closer to the cocoon. She pokes Floyd | it with a finger. Floyd | Floyd | "Not very strong," she says. Floyd | Floyd | "But it's repairing the damage. Webworms can heal anything. That's why Floyd | they were hunted almost to extinction," you say. Floyd | Floyd | "They can heal anomalies that no one has seen before?" she asks. Floyd | Floyd | "Feel for yourself; the room already feels lighter." Floyd | | Jacqueline exclaims, "Don't question me, Mrs Claus!" | |
| Jacqueline chuckles. | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --The rip is now completely enclosed. You and Mrs. Claus step Floyd | slowly away, careful not to disturb it. Your heart feels lighter. Mrs. Floyd | Claus addresses you as you walk further into the grove. Floyd | Floyd | "Club, I'm proud of you. This bodes well for your future." Floyd | Floyd | You smile in pride. Mrs. Claus is always supportive, but she never Floyd | exaggerates. Floyd | Floyd | After you pass the middle of the grove, you stop her. "Goddess, I Floyd | realized something about that rip we saw back there." Floyd | Floyd | "What is it?" she asks, pausing her stride and turning to look at you. Floyd | Floyd | "It reminded me of the log fence we had when we were staying in Asgard. Floyd | I found a hole a wolf made underneath it. It looked a lot like that Floyd | rip. It almost looks like something coming into our world forcefully, Floyd | or leaving." Floyd | Floyd | "Interesting theory," said Mrs. Claus. "An outside intruder...it would Floyd | explain a lot. But are they working with Flickering Flame, or is it Floyd | something else?" Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We questioned her, it's only fair if she questions us." | |
| Jacqueline says, "heh" | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus leads you down a dark staircase that opens up into Floyd | the largest, and oldest, chamber yet. A sprawling city of pyramids, Floyd | stadiums, and statues stretches around you. Floyd | Floyd | "You have an entire city in here?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | "The Olmecs were fond of magnificent gestures. They built this for me a Floyd | few years before they abandoned me for that god in the swamp." Floyd | Floyd | You try to take it all in. When you run a hand over one of the statues, Floyd | you are surprised to feel a pull from it—a tug of emotion. Mrs. Claus Floyd | runs her hand over the stone. Floyd | Floyd | "Some of the carvers were bleeders, imbuing the statues with their Floyd | thoughts and feelings. They are also magnetic, here and in the mortal Floyd | world. I never understood—" Floyd | Floyd | A spray of gunfire hits the ground near the two of you. You can feel Floyd | the icy hate in each bullet. It's your duty to protect Mrs. Claus! Floyd | Floyd | A) I switch our appearances to draw gunfire away from Mrs. Claus. Floyd | B) I summon a Christmas snowfall to blind the enemy. Floyd | C) I release a dozen mouse bots to distract and sniff out the enemy. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "dang" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "My, never a quiet moment." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "A?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Gunfire suggests it's the toy company people this time." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure. I'm afraid we might lose her in B" | ||
| Jacqueline asks (of DW), "Or the army?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You call on all of your common memories with Mrs. Claus: laboring over Floyd | the List together, touring the factory floors, sharing tea. With your Floyd | will, you wish for your appearances to mix and trade with each other. Floyd | Floyd | In an instant, your vision blurs, and you find yourself displaced and Floyd | disoriented. When your sight clears, you find that your charm has Floyd | succeeded beyond your expectations. Beyond the illusion of change, you Floyd | have become Mrs. Claus for a short time, at least in body. Gunfire Floyd | sprays near your arm, and you duck down. "Get behind me!" you yell with Floyd | her voice. Floyd | Floyd | She crouches behind you, following your lead, but you can feel a bubble Floyd | of power rising up from her. The smell of ozone cuts through the air, Floyd | and you duck, realizing her plan. Floyd | Floyd | Electricity arcs from surfaces all around you, hopping and frying Floyd | everything except for you and Mrs. Claus. Then everything is quiet, and Floyd | the two of you revert to your original forms. Floyd | Floyd | You take a look at the cause of all the trouble. It's a wind-up tin Floyd | soldier with no label. As you pick it up to investigate, it dissolves Floyd | into a pile of iron filings. When you look at Mrs. Claus, she shrugs. Floyd | She turns to move on, and you follow. Floyd | Floyd | You slide down once more into a smaller cavern, one filled with cats. Floyd | Giant limestone carvings of cats, murals depicting cats, and even a few Floyd | mummified cats. They are all packed closely together, and fit in less Floyd | space than the reindeer's stables above ground. Floyd | Floyd | "I thought there would be more here," you say. Floyd | Floyd | "I didn't bring much with me from those days. I had too much pride, and Floyd | I was furious that they forced me from my position as Sun Goddess. But Floyd | I was so proud that I had domesticated cats that I had to bring these Floyd | here." Floyd | Floyd | There's another trapdoor here, but it's made of quartz and under a thin Floyd | layer of water. You say, "Should I open it?" Floyd | Floyd | She says, "You can try. It can't hurt you, no matter what." Floyd | Floyd | After stretching, you bend down and lift. It comes up easily, and the Floyd | water drains down. She nods. "That's what I expected. It once connected Floyd | to a deep lake in Scotland." she says, pointing to a small sluicegate Floyd | in the wall. "Anyone pulling up the trapdoor would have to pull up all Floyd | of that water at once. But now, there's a counterspell." Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "Or the toy people." | |
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --A musky, burnt odor surrounds the gate. It's the same smell Floyd | you noticed hundreds of years ago, at a party, when Flickering Flame Floyd | was still called Loki. He had just won an epic eating contest against a Floyd | fire demon. Everyone has a distinct odor to their magic. You don't know Floyd | yours, of course, just like you can't taste your own tongue. But some Floyd | people say the smell of your magic is like fresh hay. "Do you want me Floyd | to scrub it?" you ask her. Floyd | Floyd | She shrugs. "We might as well. There might be more than a counterspell Floyd | there." Floyd | Floyd | Flickering Flame is not someone to be trifled with. He was also Floyd | stronger than you, but he was too set in his own ways to listen to Mrs. Floyd | Claus. Floyd | Floyd | You crouch by the smell and concentrate. Magic can clear out magic if Floyd | it's focused and refined as needed. You need to find a focus that suits Floyd | your natural abilities. It shouldn't be hard. Floyd | Floyd | A) I literally focus it with a series of ground lenses. Floyd | B) I wear a circlet of holly from the Scottish Highlands. Floyd | C) I use a tooth that a polar bear shaman traded me. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh. Loki." | |
| DavidW says, "hm, none of these options seems tailored to our strengths." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "I think B might work?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "B or C, I guess?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | "I'm going to focus my energy with a circlet of holly," you tell Mrs. Floyd | Claus. You reach into your mind and try to summon the circlet of holly. Floyd | But it smells off and looks a bit wilted. Then you place it on your Floyd | head. Floyd | Floyd | "Club?" says Mrs. Claus. Floyd | Floyd | "Yes?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | "That's a circlet of mahonia. I don't think it will work as well." Floyd | Floyd | You shrug and focus on your power. Floyd | Floyd | You pour your emotions and thoughts through the focus, trying to Floyd | eliminate the counterspell. Your goal is to burn out the charm. Closing Floyd | your eyes, you can almost smell the counterspell burning away. Floyd | Floyd | "Club!" you hear Mrs. Claus exclaim. Floyd | Floyd | You open your eyes and find your focus on fire! With a shriek you throw Floyd | it to the ground, stamping it to bits. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus sighs and focuses on the counterspell herself. She burns it Floyd | away, but she appears visibly drained. Once the spell is gone, the Floyd | water begins to flood through the sluice and down the open hole. Mrs. Floyd | Claus peers in for a moment. Floyd | Floyd | She steps into the water with her black suede boots. The water quickly Floyd | freezes over, forming a staircase to the ground below. She notices your Floyd | look and says, "Frost wolf leather. The best for winter boots." You Floyd | shrink a little inside, remembering your days in a wolf pack, and she Floyd | says, "Don't be so surprised. I was the goddess of the hunt, after all. Floyd | And those who have crossed me will find that I have not changed, Floyd | underneath." She looks taller now, and shows her teeth as she smiles. Floyd | Floyd | She extends her hand, which you take, and together you descend down to Floyd | the most ancient caverns of all. Floyd | Floyd | The air down here smells old, as old as you. It's the smell of the Floyd | young earth, before Christmas, before gods. You are in an egg-shaped Floyd | enclosure made of earth and wood. Floyd | Floyd | The room is dominated by a thick tree trunk. Roots grow from the top Floyd | and from the bottom, no branches, a marvel of nature. The roots twist Floyd | into the dirt walls and almost seem to form patterns. Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus leads you to a small stone table near the trunk, with a few Floyd | scattered items on it: a dry mushroom, a circlet of leaves, frozen Floyd | moonbeam. Floyd | Floyd | You try to remember to search the room, but you are distracted by the Floyd | rush of memories. There are so many things here from your childhood. Floyd | But you try to clear your head and focus on the search. Floyd | Floyd | A) I clear my head with a simple mantra I learned years ago. Floyd | B) I slap myself so I can get a grip. It's embarrassing, but it works. Floyd | C) I concentrate and remind myself of the importance of my mission. Floyd | D) I left behind this simple world years ago. My life is more refined Floyd | now. I can do this. Floyd | | Jacqueline asks, "A?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "a" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You try to remember the mantra, but you get it mixed up with Simmering Floyd | Stew's new jingle for fried donuts. "Fried and battered then fried Floyd | again. Dip them in sugar and give one to your friend..." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus shakes her head and looks away. You look around the room to Floyd | hide your embarrassment, but find yourself reminiscing. Floyd | Floyd | As Mrs. Claus searches the room, you saunter over to the table. You Floyd | grab a small mushroom from off the table. You say, "I remember this; it Floyd | was the first present I gave you." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus gives you a sly smile. "I know. I've always treasured it." Floyd | Floyd | You set down the mushroom and pick up the frozen moonbeam, playing with Floyd | it for a while. It reminds you of the blanket you had from the same Floyd | material. But then Mrs. Claus calls you over. Floyd | Floyd | She says, "Look. I had a simple sealing here, done with power. But now Floyd | it's been entirely drained, and this is what I think was the cause." Floyd | She points to a toy, which you pick up. Floyd | Floyd | Puzzled, you look it over together. It's a small, purple plastic Floyd | eggplant with anthropomorphic features. Its limbs and eyes are gray, Floyd | and it has a perpetual frown. It's labeled. Floyd | Floyd | "Mr. Grumpyhead?" you ask. Floyd | Floyd | She nods, and adds, "By Krinkle Corp." Floyd | Floyd | You realize that your hands have gone numb where they are holding the Floyd | Grumpyhead, and you drop it. "It seems to absorb magical power," she Floyd | says. Floyd | Floyd | "So we have two foes to deal with," you say with a sigh. Thinking back Floyd | to the twisted passage, and tear in reality, you say, "Maybe three." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus shakes her head. "It's too easy to classify others as foes. Floyd | Flickering Flame is the same now as he was when he worked with us. He Floyd | is a creature of chaos. As for these others, they don't know us, and we Floyd | don't know them. Let's say that our purposes are currently at odds." Floyd | She looks at the doll. "But we don't need this in Claus Castle. We need Floyd | to get rid of it, but it's clearly magic-resistant." Floyd | Floyd | A) I propose disassembling it. It's risky, but maybe we'll learn Floyd | something in the process. Floyd | B) I suggest shipping it to a discreet cat I know in Avalon. It would Floyd | be safe there. Floyd | C) I can't dispel its magic-draining enchantment, but I have a few Floyd | tricks up my sleeve. I subtly shift the spell's target to something Floyd | else. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "ha" | |
| Roger says, "she does seem cat-positive" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not sure our connection skill is good enough for B." | ||
| Roger says, "surely we know someone who is just trying to get a head" | ||
| DavidW says, "We might get a bonus for cat affinities." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hrm, true (re:cats_" | ||
| Jacqueline says, ")" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "B, then?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Try it, yes." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "b" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | Mrs. Claus says, "Are you talking about Sebastian of Lochmoor?" Floyd | Floyd | You shake your head. "No, Felix of Edgeton. I had a falling out with Floyd | Sebastian after I forgot to warn him about a cursed sarcophagus." Floyd | Floyd | Mrs. Claus frowns, and says, "Felix of Edgeton is notorious for selling Floyd | anything to the highest bidder. That's the last thing we need here." Floyd | Floyd | You shrug. "I didn't know," you say. Mrs. Claus says, "I'll just send Floyd | it to Sebastian myself." Floyd | Floyd | She flicks her wrist, sending the doll away. The you both move on. Floyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We can try, but I don't think it'll. work." | |
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus lays her hand on the tree trunk and it splits open Floyd | with a whisper of sound. She runs her fingers over the edges and Floyd | frowns. You notice that the edges are splintered and rough, as if they Floyd | were recently forced. Together, you descend down a short flight of Floyd | stone stairs into a small stone room. Floyd | Floyd | The room is a mess. The walls are burnt and chipped, and fragments of Floyd | cloth and shrapnel litter the floor. Part of the walls seem twisted and Floyd | warped, and it hurts your head to look straight at them. But you Floyd | couldn't, anyway. Your eyes are fixed on a small stone chest in the Floyd | center of the room, its lid wide open. The final resting place for Floyd | Santa's Heart. It's empty. Floyd | Floyd | She slumps to the ground and rests against a wall, exhausted. "It's Floyd | gone. I knew it was gone, but I just had to see it. This means the end, Floyd | Club." Floyd | Floyd | You don't know what to say to that at all. Instead, you look at the Floyd | tomb. "I didn't know this was down here," you say. Floyd | Floyd | "Nobody did," says Mrs. Claus. "I kept the existence of Santa's Heart Floyd | secret from everyone. Except for one." She looks at you directly, Floyd | almost apologetically. "Flickering Flame." Floyd | Floyd | A) I can't believe she would tell Flickering Flame, and not me. Floyd | B) I can't believe Santa is buried under Claus Castle. Floyd | C) I can't believe how far underground we are; it's suffocating. Floyd | D) I can believe pretty much anything when it comes to Mrs. Claus. Floyd | | DavidW says, "We've been making a lot of poor choices recently. Alas." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I feel like we've been striking out a bit here lately." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Timing, yes." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "You guys have given me a lot of ideas for the next update" | ||
| Roger says, "at least we're still happy" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Damn. I'm feeling kind of betrayed here." | ||
| DavidW asks, "D?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Math), "Oh? Huh. Good." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "I guess, but I'm feeling A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "D can work, so can A. Hm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess we could take D as the high road" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We could." | ||
| DavidW says, "I have to say, this is one of the most grimdark takes on Christmas I've ever seen." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "d" | ||
Floyd | # Floyd | You can't hide the trust in your eyes. Mrs. Claus reaches for your hand Floyd | and gives it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm glad you're here, Club." Floyd | Floyd | She takes your hand, and you walk away from the tomb. Floyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
Floyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Three Enter the Kingdom] Floyd | In the weeks since the theft, your enemies have been silent, but you Floyd | have not. With Glass Ghost missing, having abandoned their position as Floyd | Chief of Security, you've had to scramble to find a suitable Floyd | replacement. For now, you're having applicants rotate through the Floyd | position so you can get a feel for how they perform in action. You Floyd | yourself conducted an inconclusive investigation into the reindeer's Floyd | involvement in the heist. Of course, this is all on top of your regular Floyd | work schedule. Floyd | Floyd | You are going over page one thousand three hundred and two of the List Floyd | for the third time today when a messenger knocks on the door. She pokes Floyd | her head in. Floyd | Floyd | "Excuse me, Floyd, but Mrs. Claus would like to speak with you." Floyd | Floyd | With a weary smile, you set down your pen and make your way to Mrs. Floyd | Claus's inner rooms. It's surprising that she would call you in at this Floyd | time, especially since she's been hosting gatherings of the Council of Floyd | Seven this week. The younger elves have been crowding around the Floyd | council room, trying to catch a glimpse of the Tooth Fairy, Floyd | Jack-of-All-Trades, the Spiders, the Emerald Empress, or the Monkey Floyd | King. Floyd | Floyd | You mentally review your activities over the last few weeks. Besides Floyd | list-checking and security, what else have you been spending your time Floyd | on? Floyd | Floyd | A) Tinkering with the security devices at Claus Castle. Floyd | B) Practicing and refining my stealth techniques. Floyd | C) Seeking out unusual castle creatures so I can imitate their shapes. Floyd | D) Gathering information from my various contacts among the Council of Floyd | Seven. Floyd | E) Visiting the mortal realm to spread goodness and cheer. Floyd | F) Grooming and feeding the reindeer. Floyd | | Jacqueline says, "And... that's the end of the chapter." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Oh wait. Snap. We can't save, can we?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "This would have been the best week to start using our new Clubhouse. Why did I not think of that until now?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "We can't save?" | ||
| DavidW says (to Floyd), "g" | ||
Floyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, or
Floyd | QUIT
| ||
| Jacqueline says (to Floyd), "save" | ||
Floyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, or
Floyd | QUIT
| Jacqueline says, "It's not made for that, no." | |
| Jacqueline says, "but it's fine" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hrm." | ||
| DavidW says, "oopsie" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I have ideas." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I gotta run, some friends are dropping off some snorkel gear I leant to them, but I will set this back up in the Club House and we can meet there next week." | ||
| mathbrush1 exclaims, "Thanks for letting me watch!" | ||
| DavidW says, "Thanks ror being her, mathbrush!" | ||
| DavidW says, "here" | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "Thanks for a peek behind the curtain!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thank you! We'll meet again at the same time next week." | ||
| mathbrush1 asks, "What time does it start?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If you want to join us again. There will also be a transcript when we're done." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Same time, but probably not same place then." | ||
| DavidW says, "2pm Eastern" | ||
| Roger says, "and bitter tears" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah, 2pm Eastern" | ||
| mathbrush1 asks, "I also have one last question: how do you guys feel about Mrs Claus romantically?" | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "A lot of testers were into it and I did not expect it" | ||
| DavidW says, "I think we have a chance if we don't screw up too much." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I can see people being into her." | ||
| Roger says, "Uneasy. I don't like dating superiors or (recent?) widows, so that's kind of two strikes. For me." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "The game implies that we thought we had a chance at one point, way back when." | ||
| mathbrush1 exclaims, "So interesting! Thanks for your insights!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not sure that I see this character we crafted really going for it, but I can see that some players would." | ||
| DavidW says, "It's possible it's just not possible. It might be like trying to marry a forest fire." | ||
| Roger says, "we've all been there" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "As for me, I think the PC loves her, and wants to protect her, but I'm not sure about the equal footing that would come with a relationship. Maybe." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, the power imbalance would have to be addressed." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I mean, maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess we'll see when people write the fanfic." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "Lol" | ||
| DavidW says, "like, if we ascended into godhood ourselves, then it becomes more viable." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "True. But there have been pairings with gods" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The power imbalance, yeah, and I think the love is less the romantic type and more of a companion type - in the sense "we've known each other for literal ages"." | ||
| DavidW says, "well sure. We know Zeus got around." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "At least the way we've played." | ||
| mathbrush1 says, "Well, no spoilers. I don?t know if you?ll have time to finish the game, but if so we?ll know one way or another how things pan out" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We usually usually finish these. It will just take us a while." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "ClubFloyd has a pace that is quite a bit different than playing alone" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True, true." | ||
| ##### Session 2 | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 21% / Open Minded: 79% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 20% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 57% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 43% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 72% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Still happily open-minded." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yup" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Chapter Three Enter the Kingdom] | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the weeks since the theft, your enemies have been silent, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you have not. With Glass Ghost missing, having abandoned their | ||
| ClubFloyd | position as Chief of Security, you've had to scramble to find a | ||
| ClubFloyd | suitable replacement. For now, you're having applicants rotate | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the position so you can get a feel for how they perform in | ||
| ClubFloyd | action. You yourself conducted an inconclusive investigation into | ||
| ClubFloyd | the reindeer's involvement in the heist. Of course, this is all on | ||
| ClubFloyd | top of your regular work schedule. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are going over page one thousand three hundred and two of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | List for the third time today when a messenger knocks on the door. | ||
| ClubFloyd | She pokes her head in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Excuse me, Floyd, but Mrs. Claus would like to speak with you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With a weary smile, you set down your pen and make your way to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's inner rooms. It's surprising that she would call you in at | ||
| ClubFloyd | this time, especially since she's been hosting gatherings of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Council of Seven this week. The younger elves have been crowding | ||
| ClubFloyd | around the council room, trying to catch a glimpse of the Tooth | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fairy, Jack-of-All-Trades, the Spiders, the Emerald Empress, or the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Monkey King. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You mentally review your activities over the last few weeks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Besides list-checking and security, what else have you been | ||
| ClubFloyd | spending your time on? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Tinkering with the security devices at Claus Castle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Practicing and refining my stealth techniques. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Seeking out unusual castle creatures so I can imitate their | ||
| ClubFloyd | shapes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Gathering information from my various contacts among the Council | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Seven. | ||
| ClubFloyd | E) Visiting the mortal realm to spread goodness and cheer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | F) Grooming and feeding the reindeer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I'm guessing this is a skill-up opportunity." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I just can't relate to this game. Where is the option for 'frittering away my free time playing IF and videogames?'" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Yes, I suspect that is the case." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I kinda like D" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like me some intel" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Our connections are our lowest stat. May be good to shore that up a bit." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "D may do that. What do you think?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I do think that's what D does." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Shall we?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "..Roger?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, I'm not Roger, but I'd be for it." | ||
| Roger says, "Sure fine" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And Roger -- okay." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Council of Seven, the political board that Mrs. Claus sits on, | ||
| ClubFloyd | is a diverse group of individuals. Those who serve the Emerald | ||
| ClubFloyd | Empress, the Spiders, the Tooth Fairy, and others who have assumed | ||
| ClubFloyd | the rule of the Fae world couldn't be more dissimilar from each | ||
| ClubFloyd | other. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But one thing they all have common is a love of good old gossip. | ||
| ClubFloyd | And you've been knee-deep in it these last few weeks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Arriving at Mrs. Claus's door, you give a courtesy knock before | ||
| ClubFloyd | opening the door and slipping in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Roger says, "I'm not too invested in this I'm afraid" | |
| Jacqueline says, "no worries" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Just didn't want to leave you out" | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus is standing in conversation with Candid | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mistletoe. She greets you warmly. "Oh, Club, I'm glad you're here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Would you care for a lemon bar?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grab a handful of bars and stuff them in your pockets. Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus clears her throat, and begins. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Since the unfortunate incident on Christmas Eve, I have been | ||
| ClubFloyd | forced to re-evaluate my resources." She paces the room from side | ||
| ClubFloyd | to side. "You two are the only ones in the castle I have told about | ||
| ClubFloyd | this, although I'm sure others have found out as well. I cannot | ||
| ClubFloyd | deny the presence of spies in our midst, and the silence of our | ||
| ClubFloyd | enemies has only redoubled my concerns." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She pauses to take a bite of lemon bar before washing it down with | ||
| ClubFloyd | some peppermint tea. "Over the last several centuries, the energy | ||
| ClubFloyd | flowing through my late husband's heart was more than was necessary | ||
| ClubFloyd | for Christmas operations and regional security. I stored the excess | ||
| ClubFloyd | power, mostly in the form of high-proof fruitcake. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But it won't last. We can't just sit here waiting for our enemies. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time to take the battle to them, and you two are the ones I | ||
| ClubFloyd | have in mind to do it. Candid, would you care to explain?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid holds up one hand while he finishes chewing. You are | ||
| ClubFloyd | thoughtful. A mission with Candid? The sweetest, most cheerful, | ||
| ClubFloyd | most Christmas-y elf in Claus Castle? How do you feel about that? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm excited to work with Candid! | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm mildly pleased that we can work together. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Meh. There are a lot of people I'd rather go with. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm not happy about this at all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Mmmm... lemon bar." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "I see no reason to not be excited, do you?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "As the PC, I mean." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We like Candid. Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid swallows his last bite and speaks. "Hi, Club! I've suggested | ||
| ClubFloyd | to Mrs. Claus that we visit a growing group of malcontents called | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Kingdom of Dreams. Their prophet has been staging rallies | ||
| ClubFloyd | across the Fae world, calling on the Folk to stand up to Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | and other leaders, calling them tyrants. We even have some | ||
| ClubFloyd | adherents among us at Claus Castle. My idea was to go undercover, | ||
| ClubFloyd | see what we can learn at one of the rallies." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Undercover? That explains his look. Candid has taken an aggressive | ||
| ClubFloyd | form: an elvish warrior, tall, steely-eyed, with long black hair | ||
| ClubFloyd | and a tall bow. He looks powerful, intimidating������and extremely | ||
| ClubFloyd | visible. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You may want to try a different disguise, Candid," says Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | pointedly. "From what we've heard, most of the members of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Kingdom of Dreams are outcasts, people that don't fit into normal | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fae society. You'll need to be something less authoritarian." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He sighs and shrinks down, his bow disappearing. Candid Mistletoe | ||
| ClubFloyd | keeps shrinking, until there's only a pile of clothes on the floor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A short swamp elf with a dress like the night sky and eyes like an | ||
| ClubFloyd | eclipse steps out of the clothes. She's changed species and gender | ||
| ClubFloyd | again, but that's her style. She asks, "Is this better, ma'am?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus nods and looks over at you pointedly. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to make a disguise for yourself. It could be difficult, | ||
| ClubFloyd | fitting in. Also, you'll have to tone down the Christmas cheer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | What's your strategy? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll go for something shadowy and subtle. I become an | ||
| ClubFloyd | inconspicuous barn owl wearing a leather jacket. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) New forms are what I live for. I'll show off a little, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | become an ancient war tortoise with eight legs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A harpy pirate with an eyepatch. I'll even make a grappling hook | ||
| ClubFloyd | to go with it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) A punk wood elf with nails and screws embedded in my bark. It's | ||
| ClubFloyd | showy, but I can use my charisma to get by. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "(Now watch them being the traitor.)" | |
| Jacqueline says, "aw, snap. I hope not." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I hope not either, but it's a possibility we have to consider." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "yeah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "As a shifter, B may be up our alley, but A sounds... hm, both fitting and suspicious." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "You think it would make people take a second look at us?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I was thinking that was the most subtle." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Though I guess in the realm of fae, it wouldn't be out oif the ordinary." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So sure, A." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "The other three just seemed kinda over the top." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The smell of mice and old straw fills your mind. A transformation | ||
| ClubFloyd | sweeps over you, and you become a surly, sullen owl. You give | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid and Mrs. Claus your best owl scowl, ruffling your feathers | ||
| ClubFloyd | and cracking your neck. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid looks you up and down, for once speechless. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus clears her throat, and you and Candid Mistletoe stand at | ||
| ClubFloyd | attention. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She says, "Your orders are clear. You are to attend the meeting in | ||
| ClubFloyd | character and gather as much information as you can. Don't be | ||
| ClubFloyd | conspicuous. Good luck." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you are walking out the door, a question pops into your mind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn around and ask, "By the way, where is it at?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus gives a wry half-smile. "It's being held on top of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | first mesa past the White Wastes. Good luck, you two." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your heart sinks as you leave the room. The White Wastes are not | ||
| ClubFloyd | the place for Christmas elves. The salty soil and pervasive | ||
| ClubFloyd | ennui-tinged bleed are more suited to the grim and cruel. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're the lead on this mission. It's too dangerous to walk the | ||
| ClubFloyd | whole distance. You might be able to convince someone to take you | ||
| ClubFloyd | part of the way, but they're not going to like it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I ask a couple of reindeer to fly us most of the way. It'll be | ||
| ClubFloyd | good to talk to Donner. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I ask Cai, the multi-bodied magician, if we can use their | ||
| ClubFloyd | transportation network. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Candid loves seeing "real humans," so we'll use the faerie ring | ||
| ClubFloyd | closest to there, even though it's a bit rough. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "We don't want to be seen with a reindeer, I think." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I liked B, but what if we materialize right in front of someone? Maybe that's okay, dunno." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "C seems like a potentially common way for fae to get around." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Also, one of them seems to be a traitor." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So C?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No helper with that one." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I was about to say we have good relations with good old Zeus, but that probably doesn't matter much. So sure, C." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Wait, where does Zeus come into this?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We learned last time that Donner is Zeus." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh right. Forgot about that." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Also, Mrs. Claus's father." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Now I've got visions of Donner lovin' people up." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I don't like the visions." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Please. Make them stop." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid looks excited. "Do you think we'll see any tattoo parlors?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | There's a spring in her step as you go on your way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You come out of a mushroom ring in a landfill outside an industrial | ||
| ClubFloyd | park. It takes an hour or so to pick your way across highways and | ||
| ClubFloyd | alleys, avoiding a few powerful bleeders you can feel from a block | ||
| ClubFloyd | or two away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "This is awesome," says Candid. She conjures a handful of snowman | ||
| ClubFloyd | cookies for herself and chews on them cheerily as you make your way | ||
| ClubFloyd | to the next ring. This one deposits you midway through the White | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wastes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "He might have been in human form. Sometimes Zeus was doing that." | |
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You've made good time, but you still have a long way to | ||
| ClubFloyd | go. The salty plains reflect the light straight into your eyes, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | the latent emotions in the air weigh you down. You are silent for | ||
| ClubFloyd | the first hour or so, and Candid seems unusually quiet. A slow | ||
| ClubFloyd | death seems like a pleasant idea. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wait, what? You blink your eyes a few times and shake your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The bleed here is getting to you. When you look for Candid, she's | ||
| ClubFloyd | sitting on the salt plains about thirty paces back, and you run to | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "We've got to distract ourselves," she says. "Talk about something | ||
| ClubFloyd | we actually care about." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What do you talk about? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) We can talk about our mutual friend. "How do you think Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus is holding up?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I bank on our curiosity. "What do you know about the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Talk of loyalty can carry us through this. "I was outraged by | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost's betrayal. Elves should be more trustworthy." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Being unhappy is better than being literally bored to death. "I | ||
| ClubFloyd | can't believe someone stole the Heart. Who do you think did it?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "A seems not at all cheerful." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "B?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "If we're overheard, that seems okayish." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guesswe shouldn't do C - their guilt, while likely, isn't established." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B, sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I don't know much," she says drowsily. "I told Mrs. Claus and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything������everything I know." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look more closely at her, intrigued. She shrugs, and stares | ||
| ClubFloyd | back. "Okay, okay, I've heard rumors that some of my former | ||
| ClubFloyd | associates are involved. But I swear that's all I know. What have | ||
| ClubFloyd | you heard?" she says, turning the question back to you. The two of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you chat for a while, with Candid subtly ignoring your question. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The conversation begins to blossom. You and Candid exchange ideas, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and soon you feel the burden lifting from you. Soon you pass the | ||
| ClubFloyd | edge of the White Wastes and into the badlands beyond. Candid looks | ||
| ClubFloyd | over at you and smiles. "Thanks, Club. I was worried we wouldn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | make it through!" She laughs, and you laugh too. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Soon, you fall silent again and continue on your journey. Travel in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Fae World is both geographical and ideological. It's a long | ||
| ClubFloyd | trip from sentimentalism to cynicism, and it's even farther from | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus Castle to the badlands you're walking in. This is a stark, | ||
| ClubFloyd | raw landscape of gulches and boulders. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The only bright point in view is a verdant mountain | ||
| ClubFloyd | higher than all those around it. You recognize it immediately. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Look, it's Green Mountain! Have you been here before?" you ask | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She thinks for a moment. "Is that where Osiris had his back-to-life | ||
| ClubFloyd | party?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "I think so. But it was the Gray Mountain back then. Or | ||
| ClubFloyd | maybe I'm thinking of the vigil they held for Persephone." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Oh yeah," she says. "Demeter was really upset. Should we go around | ||
| ClubFloyd | it?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mountain is intimidating; in the mortal world, it would be | ||
| ClubFloyd | covered in snow and ice on the top, reaching to the thin stretches | ||
| ClubFloyd | of air at the top of the world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But in the Fae, rules are different. It's green from top to bottom, | ||
| ClubFloyd | thick with grass and brush. It has to be half a mile high or more, | ||
| ClubFloyd | with difficult terrain the whole way up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The White Wastes have worn you out mentally. You'll need to get | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourselves psyched up again before the meeting. "Let's race to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | top of Green Mountain," you say. "Loser has to clean the reindeer's | ||
| ClubFloyd | stables." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid takes off, grabbing a handful of snowflakes from her pocket | ||
| ClubFloyd | and throwing them to the ground in front of her. It freezes solid, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and she conjures peppermint-stick skis that slide swiftly over the | ||
| ClubFloyd | ice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Cheater!" you cry, laughing. But you have tricks of your own. How | ||
| ClubFloyd | do you get an advantage? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I transform into an alpine ibex. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I trick Candid into going the wrong way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I use my new spring-loaded hang-glider. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Ibex we want A." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Okay that was tortured." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "What was?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "My attempted pun -- I bet vs Ibex." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "ah" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Rushing, you focus on cold wind and the odor of ungulate urine. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel your body transforming, much more quickly than you usually try | ||
| ClubFloyd | for. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shake yourself all over and feel energy coursing through your | ||
| ClubFloyd | veins. Then you hop and leap your way towards the mountain, leaping | ||
| ClubFloyd | over Candid and bounding your way along the rise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid redoubles her efforts, but you reach the top right before | ||
| ClubFloyd | she can catch up to you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Aw, man!" she says, "I guess I'm cleaning the stables when I get | ||
| ClubFloyd | back." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look around the area from your high vantage point, fluttering | ||
| ClubFloyd | around with your wings, and say, "Look, Candid!" and point to a | ||
| ClubFloyd | spot a few miles away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A massive, billowing tent has been assembled in the middle of a | ||
| ClubFloyd | mesa. What looks like a crowd is standing outside of it, but in | ||
| ClubFloyd | surprisingly rigid and geometrical patterns. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you look closer, you realize that you mistook booths and | ||
| ClubFloyd | stalls for people. This is a huge gathering. From this vantage | ||
| ClubFloyd | point, you can see groups and caravans snaking through the wastes | ||
| ClubFloyd | towards the gathering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You need a plan for getting in closer. It shouldn't be too hard, | ||
| ClubFloyd | especially with your disguises. How are you going to do it? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) We'll walk in like we own the place, drop some names, and bluff | ||
| ClubFloyd | our way through. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) We'll conjure some sacks full of sugar cookies and hot chocolate | ||
| ClubFloyd | and say it's for refreshments. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) We'll just try to sneak in without anyone seeing us. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "mmm... ungulate urine" | |
| Jacqueline says, "B seems bad" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Like, might as well just wear name tags." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Soo, absolutely not changing topics but B.... right." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "How do you feel about A or C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think we are not quite good at sneakiness, but also not absolutely bad. Acting like we own the place kind of backfired with the giant I believe." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "So, C I guess?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sounds good." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You and Candid focus together on thoughts of shade and wind and | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel yourselves flattening low to the sand as you scurry across the | ||
| ClubFloyd | rocks. Candid says, "It looks like the perimeter on the right is | ||
| ClubFloyd | the least guarded." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you both snake your way up and slip under the side of a | ||
| ClubFloyd | tent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are in a coat room with the cast-offs of a myriad of creatures. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tiny acorn-purses are piled next to heavy golden ankhs and at least | ||
| ClubFloyd | one unholy grimoire. No one looks twice at you as you emerge into | ||
| ClubFloyd | the gathering. Soon you are mingled in with the crowd. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trolls and goblins mingle with lycanthropes and night elves. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | overhear bits and pieces of conversation as you walk through the | ||
| ClubFloyd | crowd. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A bristlecone dryad stomps over to a pair of young satyrs. "Have | ||
| ClubFloyd | you heard the news, children?" she says. "The King appeared in our | ||
| ClubFloyd | land, at long last. He came and left his mark on the land, a | ||
| ClubFloyd | labyrinth of his own invention. Ah! I'm so pleased." She ruffles | ||
| ClubFloyd | the shorter one's hair and walks off. You consider following her, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but she heads directly for the large tent in the center of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | camp. That'll be good to check out later. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The younger satyr frowns and kicks a pebble down the stall. "When | ||
| ClubFloyd | will the King visit our home?" he says. The elder satyr soothes him | ||
| ClubFloyd | as he pats down his hair. "The Speaker says it will be soon. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Speaker is always right." They then run off together, leaving | ||
| ClubFloyd | you and Candid alone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Together you wander through the stalls. The members of the Kingdom | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Dreams have set up food shops and trinket kiosks, giving the | ||
| ClubFloyd | whole event the feeling of a festival. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Curious, you decide to investigate some of the stalls more closely. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Perhaps you can find a kindred spirit who can give you more | ||
| ClubFloyd | information. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I head to the stall with the deep fat fryer, obviously. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I go to a jewelry kiosk. Look at those sapphires! | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I visit the three-headed fitness dog trying to sell green | ||
| ClubFloyd | smoothies. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I saunter over to the livestock display. Where's that smoke | ||
| ClubFloyd | coming from? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Have they got a dragon?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Hm. Possibly." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Want to go check?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The corral is filled with different varieties of fire chickens. | ||
| ClubFloyd | There are a few scraggly roosters with a row of dying embers on | ||
| ClubFloyd | their backs, a couple of hens with a healthy glow, and a | ||
| ClubFloyd | magnificent cockerel with flames a foot high coming off its back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Thick-skinned hill giants watching the display with intense | ||
| ClubFloyd | interest, discussing the merits of each chicken. You find one that | ||
| ClubFloyd | looks pretty good, nudge the closest hill giant, point and say, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "That's a real beauty over there, isn't it?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The giant breaks into a toothy grin. "Aye, that's a good 'un. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's my very own Basan. Raised 'im from an egg I hatched myself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ah, how his hot shell would burn my bottom in his brooding!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He bends closer. "You seem like a good little owl," he says. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You've been a Kingdomer for long?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shake your head. "Well, I'm glad to have you aboard." He claps | ||
| ClubFloyd | you on the back, nearly sending you tumbling. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid looks over and gives you a thumbs up. It looks like you're | ||
| ClubFloyd | hitting it off with the Kingdom of Dreams. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The next stall over is filled with pamphlets. You look over them, | ||
| ClubFloyd | trying to find one to sample. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "The Tyranny of the Council of Seven." It has a frightening | ||
| ClubFloyd | portrait of Mrs. Claus on the front. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "The Glory of the King." The cover seems to be some abstract | ||
| ClubFloyd | painting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "A Path to a Better Life." It shows trolls and faeries holding | ||
| ClubFloyd | hands. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Tiny dragons." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Tiny chicken dragons." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well I did not expect that." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Same." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I don't think anyone ever expects fire chickens." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm curious what they say of the King." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I have not particular-- sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The Nightmare King is not a being of fear and terror. No, the name | ||
| ClubFloyd | was used mockingly at first by our enemies, and now is adopted by | ||
| ClubFloyd | us as a badge of honor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The true nature of the King is beyond our comprehension. He can | ||
| ClubFloyd | appear at all places and all times. His voice shakes the earth, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | his hand pierces the walls of reality������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It goes on for several pages. There's very little concrete | ||
| ClubFloyd | information, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A bell rings out, and everyone stops. It continues to ring, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | see people counting in their heads, nodding in rhythm to the bells. | ||
| ClubFloyd | After it rings seven times, it stops, and everyone begins packing | ||
| ClubFloyd | up. It looks like the main event is about to start. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You filter into the big tent with Candid and the rest of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the crowd. There are rows and rows of hard wooden benches facing a | ||
| ClubFloyd | simple plank stage with a podium. A few imps are manning | ||
| ClubFloyd | quartzlights on a platform near the back. The two of you slide to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the middle of one of the benches on the left side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | After about fifteen minutes, the crowd is seated and quiet. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | imps dim the quartzlights. A deep voice speaks from the darkness: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "We will now be addressed by the Speaker for the King." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You see an obscure figure moving towards the podium, their feet | ||
| ClubFloyd | making a steady "tap," "tap," "tap." When it reaches the | ||
| ClubFloyd | microphone, the lights turn on, revealing a completely ordinary | ||
| ClubFloyd | rock troll. It's hardly impressive, but you hear Candid gasp, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | sound muffled by the crowd's applause. When you look over to see if | ||
| ClubFloyd | she is okay, she's staring straight forward, black sweat dripping | ||
| ClubFloyd | from her swamp-elf brow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's all new to you. How do you feel? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm feeling pretty nervous. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm worried about Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm curious about the rock troll. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm excited by the energy in this room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "huh" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Uh oh." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "What's up with her?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess they recognized the speaker." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "so, b? c?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I would say B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm afraid C and D may pull us toward the Dreamers." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's not like her to be this upset. She's just staring at the | ||
| ClubFloyd | speaker. Who is this troll? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your reverie is broken by the troll. "I am Fractured Quartz, | ||
| ClubFloyd | Speaker for the King. Hear my words, and they will free you from | ||
| ClubFloyd | oppression. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What oppression? The oppression of the spirit, and of the mind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Rulers of the Seven Kingdoms have spread the fear of what they | ||
| ClubFloyd | call disobedience, of what I call freedom." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shocked, you listen as Fractured Quartz launches a diatribe against | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Emerald Empress, the Tooth Fairy, and the other grand rulers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grow increasingly tense, knowing what's coming. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Soon, it comes. Fractured Quartz says, "And what of Mrs. Claus? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Bringer of joy? Dispenser of wisdom? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No. Mrs. Claus is one of the greatest impediments to the happiness | ||
| ClubFloyd | of free creatures in the two realms." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The room goes completely silent, and the tension slackens. After | ||
| ClubFloyd | all, Mrs. Claus is one of the most popular rulers in the Fae world, | ||
| ClubFloyd | even in this rough crowd. Someone in the back shouts, "Bo-ring!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the crowd laughs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz waves for silence. "Believe me! Mrs. Claus is a | ||
| ClubFloyd | con artist, a public relations hack who has served her own ends for | ||
| ClubFloyd | centuries." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Resentment is building up inside of you with a tectonic force. Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus may be many things, but she's not self-serving. After all, | ||
| ClubFloyd | think of all the great things she's done for the worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Delivering presents to children for centuries. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Feeding and housing thousands of elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Ensuring the political stability of the Fae world as part of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Council of Seven. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Donating food and clothing to Fae victims of bleeder-storms. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm guessing whatever we pick, Quartz will tear apart." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "sure" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | How could anyone call Mrs. Claus self-serving when she is so | ||
| ClubFloyd | generous to others? She donates thousands of care packages and | ||
| ClubFloyd | medical equipment to the needy across the world. When intense | ||
| ClubFloyd | emotional events occur in the mortal world in the presence of | ||
| ClubFloyd | several bleeders at once, the resulting storm is devastating to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fae world. Whenever this happens, Mrs. Claus's envoys arrive, | ||
| ClubFloyd | wearing special sashes and handing out relief to the needy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You may believe that Mrs. Claus is generous and kind. Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | donates. Mrs. Claus aids. Do you know that Mrs. Claus's donations | ||
| ClubFloyd | total less than one percent of her annual gross? That she spent | ||
| ClubFloyd | more on catering her Christmas Eve party than she had spent on | ||
| ClubFloyd | donations for all of last year?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's true; it's completely true. You've seen the budget. This is | ||
| ClubFloyd | more interesting than you thought. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "And that's not the worst, not even by half. Christmas is a lie. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus has used Christmas for centuries to attract mortal | ||
| ClubFloyd | energy into a powerful magical artifact. She has no other purpose | ||
| ClubFloyd | than self-gain and her own survival." The crowd murmurs excitedly, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but you are silent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | They know. Somehow, one way or another, they know. And the way they | ||
| ClubFloyd | put things, it really puts Mrs. Claus in a bad light. Is she really | ||
| ClubFloyd | as bad as they're saying? You're close to Mrs. Claus, and you've | ||
| ClubFloyd | never doubted that she is a good elf at heart. But after all this | ||
| ClubFloyd | talk������ | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I feel sick to my stomach. How could this monster hate her that | ||
| ClubFloyd | much? | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) They're both wrong. Mrs. Claus has problems, but Quartz | ||
| ClubFloyd | shouldn't be fear-mongering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Seeing a new side of Mrs. Claus is interesting. It makes me | ||
| ClubFloyd | appreciate her more. I like this troll. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) My heart aches, but I know that everything Fractured Quartz is | ||
| ClubFloyd | saying is true. I've never felt more distant from her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "...B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It seems like all of the worlds are going to pot these days. You're | ||
| ClubFloyd | not used to feeling this way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz quiets the crowd and says, "Enough from me. I can | ||
| ClubFloyd | tell you have strong feelings about this. I want each of you to | ||
| ClubFloyd | turn to your neighbor. Find each other's stories. There's a reason | ||
| ClubFloyd | you all are here." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Still confused by Quartz's earlier comments, you glance at your | ||
| ClubFloyd | neighbors, trying to find someone to talk to. You don't want to | ||
| ClubFloyd | stick out, after all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A bitter-looking dream fairy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) An excitable werewolf cub. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A paint-splattered gnome. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) An ancient mountain spirit. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I'd be fine with any of them." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Me too. I guess b and d stood out more." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm not sure if I prefer youthful ignorance or ancient knowledge." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "One seems easier to bluf our way through, the other might be inciteful." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Also, hilariously I've realized I'm now using the acronym BLUF enough that I misspelled bluff." | ||
| Jacqueline rolls her eyes. | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I thought it was just a typo, not an acronym causing a typo." | ||
| Jacqueline smiles. | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, B or D?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess we can go D." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Bold." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The ancient spirit sits silently, watching you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The other attendees are chattering with each other loudly and | ||
| ClubFloyd | animatedly, but your companion seems to be a bit terse. You decide | ||
| ClubFloyd | to prod her a bit. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Why did you join the Kingdom of Dreams?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Her eyes widen a bit, and she says, "Why did I join? I've done this | ||
| ClubFloyd | so many times, I can't remember all the stories I've told. But the | ||
| ClubFloyd | honest truth is that I want to just burn it all down." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You start paying more attention. This is what you were sent to find | ||
| ClubFloyd | out about, after all. "Burn what down?" you ask. "The worlds? The | ||
| ClubFloyd | universe?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She leans forward and clenches your shoulder with hers. She says, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No, friend. I want to burn down the system. What happened to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | old gods and the ancient tribes? They murdered each other, threw up | ||
| ClubFloyd | walls between the worlds. Now there's only a few left, all of them | ||
| ClubFloyd | tyrants. The Empress, Mrs. Claus, the Spiders, the kingdoms of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | humans. I believe the creatures of the two worlds deserve each | ||
| ClubFloyd | other. Burn. It. Down." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your partner the mountain spirit looks at you expectantly. There | ||
| ClubFloyd | are so many stories you could come up with. Should you butter them | ||
| ClubFloyd | up with similar experiences, or should you try to sow discord in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Kingdom's ranks by finding something that rubs them the wrong | ||
| ClubFloyd | way? What are you going to share? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I think that humans and Fae working together are the hope for | ||
| ClubFloyd | the future. I want to be part of it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I'm intrigued by the beauty of the human world. I don't care | ||
| ClubFloyd | for the humans, but those mountains������." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I haven't found any happiness with the Fae. The humans are my | ||
| ClubFloyd | last hope." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I want the two worlds to come together so they can both just | ||
| ClubFloyd | leave me alone." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline looks thoughtful. | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm. I kind of like A. B may feel too much like we're trying to get on her good side." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "a" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "um..." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "I've seen how humans and Fae can work together. Just look | ||
| ClubFloyd | at faerie godmothers, and the good they've done in the world. I may | ||
| ClubFloyd | look tough, but I want to work towards a happy future." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mountain spirit looks at you in disgust, and says, "I'm sorry, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but I just don't feel like that at all. I have no interest in | ||
| ClubFloyd | working with humans, and I don't like to just sit here and imagine | ||
| ClubFloyd | that everything is okay. If this is what the Kingdom of Dreams is | ||
| ClubFloyd | coming to, I don't think I want to be a part of it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mountain spirit stalks out of the tent. A few people look on in | ||
| ClubFloyd | surprise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Looking around, you see a lot of other attendees that are chatting | ||
| ClubFloyd | excitedly with each other. And they're more relatable you thought. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look a little out of place yourself in your grim owl form. It's | ||
| ClubFloyd | less dark here than you expected. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --So far, though, you haven't seen anything unusual from | ||
| ClubFloyd | this group. Just a bunch of malcontents. There has to be more than | ||
| ClubFloyd | this, right? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz seems to have the same idea. A subtle grin spreads | ||
| ClubFloyd | across their face. They raise their hands, and all the old members | ||
| ClubFloyd | fall quiet immediately, while several newcomers (like Candid) keep | ||
| ClubFloyd | chatting. Soon the whole room is quiet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Many have opposed the established order in the realms," Fractured | ||
| ClubFloyd | Quartz says, "and they have failed. We will succeed. We have the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd murmurs, with the older bunch wagging their heads | ||
| ClubFloyd | sagaciously and the new crowd noticeably excited. Fractured Quartz | ||
| ClubFloyd | continues: "However, I cannot allow information about the Nightmare | ||
| ClubFloyd | King to leave this meeting. I will now extract an oath from each of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you that you will not reveal anything you learn today about the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King to those not of the Kingdom." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's when he pulls out an oath rod. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You groan mentally. An oath rod, forged from mortal iron, is the | ||
| ClubFloyd | last thing you wanted to see. An oath sworn on an oath rod cannot | ||
| ClubFloyd | be rescinded; at least, not as far as you know. It's possible to | ||
| ClubFloyd | resist it, but it won't be easy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Their iron rod can't touch my iron heart. I am loyal. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm a friend to the world, and I already have everyone's best | ||
| ClubFloyd | interests at heart. This promise won't change a thing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I change my mind like I change my socks. Good luck pinning me | ||
| ClubFloyd | down! | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I won't give in. My sour old soul is made of sterner stuff than | ||
| ClubFloyd | that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Sagacious is a good word you don't see too often." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Also, oh snap: an oath rod." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Do we want to look at stats?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "This is a point where we should take a long, good look at our stats again." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Ha. Timing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I kind of wish we'd just slipped out of the tent like that ancient did." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 21% / Open Minded: 79% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 91% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 43% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 40% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 72% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "I feel like Steadfastness would be good here, and we ain't rollin' in int." | |
| Jacqueline says, "In *it*, rather." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | So far, though, you haven't seen anything unusual from this group. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Just a bunch of malcontents. There has to be more than this, right? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz seems to have the same idea. A subtle grin spreads | ||
| ClubFloyd | across their face. They raise their hands, and all the old members | ||
| ClubFloyd | fall quiet immediately, while several newcomers (like Candid) keep | ||
| ClubFloyd | chatting. Soon the whole room is quiet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Many have opposed the established order in the realms," Fractured | ||
| ClubFloyd | Quartz says, "and they have failed. We will succeed. We have the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd murmurs, with the older bunch wagging their heads | ||
| ClubFloyd | sagaciously and the new crowd noticeably excited. Fractured Quartz | ||
| ClubFloyd | continues: "However, I cannot allow information about the Nightmare | ||
| ClubFloyd | King to leave this meeting. I will now extract an oath from each of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you that you will not reveal anything you learn today about the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King to those not of the Kingdom." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's when he pulls out an oath rod. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You groan mentally. An oath rod, forged from mortal iron, is the | ||
| ClubFloyd | last thing you wanted to see. An oath sworn on an oath rod cannot | ||
| ClubFloyd | be rescinded; at least, not as far as you know. It's possible to | ||
| ClubFloyd | resist it, but it won't be easy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Their iron rod can't touch my iron heart. I am loyal. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm a friend to the world, and I already have everyone's best | ||
| ClubFloyd | interests at heart. This promise won't change a thing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I change my mind like I change my socks. Good luck pinning me | ||
| ClubFloyd | down! | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I won't give in. My sour old soul is made of sterner stuff than | ||
| ClubFloyd | that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Steadfastness would be..." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Oh, for a moment I thought you had chosen an option." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No, just going back to the story." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Gotta do that after >STATS" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So, A needs steadfastness I'm sure. C may use open-mindedness instead." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "True." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "When I read that, I thought it sounded niave, but maybe it will rely on our open-mindedness and we'll succeed." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't think B is a workable plan if the oath is to not blab about the king, though it might key off of happiness, which we have in spades. And D - well, we are about as sour as a fresh glass of water." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "(I don't think that water simile I used there actually works.)" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "What if Mrs Claus is the bad guy?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "She may be, from a certain point of view." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You sound like Obi-Wan Kenobi." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I may have stolen that bit from him. If he's silent the next time you watch that scene, that's on me." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "heh" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, sounds like we hate all of our options but could go with C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That seems to have the best chance." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You hold fast to your thoughts of slipperiness as the oath rod | ||
| ClubFloyd | sweeps across the room. There is a weight on your mind that burns | ||
| ClubFloyd | with the ancient heat of enchanted iron. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your mental defenses stand firm under the onslaught. You feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | shaken, but free from the bindings of the oath. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid's fists are unclenched. She catches your eye and gives an | ||
| ClubFloyd | almost imperceptible shake of her head. She didn't resist the oath. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You give a small nod to let her know you passed, and her face | ||
| ClubFloyd | brightens. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | At least one of you made it through. You'll have to tell everyone | ||
| ClubFloyd | at Claus Castle. The last time you heard of someone beating an oath | ||
| ClubFloyd | rod, it was 1692 and Massachusetts was on fire with talk of | ||
| ClubFloyd | witchcraft. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd is murmuring, with a group of tentacled abominations in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the corner looking visibly upset and being detained by security. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Most likely spies from the Emerald Empress, you think. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Once they are removed, Fractured Quartz speaks. "There is a power | ||
| ClubFloyd | greater than that known to Fae. Not a new power or an ancient | ||
| ClubFloyd | power, but a power beyond time itself: the Nightmare King. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Few of you have seen him, but those of you who have witnessed his | ||
| ClubFloyd | power will never forget it." A group of old wood trolls in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | front row are nodding their heads. You notice that one of them is | ||
| ClubFloyd | missing the bottom half of his body. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz says, "Those who have felt the power of the King, | ||
| ClubFloyd | stand and speak your witness." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Various creatures begin standing up to tell of their stories of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | King. You look around at the crowd: many of the new-comers seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | genuinely excited. This meeting is having a real effect on these | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fae, the atmosphere of excitement, the oath, the pressure of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | group. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Scanning the crowd, you see a few hags in the back that look like | ||
| ClubFloyd | trouble. They look familiar; you recognize them as agents of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Spiders. They must have been sent to spy on the meeting, too. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | looks like they're about to start something, some kind of | ||
| ClubFloyd | disruption. You could help disorganize the meeting, or you could | ||
| ClubFloyd | keep the disrupters quiet while it's going on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Give the Christmas spirit of friendship to the agents. That'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | calm them down. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Offer a mechanical megaphone to the witnesses of the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams. I want to hear what they have to say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I use my knowledge of nearby speakers' culture to play them off | ||
| ClubFloyd | each other and add to the chaos. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I use illusion to make dissenting voices appear throughout the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Looks familiar, looks like trouble." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "We came to learn. If they disrupt, won't that be counterproductive to us?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I want to hear... right." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Both our cheer and tinkering are at 44 I believe, so that seems even chance of success." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess we can try." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Do you think something else?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not really. A or B, and both seem to have even chances of success." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I worry that A will out us." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That is another possibility." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You tap the nearest-standing volunteer on the shoulder and hand | ||
| ClubFloyd | them your megaphone. Grateful, they turn it on and begin to speak. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Spider's agents are more active now. They are trying to shut | ||
| ClubFloyd | down the speaker. They seem surprised when no sound comes out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | their throats. Your selective-sound reverse megaphone works! Only | ||
| ClubFloyd | the speaker is heard, and she passes it on to the next one. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz sees you and nods, pleased. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The speakers are all brief. They talk of the power of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: enemies' homes destroyed, great valleys formed, a | ||
| ClubFloyd | hole ripped open to the mortal world. The King himself, they say, | ||
| ClubFloyd | defies description. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As they all sit down, Fractured Quartz returns to the podium and | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, "You are not yet prepared to understand the King. You are not | ||
| ClubFloyd | ready to speak with the King. He has done things that you know not | ||
| ClubFloyd | of. He has bridged the gap between worlds, he has summoned | ||
| ClubFloyd | countless thousands to follow his will, he has plumbed the deepest | ||
| ClubFloyd | dungeons of our enemies." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Are they referring to the theft of Santa Claus's heart? You are | ||
| ClubFloyd | relieved that you resisted the oath earlier. Mrs. Claus will be | ||
| ClubFloyd | very interested in this information. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But today," says Fractured Quartz, "all who wish to may see the | ||
| ClubFloyd | King." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's a surprise. Candid leans forward, her face set in perfect | ||
| ClubFloyd | concentration. "Today, he will prove to you his power, our power," | ||
| ClubFloyd | says Fractured Quartz. "This day, before the sun sets, the Green | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mountain will be destroyed." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd is stunned. Fractured Quartz sits down, and gentle music | ||
| ClubFloyd | starts playing. A bog goblin comes to the podium and says, "Please | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember that refreshments are being served in the tent next door. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Thanks for coming, and please pick up any trash you've left on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | way out." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This meeting has given you a lot to think about, as you walk out | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Candid. It's made you re-evaluate yourself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I feel like my eyes have been opened. Maybe I should try to | ||
| ClubFloyd | learn more from the world around me instead of staying in a rut. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I feel my heart lightened. Those creatures weren't the vicious | ||
| ClubFloyd | enemies I had expected. I want to take a more positive outlook on | ||
| ClubFloyd | life. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) All of these new thoughts and feelings are disturbing. If I | ||
| ClubFloyd | don't find something to hold onto and believe in, I'll break. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I feel like I've been naive. The world is so different from what | ||
| ClubFloyd | I thought. I resolve to be more skeptical and outspoken. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Can we achieve 100% cheer with B, I wonder?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Not suggesting it yet." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I hate all these options, but c and d especially." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "A seems pragmatic." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I guess I'd be okay with B" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Where are you at?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A or B, really, I guess." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Of those, do you have a preference?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not really." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "May I then go with A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You resolve to be more open-minded in the future. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you walk into the tent, filled with creatures and piles | ||
| ClubFloyd | of food. Candid whispers, "I have to go. I'll explain later." You | ||
| ClubFloyd | look surprised, but she runs off, and you're left to your own | ||
| ClubFloyd | devices. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd is milling around. It's a perfect time to get more | ||
| ClubFloyd | information, but who do you talk to? You may be in disguise, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you should be able to find some kindred spirits. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A group of faeries dressed in spider silk, sipping dew from | ||
| ClubFloyd | acorn cups. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) A rowdy bunch of trolls fighting over a mountain of spiced ham. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A sour-faced old spirit glowering at every happy couple that | ||
| ClubFloyd | passes by. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Wow. More open-minded." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I guess I should have realized. Though, that's not a bad thing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Good thing, actually." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Curious if it already in our stats." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 17% / Open Minded: 83% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 91% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 43% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 72% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You resolve to be more open-minded in the future. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you walk into the tent, filled with creatures and piles | ||
| ClubFloyd | of food. Candid whispers, "I have to go. I'll explain later." You | ||
| ClubFloyd | look surprised, but she runs off, and you're left to your own | ||
| ClubFloyd | devices. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The crowd is milling around. It's a perfect time to get more | ||
| ClubFloyd | information, but who do you talk to? You may be in disguise, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you should be able to find some kindred spirits. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A group of faeries dressed in spider silk, sipping dew from | ||
| ClubFloyd | acorn cups. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) A rowdy bunch of trolls fighting over a mountain of spiced ham. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A sour-faced old spirit glowering at every happy couple that | ||
| ClubFloyd | passes by. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, I think that's a 10 point increase." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I think it's 4% since our last check, but yeah, it was immediate." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm, didn't check back. Yeah, 4%." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So no pure happiness for us either way." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I have no strong feelings about this choice." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "A?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carefully, you walk closer to the faeries and ask to partake. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Unfortunately, the faeries are offended, splashing your face with | ||
| ClubFloyd | their drinks. Apparently your manners were found wanting. You lick | ||
| ClubFloyd | off the residue and wipe your mouth on your sleeve. What didn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | they like? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Once you're done mingling, you grab more than a few cookies and eat | ||
| ClubFloyd | while waiting for Candid to show up. Almost no one is left in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tent by the time she finally arrives. You offer to pitch in with | ||
| ClubFloyd | the clean-up and end up snagging a bag of baklava to take home. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid comes up to you, visibly upset. "Come on," she says. "Let's | ||
| ClubFloyd | go. Now." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In just a few minutes, you make your way out of the gathering and | ||
| ClubFloyd | out into the wastes without trouble. Candid waits until you're well | ||
| ClubFloyd | past Green Mountain before she'll let you speak. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Candid, where were you? I was stuck with a terrible������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Club, Fractured Quartz used to be my partner." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What?!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've shifted back into a form that is somehow both furry and | ||
| ClubFloyd | mechanical. Candid absent-mindedly shifts out of her disguise and | ||
| ClubFloyd | into the form of a young British orphan boy from the Victorian era. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He must be greatly distressed; he hasn't done orphan-boy since he | ||
| ClubFloyd | found out the Heart was stolen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "They look the same, even though it's been centuries," he says. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Beautifully flawed crystal body, genderless, expressionless. | ||
| ClubFloyd | They������they feel the same. I followed them the whole time you were | ||
| ClubFloyd | eating refreshments, watching them talk to others. They're the same | ||
| ClubFloyd | person. The name is different, but names change. And personalities | ||
| ClubFloyd | change, too. Quartzie is so confident now������." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "You've always been confident. Maybe you influenced them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Quartzie? That demagogue doesn't seem like a Quartzie." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "It's a good thing you're not together anymore. You're too good | ||
| ClubFloyd | for a creature like that." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "You've changed a lot, too. Maybe you should think about that, | ||
| ClubFloyd | more." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh, and we got a boost with Quartz from our megaphone antics." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "Boost to... ?" | ||
| Roger says, "relation" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, relations." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "D?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A or D I'd say, sure." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You don't know the story, Club," he says. "And I don't like that | ||
| ClubFloyd | you would just jump to conclusions so quickly." He takes a few | ||
| ClubFloyd | seconds to calm down. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He says, "You might as well know how it all ended. I broke it off | ||
| ClubFloyd | with them. They were needy. I was controlling. It wasn't healthy." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He looks at you with a troubled soul. "Can I ask you something? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Please don't tell Mrs. Claus. I'm worried that she'll stop trusting | ||
| ClubFloyd | me if I'm connected to one of her enemies." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I tell him I won't let Mrs. Claus know. But I'm lying. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I won't tell Mrs. Claus. I trust Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm going to tell Mrs. Claus. My top priority is to her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'll help Candid out and not tell Mrs. Claus. People should be | ||
| ClubFloyd | able to think for themselves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I'd probably say that it'd be more damning if we don't tell and it is later found out." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "I agree. But do we tell him that now (C) and then see if he the little Victorian child tries to kick our ass?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not really sure what to choose here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Except, I wouldn't want to choose A." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Agree." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "C? Honesty?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "You sound so pleased. heh" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | He looks sad, but resigned. "It's okay, Club, I understand." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A thought pops into your mind. "Why would Fractured Quartz start a | ||
| ClubFloyd | religion?" you ask. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid thinks for a moment, and says, "They always used to talk | ||
| ClubFloyd | about going back to the old days, where mortals and Fae walked | ||
| ClubFloyd | together. I remember they spent a few hundred years planting faerie | ||
| ClubFloyd | rings, and another hundred trying to repair the Burning Rainbow | ||
| ClubFloyd | Bridge at Asgard. But the Council of Seven kept shutting down | ||
| ClubFloyd | Quartzie's efforts. That's why we broke up. They couldn't handle | ||
| ClubFloyd | that I worked for Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You want to talk about it more, but you don't have time | ||
| ClubFloyd | to say anything. The sky ripples like a mirage, high above Green | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mountain. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid says, "Look, something's happening! What are they going to | ||
| ClubFloyd | do?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The air ripples again, and suddenly the whole sky������tilts. It's the | ||
| ClubFloyd | only way to describe it. You feel like the ground is sideways, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you're not falling. The sun looks dimmer, and its light has a | ||
| ClubFloyd | distinct green cast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A finger of pure blackness stretches down from the sky. It grows in | ||
| ClubFloyd | size as it descends until it envelops Green Mountain. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Waves of emotion roll off of the darkness: anger, fear, despair. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The blast throws you to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And then it stops. The emotions fade away, as does the finger of | ||
| ClubFloyd | darkness, and the sky is in the right place again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But Green Mountain is gone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Yikes." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah. Yowza." | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Your journey home is somber. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You and Candid inform Mrs. Claus about Green Mountain when you | ||
| ClubFloyd | return. Candid has to sit for long minutes while you explain to | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus everything that happened with the Kingdom, and with the | ||
| ClubFloyd | oath rod. By yourself, you linger afterwards and inform Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | about Candid's relationship. Mrs. Claus takes everything in stride, | ||
| ClubFloyd | listening to everything but revealing nothing about her thoughts. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | At dinner, the Great Hall is abuzz with elves discussing the | ||
| ClubFloyd | destruction of Green Mountain. Morale is low, and you can see | ||
| ClubFloyd | pockets of elves clustered around members of the Kingdom of Dreams, | ||
| ClubFloyd | asking to be taught about this new being. You are too far away to | ||
| ClubFloyd | hear clearly, but you can pick out Mrs. Claus's name from time to | ||
| ClubFloyd | time, and it doesn't seem to be anything positive about her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you walk by the stables later, you see Candid (now in the form | ||
| ClubFloyd | of a surly female dwarf) scooping the reindeer dung just as she | ||
| ClubFloyd | promised. You give a somber nod and a wave as you pass on and | ||
| ClubFloyd | return to your room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you lie in bed, thinking, you wonder about Candid. Could you | ||
| ClubFloyd | ever see the two of you together? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) If she got over Fractured Quartz, then yes, of course. If she | ||
| ClubFloyd | seemed interested. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Candid is just not my type. She's too bubbly and excitable. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | like a more mature relationship. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm not sure yet. I need to get to know her better. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I would argue that Nightmare King is a fitting moniker." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "WHOA WAIT, now we're wondering about being with Candid?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Where'd THAT come from?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Where's the "This is not really the time to think about relationships'" option?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Indeed." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No time for love, Dr. Jones." | ||
| Jacqueline | [LINK] | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Let's just quit and never finish." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I kinda want to hope that C is close enough to not comitting, but part of me is afraid that we then go off and try to know Candid better." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I hate everything." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Every. Thing." | ||
| Roger asks, "what option would you want?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "D" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "As per above, D) This isn't the time." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yes." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "I guess B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu shrugs. | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "I'm gonna say B. Objections?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not really." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's nothing against Candid, personally. It's just that some types | ||
| ClubFloyd | of people work better together than others. You fall asleep, | ||
| ClubFloyd | dreaming of eyes filled with wisdom. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline asks, "Is this the end of the chapter, I wonder?" | |
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Four Bad Toy] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Weeks have passed since you visited the tent meeting, and even more | ||
| ClubFloyd | since the Heart was stolen, but you still think about what | ||
| ClubFloyd | happened������to you, to Mrs. Claus, to Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus is outwardly as strong as ever, but you know that her | ||
| ClubFloyd | greater magical feats require an enormous amount of power. And she | ||
| ClubFloyd | no longer has a way of replenishing that power. She's weak, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | whoever has the Heart knows that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've changed more in the last year than you had in the millennium | ||
| ClubFloyd | before that. You're closer to Mrs. Claus than you've ever been. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've developed a fluid and changing form. Who knows what the rest | ||
| ClubFloyd | of this year holds for you? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "YUUP" | |
| Jacqueline says, "And we're at 2hrs." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Can I see some hands held up high with spirit fingers, please? Thank you." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I say we call it there and lock the clubhouse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, ""Hey Candid, you know the Green Mountain is gone, Christmas is in danger, you saw your old significant other, and I thought, hey, that's a good time to ask if you want to go out with me."" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "ha" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Not at all awkward!" | ||
| ##### Session 3 | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus seems to be enjoying spending time with you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Just last week, she asked you to attend the Naiad Festival as her | ||
| ClubFloyd | plus one. It wasn't romantic, of course. She's your boss, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | nothing could happen between the two of you������right? But she | ||
| ClubFloyd | certainly enjoyed having you there. As for you: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I spent the night by her side, watching the way her eyes sparkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | when she laughs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I took advantage of the invitation to enjoy the buffet. I didn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | see Claus until the end. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I joined in the Naiad dance, then found Claus alone at a | ||
| ClubFloyd | balcony. We ended up talking for hours. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I felt uncomfortable most of the night. I worried what the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Naiads thought of me, let alone the other elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "As for this game, I now worry about the consequences of every choice now." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Like, if I enjoy the buffet do I up my gluttony stat (I know it's called something else, but...)" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "This might be a skill shift... right." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah" | ||
| DavidW says, "yes, I'm sure the buffet is a skill shift." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like C, sorta." | ||
| DavidW says, "I rather enjoy buffets at parties myself." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Same" | ||
| DavidW says, "C is also good. B or C." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "We don't yet have an abbreviation to talk to cf, right?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And if I had a live billboard of my stats in real life, I'd probably enjoy buffets less." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "it's still just F" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Anyway, C sounds fine." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Just like in the Toyshop" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Ah. Thanks." | ||
| DavidW asks, "F or > ?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "It's probably best if someone else drives - work may still reach out to me." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "f c" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "f c is the command" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Shall I?" | ||
| DavidW says (to Knight), "please do" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And when you get to a place where it's needed, you still just do PRESS ENTER to press enter." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Please" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Neither of you meant to ignore the crowd, but the sights of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Naiad capital were astounding, and Claus had so many interesting | ||
| ClubFloyd | stories to tell of their creation. You shared personal details from | ||
| ClubFloyd | a time you spent here as an ambassador, years ago. The sky was | ||
| ClubFloyd | clear, the ocean waves sent a cool mist into the air, and your | ||
| ClubFloyd | minds felt united like one. But then, something dimmed Claus's | ||
| ClubFloyd | eyes, a gray memory, perhaps, and she excused herself to go back | ||
| ClubFloyd | inside. It was fun while it lasted, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --With Christmas only half a year away, you've been making | ||
| ClubFloyd | more frequent checkups on your assigned children. As Second | ||
| ClubFloyd | List-Checker, your assignments are less onerous than other elves', | ||
| ClubFloyd | but you refuse to distance yourself entirely from the business. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've employed various clairvoyant means in the past: pools of | ||
| ClubFloyd | seeing, crystal balls, closed-circuit television. But this year, | ||
| ClubFloyd | after everything that's happened, you feel the need to return to | ||
| ClubFloyd | your roots. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll keep Katya as one of your assigned children. You have some | ||
| ClubFloyd | background there, after all. But you need to add someone else. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's where Carl Alan comes in. A six-year-old boy in California, | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan is a quiet child whose parents are slightly distant from | ||
| ClubFloyd | and a bit disturbed by their child. Early reports suggest that he | ||
| ClubFloyd | may have latent bleeder abilities. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Why did you choose to monitor Carl Alan personally? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) He could be a threat with his bleeder capabilities. I need to | ||
| ClubFloyd | keep an eye on him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I took him on as a favor to the other elves. He seems like he | ||
| ClubFloyd | could be difficult. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) He seems interesting from a professional standpoint. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I have a feeling there's something special about this kid. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | like him already. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "D, I think" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm. Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I totally read that as 'latent bladder abilities' ..." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "D is fine" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan is certainly one of a kind. So that brings you here, | ||
| ClubFloyd | southern California, on one of the hottest days of the year. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | house is a pleasing mix of old and new, with alpine-style siding | ||
| ClubFloyd | and a dormer window. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This visit won't be like your trap-laden trip to Katya's house. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan isn't out to get you, and your only task is to find out | ||
| ClubFloyd | more about him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The house is unlocked, and you enter like a whisper of wind. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | can hear Carl Alan's mother in the kitchen rearranging chairs, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan is upstairs whistling an old tune. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | How are you going to learn more about Carl Alan? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll cover myself with an illusion and sneak a look around the | ||
| ClubFloyd | kitchen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can feel a subtle presence in the master bedroom. Might be a | ||
| ClubFloyd | spirit I know. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'll shift into a fly and spy on Carl Alan. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I conjure up memories of Christmases past in the family room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "C is our specialty." | |
| DavidW says, "I guess C is okay, but I don't think of flies as invisible presences at all." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We'll be a happy annoyance." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Maybe we'll get hit with a fly swatter" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But I'm good with whatever." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Maybe we will." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You focus on thoughts of decay and smallness, feeling yourself | ||
| ClubFloyd | shrinking, shrinking, shrinking. Then you lift your wings and take | ||
| ClubFloyd | off. You've successfully become a house-fly! With a buzz you flit | ||
| ClubFloyd | up the stairwell and over to Carl Alan's room. On the way, you hit | ||
| ClubFloyd | what you think is an updraft, and have to adjust. But the feeling | ||
| ClubFloyd | persists, and you realize that the geometry in this part of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | house is just sort of������off. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shaking it off, you fly up to Carl Alan's room when Carl Alan | ||
| ClubFloyd | himself comes out. It looks like he's on his way out. He grabs his | ||
| ClubFloyd | hat and marches down the stairs. At least his room is still open. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When the coast is clear, you make your way into Carl Alan's | ||
| ClubFloyd | bedroom. You take note of the toys, as usual, to get ideas for | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas gifts. Of course Carl Alan or his parents can submit | ||
| ClubFloyd | their own list, but many fail to do so, for one reason or another. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It seems like a fairly normal collection of toys. Rainbow horses, | ||
| ClubFloyd | collectible squishy trash beings. Carl Alan seems sheltered, being | ||
| ClubFloyd | an only child in a rich family. Maybe you can broaden his mind a | ||
| ClubFloyd | little. You'll have the chance to pick more gifts for him once you | ||
| ClubFloyd | get to know him better. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I could skirt the rules and give him a ring that allows | ||
| ClubFloyd | communication with birds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) He seems clever. Maybe a book full of magic tricks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'll gift him a build-your-own crystal radio kit. His parents | ||
| ClubFloyd | can help him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'll go for classic elf gifts: cloth, needle, and thread for | ||
| ClubFloyd | clothing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| Jacqueline says, "B or C" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Those sound fine." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm slightly leaning towards B more than C, but whichever." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's go with B then." | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't feel I know Carl all that well yet." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You pull out your notebook and write down "book of magic tricks" | ||
| ClubFloyd | next to Carl Alan's name. The Christmas Spirit in the world grows | ||
| ClubFloyd | noticeably stronger. A twinge of nausea hits you as you write. When | ||
| ClubFloyd | you fold up the notebook and put it away, another twinge hits you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Where's it coming from? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Scanning the room, you narrow down the possible sources of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | nausea to a new-looking tin in the corner. Looks like a card game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You read the title on the lid out loud: "Slaughterstone X." A | ||
| ClubFloyd | little more gruesome than you'd expect from Carl Alan, but not too | ||
| ClubFloyd | unusual for a young child. But you, an elf, feel like you're going | ||
| ClubFloyd | to be sick, and that means trouble. There must be an emotional | ||
| ClubFloyd | bleed attached to it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's hard even to approach or look at it. You'll need to find some | ||
| ClubFloyd | aspect of it that grabs your attention to overcome the bleed | ||
| ClubFloyd | emanating from it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I focus on the elegant design of the tin. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) The scowling monsters on the side suit your mood, and are | ||
| ClubFloyd | interesting in a macabre way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm always interested in learning about new games. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) It kind of looks like a cookie tin. I could just pretend it's | ||
| ClubFloyd | that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "It's true." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "I think C would do the trick with our openmindedness?" | ||
| DavidW says, "yes, I like C here." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm curious about game mechanics." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your interest is piqued by the text on the tin. You move closer, | ||
| ClubFloyd | fighting through the pain. "A Savagely Mythological New Card Game," | ||
| ClubFloyd | it says. "Contains at Least 1 Foil-Backed Titan. 1 in 5 Contains | ||
| ClubFloyd | Enraged Cerberus." Why the Greek theme? You've reached the tin, | ||
| ClubFloyd | now. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Opening the tin with one finger, you see the rules pamphlet and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fetch it out. At least this doesn't seem to be enchanted. The game | ||
| ClubFloyd | is simple, but you are surprised to see that the strongest attacks | ||
| ClubFloyd | are powered by ripping weaker cards in half. How much does this | ||
| ClubFloyd | game cost? You notice the tin is less than half full, and a few | ||
| ClubFloyd | ripped pieces of cards are scattered around it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The cards themselves reek with a familiar stench. You touch one | ||
| ClubFloyd | gingerly and your finger goes numb. It's clear: these cards are | ||
| ClubFloyd | made with sorrowstalk pulp. Like all of that breed, they are | ||
| ClubFloyd | literally draining the Fae world around them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | These are very dangerous, more to the Fae than humans. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm not used to this kind of magic. These need to be destroyed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | What kind of kid has stuff like this? | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) He seems like a nice boy. He shouldn't be around strange new | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic like this. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) The scheme behind these cards is intriguing. A kid like Carl | ||
| ClubFloyd | Alan is a sucker for buying into it, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I like this kid. Why does he have a magical card game? I have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | learn more. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu exclaims, "Ripping up the cards?!" | |
| DavidW says, "That is a mechanic in some games, yes." | ||
| DavidW says, "Magic The Gathering has a few cards like that. There's also a version of Risk where you put stickers permanently on things for permanent effects. Risk Legacy, I think it's called." | ||
| DavidW says, "So one game session influences future ones." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Makes your choices seem to have more weight, y'know?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Magic quickly abandoned that though - turns out the mechanic wasn't particularly popular." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, the ripping up thing." | ||
| DavidW says, "Few people like destroying their own property on purpose. People are collectors and want to preserve forever." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure what to choose here." | ||
| DavidW says, "This particular variant seems particularly troublesome, since it has effects beyond the game itself." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "D, perhaps?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Maybe D, sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn over the tin, avoiding the cards, and check the bottom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the tin. It says "Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is big������really big. Another connection to Krinkle Corp, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | same company that manufactured the Mr. Grumpyhead doll left at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Santa's tomb. It's time to dig deeper. You'll need to return home. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fifteen minutes later, you've made it back to your office through | ||
| ClubFloyd | the faerie ring, sent a report to Mrs. Claus, and begun your | ||
| ClubFloyd | investigations. With Krinkle Corp being incorporated in the mortal | ||
| ClubFloyd | world, it makes sense to use the tools of that world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk to the back of your office and pull off the dust cover | ||
| ClubFloyd | from the secondary desk. Your old Apple II computer is still here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you check the aethernet cable and the GUI runes, it seems like | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything's updated and in top shape. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You boot it up and search for Krinkle Corp. Dozens of results come | ||
| ClubFloyd | up. It might be best to tackle something in your area of expertise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I look at their patents to find a pattern in their technology. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I search their board of directors for familiar names. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) My tricks aren't restricted to the physical realm. I sneak | ||
| ClubFloyd | through their firewall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I look up old holiday ads. I have an eye for all things | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas, after all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "It feels like Carl and other kids that have this game are being used as pawns against the Fae." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "That could be the case." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Any objections to checking our stats for this one?" | ||
| DavidW says, "No." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 20% / Open Minded: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 43% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 72% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "So, if we choose D for Christmas ads, the game would likely roll against our Cheer stat, I suppose?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm guessing our options use, in order, Tinkering, Connections, Trickery, and Cheer." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Probably, yes." | ||
| DavidW says, "We're not strong in any of those, but I like D regardless." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We may make any of those work except B. D sounds fine." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn over the tin, avoiding the cards, and check the bottom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the tin. It says "Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is big������really big. Another connection to Krinkle Corp, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | same company that manufactured the Mr. Grumpyhead doll left at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Santa's tomb. It's time to dig deeper. You'll need to return home. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fifteen minutes later, you've made it back to your office through | ||
| ClubFloyd | the faerie ring, sent a report to Mrs. Claus, and begun your | ||
| ClubFloyd | investigations. With Krinkle Corp being incorporated in the mortal | ||
| ClubFloyd | world, it makes sense to use the tools of that world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk to the back of your office and pull off the dust cover | ||
| ClubFloyd | from the secondary desk. Your old Apple II computer is still here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you check the aethernet cable and the GUI runes, it seems like | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything's updated and in top shape. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You boot it up and search for Krinkle Corp. Dozens of results come | ||
| ClubFloyd | up. It might be best to tackle something in your area of expertise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I look at their patents to find a pattern in their technology. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I search their board of directors for familiar names. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) My tricks aren't restricted to the physical realm. I sneak | ||
| ClubFloyd | through their firewall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I look up old holiday ads. I have an eye for all things | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas, after all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Hopefully we get a second chance if the first chance fails." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I kind of doubt it, but we'll see." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You spend hours poring over low-resolution screenshots of old | ||
| ClubFloyd | websites, far too compressed to make out any details. Your mind | ||
| ClubFloyd | wanders, and you end up on a fruitless chain of Wikipedia searches | ||
| ClubFloyd | until you realize that you've been studying Sardinian casu marzu. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's it: you give up for the night. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The next day, you pull a couple of the younger elves from the toy | ||
| ClubFloyd | lines to help you search for the information. The line boss is | ||
| ClubFloyd | unhappy, and the other elves are grumbling, but you need help. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | find out later that they missed the quota for the day. Ah, well, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you can't please everyone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Can't always win with a 44%." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You've gathered enough information to know that Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp is taking a larger share of the market than anyone expected. A | ||
| ClubFloyd | visit to the Corporate Intelligence department might be in order. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You vaguely remember those elves as being tasked with monitoring | ||
| ClubFloyd | the world toy market. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Four flights of stairs and a quarter mile of hallway later, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | reach the department offices. Or what used to be the corporate | ||
| ClubFloyd | offices. The lights are off and the desks are empty and dusty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's right, you had to slash their budget a year or two ago. They | ||
| ClubFloyd | didn't seem that important at the time. You sigh and feel a bit | ||
| ClubFloyd | deflated. You'll have to talk to Copper Crank. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She's an odd one, that's for sure. Some people hate her, a few love | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. You can picture her in your head right now: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Copper Crank, the mechanical genius. I'm excited to see her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Copper Crank, the selfish hermit. I'm not looking forward to | ||
| ClubFloyd | this at all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Copper Crank, the eccentric ancient. This should be fun. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Copper Crank, the patron saint of junkyards. This could get | ||
| ClubFloyd | messy, unfortunately. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "I wonder why less pleasant options are offered." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure what any of these options would do for us." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "They might be flavor options, they might align with our split stats somehow..." | ||
| DavidW says, "I think I'm leaning towards D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, we can do that." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It might take you some time to find Copper Crank. She's an | ||
| ClubFloyd | incorrigible nomad, but she spends most of her time in the mortal | ||
| ClubFloyd | world������more scrap there. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to figure out where she is. Looks like more world wide | ||
| ClubFloyd | web-work. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I shift into pure data and upload myself to a satellite. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I search my elf friends' social media for recent photos of her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Copper Crank is a loner, but she's still a Christmas elf. I'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank junkyards by festiveness and size to guess her location. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Now those are options." | |
| DavidW says, "I'm tempted by A. It's been several years since I was pure data in a satellite. Happened in an RPG once." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A would align with our shifting skill. C seems like" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Oops." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Anyway, I like A too, followed by C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You concentrate, focusing on an infinite sequence of ones and | ||
| ClubFloyd | zeros. Your form bending, rending, and reshaping itself into | ||
| ClubFloyd | digital form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's easy, then, to throw yourself into the internet and begin | ||
| ClubFloyd | swimming upstream. Jumping from source to site to folder, you find | ||
| ClubFloyd | a transmitter. Slipping in, you beam yourself out in wave form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | After a short jaunt, you enter into the satellite's processor and | ||
| ClubFloyd | hold on for a minute, allowing countless waves to lap up against | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. You focus on the concept of junkyards and look for prime | ||
| ClubFloyd | locations. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That one looks right! With a bounce you reflect yourself off the | ||
| ClubFloyd | satellite's dish and back to the computer in your office. Seeing | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything from that perspective was really inspiring. You jot down | ||
| ClubFloyd | some notes for this year's Christmas deliveries. It's going to be a | ||
| ClubFloyd | great year! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Now that you have her location narrowed down, it's easy to look up | ||
| ClubFloyd | a faerie ring nearby. You head for the back gardens of Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "ring ring ring ring ring banana phone" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "This year, our presents will tumble right out of our screens." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Candid passes you in the hallways as you walk by on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | way to the faerie ring. Today she's in a good mood, taking the form | ||
| ClubFloyd | of an ice fairy and tracing intricate icework on the walls with her | ||
| ClubFloyd | feet. She smiles and gives you a wave. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The faerie circle takes you to a ring of mushrooms in the shadow of | ||
| ClubFloyd | a crumbling freeway overpass. Mounds of junk stretch ahead of you | ||
| ClubFloyd | and abandoned manufacturing equipment rises behind you. The setting | ||
| ClubFloyd | sun gives everything an orange tinge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You have the unsettling feeling of being watched. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I run at full speed into the stacks, searching for Copper Crank. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I go at a moderate pace, stopping to look every few minutes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I stay where I am and call out to Copper Crank, keeping my back | ||
| ClubFloyd | to a pile of junk. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "As long as they don't fall apart into pixel dust." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "(I almost typed "Next year.")" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "So how paranoid are we of toy snipers?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't know. I wasn't expecting this sort of trouble." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "(I'm getting the impression that Crank may be behind Krinkle Corp.)" | ||
| DavidW says, "oh, that could be unpleasant." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "(Or at least a member.)" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It could be, yes." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm leaning towards B now." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Any option has its downsides, but B works." | ||
| DavidW says, "If we get captured and put in a birdcage, Batman can rescue us." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, unless it's an anti-elf cage, we could shift out of it ourselves." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's an easy pattern. Running to a new stack then looking back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Most times you see nothing. Sometimes you see a car: a gray sedan, | ||
| ClubFloyd | a green van. No one looks your way. At least, not that you notice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It takes you about half an hour before you find Copper Crank. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank is a mound of rags hunched over a small workbench | ||
| ClubFloyd | bolted to a crumbling piece of concrete slab. The mound turns to | ||
| ClubFloyd | reveal her body: a tiny old elf enveloped by pouches, bags, robes, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and spare clothing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Copper Crank!" you say. "Long time no see." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She turns back to work on her bench. She doesn't seem interested in | ||
| ClubFloyd | talking much. More cars pass by in the distance. The seconds tick | ||
| ClubFloyd | by, but Copper Crank is still ignoring you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | How will you get her attention? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll cheer her up with a funny joke. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I have a long memory when it comes to my friends. I bring up a | ||
| ClubFloyd | shared experience from the past. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I give my natural curiosity free rein and express interest in | ||
| ClubFloyd | what she's doing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) To the coal chute with manners! I'll get her attention the | ||
| ClubFloyd | old-fashioned way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "C?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Maybe." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not optimistic about our chances with any of the options." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sidle on over to her side. "So, Copper Crank," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Whatcha working on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She looks over with a grin. "Always a curious one, aren't you Club? | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's a wool-combing machine." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look around. "Do you have any wool?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Not yet," she says. "But I might one day." She turns to you, ready | ||
| ClubFloyd | to talk business. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, Copper Crank, it's nice to see you again," you say as you | ||
| ClubFloyd | shake her hand. She nods at a dirty old stool, and you grab and set | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself down on it. The sun is dipping below the horizon now, | ||
| ClubFloyd | lengthening the shadows. Now that she isn't focusing on her work, | ||
| ClubFloyd | she seems more open to chatting. You say, "I had a few questions | ||
| ClubFloyd | for you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Have you noticed anything unusual going on in the toy world | ||
| ClubFloyd | recently?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What do you know about Krinkle Corp?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "What are you working on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Have you seen anyone else wandering around here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | E) I'm done making small talk. "Would you mind taking a look at | ||
| ClubFloyd | this toy I found?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "We... might get all of the options perhaps?" | |
| DavidW says, "hm. Maybe." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not sure I believe that though.." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Maybe we start with B?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I'd prefer to start with A, try to see if she mentions Krinkle first." | ||
| DavidW says, "Or she might have another concern altogether." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Also a possibility. Hm." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Unusual?" asks Copper Crank. "Define unusual." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Have you seen any new players showing up? Companies gobbling up | ||
| ClubFloyd | market share?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Have you noticed any products with a connection to the Fae | ||
| ClubFloyd | world?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Have you noticed a movement away from Christmas imagery?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Have you seen any new, aggressive sales strategies?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "tip our hand slightly with B, I guess." | |
| Knight_Otu says, ""Yes, I notice movement away from christmas imagery, after every christmas."" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper nods vigorously. "Bleeders are everywhere these days, it | ||
| ClubFloyd | seems," she says. "I have to be more careful than ever in these | ||
| ClubFloyd | junk piles. Never know when I'll step on a spike of aggression or | ||
| ClubFloyd | fall in a puddle of sorrow. It's too much, it's much too much." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What do you know about Krinkle Corp?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What are you working on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Have you seen anyone else wandering around here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm done making small talk. "Would you mind taking a look at | ||
| ClubFloyd | this toy I found?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "hm. okay, A for Krinkle next, I think." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "That's like asking what I know about the Rocky Mountains. Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp is huge. What do you want to know?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "How long have they been around?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What's their holiday lineup like?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Have you noticed them using bleeder technology?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "What's your impression of them?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "C or D I think." | |
| DavidW says, "hm. C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Ha!" she says, "as if that would be unusual. Most toys have some | ||
| ClubFloyd | bleeder in them these days," she says. "Companies don't realize | ||
| ClubFloyd | what goes on in their hiring process. Manager hires a nice young | ||
| ClubFloyd | human, says their gut told 'em the new one's a good fit, when | ||
| ClubFloyd | they're just a bleeder. Unconscious manipulation and all that. So | ||
| ClubFloyd | they get out in the production line or the design office and there | ||
| ClubFloyd | you go." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Although," she adds, "Krinkle Corp does seem to have more than | ||
| ClubFloyd | their fair share. Perhaps even some that are aware of their | ||
| ClubFloyd | ability." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What are you working on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Have you seen anyone else wandering around here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm done making small talk. "Would you mind taking a look at | ||
| ClubFloyd | this toy I found?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "hmph. That was inconclusive, surprisingly." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "We should know A. Do we go straight for the toy now, or B?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm tempted to just run the board here and continue with A "What are you working on?". Do ALL the small talk." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It should still be the wool-combing machine, and she may get annoyed at the repeat question." | ||
| DavidW says, "fine. Feel free to skip that and go to B." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Unless you strongly want A?" | ||
| DavidW says, "No, I think you might be right and it's just the wool-combing." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Oh, I see plenty of creatures around these parts. Rodents, birds, | ||
| ClubFloyd | trash goblins, humans looking for scrap metal. What are you | ||
| ClubFloyd | thinking of?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I feel like I'm being followed." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Do you think anyone's monitoring the area?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Has anyone come looking for you specifically?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Have you seen anyone from Krinkle Corp here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "A." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm. Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Yeah, I get that feeling too, recently." She looks around. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Surveillance, you know. Getting more specialized, more powerful. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Probably multiple agencies monitoring us right now," she says, | ||
| ClubFloyd | nodding. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What are you working on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm done making small talk. "Would you mind taking a look at | ||
| ClubFloyd | this toy I found?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I guess it's time for the toy." | |
| DavidW says, "Yup." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank grabs the tin gingerly with her gloved hands and | ||
| ClubFloyd | carries it over to the workbench. "Mind if I talk out loud?" she | ||
| ClubFloyd | asks. You shake your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | An hour later, after sunset, her cryptic mutterings are wearing on | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. More cars pass on the road in the distance. Have you seen that | ||
| ClubFloyd | green van before? Everything blends together here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank continues to examine the toy, turning it this way and | ||
| ClubFloyd | that and running her gloved fingers over it. This is taking her | ||
| ClubFloyd | quite a bit longer than you thought it would. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Hope it doesn't kill her." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You tap your foot impatiently, knocking a few trinkets | ||
| ClubFloyd | loose. When you stop tapping, junk keeps falling from the pile next | ||
| ClubFloyd | to you. The entire mound shifts. Copper Crank pays no notice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mound shifts again, and two figures emerge, shaking off old tin | ||
| ClubFloyd | cans and busted TV monitors. They shuffle into the light, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | see that they are child-sized crab-like robots. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Excuse me," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She ignores you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Excuse me!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She answers without looking. "Those are old creations. Rough drafts | ||
| ClubFloyd | for mechanical soldiers. Pay them no mind. They should be no | ||
| ClubFloyd | problem for an honored servant of Mrs. Claus, Club." She chuckles. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The creatures have been steadily advancing. Now they split up, | ||
| ClubFloyd | trying to surround you. You'll have to find a way to deal with them | ||
| ClubFloyd | without Crank's help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I can see their clockwork on the outside. I might be able to | ||
| ClubFloyd | reprogram one of them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I appeal to Copper Crank's sense of Christmas goodness to turn | ||
| ClubFloyd | off the bots. A little Yule miracle can't hurt. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I disappear, camouflaging myself among the junk. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Uh oh." | |
| DavidW asks, "If we do C, do we save ourselves and they attack CC instead?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd suspect no. They appear to be her creations." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "At least that's my reading" | ||
| DavidW says, "I can't tell if CC is attacking us using her soldiers or if X is attacking us using re-programmed soldiers." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm. That is a possibility." | ||
| DavidW says, "I want to do A, but I think because of stats, A would fail. But I worry what a successful C would be like." | ||
| DavidW says, "And I have no hope that B would work." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I believe the options map to our 44% skills. Chance of success would be the same I suspect." | ||
| DavidW says, "Well, try A, then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Though who knows whether modifiers are in play." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With a roll you dart forward and maneuver around the side of one of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the clockwork creatures. Ah, there's the mainspring! You throw a | ||
| ClubFloyd | rock at the exact right spot. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It hits the switch with a glancing blow. The clockwork creature you | ||
| ClubFloyd | hit wobbles to and fro before being smashed to bits by the other. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The surviving creature leaps at you with a loud "sproing." "This is | ||
| ClubFloyd | it!" you think, and you duck and cover your head, but the blow | ||
| ClubFloyd | never lands. You peek up and see Copper Crank with her hand in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | creature's back, switching it off. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure if that's a success or a failure." | |
| DavidW says, "Seems a success so far." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, that wasn't a reprogramming." | ||
| DavidW says, "We haven't examined their insides yet." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But it was use of mechanical knowledge." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --There's a squeal of rubber and the green van you saw | ||
| ClubFloyd | earlier shoots out from behind a mound of junk. This close, you can | ||
| ClubFloyd | see that it's been heavily modified, like an armored vehicle. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | go to pursue it, but gunfire from the rear window drives you back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Another gunman leans out of the side window and takes aim at Copper | ||
| ClubFloyd | Crank. She runs for cover toward a pile of junk, but she might not | ||
| ClubFloyd | make it in time. You'll have to pick between pursuing the van and | ||
| ClubFloyd | protecting Copper Crank. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I shift into a werehound and chase the car away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I deploy my inflatable iron shield to protect Copper Crank. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm a master of illusion. I tackle Copper Crank and make us both | ||
| ClubFloyd | vanish. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I use Christmas magic to transform the van's wheels into | ||
| ClubFloyd | chocolate chip cookies. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "WHAT GREEN VAN" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "It's been mentioned at least once." | ||
| DavidW says, "I prefer protecting CC over pursuit." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "B or C?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "I guess I prefer C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You run as fast as you can towards Copper Crank and jump, pulling | ||
| ClubFloyd | her sack over as you both roll to the ground. To aid your escape, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you fling a handful of flash powder on the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your hand slips, and the flash goes off before your eyes. You and | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank tumble around in panic, bullets whizzing by your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your vision returns, only for you to find yourself perched on top | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Copper Crank, an easy target. The two of you scramble around, | ||
| ClubFloyd | diving and jumping as you go. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No, you're doing it wrong!" shouts Copper Crank. "Let me give it a | ||
| ClubFloyd | shot!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She reaches into a side pocket and pulls out a big blob of | ||
| ClubFloyd | ochre-colored slime. "Watch out," she says to you before hurling | ||
| ClubFloyd | it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It lands in a pile of rusty rebar and concrete chunks before | ||
| ClubFloyd | exploding. You duck down as metal spears and concrete chunks whiz | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the air, almost impaling the gunman in the side window of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the car. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The van squeals away and leaves you both behind. Copper Crank wipes | ||
| ClubFloyd | the sweat off her brow. "Thanks for the thought, though." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "This is just madness. We'll gain no new info at all in this chapter, will we?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "We'll see." | ||
| DavidW says, "So our protection attempt failed *and* the van got away. This all sucks." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But at least Crank is okay." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Not thanks to us, but okay." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah. Maybe she'll at least have one last tidbit for us before we head off to the next crisis." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You both take a moment to catch your breath. "Seems like | ||
| ClubFloyd | we've stepped into something big," you say. "They really didn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | want you looking into that toy of theirs. I'd be careful if I were | ||
| ClubFloyd | you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She spits and wipes her mouth. "You should go back, tell Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. This is ugly business. I'll show you a back route, keep you | ||
| ClubFloyd | out of their sight." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What are you going to do?" you ask. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Move on," she says. "Maybe return to the Fae realm. Although I | ||
| ClubFloyd | don't know if it'll be safe there, either. Trouble's brewing, Club, | ||
| ClubFloyd | brewing and brewing. Krinkle Corp is hiding something, something | ||
| ClubFloyd | big. They can't follow every one of their toys, so they must be | ||
| ClubFloyd | watching me, trying to keep their toys' secrets hidden at any cost. | ||
| ClubFloyd | And I don't want any part of that." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You nod, and walk carefully down the path she shows you, returning | ||
| ClubFloyd | to Claus Castle in the dead of night. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Chapter end?" | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Five Flames Rising] | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is not the way you intended things to be. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Two weeks ago, you invited Flickering Flame to a diplomatic | ||
| ClubFloyd | conference. His open discussion of war against Claus could not go | ||
| ClubFloyd | unchecked anymore. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You did your best to make the invitation exciting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I relied on my long, personal history with Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I warned of the consequences of unfettered warmongering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I hinted at the benefits of collaboration over conflict. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "yeah. We learned NOTHING." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Drat." | ||
| DavidW says, "So annoyed." | ||
| ##### Session 4 | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 20% / Open Minded: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 43% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 81% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Last week's chapter was dismal. We researched a potential info source and basically flubbed the entire encounter." | |
| says, "The waywe've done this the previous weeks is that we have a driver who gives the commands to Floyd after a few people have given their vote." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess I'll be the driver this week again." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Thanks, KO" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Chapter Five Flames Rising] | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is not the way you intended things to be. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Two weeks ago, you invited Flickering Flame to a diplomatic | ||
| ClubFloyd | conference. His open discussion of war against Claus could not go | ||
| ClubFloyd | unchecked anymore. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You did your best to make the invitation exciting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I relied on my long, personal history with Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I warned of the consequences of unfettered warmongering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I hinted at the benefits of collaboration over conflict. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Less and less do I think C is going to work, but I want it to" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "So we're at the start of chapter 5, which presumably deals with one of the threats to Christmas - Flickering Flame (probably better known as Loki among us non-elves), who is raising an army." | ||
| DavidW says, "I mistrust my choices in this. I feel all my IF expertise is worthless in a choice setting." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "I don't think that's true, but I can appreciate that that's how you feel." | ||
| DavidW says, "regardless, I would pick A here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Also, our skills matter - some choices work if we are a grump, some if our shifting is good, and the like. Of course, we rarely if ever get each skill represented." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We do have a long history with Flame. It's not a positive one, but it is one." | ||
| DavidW says, "Try not to mention the centuries when he was a tree." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks (of Durafen), "Do you have a preference here?" | ||
| DavidW says, "(if he really is Loki, after all, he was one)" | ||
| Durafen says, "A looks good, still trying to get the feel of it" | Knight_Otu says, "I think the time bound beneath a venomous snake might be a sorer spot." | |
| Durafen says, "A looks good, still trying to get the feel of it" | ||
| DavidW says (to Knight), "true, if that has happened yet." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Got it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess it should have happened, but who knows." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | And what a long history it is! Flame joined Claus when Asgard fell, | ||
| ClubFloyd | back when he was known as Loki. The two of you were fast friends, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and worked together for years, you balancing his hot-headedness | ||
| ClubFloyd | with your freewheeling nature. You begged him to meet with Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You tried, you really did, but Flickering Flame refused to meet | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Claus. Instead, he asked for you personally to come alone. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | tried to come with a large team, but Mrs. Claus was concerned about | ||
| ClubFloyd | traitors. You tried to come by land, but the location was uncertain | ||
| ClubFloyd | and scouting could take too long. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She sent you to Donner for transportation. You still remember his | ||
| ClubFloyd | frustration with you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Flickering Flame! A fool and a devil, and no one sees it," he | ||
| ClubFloyd | said. His vocabulary is improving, you thought. It took a few | ||
| ClubFloyd | hundred years for him to speak at all, after the initial | ||
| ClubFloyd | transformation. A shame he's been using it to be even more | ||
| ClubFloyd | stubborn. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You responded: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Flame was a friend. Perhaps he can be reasoned with." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I don't like him either, Donner, but we can't ignore him." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I'd prefer him to you. At least he was fun to be with!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "A. Like, I want to hope for the best until we're pushed into a pit of lava." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "A or B I think." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like A as well" | ||
| DavidW says, "With my luck, Flame will be mind-controlled by someone else and our prior relationship won't mean anything." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Mrs Claus went through a few names. I wonder if Zeus/Donner was also Thor." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "wow. Dark." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner made a series of strange barking noises which you figured | ||
| ClubFloyd | were laughter. It lasted for an uncomfortably long period of time. | ||
| ClubFloyd | When he calmed himself, he said, "Fine, take a reindeer. If you can | ||
| ClubFloyd | find one as foolish as yourself!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That brings you to today. You're being sent with Dancer the | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer. Dancer is carrying you on your journey to locate | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame, and obtain any information regarding him and his | ||
| ClubFloyd | operations that you can. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your reindeer friend has been uncharacteristically quiet during the | ||
| ClubFloyd | journey. He seems upset. You might be able to draw his feelings out | ||
| ClubFloyd | through conversation. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What do the reindeer think of Flickering Flame?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "It's been centuries. Will you finally tell me why they call you | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I'm worried about this mission." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I can tell you've been groomed more recently. Trying to get rid | ||
| ClubFloyd | of fleas?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Gosh. D is just rude." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "A or C, maybe?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And yeah, rude." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm good with A or C." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, A or C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, we need a tie-breaker." | ||
| Durafen says, "A would give us more info about Flame" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Good point." | ||
| Durafen says, "but C also looks interesting" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "..Rojjjjjjerrrrrr?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Okay, um, C." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I say C." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Just to make things progress." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Unless you hate it, in which case we really wanted A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer pauses before answering. "Oh?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I don't know how this is going to work, Dancer," you say. "We've | ||
| ClubFloyd | been sent out here on our own. Flickering Flame has to have spies | ||
| ClubFloyd | in our camp. It's just walking into a trap." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer looks over his shoulder and says "Club, I promise you, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | are going to be safe. You're coming back from this alive." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He looks back towards his flight path, and says, "Why did you bring | ||
| ClubFloyd | this up?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I've been feeling unhappy. Concerned." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I'm trying to be funny, make you laugh. I find that | ||
| ClubFloyd | cheerfulness can help when things are stressful." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I'm just trying to get to know you better. I think it's a part | ||
| ClubFloyd | of a lasting friendship." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I've just been thinking about our mission. I don't like being | ||
| ClubFloyd | forced into things this way." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "I do that a lot. If I'm on the fence I flip a coin and if, while the coin is in the air, I find myself thinking, "Darn, I sure hope it's heads..." then I know that I really did want one option over another." | |
| Jacqueline asks, "A or D?" | ||
| Durafen says, "A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But we're so happy! Even the author was astonished at our 93% happiness! ;)" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "These are dark times, Harry. Darn times." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "darn darkness." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm fine with A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer rumbles in his chest. His way of thinking, you remember. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He says, "I can tell you're worried, Club. I think I should tell | ||
| ClubFloyd | you something that's been on my mind." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "Go ahead." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer says, "I was approached by a wild reindeer last week with an | ||
| ClubFloyd | offer from Flickering Flame. I took it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Are you saying that you're working with Flickering Flame?" you | ||
| ClubFloyd | ask. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dancer cringes a little. "Yes. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I am. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame has drawn so many to his cause. He offered me a | ||
| ClubFloyd | place with him when the revolution comes. It was better than the | ||
| ClubFloyd | one I have now." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What did you promise him in return?" you ask, alarmed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He answers, "I think you know. I'm to deliver you to him. I have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | let you off here, and you are to proceed on foot." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Let me off? Here?" you shout. "We're in the middle of the air!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm sorry, Club," says Dancer, as he flicks you off his back, | ||
| ClubFloyd | hundreds of feet off the ground. You plummet like a stone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You only have a few moments before you hit the ground. How do you | ||
| ClubFloyd | save yourself? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I transform into a bird. I'd better get the wings right this | ||
| ClubFloyd | time! | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) There have to be some wind sprites around here; if I could just | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember that scrap of Anemosian I picked up last year. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I whip up an improvised parachute out of my pack, some chewing | ||
| ClubFloyd | gum, and an old roll of tinsel. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I make a desperate Christmas wish for a giant marshmallow and | ||
| ClubFloyd | landing pool of hot chocolate. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu exclaims, "Eeep!" | |
| Jacqueline says, "wow" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT A PROMISE, DANCER?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "Seems like A is our best stat?" | ||
| DavidW says, "yes, bird time please." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It sure is." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You concentrate as best you can while plummeting to the ground. In | ||
| ClubFloyd | a burst, you feel yourself changing. Flailing out, you find | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself borne on freshly grown wings. Then you pull gracefully out | ||
| ClubFloyd | of your free fall and head to the ground, flipping on your back to | ||
| ClubFloyd | gesture angrily at Dancer. But Dancer is now only a small speck in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the sky far, far away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Thanks to your quick thinking, though, you had time during your | ||
| ClubFloyd | fall to scout out the surrounding area. The area directly below you | ||
| ClubFloyd | was cloudy and indistinct, but you could see a vast cloud of smoke | ||
| ClubFloyd | in the distance, the direction that Dancer had been flying. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame must be involved in forgework again, and quite a | ||
| ClubFloyd | bit of it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You struggle up a ridge and find yourself confronted by a panoply | ||
| ClubFloyd | of colors and sounds. The landscape is in a state of constant | ||
| ClubFloyd | motion, forming and re-forming itself. In a bit of double vision, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you also see a gray plain filled with pale phantoms. The traitor | ||
| ClubFloyd | must have set you down in the middle of the Dreamlands. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The kaleidoscope of mingled dreams is easy for you to deal with, as | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable as you are with changing forms. After some time, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | orient yourself in the general direction of Flickering Flame, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | direction of rebellion. Dreamers are harmless, in general, but too | ||
| ClubFloyd | much interaction can increase the bleed between worlds. You can't | ||
| ClubFloyd | avoid walking through some dreams, but you have your pick. Better | ||
| ClubFloyd | make it quick. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Wander through a merry candyland. Try not to be tempted. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Wander a bizarre museum of oddities. Remember: curiosity killed | ||
| ClubFloyd | the cat. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Race past a horrific nightmare. Don't stop to help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'll shove my way through a herd of wild unicorn buffalo. I'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | have to get my hands dirty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "I guess candyland? We've been avoiding all the food options so far, I think." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hooray for not going splat, first of all." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "Oh you bring up a good point. Our stats probably will help us resist candy." | ||
| Durafen says, "Yummy candy land" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Weare 53% gluttonous." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And 62% rustic." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think those are our best options." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The dreamer, a pale waif in their late teens, floats through a | ||
| ClubFloyd | garden of sugar straws, peanut chews, and rock candy. They snap off | ||
| ClubFloyd | large pieces of food and gulp it down greedily, sipping from a root | ||
| ClubFloyd | beer river. They are surrounded by a feast of dreamt-up animals | ||
| ClubFloyd | made of gelatin who are joining in the feast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The waif turns and sees you. "Mmph!" they exclaim through a mouth | ||
| ClubFloyd | full of cookie. "Dzhoin uss!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You try to walk by, but the lure of the food and party is too | ||
| ClubFloyd | great, and you dive into the piles of food and rivers of drink, | ||
| ClubFloyd | feasting with the revelers. The dreamer is far more substantial by | ||
| ClubFloyd | the time you leave. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline exclaims, "!!!!!" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess we were too gluttonous after all." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You're in the thick of the dreamers, now. So odd, these | ||
| ClubFloyd | dreamers. Elves go somewhere else when they dream. They don't have | ||
| ClubFloyd | dreams here. At least, you never have. Tinkling Towers in | ||
| ClubFloyd | accounting said she shares dreams with the mortals, but she would | ||
| ClubFloyd | be the exception if she's telling the truth. Where elves actually | ||
| ClubFloyd | dream is something you've wondered about from time to time. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | that's not important at the moment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The dreamers are beginning to notice you more, now. They seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | active in the dream world, strong, solid, and powerful. They must | ||
| ClubFloyd | be in a deep, deep sleep in their own world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Here, in their element, these sleeping bleeders have disconcerting | ||
| ClubFloyd | strength and are drawing everything around them into their dreams. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll have to find a role that fits in their dreams to get | ||
| ClubFloyd | through. Which dream are you going to enter? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) This girl is summoning Bloody Mary. I know Mary well enough to | ||
| ClubFloyd | fill in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) An old man is having curds and whey with Miss Muffet. I could be | ||
| ClubFloyd | the spider. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) This kid is dreaming about an empty and bare Christmas. This | ||
| ClubFloyd | could use some cheer! | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) A dreamer waits with a scarecrow and a lion. With tricks, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | could be Oz. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "I mean - most of it sounds terrible, but I was tempted by the root beer river, tbh" | |
| DavidW says, "I think we simple failed our roll." | ||
| DavidW says, "er simply" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "yeah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And hey, this diversion makes things more interesting" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I really have no idea which one to go with here" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B might use our sgifting skill." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "*shifting, even." | ||
| DavidW asks, "I would choose C. Is there a Christmas cheer stat we need to increase?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 20% / Open Minded: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 54% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 81% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "I mean, C is kind of our job." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess technically we're second list checker." | ||
| DavidW says, "I worry we've become a one-trick pony who can transform but can't do anything else." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Our skills seem pretty set - we had one chance to improve them I think, and outside of that, they've been stable." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Unlike our relations." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to DW), "Fair. But you gotta admit it's a good trick." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But I can see where you're coning from." | ||
| DavidW says, "well, if stats are fixed, maybe we should be the spider, then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're in the thick of the dreamers, now. So odd, these dreamers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elves go somewhere else when they dream. They don't have dreams | ||
| ClubFloyd | here. At least, you never have. Tinkling Towers in accounting said | ||
| ClubFloyd | she shares dreams with the mortals, but she would be the exception | ||
| ClubFloyd | if she's telling the truth. Where elves actually dream is something | ||
| ClubFloyd | you've wondered about from time to time. But that's not important | ||
| ClubFloyd | at the moment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The dreamers are beginning to notice you more, now. They seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | active in the dream world, strong, solid, and powerful. They must | ||
| ClubFloyd | be in a deep, deep sleep in their own world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Here, in their element, these sleeping bleeders have disconcerting | ||
| ClubFloyd | strength and are drawing everything around them into their dreams. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll have to find a role that fits in their dreams to get | ||
| ClubFloyd | through. Which dream are you going to enter? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) This girl is summoning Bloody Mary. I know Mary well enough to | ||
| ClubFloyd | fill in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) An old man is having curds and whey with Miss Muffet. I could be | ||
| ClubFloyd | the spider. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) This kid is dreaming about an empty and bare Christmas. This | ||
| ClubFloyd | could use some cheer! | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) A dreamer waits with a scarecrow and a lion. With tricks, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | could be Oz. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "So, B or C?" | |
| DavidW says, "yes, I think so." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure. B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You focus on thoughts of legs and eyes, too many legs and too many | ||
| ClubFloyd | eyes. Your limbs bend and creak, and assume the form of a giant | ||
| ClubFloyd | spider. You climb into the tree and slowly lower yourself, praying | ||
| ClubFloyd | that he'll look over and see you. His focus is on the bowl in his | ||
| ClubFloyd | lap, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are directly in front of his forehead when he finally looks up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He gives a blood-curdling scream, and curds, whey, and Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | go flying through the air. As for you, you land beyond the edge of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the dream, where you look back to see the dreamer chuckling to | ||
| ClubFloyd | himself as he fades awake. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu exclaims, "Eek, a spider!" | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You are much closer to the edge of the Dreamlands, now. | ||
| ClubFloyd | But the scenery looks completely different from earlier. Blue sky, | ||
| ClubFloyd | green fields, scattered trees for miles. A lone man stands in front | ||
| ClubFloyd | of you, his back to you. He seems abnormally indistinct, his form | ||
| ClubFloyd | slipping through your brain like butter. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Patiently, you wait for a minute, trying to get a sense of this | ||
| ClubFloyd | dream and its dreamer. That's when you spy the pewter ring on his | ||
| ClubFloyd | right hand. Alarm bells start to go off in your head. You turn | ||
| ClubFloyd | around, and the chaos of the Dreamlands behind you are gone, too, | ||
| ClubFloyd | replaced by the plains. Only one bleeder has this kind of power, | ||
| ClubFloyd | that you know of. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This must be Gray, the dreamer. A long-term coma patient in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world, and the most powerful dreamer known to Fae in your | ||
| ClubFloyd | world. He either hasn't noticed you or is pointedly ignoring you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to deal with him, but be careful. He's not as powerful | ||
| ClubFloyd | as the Council of Seven, but he's not far behind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) He might be interesting. I'll try to get his attention. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I should focus more on my mission. He's busy. Walk past him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I've been working on my patience. I'll wait for him to notice | ||
| ClubFloyd | me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm feeling curious. I'll take the chance to observe him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear." | |
| DavidW says, "E) Transform into a Queen, proclaim him an Earl, then drink Earl Gray." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Ow." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "D, perhaps?" | ||
| DavidW says, "D sounds good, yes." | ||
| Durafen says, "I like D also" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I have no reason to assume B works, at least." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look over Gray. His ring is unique������no one in the Fae world | ||
| ClubFloyd | would dare to copy it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "A question for a question," Gray says, not turning around. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Huh?" you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You find yourself in front of Gray, but you don't remember moving. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'll answer a question of yours if you'll answer a question of | ||
| ClubFloyd | mine," says Gray. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You respond, "Let me hear the question first." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He says, "I haven't been in the world, my world, for a long, long | ||
| ClubFloyd | time. I forget about things. Can you tell me something about my old | ||
| ClubFloyd | world, something you love about it? Something you're passionate | ||
| ClubFloyd | about?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Bacon was big for a while. Still is. Bacon donuts, bacon ice | ||
| ClubFloyd | cream, you name it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "The Internet has become a wild place filled with excitement, | ||
| ClubFloyd | intrigue, secret factions and pictures of animals. I love the chaos | ||
| ClubFloyd | of it all!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "The best part of your world is its beautiful forests, plains, | ||
| ClubFloyd | mountains, oceans, and rivers������the untouched nature." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "C." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sounds good." | ||
| DavidW says, "Although sends gifs of otters has its value too." | ||
| DavidW says, "er sendING" | ||
| DavidW asks, "btw, did you hear that KFC is gonna put chicken onto donuts?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I didn't. Doesn't surprise me much though." | ||
| Durafen says, "ewwww chicken donut" | ||
| DavidW says, "chicken BETWEEN donuts" | ||
| DavidW says, "So many better choices for bread and they go with donuts. bleah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "C, sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray says, "I don't remember much of that. My time here, my freedom | ||
| ClubFloyd | to change and mold my surroundings as I see fit, it's made it hard | ||
| ClubFloyd | to care about the old world. I think about the people, more." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You answer, "Gray, you've got it wrong. Have you ever walked | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the Great Basin and seen the rifts in the ground, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | rivers that only flow during flash floods? Have you seen the | ||
| ClubFloyd | myriads of beetle species in the Amazon? Have you seen the blind | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures on the bottom of the ocean?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray's eyes open wide. He seems thoughtful. Gray smiles and says, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You've answered a question of mine, and done so very well. Now, | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'll answer any question of yours. I know many things: things that | ||
| ClubFloyd | stir on the edge of the Fae Realm, things that no Fae has ever | ||
| ClubFloyd | known, hidden things, things that can help you in your journey. | ||
| ClubFloyd | What do you wish to know?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What do you know about Flickering Flame?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What did you mean when you spoke of things that stir on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | edge of the Fae Realm?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Tell me something that no Fae has ever known." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "well, is this tempting." | |
| DavidW says, "er isn't" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "All very tempting." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Gosh. A is our mission, but B might be useful, and C is just tempting" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B might relate to the nightmare king." | ||
| DavidW says, "C might be very interesting but utterly useless to us." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I know. But teeeeemmmmmppteeeeeng." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But yes. Possibly also irresponsible." | ||
| Jacqueline grumps. | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I really wish we could save on this spot." | ||
| Durafen asks, "yea, checking C is temping, save-scumming allowed?" | ||
| DavidW says, "The crystals... are alive... and they're HUNGRY." | ||
| DavidW says (to Durafen), "We can't save the game." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sadly, no save scumming." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Can't save-scum when we can't save." | ||
| Durafen says, "even better" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "We had to get Choice Co to make a special copy of this game just to make it run on our bot." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Which: THANKS, CHOOSE CO" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "!!!!" | ||
| Jacqueline smiles. | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "Yeah, thanks!" | ||
| DavidW says, "I guess I'll vote B but regret my decision for all time." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "ha" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I like B, sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Technically we could try to replay." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh gods." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Technically." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sure. *Technically*" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Probably not practically. ;)" | ||
| Jacqueline gives Knight_Otu a look. | ||
| Jacqueline says, "No." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "Ah!" | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "But I have a silver lining!" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Silver lining?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "What we *can* practically do, if we eventually, many years from now, find DavidW on his deathbed, lamenting about this moment in time (or, y'know, sooner if we're just curious) is ask the author." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Because when Brian joined us in an earlier session he clearly wanted to tell us about what was happening when we made particular choices." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So yeah, we should just choose B and then ask Brian later." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh, like *this* is the game I'll be thinking of on my deathbed? As if." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "heh" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The Fae have always traveled to the mortal world from here. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | I've seen mortals here. Not dreamers, not even bleeders." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Not bleeders?" you ask, concerned. "How do they travel here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "They have some kind of technology. They're cautious, travel in | ||
| ClubFloyd | pre-determined paths, have a rigid social hierarchy in their | ||
| ClubFloyd | interactions. They're government, or corporate. Big money either | ||
| ClubFloyd | way, though." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray bows and turns away. It appears your "audience" is over. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk past Gray and towards the horizon. It approaches far | ||
| ClubFloyd | faster than you would expect. And the perspective is off. Soon, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | reach the horizon. When you touch it, it crumples and rips, | ||
| ClubFloyd | revealing the dead Gray Wastes beyond. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You step through the hole and look back. Only the rip remains, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | then even that is gone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The gray plains that underlie the Dreamworld come to their end | ||
| ClubFloyd | here, transitioning into hill country. A dark ring of mountains | ||
| ClubFloyd | stands far off. You can barely make out a few figures crawling | ||
| ClubFloyd | across it������must be Flame's scouts. Time for some reconnaissance. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I shift into a Horkios Eagle to observe them from afar. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll use one of my optical devices. I've been making some | ||
| ClubFloyd | improvements to them, recently. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm familiar with most magical creatures. I might be able to | ||
| ClubFloyd | identify some from far away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I could use an illusion to lure a scout out and observe them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says (to DW), "I would like to just point you toward Exhibit A:" | |
| Jacqueline | DavidW says, "I guess I'll vote B but regret my decision for all time." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Oh. Krinkle Corp." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "This whole area is reminding me of the Chronicles of Amber, but possibly also because I have been playing zangband." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "A is our one trick pony." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So Krinkle Corp is a toy company that uses Fae secrets at least in their toy making." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A sure is." | ||
| DavidW says, "A, sure. Watch the creatures turn out to be cyborgs." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "With a toy compny herre, they could be." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I can't spell again." | ||
| DavidW says, "Resistance is festive!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With a twist you leap into the air. In a moment, your form has been | ||
| ClubFloyd | converted to that of a Horkios Eagle. You lift your wings and | ||
| ClubFloyd | carefully mount up higher in the sky. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's risky, chancing aerial observation, especially since you've | ||
| ClubFloyd | seen Flickering Flame's ability to attract fliers to his cause. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | keep relatively low and only stay in the air for a few moments | ||
| ClubFloyd | before returning to the ground and your original form. There is a | ||
| ClubFloyd | hole in their defense. This should make things a bit easier. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time to make your move across the plains and towards the ring | ||
| ClubFloyd | of smoking mountains. You'll need to find a way in without being | ||
| ClubFloyd | seen. Flickering Flame would expect that. It almost certainly won't | ||
| ClubFloyd | succeed, but it's worth a try. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll use my most powerful illusions to make myself invisible, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and go for it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I create a Christmas flurry with enough holiday cheer to get | ||
| ClubFloyd | them playing in the snow. Then I make my move. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I shift into a rock troll and try to bluff my way in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Durafen asks, "What would work for our character?" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I think B is wishful thinking." | ||
| DavidW says, "well, C is the shift option, but it may require a second bluffing skill as well." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "A sounds good. C might also work and be more in our wheelhouse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We are good at shifting, but maybe not at bluffing." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, good point" | ||
| DavidW says, "I think A is our best option. Invisible Woman is a great scout." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "okay" | ||
| DavidW says, "Except when it's against Doctor Doom who equips everything with infrared scanners because obviously he would." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Isn't it always Doom?" | ||
| DavidW says, "oh no." | ||
| Knight_Otu doesn't quite know his super franchises. | ||
| DavidW says, "Sometimes it's cowboys from an alternate present. Or a madman from a subatomic dimension. Or a madman from the Negative Zone. Or a madman from another planet." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I do sense a common theme." | ||
| DavidW says, "Once it was her own son... turned into a madman!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Madness." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So we go invisible? We did have some success with that before." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm expecting a Tholian web of laser beams to detect us no matter what." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You pull out a carefully hoarded sample of true-diamond dust. Of | ||
| ClubFloyd | course, you need only a small burst of your own energy to activate | ||
| ClubFloyd | the power stored in the dust. It glows in a prismatic display | ||
| ClubFloyd | before disappearing, but you can still feel the dust in your palm. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You raise it to your head and sprinkle it over yourself, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | vanish completely. Success! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mountains loom ever higher as you approach. The smoke cloud | ||
| ClubFloyd | occupies more and more of the sky above you, darkening everything | ||
| ClubFloyd | around you. The smell of smoke and damp earth sweeps over you with | ||
| ClubFloyd | every change in the wind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are almost at the pass when a bit of true-diamond dust stuck on | ||
| ClubFloyd | the corner of your nostril begins to irritate you. A sneeze flies | ||
| ClubFloyd | out of your nose before you can stop it. Within moments, rough arms | ||
| ClubFloyd | grab you from behind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are blindfolded with a surprisingly soft velvet cloth and | ||
| ClubFloyd | carried aloft. They deposit you on the ground, and your blindfold | ||
| ClubFloyd | is gently removed. In front of you is the door of a small but | ||
| ClubFloyd | luxurious building, surrounded by a ring of rock trolls and tengu. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame is one step ahead of you, as always. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Darn sneezy dust." | |
| DavidW says, "Remind me what tengu are? They sound Japanese." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Bird people." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And yes, Japanese." | ||
| DavidW asks, "oh, not pandas?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Pretty sure no." | ||
| DavidW says, "anyway, let's go meet Flame. I assume the gentle treatment is for the off-chance we'll betray Claus and join his cause." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You walk forward, and the door opens. There is a long | ||
| ClubFloyd | hallway with a jade floor, lined with a double row of doors of | ||
| ClubFloyd | various materials and shapes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A snake with scales like red gold slithers out from under one of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the doors. It coils itself in the middle of the hallway before | ||
| ClubFloyd | enlarging itself and transforming. You watch with eager curiosity. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When it finishes transforming, you see a tall, sturdy weretiger in | ||
| ClubFloyd | a crimson robe. A vague feeling of heat radiates from him, and his | ||
| ClubFloyd | eyes shimmer in orange and red. Flickering Flame has come to greet | ||
| ClubFloyd | you personally. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Welcome, Club," says Flame. "I've been expecting you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) He looks so������luxurious. It's hard not to try to touch his fur. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can't look at him without remembering the pain. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) This brings back so many memories. I need a moment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Donner's right. He's a no-good, rotten elf. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "A weretiger. My." | |
| DavidW says, "C. Hubba-hubba, tra-la-la and bad boy trouble" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "ha" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Probably not A." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Maybe we're the bad guy." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Maybe D is not the answer." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Maybe C is (all joking aside) not terrible." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, Quartz does think Mrs Claus the villain, or at least says so." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Who's Quartz again?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The leader of the Dreamer Cult that revers the Nightmare King, who punches holes into the Fey Realm." | ||
| DavidW says, "I think that must've been the chapter I missed." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think I like B or C here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to David), "It might be" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm fine with either B or C, yes." | ||
| DavidW says, "If Mrs Claus truly is the bad guy, than we should switch loyalties, but I'd like to see proof since these other groups don't seem any better." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Definitely" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I was about to say that we haven't seen much of Flame's faction, but Dancer did drop us out of the blue sky." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm looking forward to the hot tub scene." | ||
| Jacqueline looks at the ceiling. | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So, we're at B or C, but no preference yet." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Let's say C" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You smile at him, and he smiles back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He strides forward and puts a heavy paw on your shoulder. "Come," | ||
| ClubFloyd | he says, "there's much that I'd like you to see." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "David may get his wish." | |
| Jacqueline raises her eyebrows. | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Flickering Flame gestures to the bronze door in front of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. No questions, no prolonged greeting, no ceremony. Flickering | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame, too consumed by his own agenda to consider any other. But it | ||
| ClubFloyd | doesn't matter. You're here to observe, to learn, and to report. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | enters, and you pass in through the door behind him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The room is lined with intricate artificial flowers made from | ||
| ClubFloyd | copper, brass, wrought iron, and a bluish metal you are unfamiliar | ||
| ClubFloyd | with. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Our work here is highly sought after," says Flickering Flame. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | reaches out to touch a petal of a brass rose, and it glows as his | ||
| ClubFloyd | finger runs over it. "Goblin princes hosting feasts, mortals with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | taste for the expensive and exotic, acolytes of the Warm One," he | ||
| ClubFloyd | continues, "they can't get enough of it. What do you think of | ||
| ClubFloyd | these, Club Floyd?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame's face gives you a sense of deja vu. He always had | ||
| ClubFloyd | the same expression when he would drop little questions to | ||
| ClubFloyd | potential subordinates, subtly testing their knowledge and depth. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He's probing you, testing your knowledge, confidence, and opinions. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I've seen better. I've made better." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Beautiful. I see you've used the trollfire method." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Art is a poor imitation of nature. A rose is a rose, Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is something else." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I've seen flowers like this during my late-night walks in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf-glades. These are cold, but the glow makes up for it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline asks, "The... Warm One? Satan?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I have no idea." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Cue Church Lady gif." | ||
| Roger goes home. | ||
| Roger has disconnected. | DavidW says, "'Could it be.... Satan?'" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Exactly." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I should have said it that way. Well played, DW>" | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm not sure everyone here even knows the SNL character." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd have said Warm One may refer to Lpki/Flame, but that doesn't seem to be the case." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "yeah, doesn't seem like it now" | ||
| DavidW says, "Maybe they mean the Lava Rock Monster King." | ||
| DavidW asks, "or what's-his-name, Heatmeister?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, what are we going to say?" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "What if he *didn't* use the trollfire method?" | ||
| DavidW says, "'I'm Mr Heatmeister, I'm Mr Sun, I'm Mr White Christmas, I'm Mr One-hundred-and-one.'" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That is a good question." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "A seems ill-advised altogether." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We probably haven't made better." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'd say B, but yes, we may be mistaken." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "B feels really good, unless yeah" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "D is a compliment" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And a hollow lie if it's a lie" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "D feels like... a good stall." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That, or an accusation of plagiariusm." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Oh, I dunno about that. But perhaps." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure that Flame cares about that though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think I personally like B." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "B stands for Bold." | ||
| DavidW says, "And Batman" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And possible also for Bupid. Which rhymes with stupid" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No," says Flame. "But it certainly appears the same to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | untrained eye." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You notice that Flickering Flame is standing just the tiniest bit | ||
| ClubFloyd | further away from you than before. His eyes spend less time on you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You pass through a curtain of brass strychnos vines into the next | ||
| ClubFloyd | room together. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A wave of smells overwhelms you������the curtain must have been | ||
| ClubFloyd | enchanted against the senses. You find yourself in an expansive | ||
| ClubFloyd | kitchen. In contrast to the crowded cookhalls under Claus Castle, | ||
| ClubFloyd | the space is relatively spare. Master chefs, each with a handful of | ||
| ClubFloyd | undercooks, craft recipes by hand in separate cooking areas. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "We have attracted the best chefs in the world," says Flame. "With | ||
| ClubFloyd | access to the finest implements and ingredients, we didn't have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | approach them. They came to us. Would you care to sample the work | ||
| ClubFloyd | of one of our masters?" His voice is calm, polite, but you know | ||
| ClubFloyd | this is not a request. You look over your options. Every choice is | ||
| ClubFloyd | a symbol to Flickering Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A bowl of clear vegetable broth. I'll show him my spare, | ||
| ClubFloyd | reserved side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Takama-ga-hara steaks, banned from the castle by Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'll show him my rebellious side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) The fudge brownie sundae. I'll show him my indulgent side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) The Beef Wellington, Mrs. Claus's favorite. I'll show him my | ||
| ClubFloyd | loyal side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "ack. We goofed." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "So we did." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Hm. B or C? B... or... C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| DavidW asks, "I've never heard of Takama-ga-hara steak. Why would a steak be banned by someone who eats Beef Wellington?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "Is it made from mermaids?" | ||
| DavidW says, "oh. It's the name of a heaven in Japanese myth." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A wiki search is inconclusive - apparently... right." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "So maybe those are literally sacred cows, then?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Maybe, but that's more of an India thing. I'll still choose C, though." | ||
| Durafen goes home. | Knight_Otu says, "I don't have much of a preference here." | |
| DavidW says, "hm. We lost Durafen." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Bummer" | ||
| Durafen has arrived. | Knight_Otu says, "There they are again." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Hello again, Durafen." | ||
| Durafen says, "Sorry, technical difficulties" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Those happen to all of us." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yup" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "So, I think we're leaning C on this one?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Rather, I shouldfirst ask, Durafen, you caught up?" | ||
| Durafen says, "I was disconnected before the last move, so i will be in the next one" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sit in a plush burgundy armchair at an ironwood table. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | sundae is brought to you by a jovial snow fairy. Flickering Flame | ||
| ClubFloyd | is brought a small plate of Bananas Foster. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grab a scoop of the ice cream, with whipped cream and cherries. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The first bite is delicious, but you soon grow weary of the taste. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame chuckles as he finishes his bananas. "I felt that | ||
| ClubFloyd | your eyes were bigger than your stomach. It seems I was correct." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you're done, a servant appears with heated, damp towels for | ||
| ClubFloyd | the two of you. You wipe your fingers, drop your towels in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | servants' arms, and push through holly doors into the next room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This room is completely empty except for you, Flickering Flame, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | a pair of wooden chairs facing each other. A side door leads out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sit, facing each other. Flickering Flame stares at you | ||
| ClubFloyd | steadily. He breaks the silence first. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Club Floyd," he says, "What do you think of me? Be honest." | ||
| ClubFloyd | Interesting. You know he's aware of you, your background, your | ||
| ClubFloyd | personality. But, from his body language, he honestly doesn't seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | to know your opinion of him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I'm not a people person, Flickering Flame. But I like you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I like you, Flickering Flame. But I like everyone." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I don't like you, Flickering Flame. Don't take it personally." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I like most people, Flickering Flame. I don't like you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "I think you can recap the room to read what you missed with @recap #clubhouse, fwiw" | |
| Jacqueline says, "Also, we can always recycle the current room/choice by looking at stats, then coming back to the main game." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True. You probably need a @recap #clubhouse = 100 or so to see everything." | ||
| Durafen says, "Recap works nicely, even floyd there" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Cool" | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So, how do we answer this one?" | ||
| Durafen says, "I have a feeling this one is a tricky one" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It sure is tricky." | ||
| Jacqueline files away the phrase, 'I like most people, but I don't like you' for future use. | ||
| Durafen says, "Ha ha" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It's almost like "My friends call me X. You can call me Y."" | ||
| DavidW says, "I want to say B." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Ha! That is *also* good. I'll file that one away as well." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think the way we played, we did like most people. So B would make sense." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I love both these phrases, but need the guts to actually use them." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Sure. It's like a shady subtweet." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "But thruthful shade." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, they're not exactly what you'd call polite discourse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The phrases that is." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "So... B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So it seems." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You're a positive elf, Club," says Flame. "I am not. I could use | ||
| ClubFloyd | your perspective." He continues, "You were brought here for a | ||
| ClubFloyd | reason." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I came here by my own choice." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What was your reason?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "That's presumptuous of you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Go on." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "B or D" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "So our gaffe with the trollfire method wasn't enough to not be recruitment potential." | ||
| Durafen says, "B, more information" | Durafen says, "B, more information" | |
| Jacqueline says, "I feel like D also gives us more info without more shade." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And yeah, A seems niave." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And while B seems passive agressive, C seems active agressive." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think Flame may like D more. We should know the reason." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Of these, I do mostly prefer D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Mrs. Claus is not fit to rule, Club. I saw that when I was with | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. I'm sure you've seen it. It's time that someone else took her | ||
| ClubFloyd | place among the Council of Seven. Someone who will do more than | ||
| ClubFloyd | cling to dead traditions and hoard power like a miser. Someone who | ||
| ClubFloyd | treats the mortal world with kid gloves. Claus needs to go." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame leans closer to you. "You were the closest to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus other than me. Despite������recent events that may have occurred | ||
| ClubFloyd | between you two, I assume that that is still the case." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Lie and tell him that things are worse. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Lie and say that we are close. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Tell the truth and say that things are worse. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Tell the truth: I feel very close. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| Jacqueline says, "Our character has been all fatalist about this relationship, so I'm not sure what the PC thinks is the truth." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I kind of like A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Our relation stat has been quite up and down over time." | ||
| Jacqueline asks, "oh wait, that's a specific stat? Our relationship *with* her?" | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "stat" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, | ||
| ClubFloyd | or QUIT | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 86% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Oh right." | |
| Jacqueline says, "56% is... well... I wouldn't call us besties." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Mrs. Claus is not fit to rule, Club. I saw that when I was with | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. I'm sure you've seen it. It's time that someone else took her | ||
| ClubFloyd | place among the Council of Seven. Someone who will do more than | ||
| ClubFloyd | cling to dead traditions and hoard power like a miser. Someone who | ||
| ClubFloyd | treats the mortal world with kid gloves. Claus needs to go." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame leans closer to you. "You were the closest to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus other than me. Despite������recent events that may have occurred | ||
| ClubFloyd | between you two, I assume that that is still the case." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Lie and tell him that things are worse. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Lie and say that we are close. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Tell the truth and say that things are worse. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Tell the truth: I feel very close. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "I have enough trouble explaining if I'm close or not with my own family. But regardless, I wouldn't want to 'lie' here." | |
| Jacqueline says, "I guess D is accurate." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think it wouldn't be a lie to say C..." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Sorry - I meant C" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Yeah. C is accurate." | ||
| DavidW says, "sure, C is good" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So shall we say tha... right." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame nods smugly. "I knew it. Things are changing at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus Castle. That's why this is a unique opportunity." He | ||
| ClubFloyd | continues, saying, "My operation is already complete. I don't need | ||
| ClubFloyd | anything else. But you are different from the others. I wanted to | ||
| ClubFloyd | personally offer you a chance to work with us." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "And what happens if I refuse?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Flame, of course I will join you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I don't appreciate your high-pressure tactics." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I side with nobody. You two work this out." | ||
| ClubFloyd | E) "I'm interested. Tell me more." | ||
| ClubFloyd | F) Remain silent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "F" | |
| DavidW says, "I knew an offer to change sides was in the offing. At least I guessed that right." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah. It was coming." | ||
| DavidW says, "F is a stall, but I'll support it. I still don't know what's going on in general." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "If we had said D, I suppose Flame would have said "I knew it. Nothing is changing for the better" or something." | ||
| Durafen says, "E or F" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "F is the chill way to say E." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "f" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame matches you stare for stare. You blink first. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He rises from the chair. Your audience, it seems, is over. He seems | ||
| ClubFloyd | to be handling this well. "Thank you for your time, Club Floyd. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's been very enlightening." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm sorry we were unable to come to an agreement, Flame," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But if you reconsider peace with Claus, I'll be at your service." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame takes your hand in both of his. He stares into | ||
| ClubFloyd | your eyes. You feel a strange tingling sensation. Is he trying to | ||
| ClubFloyd | tell you something? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Flame's charisma is impressive. He's bold, daring and ruthless. | ||
| ClubFloyd | And very attractive. I'd love to stay here longer if I could. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm not really sure how I feel about Flame. I'll consider him, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but it's hard to tell my true feelings. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Seriously? There's no way I'd ever be involved with a creep like | ||
| ClubFloyd | him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "huh" | |
| Jacqueline says, "That is not at all how I read silence." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "So, David wants to say A." | ||
| DavidW says, "Natch." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "And I'm here for it." | ||
| Jacqueline laughs. | ||
| DavidW says, "We'll still get tossed in a lava pit afterwards, though." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "But the fun we'll have first!" | ||
| DavidW says, "Of course!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Screw it. Let's actually say A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll definitely keep an eye on Flame. You have a soft spot for | ||
| ClubFloyd | the bad ones, and Flame is certainly a bad one. He's been a | ||
| ClubFloyd | ruthless warlord, a devious enchantress, a living flame. You wonder | ||
| ClubFloyd | how he would handle you. All of this goes through your mind in a | ||
| ClubFloyd | second, while Flame is holding you. What did you tell him? You'd be | ||
| ClubFloyd | at his service? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He smiles slowly, exposing his canine teeth, and lets go of your | ||
| ClubFloyd | hands. "I'm sure you will, Floyd." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Jacqueline presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Six The Rat in the Mall] | ||
| ClubFloyd | The wind bites into your face as you come out of the faerie ring | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind the dumpster. It makes your eyes tingle, too. That's been | ||
| ClubFloyd | happening to you a lot recently, ever since you visited Flickering | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The bricks in this alley remind you of Claus Castle, and that's not | ||
| ClubFloyd | a comforting thought. It's been almost a year since the Heart was | ||
| ClubFloyd | stolen. Mrs. Claus is unwell. She's been burning through her stores | ||
| ClubFloyd | of magic faster than either of you had expected. Her injuries in | ||
| ClubFloyd | your earlier adventures certainly haven't helped. You and Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | find yourselves at odds with each other more days than not, and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | distance between you is widening. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | More and more, you find yourself and Candid taking the lead in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle. The two of you have been spending an hour every week | ||
| ClubFloyd | re-doing the Organizational Christmas Tree, shuffling ornaments | ||
| ClubFloyd | with faces around and throwing away ones belonging to the traitors, | ||
| ClubFloyd | runaways, and no-shows. Flickering Flame's name is whispered in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | hallways and discussed in secret notes passed under doors. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | Kingdom of Dreams finds new converts each week. And elves find | ||
| ClubFloyd | themselves increasingly followed and monitored by agents in black. | ||
| ClubFloyd | People are looking to Candid for leadership, which makes you glad | ||
| ClubFloyd | that the two of you are friends. You've successfully kept Candid's | ||
| ClubFloyd | secret from most of the elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But the winds of change are in the air. It's time to think about | ||
| ClubFloyd | your long-term strategy for the future. What is most important to | ||
| ClubFloyd | you right now? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I want to be in charge at Claus castle. It's time for Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | to move on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I have to get Santa's Heart back, and restore Mrs. Claus's | ||
| ClubFloyd | power. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I just want to leave this all behind and start over new. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I just want to see it all burn. Tear down the status quo as much | ||
| ClubFloyd | as I can. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Wait whoa. A fade to black? Darn." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "No hot elf on fire action." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "Also, next chapter and I'm not here next two weeks." | ||
| Jacqueline says (to KO), "Apparently not." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Are we stopping here?" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "I'm actually okay with going on, but I'm in the earliest time zone, so." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We also are at the three hour mark." | ||
| Jacqueline nods. | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm guessing that Flame has bewitched our eyes so we're an unknown spy." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "gosh" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That is quite possible." | ||
| DavidW says, "He can probably see whatever we see now." | ||
| Jacqueline says, "golly" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 45% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 86% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Jacqueline says, "Wow. 80% for Flickering Flame, 45% for Claus." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "80% with Flame." | ||
| Jacqueline exclaims, "But we're still a Happy Helper!" | ||
| Jacqueline says, "God bless us, every one." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I also think we're more open-minded again." | ||
| Durafen says, "Thanks for the game! I enjoyed it." | ||
| ##### Session 5 | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 45% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 86% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: An Elf of Note | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "Unless you wish to just skip this week?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Would be sad, but the two of us would be at a disadvantage if we're tied in votes." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh, I'd let you break the tie." | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't trust my judgment with choice games." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Chapter Six The Rat in the Mall] | ||
| ClubFloyd | The wind bites into your face as you come out of the faerie ring | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind the dumpster. It makes your eyes tingle, too. That's been | ||
| ClubFloyd | happening to you a lot recently, ever since you visited Flickering | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The bricks in this alley remind you of Claus Castle, and that's not | ||
| ClubFloyd | a comforting thought. It's been almost a year since the Heart was | ||
| ClubFloyd | stolen. Mrs. Claus is unwell. She's been burning through her stores | ||
| ClubFloyd | of magic faster than either of you had expected. Her injuries in | ||
| ClubFloyd | your earlier adventures certainly haven't helped. You and Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | find yourselves at odds with each other more days than not, and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | distance between you is widening. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | More and more, you find yourself and Candid taking the lead in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle. The two of you have been spending an hour every week | ||
| ClubFloyd | re-doing the Organizational Christmas Tree, shuffling ornaments | ||
| ClubFloyd | with faces around and throwing away ones belonging to the traitors, | ||
| ClubFloyd | runaways, and no-shows. Flickering Flame's name is whispered in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | hallways and discussed in secret notes passed under doors. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | Kingdom of Dreams finds new converts each week. And elves find | ||
| ClubFloyd | themselves increasingly followed and monitored by agents in black. | ||
| ClubFloyd | People are looking to Candid for leadership, which makes you glad | ||
| ClubFloyd | that the two of you are friends. You've successfully kept Candid's | ||
| ClubFloyd | secret from most of the elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But the winds of change are in the air. It's time to think about | ||
| ClubFloyd | your long-term strategy for the future. What is most important to | ||
| ClubFloyd | you right now? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I want to be in charge at Claus castle. It's time for Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | to move on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I have to get Santa's Heart back, and restore Mrs. Claus's | ||
| ClubFloyd | power. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I just want to leave this all behind and start over new. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I just want to see it all burn. Tear down the status quo as much | ||
| ClubFloyd | as I can. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "So of course, our first choice is how loyal we are." | |
| DavidW says, "I don't even remember what Candid's secret is." | ||
| DavidW says, "Or who Candid is." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Candid is a shapeshifter elf who was our companion on the mission to the Nightmare King cult." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That might be the session you missed." | ||
| DavidW says, "ah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Candid's secret is that their ex-partner is the leader of the cult, the rock troll Fractured Quartz." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We did tell Mrs. Claus though, and Candid wasn't particularly happy with that decision." | ||
| DavidW says, "I honestly don't know what to choose from these. I don't particularly want to take over the castle. But I'm not convinced that Mrs Claus is the best either." | ||
| DavidW says, "I dislike D the most, though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, from what we've seen of Flickering Flame and the Nightmare King, I think I wouldn't want them in power." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "If Mrs. Claus is a villain, at least she's the devil we know." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, there's that." | ||
| DavidW says, "I suspect if we choose C, the game ends abruptly and we never learn what happens to anyone." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I am inclined towards B. I don't trust ourselves enough for A." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah. I think we gotta pick B, then. Devil we know." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't think C would be a game over - there are tons of ways to draw the retiree back into the action. Even if its only that the war is at our chocolate-moat doorstep." | ||
| DavidW says, "Possibly, but I don't want to risk it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've learned a great deal about your foes this last year, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you're still unsure about what happened to the Heart. Without it, | ||
| ClubFloyd | the fate of Claus and of Christmas itself is in question. Nothing | ||
| ClubFloyd | could be more important, even if you haven't always agreed with | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus. It's Christmas that matters. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But your mind returns to your assignment. Well, you call it an | ||
| ClubFloyd | assignment, but you gave it to yourself, which makes you feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | excited. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With all the betrayal, theft, warmongering and violence going on, | ||
| ClubFloyd | it's been hard to do your actual job. But Christmas is coming fast, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and if you can't get the List checked and re-checked, Christmas | ||
| ClubFloyd | will be a disaster. And you'll get the blame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The elves under your care have grown more sulky and rebellious as | ||
| ClubFloyd | rumors about Flickering Flame and traitors have swirled around the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle. There have been accusations that you have been abandoning | ||
| ClubFloyd | your post and pushing your work on the others. Today you're leading | ||
| ClubFloyd | by example, taking your fair share of children on the List to check | ||
| ClubFloyd | over. So it's mall day. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Searsport Mall is the perfect place to observe many of your | ||
| ClubFloyd | gaggle of assigned children. And the mall Santa with his elves | ||
| ClubFloyd | warms your heart. But with this many humans around, you'll need to | ||
| ClubFloyd | find an appropriate disguise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I take the same form as the mall Santa's elves. I'll have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | behave like an employee. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I take the form of a wealthy teenager. I'll need style. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I take the form of a sweet old grandparent. Time to put on my | ||
| ClubFloyd | best smile. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I take the form of a rival mall Santa. I need to be prepared for | ||
| ClubFloyd | things to get ugly. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "I'm inclined towards A." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd think B and C seem.... hm." | ||
| DavidW asks, "what?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A might give us more freedom than I initially thought. I thought B and C for the freedom of movement a customer gets." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "An employee would have tasks, but more freedom of movement in the mall." | ||
| DavidW says, "hm. I suspect we'll be constrained one way or another." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Though I think we can agree that D is just asking for trouble." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, D is trouble-seeking." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "This might also key off our "either/or" stats. B might be the Elegant/Rustic angle." | ||
| DavidW says, "I think David Sedaris was a Santa's elf once. I don't remember details, but it was not the easiest of jobs." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think I'm more inclined towards C over B. A might work too." | ||
| DavidW says, "I do like C over B, too." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Do you like it over A?" | ||
| DavidW says, "No, I still prefer A, but I'm letting you break ties. Go with C if you like it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shift into a heavy-set sexagenarian with thick glasses and a | ||
| ClubFloyd | shuffling gait. It's just an affectation, of course; you'll be able | ||
| ClubFloyd | to get moving when you need to. Time to crank up the charm. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shuffle out from behind the dumpster and check yourself over, | ||
| ClubFloyd | then turn your attention to the List. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As Second List-Checker, you have the responsibility to make sure | ||
| ClubFloyd | that everyone's first choices were correct. Of course you delegate | ||
| ClubFloyd | most of the checking, but you've decided to take on a few of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | names yourself just to get out of the office. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The List itself shares some of the elf-magic that you have, being | ||
| ClubFloyd | able to change its form. It's not completely sentient, that you | ||
| ClubFloyd | know of, but it's received enough attention and enchantments over | ||
| ClubFloyd | the years that it's taken on a sort of life of its own. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's currently shaped like an enormous scroll covered in elf runes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You struggle to hold it, even with both hands. You'll need to | ||
| ClubFloyd | encourage it to change into something a little more discreet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to focus hard. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I encourage it to become a restaurant receipt. I focus on | ||
| ClubFloyd | thoughts of mouth-watering burgers and bacon cheese fries. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I suggest that it shift into an MP3 player filled with workout | ||
| ClubFloyd | tunes. I focus on thoughts of healthiness and discipline. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I prefer to mimic nature. I persuade the List to transform into | ||
| ClubFloyd | a fresh, whispering wind that can repeat the names in my ear. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "My choice is C, but this is a very weird thing to have to choose." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It sure is." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I do like C though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You think of cold mountain tops and windswept gravel beaches, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | can almost smell the chill moisture in the wind. Soon you feel a | ||
| ClubFloyd | current of air stirring around you, and a voice begins to whisper | ||
| ClubFloyd | in your ear: "Aayela Abramson, naughty������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You head towards the food court entrance with a spring in your | ||
| ClubFloyd | step. You're going to blend in just fine. Especially with your | ||
| ClubFloyd | excellent disguise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Walking in, a wall of sound almost overwhelms you. Bass-thumping | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas music, three floors of bustling shoppers, and one pumped | ||
| ClubFloyd | Second List-Checker making their entrance. A sweet-looking senior | ||
| ClubFloyd | citizen doesn't attract much attention, but a few parents smile at | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Pssst! Hey, Club Floyd!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A bright-looking fellow is waving at you from one of the toy | ||
| ClubFloyd | stores. It's Cai! Or one of their bodies, at least. This one's a | ||
| ClubFloyd | pear-shaped young man dressed in a coat and tails. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Oh, great. Cai and I had a falling out a few months back when I | ||
| ClubFloyd | stole one of his bagels. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Wonderful! It's nice to see a good friend. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) No thanks! Cai can be very irritating when you're in a rush. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm happy to see Cai. It's the best way to gather information. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "D?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "That kind of choice is also weird." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And yeah, I'm inclined towards D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We haven't had much interaction with Cai. I think whenever they came up, we chose someone else." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai waves you over and shakes you by the hand. His face is all | ||
| ClubFloyd | smiles, but he leans close to you and whispers, "We have to talk." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You nod, and follow him into a corner of the toy store. He seems a | ||
| ClubFloyd | bit nervous. He looks you up and down for a bit: "You look | ||
| ClubFloyd | positively adorable, don't you?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "It's nice to see you, Cai." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "You're looking good today. New body?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Did you have something to tell me? I'm a bit busy." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "What are you doing here, Cai? Always causing trouble." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Again, I don't remember who Cai is. There's been too many characters spread out over too many weeks." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "They are a wizard who occupies multiple bodies. I don't think we know all that much more." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm thinking A or B here." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm inclined towards C, but A or B are also fine." | ||
| DavidW says, "I suppose B is the most polite and positive." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | He chuckles. "Yeah, this one budded off last week. One of my | ||
| ClubFloyd | favorites, actually," he says, looking at his ample posterior. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But," he says, "we have more important things to worry about, | ||
| ClubFloyd | here." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What's going on?" you ask. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Someone's been offering things to the big fellows. Everyone but | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What kind of things?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He points at you. "You. They're offering to deliver you." He looks | ||
| ClubFloyd | over you for a moment. "And the List, wherever it is you've put | ||
| ClubFloyd | it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Who's offering all of this?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "How long has this been going on?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "How did you know I would be here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear." | |
| DavidW says, "I guess we made the best choice with the List, then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Possibly, yes." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd like to buy a D for "All of the above", please." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Though I guess Cai has the ability to observe a lot of Faerie Rings." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah. But without a D, I like A the best. We can assume gossipers and traitors can rat our location to Cai or anyone else." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I don't know," says Cai. "But they must be good. People are taking | ||
| ClubFloyd | this quite seriously." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "To be honest, I was hoping you could explain things to me. Can you | ||
| ClubFloyd | think of anyone who has it out for you? I might be able to help," | ||
| ClubFloyd | asks Cai. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Not that you know. Everybody? Nobody? You might as well just throw | ||
| ClubFloyd | out the first one that comes to mind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "It could be Krinkle Corp. Their agents have been following me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Flickering Flame asked me to join him. It was intense." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "The Kingdom of Dreams might be making a move." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "You assumed Flame can see through our eyes last week after that intense moment." | |
| DavidW says, "oh right. Forgot about that detail too." | ||
| DavidW asks, "so B, I guess?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It could really be anyone, but sure." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, it could be anyone." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai shakes head, clucking. "He doesn't like begging," he says. "I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | so sorry for you." He looks over your shoulder, keeping an eye out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He says, "I'm not sure it's him, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, in any case, I want you to be careful," says Cai. "I'll keep | ||
| ClubFloyd | an eye out, too." He taps the side of his nose and walks away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We do have to decide on one of course." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Multiple bodies, but only one eye to spare." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --With a bit of trepidation and a whole mess of caution, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you start your work, checking for the first name on the List. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | names skip around like a broken record until one stands out from | ||
| ClubFloyd | the rest: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Reginald Birmingham IV." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The List whispers, "Look to the right." There he is: a young blond | ||
| ClubFloyd | child wearing khaki shorts and a blue logo-emblazoned polo, | ||
| ClubFloyd | standing with a bored expression while his mother shouts at a clerk | ||
| ClubFloyd | over the price of handbags. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The List continues to whisper to you. It seems like the elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | Troubled Underwriter performed the initial assessment: "Willful. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Arrogant. Spoiled. Naughty. Coal recommended." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hmmmm. Troubled Underwriter has a history of being negative. A | ||
| ClubFloyd | personal touch is in order. It's hard to judge Reginald's | ||
| ClubFloyd | personality from afar. You'll need to manufacture a situation that | ||
| ClubFloyd | tests his character. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll shift into a lost service dog and approach Reginald. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll release one of my robotic toys nearby. One of the shiny | ||
| ClubFloyd | ones. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'll walk by with a tray of thick, soft Christmas cookies with | ||
| ClubFloyd | fluffy frosting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "doggy!" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "A is sort of our main thing." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think we're in agreement." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ducking behind a clearance rack, you close your eyes, concentrating | ||
| ClubFloyd | on thoughts of safety, loyalty and gentleness. Your body shrinks, | ||
| ClubFloyd | folding into itself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You open your eyes and find yourself in the form of a shiny-coated | ||
| ClubFloyd | Golden Retriever. When the foot traffic subsides, you trot out from | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind the clearance rack towards Reginald. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shuffling up next to him you whine, looking around as if lost. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Reginald looks you over, bends down and examines your collar. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Lost, are you?" he whispers. "I'm not allowed to play with dogs, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but you look like a good boy." He looks over at his mother. "I hate | ||
| ClubFloyd | my mother. Sometimes I wish she were dead." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You give him your best impassive stare, then shuffle back behind | ||
| ClubFloyd | the rack to transform back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The List seems pleased; names stir up and subside in a cheerful | ||
| ClubFloyd | rhythm. You've still got it. This ought to boost your confidence | ||
| ClubFloyd | with the other elves. You now know exactly how you're going to | ||
| ClubFloyd | evaluate Reginald. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) The mom and her son both need to go on the bad list. Naughty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) The boy shouldn't be punished for the way he was raised. Nice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Maybe a well-chosen gift can change his attitude. Nice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Rotten little monster. Naughty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hrm." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, I can't tell from that short interaction." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, he didn't kick us or anything." | ||
| DavidW asks, "So B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I really have no idea. A single moment like that really isn't sufficient to condemn or praise." | ||
| DavidW says, "I know." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But we've been Nice Elf for so long, we can continue to be Nice Elf." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So I guess I can agree with B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | He is clearly affected by his upbringing in an unfair way. You're | ||
| ClubFloyd | not going to punish him for her parenting style. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He hasn't reached high enough on the niceness scale to merit an | ||
| ClubFloyd | indulgent gift. Wouldn't suit him anyway. But something that could | ||
| ClubFloyd | teach him a valuable lesson, or send a message to his parents. That | ||
| ClubFloyd | could work. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A biography of Helen Keller. Help him with compassion. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Plane tickets to see his grandparents. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Sea monkeys. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) A chemistry kit. Let the parents clean that up! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Unless he kills his mom. Then it's naughty list for him." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah.." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I sometimes wonder if we check how our gifts are explained in the world." | ||
| DavidW says, "Sea monkeys are an awful gift. They either die pretty quickly or you don't even get any at all." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "They have to come from someone. Third grandcousin thrice removed, or something?" | ||
| DavidW says, "The best thing is the instruction manual." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah. No sea monkeys." | ||
| DavidW says, "Grandparents could be as bad as the parents." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, we only have the kid's word for how bad his parents are." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, true." | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't think the chemistry set is safe. He may try to poison his mother with that." | ||
| DavidW says, "So either A or B, I guess." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "On the flipside, he may get punished badly for any mess he makes." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Or he gets praised for previously unseen genius." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, hard to tell." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think I like B here." | ||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | An excellent choice. Reginald will be getting tickets for | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas. Having assigned him what he deserves, you feel more | ||
| ClubFloyd | confident. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn back to the mall, ready for another List check, when you | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel a sudden chill in your bones. Someone's watching you. Someone | ||
| ClubFloyd | from your world. And it's not Cai. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Moving nonchalantly, you look slowly from side to side, as if you | ||
| ClubFloyd | were just people-watching. There is a blur of movement in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | corner of your eye. You follow it with your head and see nothing | ||
| ClubFloyd | but a horde of shoppers. Could be anybody. Play it cool, you think, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but find out who they are. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There������you see it again, more of a shifting in space than | ||
| ClubFloyd | anything. It only moves when you move. You wouldn't have noticed it | ||
| ClubFloyd | if Cai hadn't forewarned you. Somehow you'll need to see it more | ||
| ClubFloyd | closely, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I've built a special pair of glasses that gives me a wider | ||
| ClubFloyd | visual range. I'll try to catch them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I try to spring a surprise on them by performing my own | ||
| ClubFloyd | vanishing act. It might smoke them out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I could get some help distracting them. I smell a few garbage | ||
| ClubFloyd | sprites in the food court. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I think B might work here." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "C I suspect would use our connections skill, whis is our worst." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh. Okay, let's do B, although I would've liked to visit the garbage sprites." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You finger a small flash pellet in your pocket. With a graceful | ||
| ClubFloyd | motion, you flick the pellet out of your pocket and across the food | ||
| ClubFloyd | court. It lands with a bang and a bright light, and everyone's | ||
| ClubFloyd | attention turns to the left while you make a magically-enhanced | ||
| ClubFloyd | exit, stage right. From a new vantage behind a potted plant, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | scan the room. There: a humanoid-shaped disturbance. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It fades away again, but its shape seems somehow familiar. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | can't identify it, but you've definitely ruled out anything with | ||
| ClubFloyd | more than four limbs or over five feet tall. You still have no clue | ||
| ClubFloyd | what it could be. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's hard to know if you should be nervous or not. After all, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you're here in disguise, watching people. It's not like you have | ||
| ClubFloyd | the right to judge others doing the same. But who would be here? | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Spiders and the Emerald Empress don't send out emissaries like | ||
| ClubFloyd | this, not in disguise. But with all the sweets here, the Tooth | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fairy might have sent out some scouts for planning purposes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Of course, it's just as possible that one of your enemies is | ||
| ClubFloyd | monitoring you. You'll have to be on alert. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Results - inconclusive." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --There is a small tug on your sleeve. A small, | ||
| ClubFloyd | three-year-old girl is trying to get your attention. "Excuse me," | ||
| ClubFloyd | she says carefully, "Can you find my mommy? I was supposed to be at | ||
| ClubFloyd | the tree but I got lost." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You hunch down your aged-looking body and say, "No problem, hon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Let me help." Taking her hand, you slowly make your way towards the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas tree. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Mommy!" shouts the toddler, who takes off towards a concerned | ||
| ClubFloyd | looking woman holding six shopping bags. The mom drops the bags and | ||
| ClubFloyd | embraces her girl. "Theia, you shouldn't run away like that!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mom looks over at you, taking you in. Theia points at you and | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, "They helped me find you!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The mom smiles at you and says, "I'm so glad she was found by | ||
| ClubFloyd | someone nice like you!" She grabs her bags and walks away. Looks | ||
| ClubFloyd | like your disguise was fairly effective. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Our eternal battle with 'future cloudy - ask again tomorrow'." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --At the tree, you notice a child diving out from under the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tree and towards the food court behind. The List nudges you toward | ||
| ClubFloyd | the child. You look closer. She's familiar. Ah, that's right: | ||
| ClubFloyd | Alexandra Aleeyev! She's the other kid you came to see. And, right | ||
| ClubFloyd | on cue, you see her parents coming after her. She crawls around on | ||
| ClubFloyd | the floor, runs away from her parents, makes faces at other kids, | ||
| ClubFloyd | throws a tantrum, apologizes, all within thirty seconds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The List reminds you of her First List-Checker's assessment: | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Cheerful. Vibrant. Headstrong. Nice. Toy bricks recommended. Goes | ||
| ClubFloyd | by Andy." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Seems straightforward. But then you see Alexandra bite an elderly | ||
| ClubFloyd | woman on the ankle. In the tussle that follows, you notice two | ||
| ClubFloyd | things: the woman has an extensive vocabulary, and Alexandra has an | ||
| ClubFloyd | extremely tenacious bite. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Once Alexandra is detached from the leg, she wanders over to an ice | ||
| ClubFloyd | cream store and stares at the board, looking at each picture on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | menu in turn. Looks like she'll be occupied for a while. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Might be better to get the mom's opinion. She's sitting at the | ||
| ClubFloyd | table, hair falling out of a bun, poring over what looks like work | ||
| ClubFloyd | notes. You take a seat next to her. She looks up and gives you a | ||
| ClubFloyd | wry smile, soothed by your calm presence. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "That your daughter?" you ask, pointing at Alexandra. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She smiles wryly. "Yeah, that's my girl. Why do you ask?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to find a way to ask about Alexandra's behavior within | ||
| ClubFloyd | the bounds allowed to elves. The power delegated you from Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus prevents you from using it for idle snooping or malicious | ||
| ClubFloyd | purposes. You'll just have to draw out the mom by finding common | ||
| ClubFloyd | ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "She seems free-spirited. It's nice to see a kid who's allowed | ||
| ClubFloyd | to be herself." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "She sure seems active. What have you been feeding her?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "She's so energetic. She probably loves the outdoors." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We are open-minded. That may point us to A." | |
| DavidW says, "I'd pick A, yes. I expect Andy has some sort of medical condition." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Thank you," says Mrs. Aleeyev, beaming. This seems to be a subject | ||
| ClubFloyd | she enjoys. "I'm a firm believer in hands-off parenting. Look," she | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, handing you a card. It says "Official Free-Range Kid: | ||
| ClubFloyd | Alexandra Aleeyev. If the holder is found alone, please let them | ||
| ClubFloyd | be." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is genuinely intriguing. You nod vigorously, and say, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Wonderful. I really admire that." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She beams, and leans in to tell you, "I have to admit, though, I've | ||
| ClubFloyd | had some trouble with her recently. She's taken to rifling through | ||
| ClubFloyd | the neighbors' mailboxes, looking for cash in birthday cards." She | ||
| ClubFloyd | notices your surprised face. "But I've talked to her about it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's part of the system. She has to learn for herself." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You nod in a non-committal manner. You've learned more about | ||
| ClubFloyd | Alexandra's behavior. She's an interesting kid. This experience | ||
| ClubFloyd | will make a good talking point in your end-of-year wrap-up with the | ||
| ClubFloyd | other elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Look at the time!" she says, "I've got to go. It's been nice | ||
| ClubFloyd | talking to you. Come on, Andy, let's go!" she says, taking her | ||
| ClubFloyd | daughter with her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In any case, you've got all the information you think you'll need. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Are you going to revise Alexandra's assessment? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) A brat is a brat. Naughty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Childhood is a time of experimentation. She seems like a normal | ||
| ClubFloyd | kid. Nice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) She and her mother are upsetting. Naughty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) The mom is a jerk. I'll give the daughter a present just to make | ||
| ClubFloyd | up for it. Nice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Again, I just don't know." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd probably lean towards B." | ||
| DavidW says, "Okay." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | So, you've decided to put her on the nice list. What kind of | ||
| ClubFloyd | present do you think she'll like? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) She seems to like the outdoors. I'll get her a display box for a | ||
| ClubFloyd | rock collection. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) She certainly seems to like using her teeth. I'll get her a | ||
| ClubFloyd | packing crate full of jerky. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) What kid doesn't like cash? I'll just get her that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) She seems like she enjoys running wild. I wonder if she'd like a | ||
| ClubFloyd | skateboard. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Can Christmas get sued if we choose D and Andy hurts herself?" | |
| DavidW says, "Let's find out. I like D too." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Alexandra Aleeyev, a skateboard," you record. The List whispers it | ||
| ClubFloyd | back to you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're ahead of schedule. You've proven your bravery by pushing | ||
| ClubFloyd | forward in face of threats against your life. Maybe you'll even | ||
| ClubFloyd | have some time to check a third child. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You listen carefully for the List. But it sounds different, almost | ||
| ClubFloyd | like������breathing? Slowly, you realize that a shimmering, | ||
| ClubFloyd | transparent figure is standing inches away from you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your eyes widen, and the figure grabs at you, trying to find the | ||
| ClubFloyd | List. You jerk back and forth to shake them off. Mall-goers slow | ||
| ClubFloyd | down to watch you, concerned, before hurrying past. Thank your | ||
| ClubFloyd | lucky Christmas stars you made the List so insignificant. Finally, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you tug with all your might and fall to the ground with the List | ||
| ClubFloyd | intact. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You scramble forward and to your feet and whip around. The rippling | ||
| ClubFloyd | figure is there again, now a dozen steps behind but moving closer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You need to take control of the situation. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll use my Christmas cheer to gather a crowd of carolers around | ||
| ClubFloyd | me, cut off the pursuer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll use one of my best tricks: short-range teleportation. I'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | surprise them from behind. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A mall this size has to have a powerful _genius loci_. I'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | plead for its help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "I don't think A would work." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B might. I don't think C would." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm dubious about B and C, but I think B is our best option." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time: you hold your breath, screw your eyes shut, and make a | ||
| ClubFloyd | little interdimensional leap. In a motion as smooth as silk, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | disappear and reappear. You open your eyes and find the rippled | ||
| ClubFloyd | figure directly before you. With the momentum from the teleport, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you put a firm foot to their rear end and send the blur flying. | ||
| ClubFloyd | They splash into a fountain, and a crowd gathers around, thinking | ||
| ClubFloyd | the sputtering water is part of a show. Then you make a quick exit. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But, given that an unseen assailant is trying to steal the List, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you feel more than justified in leaving work early. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You have to find somewhere to hide. Anywhere! There's a crowd, so | ||
| ClubFloyd | you jog through them towards the exit and the fairy circle in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | back. But a slender hand grabs you and pulls you around. You flinch | ||
| ClubFloyd | involuntarily, raising a hand to strike. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Stop, it's me!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's Cai! He pulls you after him. He throws a cloak around the two | ||
| ClubFloyd | of you, and you teleport together to the upper level, one of Cai's | ||
| ClubFloyd | more useful abilities. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Cai, we have to go," you say. "They're after the List!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Did you figure out who it was?" says Cai. "They might follow." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No," you say. "I've never seen anyone������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But you have. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Accepting any bets before I push enter." | |
| DavidW says, "I haven't the slightest idea. It could be Santa himself for all I know." | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "Zombie Santa!" | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The incredibly effective invisibility charm, the cautious | ||
| ClubFloyd | approach������it's all familiar to you from years of security | ||
| ClubFloyd | meetings. This is Glass Ghost, the elf who betrayed you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sniff for their scent. Too faint to notice without effort, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | now that you're looking for it, it's clear. Quickly, you run | ||
| ClubFloyd | towards the smell. Glass Ghost is going to pay. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The blurred shape is far below, backing away while searching for | ||
| ClubFloyd | you, and you whisper the counter-incantation, allowing you to | ||
| ClubFloyd | pierce the disguise. You see their skintight silver suit and their | ||
| ClubFloyd | faceless helmet. And you see them turn, startled, sensing your | ||
| ClubFloyd | enchanted eyes on them. And they take off running. With their | ||
| ClubFloyd | disguise gone, you have the advantage, and they know it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "Why not?" | |
| DavidW asks, "So who's this character?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The former security chief of Claus Castle. They disappeared with the implication that they're a traitor." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh" | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You skate along the slippery floor on the upper level of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the mall, keeping pace with Glass Ghost down below. They hop from | ||
| ClubFloyd | kiosk to kiosk. A small blur of motion is all you can see, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | know the humans can't see a thing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your heart is jingling in your chest as you push yourself to | ||
| ClubFloyd | follow. Suddenly, you realize exactly where they're headed: | ||
| ClubFloyd | Stefani's Diamonds. Gemstones have a strong connection to both | ||
| ClubFloyd | worlds, and the mingled greed, love, and hope of humans pull them | ||
| ClubFloyd | even closer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is a crash and it tears your attention back to the chase. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost has just been side-swiped by a rogue toddler on a | ||
| ClubFloyd | motorized scooter shaped like a zebra! The child looks confused and | ||
| ClubFloyd | drives on, fooled by the illusion, but your counter-spell shows you | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost rolling to their feet and trying to get past you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You make it to Stefani's Diamonds with just seconds to come up with | ||
| ClubFloyd | a plan. Your good work earlier should make this easier. You could | ||
| ClubFloyd | just let them go. After all, they're not much of a threat when | ||
| ClubFloyd | they're visible. But know they'll cause even more trouble if you | ||
| ClubFloyd | let them go. You've got to stop them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Glass Ghost isn't the only master of disguise here. I blend into | ||
| ClubFloyd | a display case and wait for them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can send a clean-up crew later. I smash the cases and make an | ||
| ClubFloyd | optical trap from the glass and diamonds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) It's diamonds this Christmas! I light up the place by summoning | ||
| ClubFloyd | a thousand strings of Christmas lights. It ought to trip Glass | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Wonder which group GG is helping." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Good question." | ||
| DavidW says, "I like A here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You focus on the light of the diamonds around you. They flash, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | you fade. It's a new spell, one that you came up with after Glass | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost left the Castle. There is a faint whisper of their boots | ||
| ClubFloyd | skating across the floor. Even more quietly than them, you leap | ||
| ClubFloyd | from behind a case and tackle Glass Ghost. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You feel the two of you vanish, reappearing in the alley behind the | ||
| ClubFloyd | mall. Cai is there with you, and helps you wrestle Glass Ghost to | ||
| ClubFloyd | their feet. Searching Glass, you find a packet full of papers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Probably data on potential buyers. This ought to make for good | ||
| ClubFloyd | reading later on with the other elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "You have a lot of nerve attacking me, you two-timing pile of | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer crap." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "It may sound crazy, given the circumstances, but it's nice | ||
| ClubFloyd | seeing you again, Glass Ghost." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "You left, Glass Ghost. You went free. Why are you attacking | ||
| ClubFloyd | me?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "C" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost shakes themselves free from Cai's grasp and crosses | ||
| ClubFloyd | their arms. "Let me go," they say, impassive. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Tell me, now: who are you working for?" You menace them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Why in the Seven Heavens did you attack me? We know each other! | ||
| ClubFloyd | We respect each other!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "What do you really have against us, Glass Ghost? Why did you | ||
| ClubFloyd | betray us? We miss you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "What have you done with Santa's Heart, you thief?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I don't think we can be menacing." | |
| DavidW says, "C again" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, that seems fine." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "C" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Your dental plan sucked," they say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Get real, Glass Ghost," you answer. "I'm serious." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Claus Castle was going downhill. Didn't want to be tied down to a | ||
| ClubFloyd | failure." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is a rumble, and you are thrown to the ground. The entire | ||
| ClubFloyd | earth is shaking. Glass Ghost gets up and starts to stumble away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai chases after them, but before he can reach Glass Ghost, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | earth trembles again, more violently, throwing Cai to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The air darkens and thickens, hiding the sun, and the air _rips_ in | ||
| ClubFloyd | front of you, revealing a desert landscape. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You recognize this landscape: it's near the tent city you visited | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Candid, where the Kingdom of Dreams was. This must be the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King's work, then. And in the mortal world! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost leaps into the hole, which seals behind him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "They're getting away!" you shout. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You have bigger things to worry about," says Cai. "Didn't you have | ||
| ClubFloyd | the List with you} earlier? It seems your song's been stolen." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your heart sinks. Christmas isn't looking so great. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Uh oh." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Seven The King Cometh] | ||
| ClubFloyd | "To Christmas," says Mrs. Claus. Together, you and Candid raise | ||
| ClubFloyd | your mugs of cocoa. "To Christmas." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Two more days, you think. It's a somber meeting for you all. Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus herself is in a particularly thoughtful mood. You haven't | ||
| ClubFloyd | seen her much, recently. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, we've made it this far," she says, "But we've had to make it | ||
| ClubFloyd | alone. The others of the Seven have made many promises to help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Some with conditions we have not been able to meet, and some," she | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, staring at the last marshmallow melting in the cocoa, "that | ||
| ClubFloyd | have simply failed to follow through." She raises a finger at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid. "And you, what do you have to report?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid salutes Mrs. Claus. "Ma'am, I'm happy to say that toy | ||
| ClubFloyd | production is still at quota. The remaining toymakers are upset | ||
| ClubFloyd | that their friends are leaving for Flickering Flame, and have | ||
| ClubFloyd | thrown themselves into their work. And competing against Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp's toy scientists hasn't hurt, either." Mrs. Claus smiles, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid curls up her toes in joy. She's in a particularly festive | ||
| ClubFloyd | mood today, wearing red and white striped stockings with a green | ||
| ClubFloyd | jumper and matching boots. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "And you, Club Floyd, what do you have to report?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, goddess, I've������uh������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You squirm in embarrassment. The last few months haven't been going | ||
| ClubFloyd | too well for you, with the List being stolen and elves resorting to | ||
| ClubFloyd | nonmagical backup copies. An entire forest in the Shadow Mountains | ||
| ClubFloyd | had to be leveled just to make enough paper for them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | All of this has taken hundreds of elves off the production lines | ||
| ClubFloyd | and, unfortunately, the guard posts. Claus Castle is stretched | ||
| ClubFloyd | thinner than it has been for centuries. You don't know which of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's enemies hired Glass Ghost to take the List, but it's | ||
| ClubFloyd | benefiting all of them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Maybe you can think of something, however, that you actually have | ||
| ClubFloyd | been making progress on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I've been studying Flickering Flame's recruitment patterns. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I've identified a few elves that I think might be vulnerable to | ||
| ClubFloyd | him." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I've been tracking down the suppliers for Krinkle Corp. I may | ||
| ClubFloyd | have had a breakthrough." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I've been reading some of the tracts from the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams. I believe that Fractured Quartz may have a different | ||
| ClubFloyd | relationship with the Nightmare King than I expected." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Chapter end." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Shall we stop here?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think we should stop here for... yeah." | ||
| DavidW asks, "I suspect that the List was going to be stolen no matter what we did. How the heck does someone grab a song?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Turn it into an earworm?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I just thought of that before you said it." | ||
| DavidW says, "Except I imagined the earworm swallowing the song." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Heh." | ||
| DavidW says, "y'know, if we chose to be a Santa's Elf instead of a kindly gender-ambigious elder person, we might've left the List in its scroll form." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, the Christmas situation is looking more dire than ever, and a world-ending King is on the move." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That may be the case." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But then at least Cai would have seen it immediately, and probably Ghost as well." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Might have made it easier to steal." | ||
| DavidW says, "Wonder if all the children we rated will save Christmas for us. Andy on her skateboard and the rest of them." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We can only hope." | ||
| DavidW says, "Children always defeated Darkseid in the comics." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But according to RPGs, it takes teens to defeat eldritch horrors that eat the world." | ||
| DavidW says, "Teens will Attitude." | ||
| DavidW says, "er with" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think some of the do attitude, regardless." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "*them." | ||
| DavidW says, "Honestly, with only two days until Christmas, some sort of resolution has to happen fast." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I am suspecting this chaper to be the climax, with a denuement afterwards. I actually assumed the previous chapter could be it, but I guess we needed to meet GG again before that." | ||
| DavidW says, "I guess whoever has Santa's Heart on Christmas Day wins." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A reasonable guess." | ||
| ##### Session 6 | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 45% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 58% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 82% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 90% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Elf Lord | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm, last chapter sure jumped our relationship value with Cai, the multibody wizard." | |
| DavidW says, "mmhm" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Chapter Seven The King Cometh] | ||
| ClubFloyd | "To Christmas," says Mrs. Claus. Together, you and Candid raise | ||
| ClubFloyd | your mugs of cocoa. "To Christmas." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Two more days, you think. It's a somber meeting for you all. Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus herself is in a particularly thoughtful mood. You haven't | ||
| ClubFloyd | seen her much, recently. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, we've made it this far," she says, "But we've had to make it | ||
| ClubFloyd | alone. The others of the Seven have made many promises to help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Some with conditions we have not been able to meet, and some," she | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, staring at the last marshmallow melting in the cocoa, "that | ||
| ClubFloyd | have simply failed to follow through." She raises a finger at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid. "And you, what do you have to report?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid salutes Mrs. Claus. "Ma'am, I'm happy to say that toy | ||
| ClubFloyd | production is still at quota. The remaining toymakers are upset | ||
| ClubFloyd | that their friends are leaving for Flickering Flame, and have | ||
| ClubFloyd | thrown themselves into their work. And competing against Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp's toy scientists hasn't hurt, either." Mrs. Claus smiles, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid curls up her toes in joy. She's in a particularly festive | ||
| ClubFloyd | mood today, wearing red and white striped stockings with a green | ||
| ClubFloyd | jumper and matching boots. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "And you, Club Floyd, what do you have to report?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, goddess, I've������uh������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You squirm in embarrassment. The last few months haven't been going | ||
| ClubFloyd | too well for you, with the List being stolen and elves resorting to | ||
| ClubFloyd | nonmagical backup copies. An entire forest in the Shadow Mountains | ||
| ClubFloyd | had to be leveled just to make enough paper for them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | All of this has taken hundreds of elves off the production lines | ||
| ClubFloyd | and, unfortunately, the guard posts. Claus Castle is stretched | ||
| ClubFloyd | thinner than it has been for centuries. You don't know which of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's enemies hired Glass Ghost to take the List, but it's | ||
| ClubFloyd | benefiting all of them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Maybe you can think of something, however, that you actually have | ||
| ClubFloyd | been making progress on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I've been studying Flickering Flame's recruitment patterns. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I've identified a few elves that I think might be vulnerable to | ||
| ClubFloyd | him." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I've been tracking down the suppliers for Krinkle Corp. I may | ||
| ClubFloyd | have had a breakthrough." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I've been reading some of the tracts from the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams. I believe that Fractured Quartz may have a different | ||
| ClubFloyd | relationship with the Nightmare King than I expected." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "That does seem to be the major change." | |
| DavidW says, "oh right, the List was stolen." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, not our best moment." | ||
| DavidW says, "At least we ourselves weren't stolen." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So the chapter is titled "The King Cometh". That alone tempts me to choose C. Which may b the author's intention." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to David), "True. I'm not sure how real that threat was, but it was mentioned." | ||
| DavidW says, "C does seem the most interesting branch." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm okay with C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid looks nervous. Is she worried about her former partner? Or | ||
| ClubFloyd | is she thinking about the oath she was forced to take? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You take a deep breath. "In the pamphlet _The King's Works_, they | ||
| ClubFloyd | list every time the King has appeared. But it's always described as | ||
| ClubFloyd | a miracle, or a chance blessing. In fact, the only recorded | ||
| ClubFloyd | instance where the King's appearance was announced ahead of time | ||
| ClubFloyd | was at Green Mountain." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You continue. "I don't think Fractured Quartz has control over the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus looks intrigued. "Fascinating," she says. "I'll send out | ||
| ClubFloyd | a few of the elves to talk to witnesses of previous sightings. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Perhaps we can learn more. Well done, Club." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "It seems like everyone is against us these days," says Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus agrees eagerly, almost viciously. "And I don't know how | ||
| ClubFloyd | it will ever end. If the Nightmare King were proved a fraud, | ||
| ClubFloyd | perhaps we could bring his followers to our side. If we could | ||
| ClubFloyd | figure out which Fae are helping Krinkle Corp, we could put an end | ||
| ClubFloyd | to their interference. But Flame, well, he won't stop seeking for | ||
| ClubFloyd | power until he's conquered us or died." She stares into her cup for | ||
| ClubFloyd | some time, then looks at you and Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm very pleased with you," says Mrs. Claus. "I think you've done | ||
| ClubFloyd | a marvelous job this year. I can't tell you how much you mean to | ||
| ClubFloyd | me, and to the whole castle." She tears up for a moment, wiping her | ||
| ClubFloyd | eyes on her gloved fingertips. "I've kept us all going for so many | ||
| ClubFloyd | years, but I've wondered so many times these last few months | ||
| ClubFloyd | whether this would be the end." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You reach over and pat her hand gently. You smile, and you mean it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It may seem hard, now, but you still intend to restore Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | to her rightful place. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's when everything goes to pieces. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I thought everything went to pieces when the heart was stolen." | |
| DavidW says, "There's layers to this cake." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Alarm bells begin to ring throughout the room. Mrs. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | leaps to her feet and kicks the door open, racing towards the | ||
| ClubFloyd | throne room as you and Candid struggle to keep up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Messenger elves pop up from every direction, shouting out the news: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "There was an explosion in the factory! Four elves are in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | infirmary. They believe it was sabotage." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Three war dragons are headed towards the castle from the Searing | ||
| ClubFloyd | Veldt!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Fractured Quartz is gathering the Kingdom of Dreams in the White | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wastes. They're saying they're going to enter the human world!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus shouts, "Candid, take the security team and secure the | ||
| ClubFloyd | factory. Find out who's behind this." Candid leaps into action, | ||
| ClubFloyd | shifting into the form of a commanding Amazon warrior. She salutes | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus and runs out of the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "ah, everything at once, eh?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "As usual." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus sharply turns to you, her red cape billowing | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the air. "Club, I'll deal with the dragons. I've slain more | ||
| ClubFloyd | of their kind with my arrows than I can remember. I suspect | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame is behind this." She pauses as pain glimmers in | ||
| ClubFloyd | her eyes at his name. She says, "But I need you to stop the Kingdom | ||
| ClubFloyd | from entering the human world en masse. The Seven would never allow | ||
| ClubFloyd | such an audacious act without our approval. Delay the Kingdom until | ||
| ClubFloyd | I can notify the others." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a piece of her | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic-infused fruitcake, tossing it at you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You catch it. Before you can reply, she snaps her fingers, and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle gapes open above her like a mouth, floor after floor opening | ||
| ClubFloyd | up to reveal the sky. She leaps into the air in a burst of flame, | ||
| ClubFloyd | transforming into a phoenix and soaring up and out of sight. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Stop an army alone? Mrs. Claus seems to have quite a bit of | ||
| ClubFloyd | confidence in you, as one of her most trusted followers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll have to hurry to the Wastes. You can feel the intense power | ||
| ClubFloyd | radiating from the piece of fruitcake. This will get you there | ||
| ClubFloyd | right away, but it's going to hurt, one way or another. How are you | ||
| ClubFloyd | going to get there? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I use the energy to shift into a fully-grown lightning hawk and | ||
| ClubFloyd | bolt to the Wastes. The sonic boom might alert the Kingdom, though. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can smooth-talk Cai into teleporting me directly, but magic | ||
| ClubFloyd | that intense would cost them one of their bodies. This fruitcake | ||
| ClubFloyd | might make up for it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I have an experimental transporter that I haven't tried yet due | ||
| ClubFloyd | to energy costs. Too bad there's no time for testing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "hm. B?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm seeing A and B as workable options here. And I suspect alerting the kingdom wouldn't matter much." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm fine with B." | ||
| DavidW says, "I have NO idea how to stop or even delay an army, even with our abilities." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We'll see what options we get, I guess." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The sweetshop isn't far away. One of Cai's newer bodies spends | ||
| ClubFloyd | almost all of their time there. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You dash down the stairs, slide through the door and almost crash | ||
| ClubFloyd | into Cai's body, a tall, slim man with dark eyes. He's busy | ||
| ClubFloyd | stuffing himself with wasabi-flavored candy canes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Whoa, Club!" he shouts. "What's the hurry!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Cai," you say, "I have to go to the White Wastes. Now. There's no | ||
| ClubFloyd | time to waste. I need you to teleport me there, directly." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He turns pale. "That kind of energy would kill me! This me, at | ||
| ClubFloyd | least," he says, waving at himself. "It's not pleasant, believe me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The center of the White Wastes is highly resistant to this sort of | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "I know what it would cost, Cai, but there's an entire | ||
| ClubFloyd | army of Fae marching towards the human world." You pull out the | ||
| ClubFloyd | piece of fruitcake, silently gambling on your persuasion skills. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Would this gift change your mind?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai looks skeptical. "I understand where you're coming from, but I | ||
| ClubFloyd | really don't think I could part with this body. Couldn't I take you | ||
| ClubFloyd | halfway?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're beginning to panic. Seems like your persuasive technique is | ||
| ClubFloyd | a bit wanting. "It has to be all the way, and it has to be now," | ||
| ClubFloyd | you say. A crowd of elves has gathered around, watching your | ||
| ClubFloyd | discussion. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai looks back and forth at the faces. "I feel like I'm being | ||
| ClubFloyd | bullied," he says. "But I'll do it. Send the fruitcake to my P.O. | ||
| ClubFloyd | box in Florida." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He pulls out a pinch of powdered silver from a coat pocket and | ||
| ClubFloyd | draws a circle around the two of you. He grabs a fistful of wasabi | ||
| ClubFloyd | candy canes from the rack nearby and stuffs them in his mouth. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Let's do this," he says, chewing loudly. "Might as well go out | ||
| ClubFloyd | with a bang." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There's a flash like phosphor a hundred times over, and a horrific | ||
| ClubFloyd | ripping sound. You hear screaming from the nearby elves, but it | ||
| ClubFloyd | fades away. Your vision is filled with stars and your ears with | ||
| ClubFloyd | ringing, but both slowly fade until you find yourself in the White | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wastes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "One tends to fight armies with other armies, and I don't remember us having any." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "True, true." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Maybe if we could re-route them to our chocolate moat?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "Like, can we get the trees or anything local there to aid us?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I suspect the wastes have their name for a reason." | ||
| DavidW asks, "like a boneyard?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't recall the description, but I wouldn't count on ents or friendly locals." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The White Wastes are quieter than you might have | ||
| ClubFloyd | expected. You climb atop a small boulder and glance around. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | immediately notice two things: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A plume of dust, about an hour's march away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And a Ford Fiesta with California license plates. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You scoot down the boulder and move towards the Fiesta, curious. | ||
| ClubFloyd | What is this doing here? As you step near it, nature begins to | ||
| ClubFloyd | bloom. Grass springs up around the Fiesta, then palm trees, and, at | ||
| ClubFloyd | last, a full house. When you come to a stop a few dozen feet from | ||
| ClubFloyd | the car, you recognize it as Carl Alan's house, the bleeder who had | ||
| ClubFloyd | the cards from Krinkle Corp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The truth hits your brain after a moment or two. The house isn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | _here_. There's an enormous rip in the worlds, and it connects | ||
| ClubFloyd | directly to his house. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Thunder rumbles across the wastes, and you think of the army. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Running towards the rift, the world around you slowly fades as the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world replaces it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Once inside, you try to slow down, but discover that you seem to | ||
| ClubFloyd | have lost corporeality as your foot slips straight through the | ||
| ClubFloyd | sidewalk. Your momentum keeps you moving forward as you tumble | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the walls of the house, through a foot of insulation and | ||
| ClubFloyd | rat droppings, past three couches, finally coming to rest inside of | ||
| ClubFloyd | what appears to be a plasma television. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Oh, hello!" says a small voice. You look over your shoulder to see | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan himself staring at you, hands on the TV screen. It's a | ||
| ClubFloyd | bit odd that, despite being one of the most powerful human bleeders | ||
| ClubFloyd | in existence, the kid still doesn't know how to put his shirt on | ||
| ClubFloyd | right-side-out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You're an elf, aren't you?" he asks, surprising you. He didn't see | ||
| ClubFloyd | you last time, did he? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Yes, I am. You must be a smart kid. How did you know?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Maybe. Why are you asking?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Definitely not. I'm a ghost, possessing your TV. Go away before | ||
| ClubFloyd | I start haunting the rest of your electronics." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "A" | |
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I had a dream about you. You were carrying a little list and | ||
| ClubFloyd | talking with reindeer." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Impressive. You knew he was a strong bleeder, but this is something | ||
| ClubFloyd | new, even for you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You've been dreaming about elves?" you ask. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Yes. Those are my favorite dreams. I hate the ones about that | ||
| ClubFloyd | awful green tentacle lady. Or the spiders." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Interesting. But you have more important things to worry about | ||
| ClubFloyd | right now. You move to get out of the TV, only to find that, | ||
| ClubFloyd | unfortunately, you are completely stuck. Your body passes through | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything, leaving you floating, partially inside the wall and | ||
| ClubFloyd | partially inside the television. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Carl Alan, who are you talking to?" says a woman from the kitchen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The person in the TV, Mom," answers Carl Alan, looking at you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Okay," shouts Mom as she bangs some pans. "Just make sure you | ||
| ClubFloyd | clean your room before dinner." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan looks back at you, peering into the TV. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Hello? Are you still here? How did you get in there?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grit your teeth. You're generally a pleasant elf, but this | ||
| ClubFloyd | situation has you out of sorts. But you need Carl Alan. He's a | ||
| ClubFloyd | bleeder, after all, able to affect both worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "A trans-dimensional vortex of unknown origin with phase-shift | ||
| ClubFloyd | properties brought me here. I could use some assistance in | ||
| ClubFloyd | extricating myself." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Thanks for asking. I found a hole in my world that led to | ||
| ClubFloyd | yours. But something's wrong, and I'm stuck in your TV." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Does it matter? Just help me out of here." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "B?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't care how smart the kid is, we shouldn'ttechno-babble him to sleep." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Your world?" says Carl Alan. "What do you mean, your world?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The world of the elves," you say. "The world of dreams and magic." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan looks at you carefully, then touches the glass of the TV | ||
| ClubFloyd | all over. "How can I help you?" he asks. "I can't even reach you in | ||
| ClubFloyd | there." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "You have a gift, Carl Alan. You may not know it, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | that's why you have those dreams. You're connected to my world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Whenever you're feeling sad or happy or scared, it changes part of | ||
| ClubFloyd | my world. I need you to try to use your feelings to get me out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | here." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He squishes his face on the glass and stares at you. "You're kind | ||
| ClubFloyd | of weird, you know. I don't think I should trust you. Why do you | ||
| ClubFloyd | look so weird? In my dreams, you're always changing shape." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shrug. "That's what elves do." "Well, I guess everyone has to | ||
| ClubFloyd | look like something," he answers. "But, I still don't trust you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Why are you here? Are you checking on me for Santa?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Actually, I������" you say, but the screen bobbles for a bit as a | ||
| ClubFloyd | tremor passes through both worlds. Your words get cut off in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | jumble. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What?" shouts Carl Alan. "I can't hear you! Can you talk louder?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Carl Alan, please! Keep it down!" shouts his mother from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | kitchen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Sorry, Mom!" he shouts back. "I mean, sorry Mom," he repeats in a | ||
| ClubFloyd | softer voice. He turns back to you and whispers, "Sorry, I was | ||
| ClubFloyd | gonna ask you, why are you here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "You had it right earlier, I'm just checking up on you ahead of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the big day." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I'm investigating your house. It shouldn't be in my world and | ||
| ClubFloyd | yours at the same time." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "There's an army of monsters coming. They're trying to get into | ||
| ClubFloyd | your world. I want to stop them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Even if every word there is used correctly." | |
| DavidW says, "C" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I was gonna say B, but I suppose." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan draws his brows together in concern. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He says, "Are the elves going to stop them?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Well, actually, it's just me for now." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "If you'll help us, we can definitely stop them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Not if you keep talking and leave me stuck in here!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "He got us there." | |
| DavidW says, "I'm leaning towards B." | ||
| DavidW says, "Full honesty is A, but we need this guy's help and soon." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, ""I'm just a kid!"" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | He jumps up and down. "Yeah! I'll definitely help!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Carl Alan! Stop stomping on the floor!" shouts his mother from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | kitchen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He rolls his eyes, but stops. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Another tremor shakes the TV, rattling your bones. This | ||
| ClubFloyd | conversation has gone on long enough. It's time for you to get out | ||
| ClubFloyd | of here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "Listen carefully, Carl Alan. You're a smart kid. We need | ||
| ClubFloyd | to synchronize our emotions. Then the iso-attraction of sympathetic | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic can pull me out." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The what?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The more strongly the two of us feel the same thing, the easier it | ||
| ClubFloyd | will be to get out. If we don't match up, though, it could rip the | ||
| ClubFloyd | world apart even more." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He looks frightened, but he says, "Okay, elf. I'll do it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Okay, Carl Alan," you say. "I need you to concentrate. Hard. Think | ||
| ClubFloyd | of������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "������the time you were the most upset and grumpy you've ever been | ||
| ClubFloyd | in your life. Feel the anger!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "������the best tasting food you've had in your life. Chocolate, | ||
| ClubFloyd | cupcakes, chips, ice cream, anything!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "������the person you are most loyal to, the person you care the | ||
| ClubFloyd | most about in the world." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Uh. Why no happy or open-minded option?" | |
| DavidW says, "Not strong enough, I guess." | ||
| DavidW says, "I think C is our best bet." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, those are our strong points. Maybe not Carl's." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, I don't see a totally risk-free option here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's see. Maybe if we fail, we get the other options." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "C" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan looks thoughtful for a moment. "The person I'm most loyal | ||
| ClubFloyd | to?" He brightens. "I know! Huxley! He's my dog! He's my favorite | ||
| ClubFloyd | person in the entire world. I would sell my tablet to keep him | ||
| ClubFloyd | alive if he was in the hospital." He tears up a bit, and the air | ||
| ClubFloyd | around him ripples. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You try to concentrate on your own friends and loyalties, but all | ||
| ClubFloyd | you can think of is betrayal and loneliness. There's a reason that | ||
| ClubFloyd | you've been more free-thinking, these last few years. Look at your | ||
| ClubFloyd | former friends, Flickering Flame, Glass Ghost, and the others. Have | ||
| ClubFloyd | they been kind back to you? Why be loyal if it's never rewarded? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Why be loyal if you'll only be betrayed? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This isn't working, you think. Carl Alan must sense it too, because | ||
| ClubFloyd | his concentration increases, trying to make up for it. Suddenly, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you feel an enormous ripping sensation, and are sent flying out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the TV and into the room, crashing into Carl Alan. You stagger to | ||
| ClubFloyd | your feet. Looking back at the TV with Carl Alan, you realize that | ||
| ClubFloyd | there is a visible hole leading to the White Wastes in the screen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You and Carl Alan look at each other. "You weren't pulling hard | ||
| ClubFloyd | enough," he says. "I had to do it myself." You remain silent and | ||
| ClubFloyd | embarrassed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The sound of marching feet from outside reminds you of the oncoming | ||
| ClubFloyd | threat. "Carl Alan, I have to go outside for a minute. I want you | ||
| ClubFloyd | to promise that if you see anything strange or frightening, you'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | let me know. Okay?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He nods. You run out of the house, but the rift you came in from | ||
| ClubFloyd | earlier is nowhere to be seen. It's just a typical Southern | ||
| ClubFloyd | California house, with a tall white fence and an enormous pit in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wait, what? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "What a pity." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You run over to the pit. Is this part of your world | ||
| ClubFloyd | bleeding through? No, it's substantial and firm, and blends | ||
| ClubFloyd | naturally into the environment. This pit must have been built for a | ||
| ClubFloyd | purpose. What is it humans use these for? Capturing wild beasts? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Storing roots and vegetables? Lairs for their treasure? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | No, that's it������it's a swimming pool! Or it will be, at any rate. | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is a glint in the bottom of the pool, like a sunlight on | ||
| ClubFloyd | metal. You take a single step forward, and the pool vanishes, | ||
| ClubFloyd | replaced by the White Wastes. Then you take a step back, and find | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself back where you started in California. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've found the edge of the rift. You creep back across, | ||
| ClubFloyd | determined to find the Kingdom of Dreams and delay them at all | ||
| ClubFloyd | costs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Once you're back in the Fae world, you are startled by the sound of | ||
| ClubFloyd | many voices. Climbing up a small boulder, you peek out. There, to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the left, is a patrol of mounted skeletons armed to the teeth! | ||
| ClubFloyd | They're wearing the insignia of the Kingdom of Dreams: a | ||
| ClubFloyd | rainbow-colored thistle. They must be advance scouts, looking for | ||
| ClubFloyd | the rift. If you can distract them, it will delay the main body of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the army. There are only ten or twelve of them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I call down a Christmas snowstorm to bury the rift. There's no | ||
| ClubFloyd | way the patrol can get through that! | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I trick them by creating an illusionary copy of the rift in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | opposite direction. That should lead them away for some time. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) This is war, and I'm willing to fight. I pull out my latest | ||
| ClubFloyd | concussion grenades. It should take weeks for them to gather their | ||
| ClubFloyd | bones back together again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "I wonder if the pit is from an avocado." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Not that kind of pit." | ||
| DavidW says, "pit-y" | ||
| DavidW says, "I have no idea what our best bet is here. I suck at choice tactics." | ||
| DavidW says, "I want to pick A, though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think skill-wise, they all come out the same. We haven't used our cheer skill in a while, though, so sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Above else, you are a Christmas elf, one of the greatest. No one | ||
| ClubFloyd | does Christmas like you. You chant a carol in your head while you | ||
| ClubFloyd | crush a pinecone taken from your pouch, the sweet resin filling the | ||
| ClubFloyd | air. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The burning heat from the sun in the White Wastes is cut by a chill | ||
| ClubFloyd | breeze. The sky darkens, and flakes of snow begin to form in a | ||
| ClubFloyd | column above you. The column widens, the flakes grow fatter, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | the air grows more frigid. The skeletons look around themselves in | ||
| ClubFloyd | alarm, the skeletal horses jumping here and there to try and find | ||
| ClubFloyd | the source of the onslaught. But the snow begins piling up on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | ground, damping their jumps and slowing their steps until they are | ||
| ClubFloyd | completely buried underneath the snow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You suddenly feel nauseous, and you almost pass out. Something | ||
| ClubFloyd | unimaginable blots out the sky for a moment. Fear and terror roll | ||
| ClubFloyd | from it in palpable waves. And then, it's gone. The Nightmare | ||
| ClubFloyd | King������he's here, and not here, somehow slipping between | ||
| ClubFloyd | dimensions, leaving destruction in his wake. And the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams must be marching somewhere behind. You only pray that you | ||
| ClubFloyd | can delay them long enough. Hopefully, Mrs. Claus and Candid have | ||
| ClubFloyd | dealt with their own problems and are sending reinforcements. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is a creaking sound below you. Looking down, you notice that | ||
| ClubFloyd | half of the rock you've been standing on is gone, swallowed by a | ||
| ClubFloyd | new rift. The ground is pockmarked with them, little bits of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world floating around your own. The rock snaps, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | tumble to the ground, falling into a rift. The King disappears from | ||
| ClubFloyd | view as you pop back through the rift into the human world. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | takes you through Carl Alan's house's kitchen, but somehow turned | ||
| ClubFloyd | sideways. You slide across the floor, knocking chairs over, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fall smack into another rift. This tosses you back into the wastes, | ||
| ClubFloyd | where you roll down a slope before falling through yet another | ||
| ClubFloyd | large rift. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "I didn't see Carl's mom mentioned in our flight through the kitchen. Wonder if *she* fell through a rift?" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "Who knows?" | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You come to a stop with a loud thud. You're back in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world, in Carl Alan's bedroom. But it's not������normal, for the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world. For one, the door you came in through is now on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | floor, and the window is on the ceiling. Strangely, you seem to be | ||
| ClubFloyd | the only thing in the room affected by the unusual gravity. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Must be some kind of spatiotemporal anomaly that's affected the | ||
| ClubFloyd | gravity in the region, but only in connection with magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures such as yourself. A new connection between gravitational | ||
| ClubFloyd | forces and magic? It might make an interesting research topic back | ||
| ClubFloyd | home. But for now, it's troublesome. Only the Nightmare King has | ||
| ClubFloyd | shown this kind of power. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You feel a pull in your stomach and something smacks you hard | ||
| ClubFloyd | across the face. Then you push yourself to your feet, and realize | ||
| ClubFloyd | that the gravity has shifted again, and you've smacked face-first | ||
| ClubFloyd | into the bedposts. This room must be destabilizing. You've got to | ||
| ClubFloyd | get out of here, before it implodes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can feel another change coming. Feels like it's gonna be a big | ||
| ClubFloyd | one. It's time to get out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Teleportation without seeing where you're going is a bit | ||
| ClubFloyd | advanced for a magic trick, but I've seen Cai do it plenty of | ||
| ClubFloyd | times. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I could make it out if I could anchor myself. I summon candy | ||
| ClubFloyd | cane pitons with thick taffy ropes to keep myself secure. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'll shift into a stormwind butterfly, adapt to the changes, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fly my way out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We're pretty shifty." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, butterfly power!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The stormwind butterfly lives in the fierce nimbus clouds of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Five Peaks. Surely a bit of gravitational misdirection wouldn't be | ||
| ClubFloyd | an obstacle to them. You close your eyes, picturing their majestic | ||
| ClubFloyd | triple pair of iron-black wings, their razor-sharp antenna and | ||
| ClubFloyd | diamond-like body. You can feel yourself changing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you open your eyes, you see a multi-faceted world around you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The compound vision of the butterfly, together with the | ||
| ClubFloyd | multi-directional sets of wings, proves to be the perfect | ||
| ClubFloyd | combination to give you control in the room. You take a victory | ||
| ClubFloyd | lap, riding out the gravitational changes, before bursting through | ||
| ClubFloyd | the window with your iron-hard wings and floating to the ground | ||
| ClubFloyd | below, returning to your usual shape. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn to see the room softly shrinking. You send calming, | ||
| ClubFloyd | peaceful thoughts its way, and the change slows. The weak spot | ||
| ClubFloyd | between worlds seems to be mending itself. At least you've | ||
| ClubFloyd | prevented any more damage. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can hear Carl Alan's mother on the phone through the kitchen | ||
| ClubFloyd | window. "He's been acting weird all day. It's like he's been | ||
| ClubFloyd | talking to himself, but he swears there's someone there. Like an | ||
| ClubFloyd | imaginary friend. I know. I know. I just wonder if we should see | ||
| ClubFloyd | someone. But you know, things have been weird today. The stools in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the kitchen fell over when I had my back turned, but Carl Alan | ||
| ClubFloyd | wasn't there. And I swear I saw bones in the pool. Yeah, I wonder | ||
| ClubFloyd | if there was some sort of ancient graveyard underneath the house | ||
| ClubFloyd | when we built it. Anyway������" The sound cuts out as she moves from | ||
| ClubFloyd | the window. But a new sound is picking up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A low rumbling, like the approach of a thunderstorm. But the skies | ||
| ClubFloyd | are clear. You look around, but it seems to be coming from all | ||
| ClubFloyd | over. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The rumbling slowly resolves into a rhythmic thumping, and your | ||
| ClubFloyd | heart leaps into your throat. Despite your best efforts, the army | ||
| ClubFloyd | is arriving. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Everything shatters at once. A phalanx of rock trolls materializes | ||
| ClubFloyd | in the pool, while an enormous oak treant pushes its way through | ||
| ClubFloyd | the distortion in the upstairs bedroom, shattering the roof. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | hear a scream from below, but don't have enough time to | ||
| ClubFloyd | investigate. You stalled the army a bit earlier, but it clearly | ||
| ClubFloyd | wasn't enough. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have connections with every part of the Fae realm. I know | ||
| ClubFloyd | exactly which of these clans and species have grudges against | ||
| ClubFloyd | others. I use this to my advantage. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll use an illusion to disguise half of their army as elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It'll be exhausting, but it might work. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) They don't know who they're messing with. I rig up a portable | ||
| ClubFloyd | machine gun that fires balls of despair and go out in a blaze of | ||
| ClubFloyd | glory. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh, maybe there are ents after all. Just on the enemy's side." | |
| DavidW says, "oo, messy messy" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A is probably connections, our weak point." | ||
| DavidW asks, "How are we at illusions?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Probably trickery, at 44%. Machine gun should be tinkering, also at 44%." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "(Want more skill ups!)" | ||
| DavidW says, "I like the idea of them fighting themselves." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's try it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Plumbing your depths for emotions to draw on for power, you find | ||
| ClubFloyd | mostly fear, anger, and a trickle of exhilaration. Blending them | ||
| ClubFloyd | into a mix of energy, you stream it out of your body, thickening | ||
| ClubFloyd | the air with heavy fog. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can feel the vital force draining from your body as you shape | ||
| ClubFloyd | the images of the creatures under the mist. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With the last of your current reserves, and while feeling | ||
| ClubFloyd | emotionally numb, you blow the mist away with a wave of your fist. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It parts, revealing that the plan has worked. Spread throughout the | ||
| ClubFloyd | troops, covering the smallest of the combatants, are illusionary | ||
| ClubFloyd | elves shouting Christmas battle cries. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The others panic, striking out at the false elves, who retaliate in | ||
| ClubFloyd | turn. The air fills with gouts of flame, loud clangs, and angry | ||
| ClubFloyd | bleats as the battle spreads. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "So, did it work enough?" | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Over the hubbub and the madness, you hear a bone-chilling | ||
| ClubFloyd | voice shouting out orders. "On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner! On | ||
| ClubFloyd | Blitzen!" You look up to see the sky full of red and white-striped | ||
| ClubFloyd | parachutes. The elvish cavalry has arrived, led by Mrs. Claus in | ||
| ClubFloyd | her war sleigh. Her red cloak is singed at the end, and her face is | ||
| ClubFloyd | set like granite. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You raise your fists to the skies in triumph, and the elves shout | ||
| ClubFloyd | your name. There will be songs about the Last Stand of Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | for years, you suppose. Then you slump to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Yes, but I said this'll be messy. This is one big battle regardless of our choices." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You gave the elves time to arrive. Now it's up to them to | ||
| ClubFloyd | finish this. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Slowly climbing to your feet, you stumble to the entrance of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | house, breathing heavily. Your last effort took a lot out of you, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and you don't have to fight alone anymore. Candy cane arrows pierce | ||
| ClubFloyd | through the wings of papyrus dragons, and harpies battle reindeer | ||
| ClubFloyd | mid-air. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | All at once, the sky darkens, and a hush falls over the | ||
| ClubFloyd | battlefield. Everyone stops and stares directly at you. No, not at | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. Behind you. You turn around and look up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You almost feel as if you've gone blind. Something huge is there, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but ever-shifting, with impossible colors. Coming down out of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | sky, sprouting tentacles of shadow that form and dissolve, | ||
| ClubFloyd | constantly mutating in form. The Nightmare King has arrived in all | ||
| ClubFloyd | his grandeur. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're closer to it than any other Fae, whether friend or foe. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | distortions in space, time and mind are filling your brain with | ||
| ClubFloyd | thoughts not your own, impossible thoughts, radiating from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | cloud. You can feel your identity and soul being ripped to shreds, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and you desperately look for something to cling on to. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I try to hold on to memories of beauty and form, crystal vases | ||
| ClubFloyd | and spidersilk gloves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I have an unbreakable heart. I think of my friends, of my duty, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and of my iron will. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I think of the natural world, and everything I would lose if I | ||
| ClubFloyd | were gone: sunsets, and wyvernback rides, and fresh water from | ||
| ClubFloyd | mountain streams. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "A may be happy thoughts?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Or elegant ones, which would be bad." | ||
| DavidW says, "I can't remember how we've done previously with nature options." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I think C could be good." | ||
| DavidW says, "I want to pick C, yes." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I suspect they go with rustic, which is at 60 something." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the cold and shadow of the darkness screaming above you, your | ||
| ClubFloyd | thoughts turn to warmth and light. A campfire in a lonesome desert, | ||
| ClubFloyd | the song of a phoenix in its empyrean lair. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The void still glowers above you, but it can't touch your heart. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | pulses for a minute, flashing a million points of light. Were those | ||
| ClubFloyd | stars? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This isn't what you expected at all. The Nightmare King above you | ||
| ClubFloyd | is motionless. For a fleeting moment, you feel as if you've come to | ||
| ClubFloyd | an understanding with the un-understandable. You feel a presence to | ||
| ClubFloyd | your side, and you see Carl Alan beside you, staring up at the | ||
| ClubFloyd | void. He feels it, too. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Together, you look up and watch as the Nightmare King engulfs you, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and you feel the presence of a mind unlike any other you've seen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You feel a rush of thoughts and feelings. Fear. An image of Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. Anger. Fractured Quartz. The earth, from space. The Fae | ||
| ClubFloyd | world from above. Confusion. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's suffocating. The Nightmare King is a being beyond anything | ||
| ClubFloyd | you've seen. But, amid all the messages and memories coming into | ||
| ClubFloyd | your brain, something is recognizable. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "He's a kid, isn't he?" says Carl Alan. You nod. It's true. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King is a child, small for his kind. And he's frightened | ||
| ClubFloyd | and alone. Something is wrong with him. You need to help him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I've spent the last year studying the Kingdom of Dreams and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King as often as I could. I understand this creature. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | know how to help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I've gained Carl Alan's trust. Together, we can soothe the | ||
| ClubFloyd | beast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I can sense the other elves nearby. If they trust me enough, I | ||
| ClubFloyd | can persuade them to enter the King as well, we could work | ||
| ClubFloyd | together. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "I like B." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm a bit sceptical that we have his trust, but that may be our best option." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Carl Alan," you say, "I need you to help me. This creature is | ||
| ClubFloyd | scared and alone. I need us to focus together like we tried | ||
| ClubFloyd | before." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan looks at you hesitantly. "What should we think about?" he | ||
| ClubFloyd | asks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Are you excited about Christmas?" you ask. "We could think about | ||
| ClubFloyd | that. If he feels us united and focused, it could bridge the gap, | ||
| ClubFloyd | help us communicate." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Okay, but only if you tell me what I'm getting for Christmas," he | ||
| ClubFloyd | says. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You stare at him, but his eyes remain adamant. "You're getting a | ||
| ClubFloyd | book of magic tricks," you say. "Now, hurry!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Together, you think of Christmas with all your heart. You can feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Nightmare King's mind pulling closer to yours, joining in. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | projects an image into your mind: a small elf-child, shivering in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the cold. You project yourself into the mental image, showing | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself throwing a blanket over the child. Carl Alan enters the | ||
| ClubFloyd | picture as well, bringing cookies. The mind-child smiles. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The King pulls away from you and Carl Alan both, lifting into the | ||
| ClubFloyd | air. You fall out of his inky darkness and onto the grass. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | bright light of the human world almost blinds you, but you can see | ||
| ClubFloyd | the armies of the Kingdom of Dreams on their knees in respect to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the King, while the elves and Mrs. Claus are waiting, alert for | ||
| ClubFloyd | what might happen next. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The King rises further, shrinking into himself as he pulls away | ||
| ClubFloyd | from these worlds. He diminishes to a small drop of inky black and | ||
| ClubFloyd | disappears. Hopefully he finds others of his kind, you think. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan runs back into the house to find his mother. The two | ||
| ClubFloyd | armies stare at each other in silence. Mrs. Claus turns to look at | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. And there, in the back of the Kingdom of Dreams, you see | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz trying to sneak away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The fate of both forces lies in the balance. What do you do? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) The Kingdom of Dreams started this war. We will end it. I lead | ||
| ClubFloyd | the elves against the Kingdom of Dreams. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) My knowledge of the King and the Kingdom is enough to convince | ||
| ClubFloyd | them to follow me instead of Fractured Quartz. I stage a takeover. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Claus Castle is weak, now. I can invite the Kingdom to join and | ||
| ClubFloyd | strengthen us if I can convince Mrs. Claus and Fractured Quartz to | ||
| ClubFloyd | go along with it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "A was our stated goal." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "But maybe C?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I *really* don't know." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I feel we fought too hard for Christmas to betray it with B." | ||
| DavidW asks, "What does C even mean? I like the idea of turning enemies into friends, but how on earth would the creatures of Christmas and Nightmare interact?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Many of them are Fae creatures, to my understanding, recruited amongst others from the Castle." | ||
| DavidW says, "C gives us a chance to be stronger against the other two forces we're up against." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I wanted to say that, actually, but kind of forgot." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Shall we try C?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I guess I pick C, yes." | ||
| DavidW says, "Hope it works." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Fae of the Kingdom of Dreams," you shout, "Your King is not what | ||
| ClubFloyd | you thought he was. You have been misled. But it need not be in | ||
| ClubFloyd | vain. Lay down your weapons and become one with us, not our slaves, | ||
| ClubFloyd | but our fellow citizens at Claus Castle. Repair the error you have | ||
| ClubFloyd | made." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You turn to Fractured Quartz. "Prophet of the Kingdom," you say, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Will you promise, under oath, to serve Mrs. Claus, and to work | ||
| ClubFloyd | together with us?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz looks at Mrs. Claus, and she stares back. Both | ||
| ClubFloyd | sides are silent. You wonder if Fractured Quartz is thinking about | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But your efforts are fruitless. Their faces both set into frowns, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and they turn from each other. Quartz paces a few feet away, then | ||
| ClubFloyd | turns back. "We will never serve the elves! As long as we live, we | ||
| ClubFloyd | will seek what was once ours!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz stalks away, and the Kingdom of Dreams follows | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Darn." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --As the day winds down, elves and the followers of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | King together walk through the holes in the world back into their | ||
| ClubFloyd | own. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus approaches you. "This has been a grim day. But, I'm glad | ||
| ClubFloyd | you were able to hold them off," she says. "Candid was able to get | ||
| ClubFloyd | the factory running again, and I had very little trouble with the | ||
| ClubFloyd | dragons. It's likely that Flickering Flame saw our confusion and | ||
| ClubFloyd | took advantage." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She puts a hand on your shoulder, and says, "Thanks, Club. I don't | ||
| ClubFloyd | know what I'd do without you." She's standing very close, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | can smell wintermint and pine needles from her hair. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I give her a hug. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I don't know what I'd do without you, goddess." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I take a small step away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "B, I guess." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grin at each other. Claus grips your hand for a moment, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, "Then we'll just have to support each other, won't we?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you look at the house together. The entire thing has | ||
| ClubFloyd | been crushed, and swirling portals riddle the nearby landscape. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "What are we going to do about this place?" you ask Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "It's going to be hard to keep this secret from the humans. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | neighbors have probably been recording everything." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | At the mention of the neighbors, a door opens in the side of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | house closest to you. Out walks a tall, dark-eyed woman wearing a | ||
| ClubFloyd | black suit. She seems unfazed by the presence of you, Mrs. Claus, | ||
| ClubFloyd | or the gaping portals to another world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I couldn't help but overhear you," she says. "Yes, it's true that | ||
| ClubFloyd | you've been recorded. But the general public won't know. We've been | ||
| ClubFloyd | taking care of the situation. Consider it a gift from Krinkle Corp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | We'll clean up here." Out of the corner of your eye, you notice a | ||
| ClubFloyd | long convoy of black vans coming down the road. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus frowns. "And what if we decline your assistance?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She hands a small business card to Mrs. Claus. "My employer, Mr. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Leontari, would be interested in discussing the matter with you in | ||
| ClubFloyd | person. Here's his card. I hope to see you soon." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She turns and walks back towards the house. Over her shoulder, she | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, as she enters, "I suggest you two go, now. The process we'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | be using here is hazardous for those of your������particular nature." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus looks at you, and the convoy, and at the card in her | ||
| ClubFloyd | hand. She turns and strides towards the portal, and you follow her | ||
| ClubFloyd | back to the Fae world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "well" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| DavidW says, "Shooed off by the Neighbourhood Watch." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "More like Neighborhood Krinkle Corp." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Why were they even in the area?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Inside intel, I would guess." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Eight Enter the Beast] | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is little time to process your relief over the Nightmare | ||
| ClubFloyd | King. Events are piling on each other, and Krinkle Corp's | ||
| ClubFloyd | invitation has had an electrifying effect on Mrs. Claus. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | arranges for your visit in haste. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's gray and cold as you and Mrs. Claus pull up to Krinkle Corp | ||
| ClubFloyd | headquarters in New York City in a cab. Glowing animated billboards | ||
| ClubFloyd | display ads for Krinkle Corp's Lenswarden and Madame Time action | ||
| ClubFloyd | figures. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This deep into the human world, you've had to adopt a more human | ||
| ClubFloyd | disguise. You're used to changing your form quite a bit anyway, so | ||
| ClubFloyd | it won't be a great burden for you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Corporation seems aware of your true nature, of course, but you | ||
| ClubFloyd | doubt that knowledge extends to the lower ranks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus has gone for a muted look in a burgundy peacoat, but her | ||
| ClubFloyd | piercing eyes and frost-white hair demand attention. Her normal | ||
| ClubFloyd | form is fairly human, so she hasn't had to change much. What | ||
| ClubFloyd | disguise have you chosen? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm dressed as a hairy, knuckle-cracking thug in a dingy fedora | ||
| ClubFloyd | and matching overcoat. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I prefer a subtle approach. I'm disguised as Mrs. Claus's child | ||
| ClubFloyd | with a neat hat and tidy braids. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I match Mrs. Claus's tough-as-steel style as closely as | ||
| ClubFloyd | possible. We could be twins. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I may have to be disguised, but I can still stand out. I am a | ||
| ClubFloyd | mysterious figure with a domino mask and a feathered headdress. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "Have we heard of Leontari before?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I *think* so. But I'm not sure where." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Probably during our visit to... Crank?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Anyway, new chapter after all. I guess it's another three chapters dealing with each of the threats after the three chapters scoping them out." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm leaning towards B here. This place does make toys after all. They might give free samples to visiting kids." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure, that's reasonable." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you step out of the cab. Mrs. Claus nods towards the | ||
| ClubFloyd | driver, whom you pay with a small wad of dollar bills. She pulls | ||
| ClubFloyd | off. The neon light from the billboards plays over the car as it | ||
| ClubFloyd | drives away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look at Mrs. Claus, who seems lost in thought. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | confrontation with the Kingdom of Dreams wore out both of you. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | now this. Sometimes you wish you could take a vacation. At least | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Fractured Quartz having gone to ground somewhere, you feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | more at ease, although Candid has been especially morose recently. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shake your head and look around. Krinkle Corp headquarters | ||
| ClubFloyd | rises in front you, dozens of stories tall. The weathered stone is | ||
| ClubFloyd | old and full of memories. It almost seems resentful of the gaudy | ||
| ClubFloyd | electronics strung across the front of it. The entrance archway is | ||
| ClubFloyd | grandiose, stonework and stained glass rising twenty feet or more | ||
| ClubFloyd | in the air, while the doors themselves are modern steel and | ||
| ClubFloyd | plexiglass. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll be going in first, as Mrs. Claus's bodyguard and confidante. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time to work on your strategy. A first impression sets the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tone for the entire negotiation. You've already made a conciliatory | ||
| ClubFloyd | choice of appearance. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I walk confidently to the doors and push them open without | ||
| ClubFloyd | waiting for security. They need to know that we take action. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I want to start things off amicably. I walk to the doors and | ||
| ClubFloyd | knock politely. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) They need to show respect for Mrs. Claus. They can come to us. | ||
| ClubFloyd | We wait stoically. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) It's cold, and I just want to go inside. I shout "Hello!" and | ||
| ClubFloyd | hope someone hears us. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "The last chapter was short. Hopefully this one will be as well." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Possibly." | ||
| DavidW says, "B" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "B" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You take a few quick steps to the doors and tap. After a moment's | ||
| ClubFloyd | wait, you hear a buzzer. The door clicks open, gliding on automatic | ||
| ClubFloyd | hinges. Then you enter, and Mrs. Claus follows close behind you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The lobby is brightly lit, with a sweeping antique staircase | ||
| ClubFloyd | dominating the open space. Rows of stainless steel doors, painted | ||
| ClubFloyd | in brown and gold, flank the staircase to either side. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Four guards in suits stand in a line in front of the staircase, | ||
| ClubFloyd | each wearing dark glasses and a headset. One of the guards steps | ||
| ClubFloyd | forward. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Mr. Leontari will be a few minutes. He invites you to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | reception hall to wait." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus graciously inclines her head, and the guards escort you | ||
| ClubFloyd | up the stairs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The oldest guard, a man with a salt and pepper beard, | ||
| ClubFloyd | looks down at you as you skip up the stairs. You smile sweetly at | ||
| ClubFloyd | him, then stick out your tongue. The guard looks away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are brought to a large room, filled with mostly empty tables | ||
| ClubFloyd | and chairs covered in dust covers. One table has been prepared with | ||
| ClubFloyd | an exquisite banquet. Caviar, lobster tail, warm pastries, baklava, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and other delicacies are provided for your pleasure. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus, still seemingly lost in some distant thought, leans | ||
| ClubFloyd | over you to grab a honey cake. She whispers to you as her mouth | ||
| ClubFloyd | grazes your ear, "I need to investigate something for a moment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Distract them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She takes a bite out of the cake and walks away. You keep a | ||
| ClubFloyd | straight face but start devising your plan. You'll need to play off | ||
| ClubFloyd | your strengths. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I show the guards just how much food this body can fit. This | ||
| ClubFloyd | ought to be fun. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) There's a piano in the corner. I play a complex and elegant | ||
| ClubFloyd | concerto, something that will dazzle them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I use my natural open-mindedness and curiosity to my benefit. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | ply the guards with questions until I wear them down. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "C?" | |
| DavidW says, "oh yes" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You slowly sidle up to the guard with a goatee and wait patiently, | ||
| ClubFloyd | looking at them, trying to come up with a question. One pops into | ||
| ClubFloyd | your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "So, you seen anything interesting on the job here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He shrugs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You try to think of something else you'd be interested in knowing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Do you like any of this food?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He shrugs again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Honestly, you're not a naturally curious person, and trying to find | ||
| ClubFloyd | topics in this line is turning out to be fairly difficult. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | guard turns and walks away. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus watches you with a perturbed expression on her face. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | shrug helplessly. She sighs and sits back at the table, glumly | ||
| ClubFloyd | pulling apart a roll and buttering each piece. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "But, but..." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The largest set of doors at the end of the room open and | ||
| ClubFloyd | a tall, awkward man in an olive-colored suit peeks in. The guards | ||
| ClubFloyd | all snap to attention. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The man waves apologetically at the guards, and strides to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. He grasps her by the hand. "Phil, Phil Archer. I'm the Vice | ||
| ClubFloyd | President of Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus nods politely without breaking eye contact. "Diana | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil grins, but it doesn't extend to his still-cautious eyes. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, "I'd just like to extend my welcome to you and your, uh, kid | ||
| ClubFloyd | here on behalf of Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He clears his throat, and says, "Mr. Leontari is ready for you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Please follow me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He leads you towards the double doors, and the three of you enter a | ||
| ClubFloyd | long corridor, with the guards following behind. You immediately | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel a dull, gray presence. A magic inhibitor? This might be what | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus was talking about, in the walls. But she wasn't able to | ||
| ClubFloyd | finish her investigations, so you'll have to deal with this on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | own. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have a thaumaturgical signal scrambler in my pocket. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | activate it and hope for the best. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Christmas magic is different from other kinds and might be | ||
| ClubFloyd | harder to inhibit. I establish a conduit of magical hope and wonder | ||
| ClubFloyd | leading past the range of the inhibitor, like a high-voltage | ||
| ClubFloyd | magical wire. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) The system might be targeting visible magic. I subdue our auras, | ||
| ClubFloyd | hiding our magic with trickery where it can't find it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 66% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 65% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 75% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Legendary Elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The largest set of doors at the end of the room open and a tall, | ||
| ClubFloyd | awkward man in an olive-colored suit peeks in. The guards all snap | ||
| ClubFloyd | to attention. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The man waves apologetically at the guards, and strides to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. He grasps her by the hand. "Phil, Phil Archer. I'm the Vice | ||
| ClubFloyd | President of Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus nods politely without breaking eye contact. "Diana | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil grins, but it doesn't extend to his still-cautious eyes. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | says, "I'd just like to extend my welcome to you and your, uh, kid | ||
| ClubFloyd | here on behalf of Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He clears his throat, and says, "Mr. Leontari is ready for you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Please follow me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He leads you towards the double doors, and the three of you enter a | ||
| ClubFloyd | long corridor, with the guards following behind. You immediately | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel a dull, gray presence. A magic inhibitor? This might be what | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus was talking about, in the walls. But she wasn't able to | ||
| ClubFloyd | finish her investigations, so you'll have to deal with this on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | own. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have a thaumaturgical signal scrambler in my pocket. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | activate it and hope for the best. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Christmas magic is different from other kinds and might be | ||
| ClubFloyd | harder to inhibit. I establish a conduit of magical hope and wonder | ||
| ClubFloyd | leading past the range of the inhibitor, like a high-voltage | ||
| ClubFloyd | magical wire. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) The system might be targeting visible magic. I subdue our auras, | ||
| ClubFloyd | hiding our magic with trickery where it can't find it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "That must have been an unlucky roll, I guess." | |
| DavidW says, "I like B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's try it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You focus on a Christmas memory of watching a family of seven | ||
| ClubFloyd | children open gifts that you had hand-chosen for them. The parents' | ||
| ClubFloyd | memories had been altered, as usual, so their joy was just as real | ||
| ClubFloyd | as the children's. Concentrating, you extrude the memory, spooling | ||
| ClubFloyd | it out like thread in your palm, and you ball it up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Then you make a discreet casting motion, throwing the ball of | ||
| ClubFloyd | thread behind you. The guards shouldn't notice concentrated hope | ||
| ClubFloyd | rolling by. Unless they're Fae, which is doubtful, given their | ||
| ClubFloyd | scent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The ball rolls down the hall and bounces off the door, headed back | ||
| ClubFloyd | your way. It smacks into the foot of one of the guards and gets | ||
| ClubFloyd | absorbed. She smiles and breathes deeply, blindly absorbing your | ||
| ClubFloyd | magical cheer. Oh well. It was worth a shot. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sigh. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil stops briefly before an imposing door carved with a lion's | ||
| ClubFloyd | head. He ushers you into a penthouse office with wrap-around | ||
| ClubFloyd | windows letting in the twilight. Bookshelves line the interior | ||
| ClubFloyd | wall. Mr. Leontari stands behind a broad desk, facing away from | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil and the guards leave. The doors close behind you with a solid | ||
| ClubFloyd | "thunk." You can't suppress a shiver. Mrs. Claus squeezes your | ||
| ClubFloyd | hand. She leans in and whispers, "Be firm. It will be all right." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mr. Leontari turns and faces you. His appearance is astonishing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You don't know what to focus on first. What's your first | ||
| ClubFloyd | impression? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) The well-oiled and neatly-trimmed tawny beard spilling over his | ||
| ClubFloyd | chest. It's impressive. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) The dark eyes hidden under lowering brows. They seem to take in | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything at once. It's unsettling. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) The expertly-tailored suit and well-cobbled shoes. They look | ||
| ClubFloyd | hand-made by an expert. The ostentatious display is off-putting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) The expert grace that he carries himself with. It's surprising, | ||
| ClubFloyd | given his musculature. And it's welcoming. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW asks, "Well, he is a lion, yes?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Maybe?" | ||
| DavidW says, "well, maybe not literally, but in essence, he's a lion in human form. The kingliness, strength, majesty, etc." | ||
| DavidW says, "And also a predator with teeth." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess I could see that." | ||
| DavidW says, "And claws." | ||
| DavidW says, "I like A or D here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I could go with any of them." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Please, be seated," says Mr. Leontari. He gestures, indicating a | ||
| ClubFloyd | pair of armchairs near an end table with two cups of tea. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus sits down. She pulls off her gloves and folds them | ||
| ClubFloyd | before grabbing a cup. It's clear she intends you to follow her | ||
| ClubFloyd | lead and sit calmly. The tension is getting to you, though. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | guards, the inhibitor. Mr. Leontari is trying to intimidate you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | How do you react? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I sit down, imitating Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I sit down, but I subtly keep my weight on my toes, ready to | ||
| ClubFloyd | spring into action. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I remain standing, partly between Mr. Leontari and Mrs. Claus, | ||
| ClubFloyd | ready to defend her in case of danger. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I remain standing, refusing to participate in this farce. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "A, I think." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You settle yourself down by plopping into the provided chair. Then | ||
| ClubFloyd | you grab the tea and sip. Mrs. Claus smiles briefly, and Mr. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Leontari seems pleased at your acquiescence. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mr. Leontari breaks the silence. "Mrs. Claus," he says, leaning his | ||
| ClubFloyd | bulk forward, "let me be brief. Krinkle Corp can no longer tolerate | ||
| ClubFloyd | the influence of magical beings in the mortal world. And yes, we | ||
| ClubFloyd | know exactly who you are. But, before we take action, I am giving | ||
| ClubFloyd | you one chance. I'm offering to buy you out." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus merely raises an eyebrow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You may find us beyond your means," says Mrs. Claus. "Our | ||
| ClubFloyd | organization is vast and has been under independent management for | ||
| ClubFloyd | millennia. " | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No, I don't think you're quite as strong as you say, Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'm told you've lost a considerable investment in the last few | ||
| ClubFloyd | months. Multiple investments. A Heart, and," he says as he turns to | ||
| ClubFloyd | you, "a List." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You wince. Mrs. Claus is impassive, but her eyes are gleaming. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | always did love the deadly dance of corporate negotiation. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She looks at you. "What do you think, Club? Should we sell | ||
| ClubFloyd | ourselves to Krinkle Corp?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) You laugh contemptuously. Ridiculous! | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) You speak to him directly. "Mr. Leontari, I'll be frank. I think | ||
| ClubFloyd | you're biting off more than you can chew." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "We don't know what they have to offer yet. We should give him a | ||
| ClubFloyd | chance to explain himself." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I'm sure we can figure this out together. But the idea does | ||
| ClubFloyd | seem pretty ridiculous." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "hm. D looks best to me." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "Mr Leontari, are you mistaking yourself for the President of the Mortal wworld?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "D seems fine, yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mr. Leontari frowns at you. Mrs. Claus smiles and sips her tea. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mr. Leontari says, "Cards on the table. I'm prepared to facilitate | ||
| ClubFloyd | the return of your two artifacts. Offer you positions on the board, | ||
| ClubFloyd | a thirty percent interest in the conglomerate. Independence in your | ||
| ClubFloyd | own sphere." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "In return for?" asks Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "In return, we ask that you remain in that sphere. We ask that the | ||
| ClubFloyd | pathways between worlds be closed to all traffic except official | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp business. We ask that the Fae world remove itself from | ||
| ClubFloyd | the interests of our world." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "And what of Christmas?" asks Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The practice of Christmas would be abolished," says Mr. Leontari. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No Christmas?" you think. Your overarching goal is to restore Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus to her rightful place. But would you still feel comfortable | ||
| ClubFloyd | if that place didn't involve Christmas? If Mrs. Claus led you into | ||
| ClubFloyd | a new direction, a corporate partnership? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is Mrs. Claus's decision, of course. But how would you feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | about Christmas being gone? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Good riddance. Quasi-religious holidays do no good for the | ||
| ClubFloyd | mortals. But a corporate partnership could bring me influence in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the human world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I would honestly be happy to see Christmas go. But I would | ||
| ClubFloyd | rather work in the Nine Hells than become a business executive. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) A partnership between the realms is an exciting idea. But I | ||
| ClubFloyd | would hate to lose Christmas. It means so much to me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Any choice that involves ending Christmas is off the table. I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Yuletide elf to the core. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I'd say D. We've fought so hard for it..." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | While you are pondering your own feelings, Mrs. Claus rises to her | ||
| ClubFloyd | feet. "Mr. Leontari," she says. "I'm afraid that I must reject your | ||
| ClubFloyd | offer. You are naive. The dealings of the Fae realm are beyond your | ||
| ClubFloyd | ken if you believe that I could oppose the will of the Great Seven. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I pity you for the oncoming storm that you have brought upon | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself by challenging them." She stands, opens the door, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | motions for you to follow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I think not, Mrs. Claus." He extends his hand, and a feeling of | ||
| ClubFloyd | intense anger floods the room. He flicks his wrist, and the door | ||
| ClubFloyd | slams shut. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus does not seem surprised. In one fluid motion, she brings | ||
| ClubFloyd | an obsidian dagger from inside her sleeve and slings it across the | ||
| ClubFloyd | room. It hits Leontari's suit jacket and bounces off. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mr. Leontari grins, and his face softens and morphs. He | ||
| ClubFloyd | shifts, growing even larger, his beard and hair lengthening. His | ||
| ClubFloyd | suit shifts into a heavy lion's skin wrapped around him. He can't | ||
| ClubFloyd | be a bleeder. He must be a Fae. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus says, "Hercules. I've long suspected you were at the | ||
| ClubFloyd | head of Krinkle Corp. I had to piece the clues together by myself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | By the time I entered this building, I knew it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "And yet you stayed, dear sister." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Half-sister, Hercules. You don't think I knew what I was doing? I | ||
| ClubFloyd | didn't get where I am by leaving loose ends, Hercules. I'm here to | ||
| ClubFloyd | make _you_ an offer. Shut down Krinkle Corp, and return to the Fae | ||
| ClubFloyd | world where you belong." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He shakes his head. "No." He then slams his hand down on a button | ||
| ClubFloyd | on the table. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | From every angle of the room, you feel a terrible pull on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic. Dampeners, like the ones in the hallway, but far more | ||
| ClubFloyd | powerful. You can feel the clockworks in your pocket grinding to a | ||
| ClubFloyd | halt, the disguise you wear being stripped away, and your emotions | ||
| ClubFloyd | being dampened. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mr. Leontari shrinks a bit and loses some of his luster, but he | ||
| ClubFloyd | still towers over the two of you. Mrs. Claus looks frailer, older | ||
| ClubFloyd | and worn, but her eyes are still hard and cold as ice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He grabs a heavy cane from behind his chair and stalks forward | ||
| ClubFloyd | around his desk. You need to stop him, but you don't have access to | ||
| ClubFloyd | your magic. All you have left is your years of knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I can see a structural instability in one of the bookshelves. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | send the whole thing toppling towards him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I've heard hundreds of rumors about Hercules over the years. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | know his weaknesses, and I take advantage. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I may not have magic, but I still have a trick or two up my | ||
| ClubFloyd | sleeve. I distract him with sleight of hand and let Mrs. Claus get | ||
| ClubFloyd | the jump on him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Oh." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I think A and C are potentially viable." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm very curious about B, if he can be stopped with mere words." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm. Rumors are rumors. Who knows how real those rumors are." | ||
| DavidW says, "Hero to zero in no time flat." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | ||
| DavidW says, "Since it's just the two of us, you'll have to be the tie-breaker. Pick your own choice and ignore mine." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | There it is, on the right side of the third shelf. One of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | anchoring bolts is strained, holding more weight than it should. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You make your move. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's hard, sprinting without magic. You feel slow and bloated. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | you scramble as quickly as you can toward the bookshelf. You snatch | ||
| ClubFloyd | up a paperweight along the way and throw it at the bolt. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The paperweight hits the bolt, but it just knocks it back in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | hole. Your structural analysis failed: the bolt was just loose, not | ||
| ClubFloyd | holding up anything. Mr. Leontari raises the cane and brings it | ||
| ClubFloyd | swiftly down towards Mrs. Claus. She jumps out of the way, but it | ||
| ClubFloyd | strikes her side on the way down. She winces. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you square off, facing Hercules. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shouts echo down the hallway outside. You can make out Phil's | ||
| ClubFloyd | voice, and the guards. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules grins, and says, "I've trained them for this. You aren't | ||
| ClubFloyd | leaving this room until I'm finished with you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus says, "I thought you might bring reinforcements. That's | ||
| ClubFloyd | why I've brought my own. There's someone you're probably dying to | ||
| ClubFloyd | see." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Darnit." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --She whistles sharply, and you hear sleigh bells in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | distance. Hercules's face reddens. He says, "That feels | ||
| ClubFloyd | like������Dad?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Outside the windows, piercing through the clouds, come four of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer with Donner at their head. He tosses his head, shaking the | ||
| ClubFloyd | bells, and charges at the window. Your heart fills with hope. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner is a close friend of yours, and you trust him here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As they get close, though, they drop drastically. Pulling away, | ||
| ClubFloyd | they circle again for another try. Mrs. Claus says, "It's the | ||
| ClubFloyd | inhibitors! Try to weaken them as much as you can. Help the | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer get through!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules is absorbed by the scene outside the window. His hand is | ||
| ClubFloyd | on the glass, and he's staring at his transformed father as all the | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer climb back upwards. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need to find a way to stop the inhibitors������without magic, | ||
| ClubFloyd | of course. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) They might be electrically powered if they dampen magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | sources. I try to create a short in the circuitry of the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) The devices seem to have a short lag before taking effect. I can | ||
| ClubFloyd | try to scramble the circuits by attempting to shift into dozens of | ||
| ClubFloyd | forms in succession. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Hercules would have trouble making this equipment on his own. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | think I might have seen something like this before. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Should we hope for B to work?" | |
| DavidW says, "I want to pick A. Pour some of that tea on anything electrical." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You notice a gold-looking statue on the desk. Given Hercules's | ||
| ClubFloyd | fondness for extravagance, it probably is gold������an excellent | ||
| ClubFloyd | conductor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But there aren't any visible sockets to put it in. Everything is | ||
| ClubFloyd | sleek lines and solid surfaces. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Suddenly, you get an idea. You crawl under the desk, lifting up the | ||
| ClubFloyd | rug to try and find a hidden outlet. Unfortunately, all you see is | ||
| ClubFloyd | a pile of chicken bones. Hercules must hide them there after his | ||
| ClubFloyd | lunches. Come to think of it, you really should have known there'd | ||
| ClubFloyd | be no outlet there, as there are no electrical devices on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | computer. Your tech skills might be getting rusty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Seeing your struggle, Mrs. Claus decides to take matters into her | ||
| ClubFloyd | own hands. She lowers down and sprints at the wall, leaping and | ||
| ClubFloyd | striking it dead-center with her heeled boot. It cracks, and Donner | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the other reindeer plummet from an angle, smashing through the | ||
| ClubFloyd | glass and tromping into the room. Donner immediately charges into a | ||
| ClubFloyd | wall with his antlers, tearing it up and revealing machinery behind | ||
| ClubFloyd | the wood paneling. He kicks it until it stops sparking, then | ||
| ClubFloyd | surveys the room. He sees Mrs. Claus kneeling on the floor and | ||
| ClubFloyd | holding a bleeding leg. He looks at you and glares. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "geez, we keep messing it up and Mrs C has to rescue us." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "She might have been better off going alone." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus points at the door, and the other reindeer | ||
| ClubFloyd | rush to hold it against the oncoming guards. Donner then looks at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules. With the magic returning in the room, Hercules reverts to | ||
| ClubFloyd | his human disguise, as do you. Mrs. Claus looks taller again, | ||
| ClubFloyd | stronger, more present. But Donner stays the same. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules notices this and is perturbed. "What did you do to him, | ||
| ClubFloyd | Diana?" he asks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "It wasn't me. It was blood magic, by the others in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | war������transformation into an animal, irreversible," she says. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules starts breathing faster. Donner reaches down and pulls a | ||
| ClubFloyd | shard of glass out of his right foreleg with his teeth. There's | ||
| ClubFloyd | blood on it. Mrs. Claus gestures and the blood begins to glow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules looks back and forth at everyone desperately. "You all | ||
| ClubFloyd | left me to rot in the mortal world, because I was half-human! What | ||
| ClubFloyd | did you expect I would do? Worship you? I hated you, but I hated | ||
| ClubFloyd | you with reason. You had no right to punish me for what you | ||
| ClubFloyd | caused." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He turns to you, finally, imploring. "You see what they're doing, | ||
| ClubFloyd | don't you? The old guard, caring about nothing but themselves and | ||
| ClubFloyd | preserving their rights. Merging the human world and the Fae and | ||
| ClubFloyd | leaving those of us caught in the middle to die. My own father | ||
| ClubFloyd | abandoning me and all his other half-breeds! You, you seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | different. Don't let them do this." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Everyone is looking at you now. Even the sounds from outside the | ||
| ClubFloyd | room have died down. What do you say? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Take him back to the Fae world to stand trial. He's used magic. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He's one of us now, and should be punished accordingly. But don't | ||
| ClubFloyd | transform him." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Take your revenge on him. Transform him. He's just a thug and a | ||
| ClubFloyd | criminal." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "If what he says is true, you have both done wrong. Let him go. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Give him one last chance." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "'Thank you for helping to save Christmas, Club. Here's your pink slip and a referral.'" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Oops." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm not even beginning to understand the larger picture." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So, I don't think I want C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "There is probably a number of back story snippets in options we didn't choose." | ||
| DavidW says, "Sorry, I just dropped my ham and relish mixture all over the floor." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Oh damn." | ||
| DavidW says, "I guess I'm not eating that." | ||
| DavidW says, "So pick A, then. It probably ends this chapter." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We'll see." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus glares at Hercules, but says, "Very well. I have no | ||
| ClubFloyd | doubt that a tribunal would feel the same as I do. But I can afford | ||
| ClubFloyd | to wait." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules looks at you and says, "Thanks, I suppose. Though I'm not | ||
| ClubFloyd | sure this will be any better." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus says, "You will need to be bound." She hands him a | ||
| ClubFloyd | crystal orb, and says, "Look deeply into the orb." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hercules scoffs. "How will that bind me? What's inside the������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | While he peers at the orb, Mrs. Claus clasps her hands and chops | ||
| ClubFloyd | him viciously in the back of the neck. He passes out, and she drags | ||
| ClubFloyd | him over Donner's back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She notices you watching, and shrugs. "Safer this way." She | ||
| ClubFloyd | produces silk ropes and ties him down securely, then kneels and | ||
| ClubFloyd | whispers in Donner's ear. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You watch as Donner and the reindeer fly off until they | ||
| ClubFloyd | are no more than a twinkle in the sky. Mrs. Claus sinks into a | ||
| ClubFloyd | chair. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The door is pushed open quietly, and Phil walks in. He looks | ||
| ClubFloyd | distraught: his eyes are red, and his sleek hair is strayed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I've been watching on the security cameras," he says, indicating a | ||
| ClubFloyd | recess in the corner of the ceiling. "Mr.������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He chokes a bit. "Mr. Leontari gave me very specific instructions | ||
| ClubFloyd | about his meeting. I was aware of his nature, but I didn't������I | ||
| ClubFloyd | didn't expect him to be taken away. And certainly not with such | ||
| ClubFloyd | force, ma'am," he says, looking at Mrs. Claus. "Anyway, I've been | ||
| ClubFloyd | asked to negotiate the relationship between Krinkle Corp and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | folks at Claus Castle." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus stands wearily, and says, "As you wish. I am feeling | ||
| ClubFloyd | unwell, and will not be able to negotiate at this time. My | ||
| ClubFloyd | associate, Club Floyd, will be able to conduct my affairs in my | ||
| ClubFloyd | stead." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil looks at you. With magic back, you've returned to your little | ||
| ClubFloyd | child disguise, although you're sure he saw your Fae form in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tapes. How do you respond to this assignment? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I'd be more than happy to represent the Fae world during these | ||
| ClubFloyd | negotiations, Mr. Archer." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Let's do this, Phil. But be aware that I'm never letting you | ||
| ClubFloyd | guys get a foothold in the Fae realm again." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I'll do it, goddess, but this is really something you should | ||
| ClubFloyd | have done yourself." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "It seems rather pointless, doesn't it? But I suppose I have to. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That doesn't mean I have to like it, though." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm." | |
| DavidW says, "I kinda want to say C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm thinking A may get us an ally if we don't mess up again." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Hm, C is both true and a bit antagonistic." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus regards you coldly, then turns and walks out of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | broken glass window, forming a clear stairway of ice rising up into | ||
| ClubFloyd | the air. She is gone in moments. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil looks at you, nervous, but impressed. The two of you sit next | ||
| ClubFloyd | to each other in a couple of the armchairs that escaped the | ||
| ClubFloyd | destruction. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Closer to Phil, now, you can see the emotional toll he's suffered. | ||
| ClubFloyd | His face looks pale and clammy, and he seems as if he might throw | ||
| ClubFloyd | up at any minute. But he composes himself and addresses you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Okay, buddy, let's get this done with. Herc������Mr. Leontari and I | ||
| ClubFloyd | have talked about this a lot. We both agree our primary goal is to | ||
| ClubFloyd | retain coverage of the toy market and to diffuse sales away from | ||
| ClubFloyd | the holiday season as much as possible, to create a more uniform | ||
| ClubFloyd | market and income stream." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He coughs. "Our secondary goal is to, as completely as possible, | ||
| ClubFloyd | control all access between the two realms, and to prevent | ||
| ClubFloyd | unauthorized travel between the two. While the connections between | ||
| ClubFloyd | the worlds have been relatively stable, there are far too many for | ||
| ClubFloyd | human comfort." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He pulls out a mostly-empty water bottle and drinks the last few | ||
| ClubFloyd | drops, then asks, "What about you and your group? What are you | ||
| ClubFloyd | hoping to gain from this negotiation?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "To be honest, Phil, I've been considering leading a change in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the management at Claus Castle, and I could use a partner." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Our main goal is the continued safety of Mrs. Claus, Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle, and Christmas." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Well, Phil, the problem is that our goals are opposed. You'd | ||
| ClubFloyd | like to separate the worlds. I'd like to bring them together, | ||
| ClubFloyd | change the order, shake things up." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Frankly, Phil, I'm just looking for stability. Put something in | ||
| ClubFloyd | place that will keep us in lasting peace, and then move on." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Have you Krinkle guys heard about birthdays? Turns out kinds have them all around the year." | |
| DavidW says, "B seems to be how we've been playing, but I could be persuaded to D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I like B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tonight's events must have been extremely trying for Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The best you can do is to set things right by her. That is your | ||
| ClubFloyd | main goal, after all. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil smiles, and some of the weariness leaves his face. "Loyalty to | ||
| ClubFloyd | your boss. I can appreciate that." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | He looks out at the glass, thinking. "I could be willing to propose | ||
| ClubFloyd | a withdrawal from our interactions with the other realm. But you | ||
| ClubFloyd | need to show me you can be trusted, first." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've got to convince him to follow your plan. In all the mess, | ||
| ClubFloyd | it's hard for you to remember if you've been playing the tough elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | or the kind-hearted elf. But this is the time for your strategy to | ||
| ClubFloyd | shine. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Might as well be fully aggressive. "You can work with me or die. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You saw what we're capable of tonight." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) It can't hurt to play nice. "Frankly, Phil, your company has | ||
| ClubFloyd | extensive resources. We can't afford not to negotiate." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I can play on our common goals. "Phil, we need each other. We're | ||
| ClubFloyd | not the only players in our respective fields. Peace is wiser." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) He needs to know where he stands. "Mr. Archer, you're not | ||
| ClubFloyd | exactly in a position to negotiate. I'll only make this offer | ||
| ClubFloyd | once." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "B?" | |
| DavidW says, "yes, B" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | He sighs with relief and leans back. "Well, you've been more than | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasonable during your visit today, given the circumstances. I wish | ||
| ClubFloyd | I could say the same for your associates. Let's make this deal." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You smile. "We'll send you a copy of the agreement," you say, "and | ||
| ClubFloyd | you can look it over." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Alright, then. And don't worry about Mrs. Claus. After tonight, | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'll definitely stay out of her way," says Phil. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Not many can say to have gone toe to toe with Hercules and come out on top." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, we didn't, but Mrs. Claus did." | ||
| DavidW says, "right" | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Phil stands and walks out the door, leaving it open | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind him. An ashen-faced guard peeks his head in, but sees you | ||
| ClubFloyd | and retreats down the hallway. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look around the room. All the windows are shattered, and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | ground is wet. A puddle of blood lies by the door, the furniture is | ||
| ClubFloyd | smashed, and the entire wrap-around window is shattered, leaving | ||
| ClubFloyd | the room open to the elements. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The sky has cleared, leaving the stars to peek through. The wind | ||
| ClubFloyd | from outside blows through the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | So much has happened these last few days. The Kingdom of Dreams is | ||
| ClubFloyd | no longer a threat, and Krinkle Corp just lost its leader. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | soon, you hope, you'll see Flickering Flame again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Nine Flames Strike] | ||
| ClubFloyd | You limp across the snow, leaving a thin trail of crimson blood | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind you. You didn't have enough energy left to teleport directly | ||
| ClubFloyd | home, so you're hiking the last little bit. There's a lot on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | mind. Finding a long-lost sibling must have been shocking for | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. And to have them try to murder her. You shake your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's all too much. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus Castle is silent and motionless ahead of you. Only the | ||
| ClubFloyd | torches on the battlements give any sign of life. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Something dark passes in front of a torch. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Who's there?" you ask. You crouch next to a dark bush. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No," says a voice, "you tell me who you are. Show yourself!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Candid?" you ask, stepping out from the shadow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Club?" says Candid, stepping into the light. She's taken the form | ||
| ClubFloyd | of a squat dwarf woman laden with heavy armor and a massive | ||
| ClubFloyd | battle-axe. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What you are doing up so late, Candid?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Is there something wrong at the Castle?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Has Mrs. Claus come back yet?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Where are the other guards?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Let's stop here for today, please." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, lets." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We've made it through two chapters and threats." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah. Somehow." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Because Mrs Claus is much more competent than us?" | ||
| DavidW says, "We did better against a nightmare army than I thought we even could be." | ||
| DavidW says, "But yeah, Mrs C had to do *all* the heavy lifting in the Krinkle Corp chapter." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True. Appeased an eldritch abomination, stumped by a corporate CEO." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The fact that said CEO was Herc being not so important in our failings." | ||
| DavidW says, "I gotta go dump this ham mixture into the kitchen trash. The smell of it is really annoying me now." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I can only imagine." | ||
| DavidW says, "ok, it's gone." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "So I guess next week we'll see how Mrs. Claus manages to loki up Flickering Flame." | ||
| DavidW says, "I guess Flame is the largest threat? Unless there's a hidden danger we've all overlooked, which I imagine there must be." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I imagine Flame has both the list and the heart." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But yeah, something seems not to add up quite yet. It seemed as though the three threats were cooperating earlier, but the strikes are separate now.rather than a single coordinated attack." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Anyway, I'll log off for tonight. Good night." | ||
| DavidW says, "Maybe Morgan Le Fey will surprise us by being one of the kitchen help and causing trouble all along with the essence of gingerbread." | ||
| ##### Session 7 | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 16% / Open Minded: 84% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 53% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 66% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 75% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Legendary Elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Considering that we basically chided Mrs Claus for wanting to rest after that battle, 53% is surprisingly high." | |
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Chapter Nine Flames Strike] | ||
| ClubFloyd | You limp across the snow, leaving a thin trail of crimson blood | ||
| ClubFloyd | behind you. You didn't have enough energy left to teleport directly | ||
| ClubFloyd | home, so you're hiking the last little bit. There's a lot on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | mind. Finding a long-lost sibling must have been shocking for | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. And to have them try to murder her. You shake your head. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's all too much. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus Castle is silent and motionless ahead of you. Only the | ||
| ClubFloyd | torches on the battlements give any sign of life. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Something dark passes in front of a torch. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Who's there?" you ask. You crouch next to a dark bush. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "No," says a voice, "you tell me who you are. Show yourself!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Candid?" you ask, stepping out from the shadow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Club?" says Candid, stepping into the light. She's taken the form | ||
| ClubFloyd | of a squat dwarf woman laden with heavy armor and a massive | ||
| ClubFloyd | battle-axe. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What you are doing up so late, Candid?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Is there something wrong at the Castle?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Has Mrs. Claus come back yet?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Where are the other guards?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "We're doing our best to help her, but yeah, it fraying the relationship." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "So here I'd lean B I guess." | ||
| DavidW says, "any of those should be okay. I need to visit the bathroom quickly." | ||
| * ardi has joined the channel. | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Hello ardi, you're here for ClubFloyd?" | ||
| DavidW says, "back" | ||
| ardi says (to Knight_Otu), "Yes, that was the idea." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We're in the Clubhouse room right now. Jacq will have to add you to be able to come here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "She seems to be busy right now, but you may be able to joinchannel Clubhouse to see what is going on." | ||
| ardi says (to Knight_Otu), "Oh Okay" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We're in -probably- the last chapters of a choice game that can't be saved, which is one of the reasons we're here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | She rubs her downy beard thoughtfully. "I don't know, Club. I have | ||
| ClubFloyd | a bad feeling tonight. And it's not just me. The kitchen elves have | ||
| ClubFloyd | been especially grim. The souffl����s are falling and the soup is | ||
| ClubFloyd | burning. Something's bad, Club." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She asks, "What happened at Krinkle Corp, anyway? I honestly | ||
| ClubFloyd | haven't heard a thing about it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "They wanted to try a hostile takeover. It didn't go well for | ||
| ClubFloyd | them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Mrs. Claus found a long-lost brother, apparently." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Krinkle Corp is not a problem anymore." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "I don't know which is the more relevant point." | |
| DavidW asks, "B maybe?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Except Mrs C sorta already knew." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'd think A. It implies C and I don't think Herc is quite as immediately relevant." | ||
| DavidW says, "okay." | ||
| ardi says (to knight_otu), "Thanks for letting me know. I'll probably grab something to eat and check back in later or next week" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sorry. I don't have the ability to add you myself, sadly." | ||
| DavidW says, "We really should have asked Jacq to make temporary passes that we could hand out ourselves." | ||
| ardi says (to Knight_Otu), "Never mind, joining in on the last chapter of something probably wouldn't have done me much good anyways." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "It probably would have been confusing. We have some trouble ourselves at times with long sessions." | ||
| ardi asks, "If I might ask, what are you playing?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "The Mrs Claus game. I think the full title is "In service of Mrs Claus"?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Yes: [LINK]" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Thanks, David." | ||
| ardi says, "Thanks, I'll check it out" | ||
| DavidW asks, "so, we're going with A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess we are." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "A hostile takeover? How would that even work?" asks Candid. "We | ||
| ClubFloyd | don't live in the mortal world. We don't even accept American | ||
| ClubFloyd | currency." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Exactly. I think it was more of a conquest. Apparently Mr. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Leontari was Hercules in disguise. Mrs. Claus said she had | ||
| ClubFloyd | suspicions. Did she tell you at all?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid shakes her head. "No," she says. "She's been keeping things | ||
| ClubFloyd | to herself a lot. It makes sense, I guess. Especially since that | ||
| ClubFloyd | time I had to swear secrecy to the Kingdom of Dreams with an oath | ||
| ClubFloyd | rod. Who knows what other kind of things could be affecting us? I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | worried to sleep because I might visit the Dreamlands and | ||
| ClubFloyd | sleep-talk around the wrong creatures." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You respond with a glum nod of the head and a quick smile. Candid | ||
| ClubFloyd | has been one of the constants during this time of chaos. You're | ||
| ClubFloyd | glad to have at least one good friend among the elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm concerned about the lack of guards," you say. "Something feels | ||
| ClubFloyd | off about tonight. But I'll take care of it." You think for a | ||
| ClubFloyd | moment before you make your suggestion. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I'll activate some of my automated sentries for the night." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I can create an illusion of more guards. The appearance of | ||
| ClubFloyd | strength might be all we need." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I've been keeping up with castle gossip. I know the guards that | ||
| ClubFloyd | I can trust to fill in tonight." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Okay, more skill choices that are bad-ish for us." | |
| DavidW says, "I don't want to use illusion." | ||
| DavidW says, "And have we kept up with any gossip? I don't remember us doing that." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We've had some success with illusion and trickery. Also with tinker-y stuff. But the third is probably connections, our very worst skill." | ||
| DavidW says, "geez" | ||
| DavidW says, "So many the automata then. Even McGonagall used animated statues." | ||
| DavidW says, "er s/many/maybe/" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We can try." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid sighs. "It shouldn't have to come to this," she says. "But I | ||
| ClubFloyd | think that's a good idea." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk over to a certain paving stone on the parapet and kneel | ||
| ClubFloyd | down. Then you touch it and a panel pops open, responding to your | ||
| ClubFloyd | magical signature. There is a keypad and a large red button. After | ||
| ClubFloyd | dialing in the appropriate code, you slam the button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nothing happens. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You slam it again, hoping for a better response. Annoyed, you dial | ||
| ClubFloyd | in a different number and try once more. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This time, there is a muffled series of pops and cracks below the | ||
| ClubFloyd | catwalk. A few paving stones shift here and there as the clockwork | ||
| ClubFloyd | soldiers underneath try to break free. Finally, a few manage to | ||
| ClubFloyd | push their way out. They look badly rusted. There's no use trying | ||
| ClubFloyd | to get the rest activated, they've probably rusted to the core. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | curse under your breath. At least you have a good dozen that made | ||
| ClubFloyd | it out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You hope that works. You have an uncertain feeling about the | ||
| ClubFloyd | effectiveness of your defenses. Hopefully they aren't tested | ||
| ClubFloyd | tonight. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The halls are brightly lit, a stark contrast to the darkness | ||
| ClubFloyd | outside. You can hear a murmuring of voices from deep within the | ||
| ClubFloyd | castle. Following the trail, you find yourself outside the great | ||
| ClubFloyd | hall. You peek in. It looks like a large group of elves have | ||
| ClubFloyd | gathered. They look unhappy. You can hear your name and Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's mentioned, as well as another name spoken with hushed | ||
| ClubFloyd | whispers: Flickering Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I use my Christmas cheer to lighten the mood before approaching | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. I can learn more without the gloomy atmosphere. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I shift into a new form and mingle with them. I'll figure out | ||
| ClubFloyd | what's going on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I make myself invisible and slink in along the walls, listening | ||
| ClubFloyd | to everything. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "B should be our specialty." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, okay." | ||
| DavidW says, "Watch this backfire too, though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, statistically, it'll happen some time." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've worked with some of these old elves for a millennium or two. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You'll need a new form they haven't seen before. Blue-tailed | ||
| ClubFloyd | fendragon? No, you tried that one in Normandy. A wild-haired crone | ||
| ClubFloyd | in a purple jumpsuit? No, that was Greenwich Village in the 80's. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hmmm������ | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Why not rely on chance. Your skill in shifting has been honed | ||
| ClubFloyd | enough that you can just let it lead you and see what you end up | ||
| ClubFloyd | with. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You close your eyes and let your mind go blank. You feel a violent | ||
| ClubFloyd | shift in yourself. Opening your eyes, you find that you've become a | ||
| ClubFloyd | short, squat barefoot creature with large, hairy feet and a curly | ||
| ClubFloyd | head of hair. Pleased, you enter into the banquet hall. No one pays | ||
| ClubFloyd | you the least mind as you wander around, listening. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | One elf in particular is speaking vehemently. He says, "They say | ||
| ClubFloyd | that Claus has gone soft, and allowed the Fae world to go to chaos. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame is the only one willing to stand up against the humans and | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Council of Seven. If we join Flame's army, we wouldn't have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | sit here afraid in the castle while our enemies circle like wolves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus is selfish!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You have been personally interested in seeing Flame again. The raw | ||
| ClubFloyd | charisma of that elf is really something else. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | More and more people begin speaking up, interrupting each other. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Soon the crowd is in a full-blown argument. But you've heard what | ||
| ClubFloyd | you needed to. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You quickly retreat, unnoticed, into the corridor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time to regroup. The castle is in disarray, Mrs. Claus is out | ||
| ClubFloyd | of sight somewhere, probably recovering from the ordeal with her | ||
| ClubFloyd | brother, and Flickering Flame is up to something. What are you | ||
| ClubFloyd | going to do? You can't handle all of this at once. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I try to find Mrs. Claus and make sure she's okay. I care about | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I head up to the tower to keep an eye out for Flickering Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | This sounds serious. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I try to restore order to the castle. We need to be prepared. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hrm." | |
| DavidW says, "I think C, although I have no idea how to succeed at that sort of thing." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, I'm not sure either." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But we can try it." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Above all else, the castle needs to pull together. You peek into | ||
| ClubFloyd | the ballroom. There's an actual fistfight in the corner. A couple | ||
| ClubFloyd | of elves are rocking back and forth on the floor. Quite a few are | ||
| ClubFloyd | just running around flailing. But most are murmuring to each other | ||
| ClubFloyd | in concerned whispers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You back up again. The chaos in there is too much for you to | ||
| ClubFloyd | handle. You'll have to find a way to restore order. And quickly, | ||
| ClubFloyd | too. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm an eternal optimist, and it's infectious. I try to turn the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tide by winning over elves one by one. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) No time for fancy words! I'm gonna knock some sense into these | ||
| ClubFloyd | elves the old-fashioned way. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) My loyalty to Claus Castle is unquestioned. I'll give them a | ||
| ClubFloyd | stirring speech, even if I have to filibuster for hours. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "We are a happy helper." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "That would point to A." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, A sounds good." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You edge back into the ballroom. A few of the calmer elves in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | back corner look more approachable. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Then you put on your best, most confident smile and stride towards | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. "Shimmering Siren! Flatulent Fern! Deadly Steel!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shimmering looks at you with dull fear in their eyes. "Floyd, what | ||
| ClubFloyd | are we going to do? Flickering Flame is going to crush us." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I can't fault you for feeling that way. I can't fault anyone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Those elves who wish to leave can leave," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The elves closer to your group start to turn and pay attention. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Soon a small crowd is gathered around you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The fewer the elves, the greater the glory! Flickering Flame | ||
| ClubFloyd | cannot defeat Christmas itself. Those elves who run away will come | ||
| ClubFloyd | to regret their choice, and those who stay will have stories to | ||
| ClubFloyd | tell around the yule log for centuries to come!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The elves around you begin to cheer, and soon the whole room is | ||
| ClubFloyd | watching you. The elves begin to spread your message. The mood | ||
| ClubFloyd | lightens considerably. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "That sounds like a successful roll at least." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --With the elves inspired and cooperating, your defenses | ||
| ClubFloyd | are much stronger than before. Whatever else happens, you've | ||
| ClubFloyd | increased your respect among the elves, and made them a more | ||
| ClubFloyd | dangerous force to face. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A loud thud echoes through Claus Castle. There is a mingling of | ||
| ClubFloyd | screams, cries, and muttering from every direction. You head | ||
| ClubFloyd | towards the sound. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Another thud. The murmuring begins to peter out. You are in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | foyer, in front of the main door. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Another thud. You can hear the entire building going silent, | ||
| ClubFloyd | listening to the sound. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are standing alone, the other elves hidden nearby in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | hallways, watching. Everyone knows who is on the other side of that | ||
| ClubFloyd | door. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can feel that this moment is critical for your future. What do | ||
| ClubFloyd | you do? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I approach Flame, pretending to personally challenge him. In | ||
| ClubFloyd | reality, I'll ask to join his army, and pray they accept me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I approach Flame personally, offering to meet him in personal | ||
| ClubFloyd | combat. It can give our troops an advantage, if I can goad him into | ||
| ClubFloyd | accepting. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I order the elves to fortify the doors, and send detachments to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the weakest areas of the castle. We won't give Flame a single inch. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "yes. About time we did something right." | |
| DavidW asks, "B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure. Flame will flambé us probably, but hey." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You stride forward and throw the doors open. The elves behind you | ||
| ClubFloyd | gasp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame stands before you in all her glory. She's chosen | ||
| ClubFloyd | the form of a regal empress clad in scarlet. Her head bears a heavy | ||
| ClubFloyd | crown laden with rubies and garnets. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She smiles sardonically. "Hello, Club, come to let me in?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Flickering Flame," you say, "I challenge you to personal combat!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm sorry, Club Floyd, but my personal respect for you will not | ||
| ClubFloyd | allow me to do that." She smiles, and you can see the elves behind | ||
| ClubFloyd | you confused by Flame's approval. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame points to the largest golden troll standing by her. "Heavy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Hammer here would be more than happy to. The rest of you, take the | ||
| ClubFloyd | castle!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) They can pick on someone their own size. I assume the form of a | ||
| ClubFloyd | golden troll myself and take on the brute. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) If Flame thinks she can pull one over on me, she's in for a | ||
| ClubFloyd | surprise. I activate my Personal Defense Mechanism. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'll be at a disadvantage going head to head. I use my knowledge | ||
| ClubFloyd | of the golden trolls to gain the upper hand. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "A, surely." | |
| DavidW says, "yes please" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With no time to waste, you flood your mind with thoughts of your | ||
| ClubFloyd | opponent. You study their hulking golden biceps and their metallic | ||
| ClubFloyd | face, their enormous weight and their sharp claws, their statuesque | ||
| ClubFloyd | figure. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You feel your body flowing, growing and hardening. Your new weight | ||
| ClubFloyd | is incredible, sinking your feet slightly into the ground below. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you charge towards the center, crashing into each other | ||
| ClubFloyd | and gripping each other in a deadly embrace. You rend their back | ||
| ClubFloyd | with your claws, and they try to bite off your ear. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But you are fighting for your life. You lift them in both your | ||
| ClubFloyd | hands, and slam them deep into the ground, leaving a crater to trap | ||
| ClubFloyd | the troll. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk away victorious. You've taken care of one of the strongest | ||
| ClubFloyd | warriors in the army. Flame can't ignore that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The battle is in full force now. Bolts of lightning are | ||
| ClubFloyd | met by volleys of sharpened candy canes, trolls wrestle with hags, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and gargoyles drop massive stones on burrowing weremoles. The whole | ||
| ClubFloyd | castle and grounds are full of smoke and conjured fog. Flickering | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame is out of sight, and Mrs. Claus hasn't made an appearance | ||
| ClubFloyd | yet. Did Flame know Claus would be weakened from visiting Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Looking around you, you see that many of the combatants are former | ||
| ClubFloyd | friends and coworkers. Flame has a lot to answer for. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As if summoned by your thoughts, Flame herself appears before you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Her clothing is immaculate and she appears as calm and composed as | ||
| ClubFloyd | before the battle. The only change is that her hands are covered in | ||
| ClubFloyd | blood. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Oh. It's you," she says, looking around nonchalantly. "I thought | ||
| ClubFloyd | it was someone important." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "You're sick, Flickering Flame. Why are you even here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "You ought to hire better troops. The ones you have don't seem | ||
| ClubFloyd | to be doing their job." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "You've made your point, Flame. You don't have to continue | ||
| ClubFloyd | this." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Let's settle this one-on-one." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hrm." | |
| DavidW says, "A. I don't know what his/her deal really is." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "This is who I am, Club. Chaos." She points at you. "You tried to | ||
| ClubFloyd | be like me, and you failed. But I was born this way. An agent of | ||
| ClubFloyd | entropy. And Claus's time is up." She looks pleased at the chance | ||
| ClubFloyd | to monologue. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You know, in a way, you set this all in motion," she says, | ||
| ClubFloyd | gesturing around the castle. "I put an enchantment on you, when you | ||
| ClubFloyd | visited my camp. I've been watching through your eyes. It's been | ||
| ClubFloyd | useful, if a bit boring." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I suppose I should be flattered." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "You've been scrying me? All the time? That's disgusting." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "That's intrusive. I thought you were all about freedom. Or did | ||
| ClubFloyd | you forget?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "If you were watching me, then you know what I'm capable of." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Confirmation that our eyes were spies." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Seems you were right about Flame scrying." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "B? C?" | ||
| DavidW says, "C." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | She frowns. "You can thank Claus for that. She's been hounding me | ||
| ClubFloyd | for years now. Oh, she didn't tell you?" asks Flame, seeing your | ||
| ClubFloyd | expression. "She's been sending members of her private guard after | ||
| ClubFloyd | me. She stopped after I killed two and persuaded the last one to | ||
| ClubFloyd | join me." Flame shakes her head. "Force must be met with force, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | oppression with oppression." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She continues, saying, "As your ever-watchful companion, I saw you | ||
| ClubFloyd | bungling your way through dealing with the Nightmare King and | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp, wearing yourselves out in the process. And now I can | ||
| ClubFloyd | collect the pieces while Claus sleeps." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "As for today, your opposition has been an annoyance. It's a shame | ||
| ClubFloyd | you opposed me, Club Floyd. You would have made an excellent | ||
| ClubFloyd | lieutenant." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your conversation is cut short as the entire mountain beneath you | ||
| ClubFloyd | shakes. Flickering Flame looks all around hurriedly. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --There is a sound of bells, faint enough to be almost | ||
| ClubFloyd | inaudible, but somehow drowning out almost all other sounds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Vine-like mistletoe springs up from the ground, trapping every | ||
| ClubFloyd | landbound creature in its grasp. At the same time, star-like shards | ||
| ClubFloyd | fill the Fae sky with a million points of light before plummeting | ||
| ClubFloyd | down to the earth below. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You see the star shards slamming down into Flickering Flame's army | ||
| ClubFloyd | all across the castle. An especially large shard hurtles directly | ||
| ClubFloyd | towards you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The shard slams directly into Flame, and you are knocked backwards. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame cries in pain. When you stagger to your feet, you see that | ||
| ClubFloyd | she's been blinded in one eye. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A terrible figure springs up between you. It's Mrs. Claus. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | looks furious. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Goddess, you're awake! I'm so glad you're here!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Get Flickering Flame! Go!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Careful, goddess! She has blood on her hands." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Took you long enough. We've been dying out here!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "C? I'm not sure about the significance of the blood, but..." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, I'm confused too, but C is what I'd choose." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus nods, backing up towards you. Flame grins through her pain, | ||
| ClubFloyd | extending her palms towards Claus. "It's true, Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame says, "I'm surprised you managed to pull this off, Claus. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | didn't think you had it left in you, what with your lost Heart and | ||
| ClubFloyd | all." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus smiles bitterly, and says, "You don't live as long as I do | ||
| ClubFloyd | without being prepared, Flame. You're not the first traitor I've | ||
| ClubFloyd | had to deal with. This curse you've brought upon yourself has been | ||
| ClubFloyd | building in strength for centuries, ready to be wielded against the | ||
| ClubFloyd | first ones foolish enough to oppose me on my own land." She gives a | ||
| ClubFloyd | meaningful nod towards Flame's damaged eye. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You're not the only one who prepared," says Flame. She pulls a | ||
| ClubFloyd | dark crystal from her battle robe and throws it to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A gout of flame shoots up and spreads outward in a fiery ring. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | singes you slightly as it passes by, but completely disintegrates | ||
| ClubFloyd | the vines, leaving Claus Castle covered in ash. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus and Flame throw themselves at each other, each conjuring | ||
| ClubFloyd | blades. Claus looks at you and shouts, "Leave her to me! Take | ||
| ClubFloyd | charge of the troops in the castle!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You rush towards the doors of the castle, if anything else to | ||
| ClubFloyd | escape the frightening and destructive energies in play. These | ||
| ClubFloyd | critical times may have given you a new outlook on life. How are | ||
| ClubFloyd | you feeling about your role in all of this? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) It's cemented my desire to follow Claus. I'm happy to help | ||
| ClubFloyd | where I am. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) This is all insane. I'm sick of people bossing me around, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | it's seriously giving me a worse attitude. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm going to listen to orders better from now on, but I feel | ||
| ClubFloyd | more cynical from all of this. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I chuckle a little to myself. Life is just crazy, isn't it? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Might as well do as I please and not stress about it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "This feels like it would shift our attributes. Odd that it would come up again so late though." | |
| DavidW says, "B or D, I think." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "A > more happy; B > more grumpy; C > more steadfast; D > more open-minded, I'd expect." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And sure, D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You crash through the castle gates and directly into the belly of a | ||
| ClubFloyd | massive ogre. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The ogre takes one look at you before walloping you with her | ||
| ClubFloyd | enormous club. You are sent soaring through the air, until you thud | ||
| ClubFloyd | into a table and roll off to the ground, tangled in a tablecloth. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Strong hands grab your shoulders and pull you out; you find | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself face to face with a gargoyle. You recognize her. She's | ||
| ClubFloyd | part of Flickering Flame's crew. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She hisses at you and digs her claws into your back. You try to | ||
| ClubFloyd | break free, but you're at a disadvantage. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I shrink, becoming a tiny mouse, and scurry away from her grasp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can't reach my tool kit, but there's an encouraging amount of | ||
| ClubFloyd | cutlery, cloth, and ceramic near me. I improvise a weapon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Only a Christmas miracle could help us now. Fortunately, I'm an | ||
| ClubFloyd | expert in Christmas miracles. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I scan the melee around me for people I know. I was friends with | ||
| ClubFloyd | many of Flame's troops before they left. Surely one will help me | ||
| ClubFloyd | out! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "A" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yes." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | This ought to be a fairly simple use of your abilities, but she's | ||
| ClubFloyd | viciously clawing at your head, and it's proving incredibly | ||
| ClubFloyd | difficult to concentrate. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You focus as much as you can, and find yourself vanishing with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | loud pop. You've successfully become a sleek, brown mouse. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | gargoyle hits the ground hard, and you leap triumphantly onto the | ||
| ClubFloyd | table before resuming your original form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The gargoyle dealt with, you return to the fray, leading the elves | ||
| ClubFloyd | against Flame's troops. The tide is turning, and you beat them | ||
| ClubFloyd | back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --"Club Floyd!" rings out a clear, hard voice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus stands in the doorway, panting heavily. She says, "Flame | ||
| ClubFloyd | has fled. I need you to hold things down here. Candid and I will | ||
| ClubFloyd | take the outside." She ducks away and is gone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame's troops crumble without their leader. Most flee from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | room, but you capture a good number of the leftovers. Within hours, | ||
| ClubFloyd | the castle is secure, and you, Candid, and Claus find yourselves at | ||
| ClubFloyd | tea in Mrs. Claus's sitting room. She's exhausted and covered in | ||
| ClubFloyd | smoke and blood, but she's grinning from ear to ear. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She says, "For the first time I can remember, I feel like I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | really living. Maybe this is the way everyone feels, at the end of | ||
| ClubFloyd | their days." She sips her tea, while you and Candid exchange | ||
| ClubFloyd | concerned glances. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus isn't acting like herself at all. But then again, neither are | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. Everything about the two of you is up in the air, including | ||
| ClubFloyd | your relationship. Over the last year, there have been multiple | ||
| ClubFloyd | times where you felt a strong connection to her. Even now, in this | ||
| ClubFloyd | room, looking at Claus, you know that things are different. Your | ||
| ClubFloyd | actions don't lie. You're in love with Mrs. Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Huh." | |
| DavidW says, "I didn't know that, no." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Ten The Last Christmas] | ||
| ClubFloyd | There's more than one kind of tension in the air tonight. You, | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid and Mrs. Claus are having a hushed conversation together in | ||
| ClubFloyd | her parlor when a messenger elf brings Claus word of a visitor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You are shocked to see Glass Ghost enter in chains, flanked by | ||
| ClubFloyd | guards, their glass mask cracked and their gray suit streaked with | ||
| ClubFloyd | grime. You approach Ghost eagerly, but they turn away. One of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | guards hands Claus a hand-written note. "From the prisoner," the | ||
| ClubFloyd | guard says. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She grabs the note eagerly, sitting down and perusing it. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | doesn't seem surprised at all by this sudden appearance, although | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid looks startled. She leans over and whispers, "What is Ghost | ||
| ClubFloyd | doing here?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is the last sort of thing you want to deal with. After the | ||
| ClubFloyd | battle with Flame, all you want to do is regroup and consult with | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. Glass Ghost doesn't seem as happy to see you as you were to | ||
| ClubFloyd | see them. Hopefully Claus will send them packing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus goes pale while reading the note, and stares at Ghost, then | ||
| ClubFloyd | at you. "Candid, if I could ask you to excuse us for a moment," she | ||
| ClubFloyd | murmurs. Candid nods, grabbing an extra biscuit, and flits out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus speaks directly to you, ignoring Ghost. "I'm sure you're | ||
| ClubFloyd | aware we've been looking for Ghost. They were captured during the | ||
| ClubFloyd | battle. I don't think Ghost came with Flame, I think that, as | ||
| ClubFloyd | usual, they were being opportunistic and looking for a way to | ||
| ClubFloyd | profit off the confusion. We've been unable to recover The List," | ||
| ClubFloyd | she says, glaring at Glass Ghost. "But this is something much more | ||
| ClubFloyd | valuable. Ghost claims to have access to the location of my late | ||
| ClubFloyd | husband's heart." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus continues. "I don't need to tell you how important this is. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | am going to verify this information. In the meantime," she says, | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'll leave it to you to deal with Glass Ghost." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus strides quickly out of the room, and you are left alone with | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost and their guards. Ghost is silent. You were closest to | ||
| ClubFloyd | them out of anyone there. Not that that's saying much. What do you | ||
| ClubFloyd | say to them? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Glass Ghost, we were allies before. Enough of being a rogue | ||
| ClubFloyd | agent! Join us." Hopefully, Ghost is interested enough. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I release you, in return for your gratitude." The others may | ||
| ClubFloyd | refuse to go along unless I can pull my weight. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Glass Ghost, for your crimes against all of the Fae world, I | ||
| ClubFloyd | sentence you to imprisonment." It's the simplest choice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Not B." | |
| DavidW says, "we can try A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We can try. I don't expect much of it though." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost sighs, and speaks their first words since they arrived. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I'm sorry, Floyd. I'm not interested in working with a team that | ||
| ClubFloyd | has you on it." You whistle, and a guard enters, taking Ghost away | ||
| ClubFloyd | to prison. Perhaps if the two of you were on better terms, things | ||
| ClubFloyd | would have been different. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What a strange saga. To be head of security of one of the most | ||
| ClubFloyd | powerful forces in the world, and then to end up like this. They | ||
| ClubFloyd | couldn't even be a successful traitor, like Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You wait for what feels like an hour or more before Claus returns | ||
| ClubFloyd | with a glowing smile on her face. "Come, Club Floyd! The Heart is | ||
| ClubFloyd | in a dark spot, stuck between two worlds: a grim fortress of | ||
| ClubFloyd | unknown origins. I can't trust anyone else with this information. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | want you to come with me personally." She lays her hand on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | arm. You can feel your heart beating faster, but she doesn't | ||
| ClubFloyd | notice. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Are you sure you can believe Glass Ghost?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "How do you know this is the right place to go?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Are you sure we should be doing this? Flame might be planning a | ||
| ClubFloyd | counterattack." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Do you think we should bring more people?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Well. A?" | |
| DavidW says, "B, I'd choose." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus runs her fingers through her hair thoughtfully. It makes you | ||
| ClubFloyd | wish you could do it for her. "It took me some time just to know if | ||
| ClubFloyd | I could trust Glass Ghost," she says. "But I'd rather not reveal my | ||
| ClubFloyd | methods. Once I knew they were reliable, the directions were easy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost placed a tracker, a scented trail that is almost | ||
| ClubFloyd | indistinguishable if not known of ahead of time. The reindeer can | ||
| ClubFloyd | smell it, now that I've given them the scent." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But come, Club, we need to depart," says Claus. Within minutes, | ||
| ClubFloyd | you are in the war sleigh, soaring through the night, headed | ||
| ClubFloyd | towards the rumored fortress. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you fly towards its location at a breakneck pace, you see the | ||
| ClubFloyd | stars slowly darken and wink out one at a time. A deeply unsettling | ||
| ClubFloyd | feeling rises through your body, a nauseous feeling. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the distance, you see a low shape slowly rising from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | foothills, but it's too dark to see from this far. As you approach | ||
| ClubFloyd | it, the feeling intensifies until you pass some sort of invisible | ||
| ClubFloyd | barrier. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "and Flame is probably STILL looking through our eyes. When do we get to tell Mrs C that factoid?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Oh dear, we never did that, true." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Inside, things are still. You arrive at the fortress at | ||
| ClubFloyd | midnight on Christmas Eve. You and Claus dismount and observe it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I've been here before," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus treads carefully up next to you and looks over the | ||
| ClubFloyd | fortress. "Are you sure? I've never seen anything like this." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The structure before you looks like something from a nightmare. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's a meandering building built of heavy stone bricks and | ||
| ClubFloyd | weathered wooden beams. Its heavily-reinforced windows are obscured | ||
| ClubFloyd | by curtains. It looks so different, but you are certain you | ||
| ClubFloyd | recognize it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Not here, but in the human world. It's twisted beyond belief, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | this is Katya Andreeva's house." Claus looks at you quizzically. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "She's a bleeder. I delivered her present a year ago. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | that was in the mortal world. This is some kind of shadow version | ||
| ClubFloyd | of her house. She must be connected to this somehow. But I don't | ||
| ClubFloyd | know how." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You add, "During my journey, I've done much to preserve the barrier | ||
| ClubFloyd | between the worlds. Only some twisted kind of bleeder magic could | ||
| ClubFloyd | create something like this. My attempts to preserve the balance of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the worlds should make this easier for us." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus nods. "According to our sources, this is where we'll find my | ||
| ClubFloyd | late husband's heart. If you are familiar with this location, it | ||
| ClubFloyd | might make sense for you to take charge. Unless, of course, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel more comfortable under my guidance." Claus looks serious, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | smiles at you and says, "I can't think of anyone I'd rather be with | ||
| ClubFloyd | tonight." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There's a lot to think about with how the two of you are going to | ||
| ClubFloyd | work together tonight. How are you going to handle the exploration? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I plan on letting Claus take the lead on this operation. I trust | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I was brought along for a reason. I'll be pro-active on this | ||
| ClubFloyd | heist, and I'll make Claus proud. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Honestly, it looks dangerous. I'll let Claus take the lead. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | can take the hits better than me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'll take charge of this. I'll show Claus how it's done. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "B?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | And do you have feelings for Claus? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I do. I'd like to become closer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) No. Let's just keep things exactly as they are. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I've decided I'm not really into Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I don't know. I'd rather just see how she feels and go off of | ||
| ClubFloyd | that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "D at this point." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Just a few choices ago you told us how we feel, game." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, I guess we can choose D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look over at Claus. She seems to be in a strange mood. She's | ||
| ClubFloyd | discarded her fur coat for a light, combat-ready outfit. She | ||
| ClubFloyd | alternates between smiling distractedly and staring off into space. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What is she thinking? Is she thinking about you? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "We need to find a way in." She agrees. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The main gate of the fortress looks to be solid irontree. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | windows are barred. The surrounding hills are dark and silent | ||
| ClubFloyd | except for the quiet sounds of insects at night. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | How do you get in? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) We shift into mist and pass through an upper window. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm not going to be intimidated. I use my lockpicking device on | ||
| ClubFloyd | the door. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I might be able to get one of these insects to talk. You never | ||
| ClubFloyd | know what they might have seen. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Should be A?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You point to a window just to the left of the main entrance. "An | ||
| ClubFloyd | entrance in mist-form would be silent and simple," you say. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | nods. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you concentrate in tandem. It's a bit of an unusual | ||
| ClubFloyd | feeling, shifting simultaneously. It's not something you and Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus have done together very often. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The energy between you is synergizing. As one, you dissolve, and as | ||
| ClubFloyd | one, you slip through the window bars and into the ground floor | ||
| ClubFloyd | room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The two of you look around. The layout of this fortress | ||
| ClubFloyd | is confusing and erratic. Hallways stretch all around you, lined | ||
| ClubFloyd | with cobweb-covered candles and burned-out torches. You see no | ||
| ClubFloyd | doors. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus snaps her fingers, and a glowing ball manifests in front of | ||
| ClubFloyd | her. She blows on it gently, and it dissolves into tiny luminescent | ||
| ClubFloyd | snowflakes that spread out around you, lightening the area. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus takes a step forward, but you reach out a hand to hold her | ||
| ClubFloyd | back. "The floor is trapped," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Now that you're paying attention, you can feel a dull ache | ||
| ClubFloyd | emanating from the floor. This is a powerful emotional trap, masked | ||
| ClubFloyd | by a countercharm that is equally as strong. It could have fried | ||
| ClubFloyd | your feet off. Interesting. It really is just like you remember at | ||
| ClubFloyd | Katya's house. The floor was trapped that night, as well. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look at Claus. "We'll need to work together on this one," you | ||
| ClubFloyd | say. "Concentrate to counter the emotion in the floor." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "It's Christmas Eve, and we haven't eaten in hours. Let's think | ||
| ClubFloyd | of feasts in the past." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Let's think of our goal: the Heart. Our dedication towards a | ||
| ClubFloyd | single objective could carry us through." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Let's think of all the pleasant times we've had in the past, | ||
| ClubFloyd | goddess." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Let's think of something famous we've seen together. Art. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | Colossus of Olympus, perhaps?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "B" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "C, to go with our happiness value?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't think She's that happy." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Maybe, but we aren't that singlemindedly dedicated either. We're more open-minded." | ||
| DavidW says, "ugh. I hate min-maxing." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I mean, if you want B, we can choose it." | ||
| DavidW says, "I do want B. If it fails, it fails." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks thoughtful. "I can't think of anything I care about | ||
| ClubFloyd | more right now than getting his heart back." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you step forward, trying to focus on the Heart with all | ||
| ClubFloyd | of your might and clearing all distractions. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus is doing the best that she can, but she has to be thinking of | ||
| ClubFloyd | all the crazy things that have happened these last few days. You're | ||
| ClubFloyd | finding it increasingly difficult to focus, yourself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your concentration fizzles and fails. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus says, "This isn't going anywhere. I'll take care of this." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She furrows her brow in concentration, then strides forward, | ||
| ClubFloyd | directly into the trap. The magic hisses around her, and you can | ||
| ClubFloyd | see her shivering in pain. But whatever she's thinking about, it's | ||
| ClubFloyd | working. The trap evaporates. But she is injured. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you stand silently while she recovers. You try to think | ||
| ClubFloyd | of something to say during the awkward silence. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Well, this is probably the strangest Christmas Eve we've had | ||
| ClubFloyd | yet, eh?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "What are you going to do with Santa's Heart if you get it | ||
| ClubFloyd | back?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Do you have any regrets in life?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Who do you think set this place up?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "This?" she asks, pointing at the dark fortress around you. "At | ||
| ClubFloyd | this point, I wonder who didn't set this up. It seems like | ||
| ClubFloyd | everyone's against me, Club. So many elves left me for the Kingdom | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Dreams. Sure, many are back now, but they left. So, so many, | ||
| ClubFloyd | have left me for Flame. And my own brother was working against me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Sometimes it feels like it's just me against the world, Club. Me | ||
| ClubFloyd | against the whole, messy, angry world. And I wouldn't have it any | ||
| ClubFloyd | other way. But to answer your question, I have no idea who set this | ||
| ClubFloyd | up." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The moment passes. The two of you make your way around the corner | ||
| ClubFloyd | when you experience a bit of deja vu. This really does remind you | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Katya's house. The fortress divides into two here, with what | ||
| ClubFloyd | appears to be a kitchen and galley area on the left and a ballroom | ||
| ClubFloyd | on the right with a sweeping staircase. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks at you questioningly. You point towards the kitchen. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | makes more sense to finish the bottom floor before heading up. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The galley is dimly lit, with row after row of tables stretching to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the kitchen in the back. The tables and walls are decorated with | ||
| ClubFloyd | bizarre images of some creature you've never seen before, a kind of | ||
| ClubFloyd | two-headed rodent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the middle of the room, a single table has a glowing crystal | ||
| ClubFloyd | placed on it, a roughly spherical shape hard to see. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Is that it?" you ask her incredulously. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She is staring at the Heart, her eyes glowing. "It could be. We'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | have to get closer to be sure. But I don't trust this place." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I push forward, ignoring her and heading straight for the Heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I hover behind her, watching. I don't want to be the first to | ||
| ClubFloyd | check this out. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Let's go together," I say, and head towards the table. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "What do you think we should do?" I ask Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "C" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Okay." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus nods and walks shoulder to shoulder with you towards the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you get closer, you begin to hear a rustling sound. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You lift up a hand. "Wait, do you hear that?" You both pause, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | the rustling continues. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The paintings and markings around you shift, slowly emerging into | ||
| ClubFloyd | life. Two-headed rat creatures spring up around the two of you, | ||
| ClubFloyd | encircling you completely. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Heart itself dims and unfolds, revealing itself as another | ||
| ClubFloyd | two-headed rat in disguise. "It's a trap!" you yell. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus says, "Of course it would be." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | One of the rat creatures flings itself at you. You try to kick it | ||
| ClubFloyd | away, but it sticks to your foot, squishing out of shape. You take | ||
| ClubFloyd | a step back and realize that the sticky mass is gluing you to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | floor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) They feel like magical constructs more than living things. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | might be able to hide us with an illusion. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) We need a distraction. I use my holiday cheer to fill the | ||
| ClubFloyd | tables with baked goods. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I've seen this kind of magic before. If only I could remember | ||
| ClubFloyd | where������ | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hrm." | |
| DavidW asks, "So we remember?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, I don't." | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't eitehr." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "But maybe we do?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Maybe. I want info more than escape at this point." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "So we try C and hope Mrs Claus can get us out again?" | ||
| DavidW says, "sure. She managed well enough at Krinkle." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You stare wildly around the room, racking your brain for | ||
| ClubFloyd | information. Two-headed rats, two-head rats������where have you seen | ||
| ClubFloyd | those before? And the stickiness������rats and stickiness. Think! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A sudden memory comes to you. A convention at Claus Castle. It was | ||
| ClubFloyd | for a rodentologist conference. The hallways were filled with | ||
| ClubFloyd | cages: nutrias, jerboas, naked were-rats, and some kind of | ||
| ClubFloyd | two-headed abominations that were kept in the back. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You were supposed to give an address that day on the incident of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Nutcracker-Rat War of 1892, but you were occupied with other | ||
| ClubFloyd | tasks at the time. You had no time to spare to meet and greet with | ||
| ClubFloyd | the scientists. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you were shirking your responsibilities, you passed by the open | ||
| ClubFloyd | doors of the great assembly hall. You still remember the words: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "The two-headed sticky rat, native to the Jungles of the Yellow | ||
| ClubFloyd | Temperance, is a dire threat to any kitchen. However, I have | ||
| ClubFloyd | developed a simple method to deal with this pest, as follows������" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But you didn't stick around long enough to hear. You weren't | ||
| ClubFloyd | interested in developing connections that day. Ah, well. The rats, | ||
| ClubFloyd | who had waited patiently during your flashback, spring on you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Rats." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The rats set on the two of you, accreting more and more | ||
| ClubFloyd | gelatinous mass. Claus is trembling under the weight of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | rodents. You try and pull them off, but you're going under as well. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Suddenly, out of the pile of rats covering Claus comes a frigid | ||
| ClubFloyd | blast of air. The mass freezes, creaks, and then shatters. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | emerges, gasping for air. She looks immensely annoyed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She gestures wildly around the room, freezing rat after rat until | ||
| ClubFloyd | the whole ensemble is buried under inches of ice. Mrs. Claus stalks | ||
| ClubFloyd | out of the room, and you skate after her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She coughs. "Well, this seems to be getting worse the further we | ||
| ClubFloyd | go," says Claus. "I'm sorry you had to be involved in this. But I | ||
| ClubFloyd | don't have many options right now." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you sit for a moment, recovering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Let's keep going," you say. The two of you walk side by side into | ||
| ClubFloyd | the ballroom. You've grown closer over the night. It's hard to know | ||
| ClubFloyd | how you feel about Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The room looks as if it were once majestic, with space | ||
| ClubFloyd | for hundreds. The ceiling above is lost in shadow. A grand | ||
| ClubFloyd | staircase descends from on high to the cobwebbed floor, which is | ||
| ClubFloyd | littered in debris from shattered chandeliers and rusted suits of | ||
| ClubFloyd | armor. The bottom seems to have fallen in, leaving a gaping black | ||
| ClubFloyd | hole the size of a truck. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wait, is that a hole, or something massive and dark? You take a | ||
| ClubFloyd | step forward, and the darkness moves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You hear a low growl echoing through the room. It's soon joined by | ||
| ClubFloyd | another, and another. Slowly, six red, glowing eyes open, their | ||
| ClubFloyd | crimson light revealing an enormous three-headed beast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus whispers, saying, "Cerberus! I thought she was dead. This is | ||
| ClubFloyd | bad, Club. This is really bad. None of us could handle her in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | past. Except������" She frowns. "We'll just have to distract her. Take | ||
| ClubFloyd | on as many heads as you can, but don't engage in direct combat!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus moves cautiously forward. You only have a few moments to act. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Maybe cheer can overcome gloom. I use Christmas magic to conjure | ||
| ClubFloyd | a massive pile of doggy treats. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) There's a good deal of metal among the debris. I build a horde | ||
| ClubFloyd | of spiders to distract the creature. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Cerberus is legendary for being protective. I could take the | ||
| ClubFloyd | shape of a three-headed pup and try to distract it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "C?" | |
| DavidW asks, "okay?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "As long as Cerberus doesn't adopt us..." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Most animals have an instinct to preserve their own young, right? | ||
| ClubFloyd | Although, as far as you know, Cerberus is unique������but then again, | ||
| ClubFloyd | she's not especially bright either. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You kneel on the ground and howl, trying to get into character, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | focus all of your thoughts on Cerberus, her form, and thoughts of | ||
| ClubFloyd | infants. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You feel yourself morphing, your body sprouting hair and your | ||
| ClubFloyd | vision trebling. Looking at yourself with your multiple heads, you | ||
| ClubFloyd | see that you succeeded! Cerberus looks astounded. With one head on | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus, the other heads crowd at you, licking you playfully. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | While you have most of the heads occupied, Claus creeps forward. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cerberus turns to look, but Claus conjures an enormous chewy toy, | ||
| ClubFloyd | which she tosses behind Cerberus's remaining head. She then quickly | ||
| ClubFloyd | climbs the stairs. Claus smiles at you, then crooks her finger. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | find yourself transported next to her while Cerberus, below, turns | ||
| ClubFloyd | around confusedly. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cerberus bellows at you, but doesn't chase. Looking closer, you see | ||
| ClubFloyd | a heavy iron chain bolting her to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks pale. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Let's head up," she says, before giving you a long glance. "Glass | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost never said who set this up, and I wasn't able to discover it | ||
| ClubFloyd | either. Someone's had the Heart this whole time. I have my guesses, | ||
| ClubFloyd | though. What are your thoughts?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I think that Krinkle Corp's had it all along. They were the | ||
| ClubFloyd | best able to pay Glass Ghost." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Flame would make the most sense. Why else would he be so | ||
| ClubFloyd | bold?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Honestly, at this point I don't know. Maybe you've had it this | ||
| ClubFloyd | whole time?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I think Glass Ghost never found a buyer. Too risky of a | ||
| ClubFloyd | purchase. This is some new scheme." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Well. I'd say D?" | |
| DavidW says, "okay? We really don't have enough info." | ||
| DavidW says, "I kinda want to say C, but D is safer." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks thoughtful and says, "Interesting idea. It would | ||
| ClubFloyd | explain Glass Ghost's being the one coming here. And I remember | ||
| ClubFloyd | listening to you tell me about when they stole the List from you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | They seem to be operating as a lone wolf. But, why would they | ||
| ClubFloyd | invite us after turning themselves in? It doesn't make much sense. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "But," she continues, "we have other issues at hand. What do you | ||
| ClubFloyd | suppose this is all about?" She points up the stairs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You take a long look. These stairs are even taller than they looked | ||
| ClubFloyd | from below, the top lost in shadows. Or, is it? No, the shadows are | ||
| ClubFloyd | flowing down the stairs! You can feel intense anger rolling off | ||
| ClubFloyd | from the darkness. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus holds up one hand, wreathed in glittering ice. She blasts the | ||
| ClubFloyd | shadows with her power, but it only slows the darkness, not | ||
| ClubFloyd | stopping it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "We can't go back," you say, "Cerberus is still down there. We'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | have to find some way past the shadows." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have an experimental grappling harness in my pouch. It might | ||
| ClubFloyd | be strong enough to support us both. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I shift into a were-bat and lift her to safety. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I conjure a ladder made of diamond-hard candy canes. Hopefully, | ||
| ClubFloyd | it reaches to the top! | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I've heard of magic like this before, with the power to animate | ||
| ClubFloyd | shadows. If only I could remember who told me about it! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "B" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "Are we shifty again?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess we are." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is certainly the right atmosphere for bats. The haunted | ||
| ClubFloyd | atmosphere, the dark shadows and abandoned rooms. You think of | ||
| ClubFloyd | chittering and squeaking, of wings and claws. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can feel yourself beginning to shift and grow. Just before the | ||
| ClubFloyd | darkness enfolds the two of you, you finish transforming. Your | ||
| ClubFloyd | muscular wings feel glorious as you stretch them two, three times | ||
| ClubFloyd | the width of the grand staircase. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You snatch up Claus and rocket to the sky. The shadows slowly fade | ||
| ClubFloyd | and lighten until they are gone completely. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you reach the top, Claus turns to you and grins. "You did it!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Her eyes gleam with subdued energy, and she smiles approvingly at | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You reach the upper landing together, which stretches far in either | ||
| ClubFloyd | direction. Only one door is open, and you hear faint, echoing | ||
| ClubFloyd | sounds from inside. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You creep towards the door, with Claus following. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You burst into the room with a wild cry, but it's empty. It looks | ||
| ClubFloyd | like some kind of former barracks, with decayed beds covering the | ||
| ClubFloyd | floor. A lone window's curtain flaps rhythmically, clapping the | ||
| ClubFloyd | wall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus sighs in relief, sitting heavily onto a nearby bed. "I have | ||
| ClubFloyd | to rest, Club. Let's have just a moment here." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sit across from her, and the two of you breathe for a moment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus speaks first. "You know, Club, two years ago, I never would | ||
| ClubFloyd | have imagined this. The Heart gone, the List gone, betrayals, | ||
| ClubFloyd | battles, my brother." She takes a deep breath. "And now we're here. | ||
| ClubFloyd | I can feel it, so close. We might be able to get back what we've | ||
| ClubFloyd | lost. I don't think I'm going to be the same after all of this." | ||
| ClubFloyd | She looks up at you, and says, "Just in case������in case things don't | ||
| ClubFloyd | go well. You'll be left in charge. I wanted to give you something, | ||
| ClubFloyd | a gift to light your way, one that reflects your heart and your | ||
| ClubFloyd | vision of the future. What do you think Claus Castle will be like, | ||
| ClubFloyd | after all of this?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "If it's not too forward, goddess, I'm not really thinking of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus Castle. I'm more interested in you, personally. I love you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "We'll stick together. That's what we've always been about." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I think everything is going to change. We'll have to adapt, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | think new." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "We need optimism. The future of Claus Castle will be bright if | ||
| ClubFloyd | we make it bright." | ||
| ClubFloyd | E) "We need to settle in for dark times. Only the gritty are going | ||
| ClubFloyd | to thrive." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | |
| DavidW says, "D" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | She smiles. "Optimism! Yes, I think that Claus Castle will benefit | ||
| ClubFloyd | the most from those that are happy and willing to work towards a | ||
| ClubFloyd | bright future. I love that idea, Club." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Here," she says, "I want you to have this." She hands you a | ||
| ClubFloyd | miniature carved with the sun breaking through the storm over the | ||
| ClubFloyd | sea. "I look at it from time to time to remind me that there is | ||
| ClubFloyd | always light behind the darkness. I want you to have it, as a token | ||
| ClubFloyd | of your cheerfulness." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look at your miniature carving with gratitude. You can feel the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit growing in you. The two of you nod at each other | ||
| ClubFloyd | and leave the room. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Together, the two of you walk to the other end of the landing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | There is only one door that wasn't visible from inside the | ||
| ClubFloyd | barracks. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You push open the door and you both enter. Inside, you see a small | ||
| ClubFloyd | room cluttered with dusty cushions and worn blankets. On a mound in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the middle, you see the Heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | To your surprise, the Heart is not shaped like an actual heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Instead, it is a perfectly smooth and round crystal filled with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | pulsing green light. The whole room is lit up with its glow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Lionheart asks, "So where is whatever this is going down, if not the toyshop?" | |
| DavidW says, "The clubhouse." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We're in the Clubhouse. We're playing a choice game that can't be saved, so we're here in a locked room." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Jacq seems to be busy, otherwise she'd be able to add you." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Claus says, "I'll take it from here, Club. Know that | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything that happens, the Norns predicted. Thank you for coming | ||
| ClubFloyd | with me, and for serving me all of these centuries." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She strides forward and grabs the Heart. As she does so, the room | ||
| ClubFloyd | changes. Cushions and blankets shift and move, and robotic arms | ||
| ClubFloyd | rise, pointing towards the center of the room. Their tips begin to | ||
| ClubFloyd | glow. "Claus, watch out!" you shout. Why didn't she check the room | ||
| ClubFloyd | first? This is reckless! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks calmly back at you, and gives you a fond salute. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Bright white beams fire like spokes of a wheel, converging on Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the Heart. The energy knocks you back, holding you against the | ||
| ClubFloyd | wall. This power! No wonder you sensed nothing, they seem to be | ||
| ClubFloyd | some kind of negative energy, the antithesis of magic. Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | conjures a protective orb of ice around her, trying to block the | ||
| ClubFloyd | beams. But the beams pierce the globe, shattering it and holding | ||
| ClubFloyd | her in place. This has to be Krinkle Corp's work, an advanced | ||
| ClubFloyd | version of their magic drainer. How is it here? Are they behind | ||
| ClubFloyd | this? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus looks weak. Months and months of fighting, even the | ||
| ClubFloyd | challenges tonight, have contributed to her injuries. She sinks to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the floor and fades for a moment. The machines for some reason, | ||
| ClubFloyd | though, stop targeting her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Heart is the sole target of the beams now, but it seems to be | ||
| ClubFloyd | reacting violently. There is a green flash of light, and all of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | arms shatter backward. You fall to the floor, released from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | energy. The Heart pulses more dimly now. Claus didn't have enough | ||
| ClubFloyd | strength to fully protect it. Now she's not moving. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The machine shuts down. The room seems quiet now. You slowly reach | ||
| ClubFloyd | forward and take the Heart for yourself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "and what's the other shoe?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm afraid to find out." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Eleven Silent Night] | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you take the Heart, the walls of the fortress around you fade | ||
| ClubFloyd | into shadow and dissolve. The ceiling and cushions evaporate, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | the remains of the machine linger. You sink through the floor, | ||
| ClubFloyd | which slowly melts and becomes transparent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As you sink in up to your waist, you watch the pieces of the foul | ||
| ClubFloyd | machine falling with you. Everything shudders as the fortress walls | ||
| ClubFloyd | bend inwards and fall on top of you. You prepare for an impact, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel nothing. You are simply immersed in shadow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Deep at the bottom, you see where you are headed: a ragged hole in | ||
| ClubFloyd | space, like the ones you saw before. This is a connection to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | human world, and you catch glimpses of toys and blankets on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | other side. Unlike the other holes you've seen, the edges of this | ||
| ClubFloyd | tear are chaotic, pulsing in rainbow colors, almost as if they are | ||
| ClubFloyd | inflamed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the center of the hole, half in and half out, is none other than | ||
| ClubFloyd | Katya Andreeva. She's asleep, in a nightgown, and someone's | ||
| ClubFloyd | attached a kind of metal headset to her. Wires trail from all | ||
| ClubFloyd | around her, some leading into her room, others towards the | ||
| ClubFloyd | machinery falling nearby. As you get closer, a light on the headset | ||
| ClubFloyd | goes out, and the helmet pops off. Katya stirs in her sleep but | ||
| ClubFloyd | slowly slips through the tear, which heals behind her. She's gone, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the last of the shadows go with her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're left in a green field under the Fae sky. Cerberus is still | ||
| ClubFloyd | here, chained about thirty yards away. Claus's withered and | ||
| ClubFloyd | motionless body is here as well. A screen on a monitor attached to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the machine springs to life. It says, "STANDBY. INCOMING VIDEO CALL | ||
| ClubFloyd | FROM PHIL ARCHER." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A million thoughts are racing through your mind. You don't know | ||
| ClubFloyd | what to process first. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have it! I have Santa's Heart! I did it! | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) What happened to Claus? | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) What was Katya doing there? What were they doing to her? | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Phil? This was Krinkle Corp's doing! Why is he calling now? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "New chapter. Maybe the last one?" | |
| DavidW asks, "Phil Archer? Was that the guy that showed up after Hercules was defeated?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| DavidW says, "Should we stop here? This is another chapter and it's almost 4." | ||
| DavidW says, "Unless you think this is a short last chapter where we take over everything." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, thanks to DST it's earlier over here, so I could go longer." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh, ok. Let's continue then. Maybe we can end this." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's try it." | ||
| DavidW says, "B. I'm more concerned with Claus than the others." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You kneel down and look at the body. Claus has dried and withered, | ||
| ClubFloyd | like a leaf left too long in the sun. You touch above her heart and | ||
| ClubFloyd | feel warmth with a faint sense of movement. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your thoughts are disturbed by the screen, which blacks out and | ||
| ClubFloyd | then fades into an image of Phil Archer. Loud, scratchy audio | ||
| ClubFloyd | echoes from the device. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Hello, Club Floyd. I see that you've managed to obtain the Heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's impressive. I didn't expect two to come tonight. When I | ||
| ClubFloyd | released Glass Ghost out into the world, I knew he would lead | ||
| ClubFloyd | someone powerful here, but I never expected anyone would be willing | ||
| ClubFloyd | to share such power. We just needed a single subject for the final | ||
| ClubFloyd | test of our new devices. According to our deal, I had it set not to | ||
| ClubFloyd | completely kill Mrs. Claus. I've now fulfilled our bargain. At any | ||
| ClubFloyd | rate, I feel like it was a rollicking success." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | His voice keeps blaring. "Pardon me for going on, Floyd, but Katya | ||
| ClubFloyd | was necessary for setting it all up. With her innate bleeder powers | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the energy from the rift, she was able to completely form a | ||
| ClubFloyd | house from her nightmares. Cerberus here was sufficient to keep her | ||
| ClubFloyd | in a frightened mood, even in her dreams." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "What you did to Claus is inexcusable!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Capturing an innocent child for your twisted schemes? You're | ||
| ClubFloyd | sick, Phil." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I have to admit, having the Heart has put me in a superior | ||
| ClubFloyd | position. Thank you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "New devices? You're planning on making more of these?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | E) "Hercules is in this world. You could have hurt him." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I could see A, B, or D, I guess." | |
| DavidW says, "A and B and D." | ||
| DavidW says, "I don't want to OR that." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't think the game will accept f ABD." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "If it did, I'd be with you in a heartbeat." | ||
| DavidW says, "B then? It really is sick to intentionally use a girl that way. Mind rape." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil answers, "Her powers have grown dangerous to those around her. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The device we gave her wasn't just a weapon; it was a way to soften | ||
| ClubFloyd | her damage to our world. With the power we drained from her today, | ||
| ClubFloyd | her bleeder abilities will be inactive for months." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "Why are you telling me all of this? Just to gloat?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil chuckles. "No, Floyd. No, no. You see, I needed to keep you | ||
| ClubFloyd | here. When you broke the fortress, you set off a beacon that's been | ||
| ClubFloyd | broadcasting to the entire Fae world for the last twenty minutes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Now everyone knows that Santa's Heart is found and up for grabs, | ||
| ClubFloyd | only guarded by one sad, weakened elf. Goodbye, Floyd." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The screen turns off. You hop to your feet and look around. Is | ||
| ClubFloyd | anyone out there, coming? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | All around the horizon, in every direction, you can see distant | ||
| ClubFloyd | specks approaching. Some are larger, some are smaller, most are in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the air, but something enormous is coming on the ground. There's no | ||
| ClubFloyd | way you're going to be able to handle this. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You panic and clutch the Heart. In an instant, it flashes, and you | ||
| ClubFloyd | are blinded by its light. You feel yourself vanish. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp is behind everything: the List, Glass Ghost, the theft | ||
| ClubFloyd | of the Heart. You realize that now. But with half the Fae world on | ||
| ClubFloyd | your tail, including Flame, you'll have to save revenge for another | ||
| ClubFloyd | day. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You reappear in Claus Castle before Candid and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | others. Claus's body appears, too, and you hear gasps of shock and | ||
| ClubFloyd | astonishment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid says, "Club Floyd, what is going on? What happened to Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus? Is she dead?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You hold up the Heart, and Candid gasps. "We found the location of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the Heart. It was a setup by Krinkle Corp, and Mrs. Claus was | ||
| ClubFloyd | attacked. She's still alive, but barely." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid hugs you and sobs. "Oh, Club, I can't believe it! What are | ||
| ClubFloyd | we going to do?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You see other elves crowding up behind Candid. They're looking for | ||
| ClubFloyd | leadership. You need to show everyone that you can take Claus's | ||
| ClubFloyd | place. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I've proven my leadership talent over and over. I point out my | ||
| ClubFloyd | experience taking charge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I point out that I know the enemy better than anybody. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I can lead because I was the closest to Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hm. I'm not feeling that any of these fit too well. Maybe B. Maybe." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, I don't like these choices either. I had no wish to be in charge of the Heart." | ||
| DavidW asks, "Is B the most helpful?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I don't know. It may be the closesst to the truth." | ||
| DavidW says, "B then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You begin your speech. First, you cite your experience hunting down | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp, starting from a simple toy you discovered in Claus's | ||
| ClubFloyd | vault. Then you describe your close confidences in centuries pasts | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Flame, and the careful relationship you had developed in order | ||
| ClubFloyd | to gain information about them and their capabilities. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your words are coming easily now. You describe walking the halls of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp, damaging their tech, and confronting Mr. Leontari | ||
| ClubFloyd | personally. Then you mention the special insights about Flame, his | ||
| ClubFloyd | overpowering sense of self-importance and his blindness to | ||
| ClubFloyd | criticism. It's obvious that you know what you're talking about. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Everyone leaps to their feet in applause. Claus Castle is yours! | ||
| ClubFloyd | Even Simmering Stew the chef is stamping her feet and shouting your | ||
| ClubFloyd | approval. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look around at your band of elves. This won't be nearly enough | ||
| ClubFloyd | for what's coming. You now know the Heart is capable of | ||
| ClubFloyd | instantaneous teleportation. You'll have to use it to gather as | ||
| ClubFloyd | many allies as you can. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | First, you're going to need to see Cai������the big one. You grab the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Heart and disappear in a flash. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW asks, "Cai is the multi-bodied one?" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yes." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You reappear in an enormous throne room. Cai's largest, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and original, body, is sprawled across his golden throne. He's | ||
| ClubFloyd | wearing the largest top hat and tails you've ever seen. Dozens of | ||
| ClubFloyd | smaller copies of Cai are fanning him or running errands across the | ||
| ClubFloyd | hall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "So, you've come!" booms Cai's thunderous voice. "You are in quite | ||
| ClubFloyd | the pickle, my friend. There's a resonant frequency blaring your | ||
| ClubFloyd | news across the world, as I'm sure you well know. Let me guess. Is | ||
| ClubFloyd | this your card?" He flicks his wrist, revealing a card and sending | ||
| ClubFloyd | a gust of wind that knocks over a few child-Cais on the floor. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | card is blank except for the word "'HELP!"' | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You could use the help of the Cais. In fact, you can use all of | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. But you'll have to take what you can get. You'd love to lead | ||
| ClubFloyd | them against Krinkle Corp, but you know that Flame will have heard | ||
| ClubFloyd | the beacon and will be coming soon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I rely purely on my friendship with Cai. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I know the secret behind Cai's bodies. I can help make one, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'd have to give up some of the trickster part of me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I bribe him with power from the Heart. That will easily secure | ||
| ClubFloyd | his cooperation. But it will take a lot. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I think I want to see our stats." | |
| DavidW says, "okay. I don't know how strong our friendship is." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 15% / Open Minded: 85% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 71% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 66% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 75% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 77% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Legendary Elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Our standing with Mrs C went up." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "It sure did." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I'm not sure any of our options are all that great." | ||
| DavidW says, "They're not, no. I don't want to spend the Heart's coin so soon." | ||
| DavidW says, "So either A or B." | ||
| DavidW says, "And it's not like we have a great Tinkering skill." | ||
| DavidW says, "We'll go from Average to Poor." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah, C is out. B implies it's a skill-reduction rather than a skill check, so maybe that works." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You reappear in an enormous throne room. Cai's largest, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | original, body, is sprawled across his golden throne. He's wearing | ||
| ClubFloyd | the largest top hat and tails you've ever seen. Dozens of smaller | ||
| ClubFloyd | copies of Cai are fanning him or running errands across the hall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "So, you've come!" booms Cai's thunderous voice. "You are in quite | ||
| ClubFloyd | the pickle, my friend. There's a resonant frequency blaring your | ||
| ClubFloyd | news across the world, as I'm sure you well know. Let me guess. Is | ||
| ClubFloyd | this your card?" He flicks his wrist, revealing a card and sending | ||
| ClubFloyd | a gust of wind that knocks over a few child-Cais on the floor. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | card is blank except for the word "'HELP!"' | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You could use the help of the Cais. In fact, you can use all of | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. But you'll have to take what you can get. You'd love to lead | ||
| ClubFloyd | them against Krinkle Corp, but you know that Flame will have heard | ||
| ClubFloyd | the beacon and will be coming soon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I rely purely on my friendship with Cai. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I know the secret behind Cai's bodies. I can help make one, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | I'd have to give up some of the trickster part of me. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I bribe him with power from the Heart. That will easily secure | ||
| ClubFloyd | his cooperation. But it will take a lot. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "And I'm not sure our friendship with Cai is all that good anymore after we cost them a body to get to the Wastes." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, that sucked" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Do we try B?" | ||
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Cai, I really need your help. I'll let you make another body from | ||
| ClubFloyd | me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai's eyes widen. "You know the cost? And you'd be willing to do | ||
| ClubFloyd | that?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Yes." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Very well then," says Cai's giant main body. He stands and extends | ||
| ClubFloyd | his right hand, which has a glyph the size of a direwolf scarred | ||
| ClubFloyd | into the palm. The glyph glows with a golden light, and you see a | ||
| ClubFloyd | similarly-colored aura surrounding you. It flows from you to his | ||
| ClubFloyd | hand, and you see images in the aura: you cloaking yourself with | ||
| ClubFloyd | shadow, a deck of cards with you shuffling it and spinning in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | air, a juggling performance. Were those your memories? Not anymore. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've lost part of you, a trickster part. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai cradles your light, then sets it down. It's a child, wearing an | ||
| ClubFloyd | oversized top hat that keeps slipping over the eyes. Cai looks a | ||
| ClubFloyd | little disappointed. "I suppose you didn't have as much in you as I | ||
| ClubFloyd | thought. Ah, well. This body will be useful in the future. In the | ||
| ClubFloyd | meantime, I can offer you a battalion of my bodies." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You bow and make your exit to plan your next move. Ah, you know | ||
| ClubFloyd | exactly who you should see next. He'll be in for a shock. Few find | ||
| ClubFloyd | him without wandering long in his domain. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I guess that worked well enough." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The Heart flashes, and you find yourself in a towering | ||
| ClubFloyd | stadium filled with cheering creatures of every shape and size. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | are in a private box at the top of the stadium, with full view of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the spectacle before you. Two riders, a gnome and a minotaur, are | ||
| ClubFloyd | jousting on top of four-winged dragons. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray looks at you, and his eyes widen for just a second. He's | ||
| ClubFloyd | always been good at restraining himself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I heard the news. I thought I recognized the name in that signal. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You came through here earlier this year." It's not a question. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "A whole bunch of the Fae are coming my way, right now, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and I'm looking for allies any way that I can get." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray shrugs, conjuring himself a frosty, cool tropical drink with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | gold-plated umbrella sticking out. "I have little interest in such | ||
| ClubFloyd | things. Power like the Heart's is not unfamiliar to me, and I have | ||
| ClubFloyd | no need to seek it out. And, above all, I have no desire to leave | ||
| ClubFloyd | my lands. Why should I help you?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I have worked hard to weaken the barrier between the worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's done a whole lot for you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I know a human bleeder child, very sharp kid. I could ask them | ||
| ClubFloyd | to send you news of the human world in their dreams." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I am a high-ranking elf at Claus Castle. I know the Spiders, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and that they've harassed you. I can make peace between you two." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Because someone I love very much was just taken from me. Have | ||
| ClubFloyd | pity on me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "we should check stats again" | |
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 15% / Open Minded: 85% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 71% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 66% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 75% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Legendary Elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "...huh." | |
| DavidW says, "hmph. Maybe the skill still exists but only in that other body." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Heart flashes, and you find yourself in a towering stadium | ||
| ClubFloyd | filled with cheering creatures of every shape and size. You are in | ||
| ClubFloyd | a private box at the top of the stadium, with full view of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | spectacle before you. Two riders, a gnome and a minotaur, are | ||
| ClubFloyd | jousting on top of four-winged dragons. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray looks at you, and his eyes widen for just a second. He's | ||
| ClubFloyd | always been good at restraining himself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I heard the news. I thought I recognized the name in that signal. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You came through here earlier this year." It's not a question. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You say, "A whole bunch of the Fae are coming my way, right now, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and I'm looking for allies any way that I can get." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray shrugs, conjuring himself a frosty, cool tropical drink with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | gold-plated umbrella sticking out. "I have little interest in such | ||
| ClubFloyd | things. Power like the Heart's is not unfamiliar to me, and I have | ||
| ClubFloyd | no need to seek it out. And, above all, I have no desire to leave | ||
| ClubFloyd | my lands. Why should I help you?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "I have worked hard to weaken the barrier between the worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's done a whole lot for you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I know a human bleeder child, very sharp kid. I could ask them | ||
| ClubFloyd | to send you news of the human world in their dreams." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I am a high-ranking elf at Claus Castle. I know the Spiders, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and that they've harassed you. I can make peace between you two." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "Because someone I love very much was just taken from me. Have | ||
| ClubFloyd | pity on me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "Do we go B here?" | |
| DavidW says, "I guess? I don't remember who this Grey person is." | ||
| DavidW says, "er Gray" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Gray is a human in a coma, I believe, and a strong Dreamer." | ||
| DavidW asks, "ok, so B would give him a friend?" | ||
| DavidW says, "even better" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "And a connection to the mortal world." | ||
| DavidW says, "Is that good or bad" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Well, depends on the news I guess." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Shall we?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Hey, Gray, here's a Twitter account. Try to just look at the cute animal gifs and ignore the rest!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Heh." | ||
| DavidW says, "yes B" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray frowns. "A child? I'd much rather find an adult to ask for | ||
| ClubFloyd | news. Children can be tedious. But, I suppose I can instruct a few | ||
| ClubFloyd | of my messenger pixies to talk with them about the news, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | summarize it for me in a mature and concise style. Perhaps they | ||
| ClubFloyd | could bring a newspaper in their sleep for the pixies to deliver, | ||
| ClubFloyd | so I could avoid childish communication entirely. And I could find | ||
| ClubFloyd | out about the World Cup, I suppose." He brightens at that. "What's | ||
| ClubFloyd | their name?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Carl Alan. He is a friend of the Nightmare King and helped free | ||
| ClubFloyd | him." Gray looks extremely impressed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Done," says Gray. "Tell Carl Alan to call for Melliflower when he | ||
| ClubFloyd | arrives. And to bring two newspapers with him. I'll be on the field | ||
| ClubFloyd | of battle. Wait for me." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | That's one more for your list. Excellent. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --The Heart flashes again, and you are taken to a cavernous | ||
| ClubFloyd | factory, filled with shadows. Sparks of electricity fly from some | ||
| ClubFloyd | machine in front of you, something tall. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You walk closer and see Copper Crank wearing a welding helmet and | ||
| ClubFloyd | holding an arc welder. She takes off the mask and looks you up and | ||
| ClubFloyd | down. Her face is inscrutable. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She folds her arms. It looks like she's letting you make the first | ||
| ClubFloyd | move here������or asking you to go. It's hard to tell. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Copper Crank, I need your help. I'm asking sincerely, will you aid | ||
| ClubFloyd | me against Flame? I know we weren't the best of friends. But I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | asking you, please." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | She snuffs a bit and adjusts her tool belt. She presses a button on | ||
| ClubFloyd | a remote. A spotlight clanks on, far above you, illuminating a | ||
| ClubFloyd | towering battle mech. It's built for extreme combat conditions, | ||
| ClubFloyd | with heavy armor plating and all sorts of ports and barrels | ||
| ClubFloyd | attached to every surface. You whistle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I've felt it for a while. I knew war was coming. And I've already | ||
| ClubFloyd | had offers from the other side today. But there's one thing I | ||
| ClubFloyd | respect, and that's skill. I can't get this thing to work. There's | ||
| ClubFloyd | a very subtle electrical fault, somewhere in the internal wiring. | ||
| ClubFloyd | If you can find it and fix it, I'll join you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I was born for this. I take out my electrical equipment and find | ||
| ClubFloyd | the fault with pure technical skill. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I can deal with this in other ways. I shift into a lightning | ||
| ClubFloyd | mite and travel through the entire system. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I can't solve this myself, but I know exactly who can, and they | ||
| ClubFloyd | work for me now. Hopefully Crank respects that. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "B may work." | |
| DavidW says, "yes, I think we must try B." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You will yourself into a smaller, sleeker, electric being, your | ||
| ClubFloyd | whole body electricity. You feel yourself shrinking, but it's not | ||
| ClubFloyd | enough. Smaller, you think. Smaller, smaller, smaller. You imagine | ||
| ClubFloyd | tiny electric legs. Smaller. You are lightning. Smaller. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When you open your eyes, you see a world of ripples and echoes. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | are electricity itself. When you zip into the machine, it feels | ||
| ClubFloyd | like a slide at a water park, but with jet engines every ten feet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Now you rocket through the system over and over, dozens of times | ||
| ClubFloyd | every second. There's a bump that jostles you every time you go | ||
| ClubFloyd | through. So you lash out over your next hundred trips, striking it | ||
| ClubFloyd | again and again until it smooths out. Finally, you leap out of the | ||
| ClubFloyd | wire and return to yourself. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The machine lights up: barrels spinning, viewports blinking, | ||
| ClubFloyd | actuators testing out their strength. Copper Crank claps in glee. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "You'll see me and my giant fighting robot HALstaff there. Count on | ||
| ClubFloyd | us!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "whew" | |
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "Whoo!" | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You give her a thumbs up, and head on out. You've talked | ||
| ClubFloyd | to Cai, Gray, and Copper Crank, and consolidated power at Claus | ||
| ClubFloyd | Castle. But you're not done yet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your skill with teleportation is increasing. You feel as if you're | ||
| ClubFloyd | using less and less of the Heart's power with each jump now, almost | ||
| ClubFloyd | as if it were just introducing you to paths that already existed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Interesting. You take a quick path and end up in your own dungeon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | You grab a startled Glass Ghost and teleport them and you high to | ||
| ClubFloyd | the top of a mesa near the White Wastes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost staggers back, staring at the cliff and back to you, | ||
| ClubFloyd | before lingering on the Heart. "So you got it then. Could have told | ||
| ClubFloyd | me without the show. I hate heights." That makes you feel a bit | ||
| ClubFloyd | bad. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "I wanted to make sure you didn't run away. I was wondering if | ||
| ClubFloyd | there was any way that you would be willing to work with us. We can | ||
| ClubFloyd | use all the help we can get." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost crosses their arms angrily. "You threw me in jail. Why | ||
| ClubFloyd | would I do anything for you?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost has a complex personality, and your history is long. You'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | need to find an approach that draws on multiple strengths of yours. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Ghost, you need stability in your life. You've been wandering | ||
| ClubFloyd | all across the world, alone. You need community and friendship." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I'm tired of your nonsense. Everyone's been treating you with | ||
| ClubFloyd | kid gloves. You help us, or I'll beat the happy holidays out of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "Look at you. You're basically penniless and alone. We can | ||
| ClubFloyd | provide for you: food, clothes, equipment, dental insurance." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Hey now, Glass, we offered." | |
| DavidW says, "A. I don't understand why they're upset with us." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I have no idea." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost shakes their head. "That's rich, coming from you. You're not | ||
| ClubFloyd | the most likable and trustworthy person in the world, you know. I'm | ||
| ClubFloyd | staying out of this fight." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, I can't have you running around during the fight," you say. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I use the Heart to turn Ghost into a reindeer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I use the Heart to put Ghost to sleep until after the battle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I leave Ghost on the mesa. I have better things to do. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I put Ghost back exactly where I found them. It won't cost me | ||
| ClubFloyd | anything, the pathways are easy to open now. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "D?" | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, D." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ghost disappears before they can say anything. They're now safely | ||
| ClubFloyd | back in the dungeon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Well, that's that. It would have been nice to have Ghost on your | ||
| ClubFloyd | team. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You consider going to see Fractured Quartz and the Kingdom of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dreams. But the last time you saw them, you had apparently defeated | ||
| ClubFloyd | their God and shamed their prophet. The memory is still fresh, | ||
| ClubFloyd | happening less than two days ago. Best to leave them alone. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You return to the main courtyard of Claus Castle. Candid is there. | ||
| ClubFloyd | So are the elves. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can't help but think about Krinkle Corp. You should be chasing | ||
| ClubFloyd | them down right now, not fighting for your life with other Fae. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil set you up for this, and one day, you'll repay him. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Already, you can see the shadow of troops in the distance. It's | ||
| ClubFloyd | time for the battle to begin. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Your army stands by you with fervor in their eyes. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai's battalion of bodies is lined up on the right. The lead, a | ||
| ClubFloyd | wiry woman with camouflage coattails, salutes you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | To your left, you hear an enormous rumbling sound. Copper Crank's | ||
| ClubFloyd | machine is here, presumably with Crank inside. The steel and bronze | ||
| ClubFloyd | have been given a chrome finish with gold highlights, and the mech | ||
| ClubFloyd | gleams like the paladins of old in Charlemagne's service. It sends | ||
| ClubFloyd | a mighty gout of flame into the air with one hand. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You're keeping an eye out for Gray, but he hasn't shown up yet. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | he promised he'd be here during the battle. Hopefully, he comes | ||
| ClubFloyd | soon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And, last of all, a wispy ghost-boy wearing a nightgown and holding | ||
| ClubFloyd | a candle floats up to you. Candid Mistletoe, as the Ghost of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Past. He'll be leading your main forces today. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A vast, fiery portal opens in the air before Claus Castle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame himself, dressed head-to-toe in glowing red armor, | ||
| ClubFloyd | exits the portal, leading his army. You can see emerald tentacles | ||
| ClubFloyd | holding the portal open, despite their obvious pain in the flames. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame must have called in a few favors. He's pointing directly at | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. You'll have to deal with him personally. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What will your strategy be to defeat Flame? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'll face him in physical combat. I'll create a weapon for | ||
| ClubFloyd | myself with the Heart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll keep my distance and use ranged attacks. I'll rely on the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Heart to give me speed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I don't want to use the Heart any more than I need to. I rely | ||
| ClubFloyd | purely on my own skills. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I don't think we have achance without the heart." | |
| DavidW asks, "C will still let us use the Heart if we must, right?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I have my doubts." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "I mean, maybe after a few failed rolls?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Or failed rolls do cause us to rely on the heart, if that's what you mean." | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah. It'll be backup the way Mrs C was backup when we failed earlier." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "I suppose that may work. Do we want C then?" | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You carefully tuck the Heart in a secure pouch and make sure it's | ||
| ClubFloyd | secured firmly to your body. This isn't going to be easy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame is closer now, with her army close behind. You can see a | ||
| ClubFloyd | group of gnomish archers taking aim. You raise your hand and signal | ||
| ClubFloyd | your counterattack. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank's mech stamps forward. Raising both arms, it releases | ||
| ClubFloyd | a double-barreled hail of bullets that sweeps through the archers. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dozens of arrows ring hollow against the outer surface. Copper | ||
| ClubFloyd | Crank doesn't relent, and marches steadily forward, pinning down | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame's ranged attackers. Your army cheers enthusiastically. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You've taken the early initiative. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | None of the arrows come near you. The archers must be purposely | ||
| ClubFloyd | avoiding you. But one person isn't. Flickering Flame's armor glows | ||
| ClubFloyd | even brighter, and he leaps through the air at an astonishing rate. | ||
| ClubFloyd | He slams into the ground in front of you, and a ring of fire | ||
| ClubFloyd | surrounds the two of you, at least twenty paces across. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame gathers up a ball of intense, white flame in his | ||
| ClubFloyd | hand, chucking it at you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I shift into a stronger form and bat it away with my terrible | ||
| ClubFloyd | claws. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I try to quickly deploy an energy reflector I've been working | ||
| ClubFloyd | on. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I throw a smokeball at my feet as a distraction and sneak behind | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame, trying to get a quick strike in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "A?" | |
| DavidW says, "yes" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With all your strength, you focus on transforming into a powerful | ||
| ClubFloyd | were-dragon. You call to your mind the scales, the savage teeth, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and the enormous, vicious claws. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your body melts and reforms in an instant. You become a were-dragon | ||
| ClubFloyd | faster than the fireball can travel. You bat it away with your | ||
| ClubFloyd | rock-hard claws. The missile goes flying directly back at Flame, | ||
| ClubFloyd | who shouts in pain. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A rustling overcomes the battlefield beyond your personal arena. It | ||
| ClubFloyd | seems that Flame has brought allies: a fierce gathering of tooth | ||
| ClubFloyd | fairies, clad in enamel armor, sweeps towards your army like | ||
| ClubFloyd | locusts towards a helpless field of wheat. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The battalion of Cai's bodies is holding down that flank, and they | ||
| ClubFloyd | charge towards the tooth fairies. Bursts of smoke, teleporting | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cais, and razor-sharp decks of cards turn the battle into chaos. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Both sides fight bitterly. Your army presses the advantage, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | soon you have the upper hand again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But you have your own battle to deal with. Flame is distracted by | ||
| ClubFloyd | the tooth fairy battle. You can press your advantage. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) My personality has led me into too many fistfights to mention. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | rely on close combat. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I've stuck to a consistent, rigorous aerobics routine for a long | ||
| ClubFloyd | time. I get past Flame's defenses with my agility. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I've always been willing to learn new, beautiful forms of | ||
| ClubFloyd | martial arts and fighting styles. I'll think my way to success. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "lordy. C." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "Hm. C?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Apparently so." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With a calm, open mind, you begin a series of combat forms you | ||
| ClubFloyd | learned in a diner in Luckenbach, Texas. Flame stares at you, | ||
| ClubFloyd | stupefied by your bizarre contortions and occasional grunts and | ||
| ClubFloyd | screeches. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But what Flame fails to see is the true beauty of your greasy spoon | ||
| ClubFloyd | moves. You glide through the forms with intense concentration. Just | ||
| ClubFloyd | when Flame scoffs in mockery, you unleash your attack, leaping with | ||
| ClubFloyd | true aim to wallop him in the face, making him stagger backward. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You and Flame pause as an enormous roar echoes through the camp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame lets out an evil laugh. The two of you turn to see | ||
| ClubFloyd | an enormous mad-beast blotting out the sun. Surely this slithering, | ||
| ClubFloyd | flying, loathsome sack of hideous flesh was dragged from the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Emerald Empress's deepest pits. What foul favors did Flame call in | ||
| ClubFloyd | for this? | DavidW says, "Spaz our dance moves to victory." | |
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your troops are like leaves before the wind. The living horror | ||
| ClubFloyd | swoops from above and devours large masses of them like grains of | ||
| ClubFloyd | rice. Sated, it drifts off again, leaving the rest of your army | ||
| ClubFloyd | shaken and fearful. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame gives a long and wild laugh. "Now that," he | ||
| ClubFloyd | shouts, "is how you win a battle!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame's army cheers and charges forward. The tide has turned to | ||
| ClubFloyd | them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you stand facing each other and panting. The battle | ||
| ClubFloyd | around you is drawing to a close, and soon your own battle will be | ||
| ClubFloyd | over as well. It's become a battle of pure will. The air between | ||
| ClubFloyd | you crackles with violent energy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You can tell that Flame is fighting out of an insatiable desire for | ||
| ClubFloyd | power, and out of a steadfast determination to conquer at all | ||
| ClubFloyd | costs. These are powerful reasons. What gives you the drive to keep | ||
| ClubFloyd | fighting? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I'm fighting for the friends I've made. I owe it to them to win. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'm fighting for the win. I've conquered many times already this | ||
| ClubFloyd | year, and I intend to conquer again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm fighting for destiny. I've learned so much and come so far | ||
| ClubFloyd | with all my enemies: the Kingdom, Krinkle Corp, and now Flame. It's | ||
| ClubFloyd | meant to be. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I'm fighting for love. I can't lose now, not when I'm just | ||
| ClubFloyd | discovering my true feelings. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Whew." | |
| DavidW says, "A or C." | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Do you prefer any over the other?" | ||
| DavidW says, "hm. I'm tipping towards C. We *are* the PC, after all." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Very meta." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Yes. You've looked into everything from the theft of Santa's Heart | ||
| ClubFloyd | to evil toys and houses falling between worlds. You've worked so | ||
| ClubFloyd | hard on your investigations. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And they've been successful. You know more about the goings-on in | ||
| ClubFloyd | the human and Fae world than just about anyone else right now. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | you've accomplished more. No one could do this much on their own. | ||
| ClubFloyd | It has to be destiny. You are meant to win! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your passion fills your heart, and Flame cannot withstand you | ||
| ClubFloyd | anymore. The energy between the two of you explodes towards him, | ||
| ClubFloyd | knocking him backward. He rolls over slowly, rising to his feet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The two of you square off again, but Flame sags to the ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "This is over," you say to Flame. You dismiss the circle of flame | ||
| ClubFloyd | surrounding you with the wave of a hand. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look at the outside battle. Your army has been beaten down over | ||
| ClubFloyd | and over. Only your most devoted followers are still with you. But | ||
| ClubFloyd | the enemy is tiring as well. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Just then, an avenue of escape appears from an unexpected angle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The air towards the direction of Sleep wavers and becomes faint. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Then it explodes in color. You can feel a rush of emotion coming | ||
| ClubFloyd | from within the burst of colors. They resolve themselves into | ||
| ClubFloyd | fantastic, boiling images. You recognize them instantly: they're | ||
| ClubFloyd | dreams. It's too far away to see, but only Gray would have enough | ||
| ClubFloyd | strength to bring the Dreamlands themselves to the battlefields. | ||
| ClubFloyd | The terror of the Dreamlands frightens the remaining enemy, who | ||
| ClubFloyd | begin to break off and flee. This gives your troops a chance to | ||
| ClubFloyd | depart. But you are unreachable, the area around you and Flame | ||
| ClubFloyd | crackling with power. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You survey all of this as you stand personally triumphant | ||
| ClubFloyd | before Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame falls to a knee but struggles to rise again. He is | ||
| ClubFloyd | silent in the end. Perhaps it's easier that way. What are you going | ||
| ClubFloyd | to do with him? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I keep the old traditions. I transform him into a beast: a | ||
| ClubFloyd | reindeer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I end his life by dissolving him into his respective elements. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I try to coerce him into my service. I'm not sure how effective | ||
| ClubFloyd | it will be. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I offer my friendship as a final gesture. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Okay..." | |
| DavidW says, "'In the service of Club Floyd' is tempting, but I wanna be friends." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Let's try it, then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You set down the Heart as a sign of peace, and walk towards Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flame staggers towards it, but collapses to the ground in front of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you, too weakened to take it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You crouch and reach out your hand towards him. "Let's cease this | ||
| ClubFloyd | useless arguing. And be friends." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame laughs raucously. "Friends! Friends. No, I'll | ||
| ClubFloyd | never be your friend. I'll tell you why, just you, because no one | ||
| ClubFloyd | else will ever know. You came too close. You beat me, knocked me | ||
| ClubFloyd | down. If we were friends, I'd always know in my heart that you were | ||
| ClubFloyd | my better. And I cannot live with a better." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You shake your head, but Flame says, "I'll leave you something to | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember me by. You can always look on this and think of me, | ||
| ClubFloyd | 'friend' of mine." His body hardens and grays, until he becomes a | ||
| ClubFloyd | statue. There he stands, made from obsidian, one hand raised, a | ||
| ClubFloyd | frozen flame ascending from it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It seems that you've won against your strongest enemy, but your | ||
| ClubFloyd | army needs you. Without Flame, the enemy forces will scatter, but | ||
| ClubFloyd | you'll need to shepherd your army in the meantime. You take a last | ||
| ClubFloyd | look at the battlefield before departing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I guess he's solid. Solid as a rock." | |
| DavidW says, "For now." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Interlude A Blue Christmas] | ||
| ClubFloyd | With Claus out of commission, you have complete control over | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas. The ancient holiday still provides energy to the Heart | ||
| ClubFloyd | that you possess. Of course you support Christmas. The argument | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Hercules and Phil made you realize that. There's hardly any | ||
| ClubFloyd | time to send out the gifts. You'll have to work fast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Everyone at the Castle is still traumatized by what happened. | ||
| ClubFloyd | People are looking to you for guidance. At least Candid is here to | ||
| ClubFloyd | help you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time for work. You look over the new List, skimming through. | ||
| ClubFloyd | _William Karl, naughty. Alex Zenith, nice. Chris Jender, naughty. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fava Lee, definitely not nice._ So many people relying on you | ||
| ClubFloyd | personally. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I ask the elves to keep Christmas exactly as it has been. No | ||
| ClubFloyd | need to rock the boat. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I couldn't care less about Christmas Spirit, but I'm concerned | ||
| ClubFloyd | for morale. I'll let them run it. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I love this! I want to personally help deliver the gifts. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "Another chapter." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Calling itself an interlude." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Rather than epilogue or denuement." | ||
| DavidW says, "C" | ||
| DavidW says, "C implies possible growth and change." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I suppose I can go another hour." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh gosh, I forgot the time." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I like A myself, but C also works." | ||
| DavidW says, "We can stop here." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Nah, we can go, but this should be the last chapter for today." | ||
| DavidW says, "alright. C please." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You review your own personal assignment. Reginald Birmingham IV is | ||
| ClubFloyd | getting tickets. Alexandra Aleeyev is getting a skateboard. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan is getting a book of magic tricks. You eagerly gather | ||
| ClubFloyd | everything and head off with Cupid. It's odd, you reflect to | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself, that Cupid is one of the few reindeer to still carry | ||
| ClubFloyd | their former name. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Off through the air you go, laughing to the frozen sky. "Ho, ho, | ||
| ClubFloyd | ho!" you cry, holding Santa's Heart. "Ho, ho, ho!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You place Reginald's gift under the largest of his fifteen | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas trees at his grandmother's estate. You make a hole in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | mess in Alexandra's living room and place her gift. And you put | ||
| ClubFloyd | Carl Alan's gift next to the TV, a reminder of how you first met. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your heart is filled with joy as you return to Claus Castle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | When the next day dawns, you sigh in relief. One more Christmas | ||
| ClubFloyd | done with. And what a Christmas it's been. The last few days have | ||
| ClubFloyd | been a blur. But with Krinkle Corp's machinations in the | ||
| ClubFloyd | background, you have no time to rest. The new year awaits. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Twelve Krinkle Incorporated] | ||
| ClubFloyd | You float in a void, holding the Heart. The only thing you see are | ||
| ClubFloyd | the members of the Council of Seven. Well, most. The Emerald | ||
| ClubFloyd | Empress isn't here in person (to keep everyone sane, of course), | ||
| ClubFloyd | and only one of the Spiders has attended. As for Mrs. Claus, well, | ||
| ClubFloyd | that's where you come in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The head of the tooth fairies looks at you sternly. "You have to | ||
| ClubFloyd | understand how we feel. Claus was struck down in mysterious | ||
| ClubFloyd | circumstances, with you as the only witness." She points at you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | "How do you explain what happened?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "Claus made a dangerous choice. I did what I could." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Claus was attacked by a dangerous group of mortals. We need to | ||
| ClubFloyd | stand together!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "I have no need to explain myself to you. Accept me, or not." | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) "I can swear on an oath rod that I never sought to damage | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "That sure was an interlude." | |
| DavidW asks, "A?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Spider leers at you menacingly, and hisses, "That is your | ||
| ClubFloyd | defense? That she made a mistake, and you had no responsibility to | ||
| ClubFloyd | preserve her?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You go to explain, but you find yourself unable to speak. The words | ||
| ClubFloyd | won't come out of your throat, no matter how hard you try. Everyone | ||
| ClubFloyd | else looks at the envoy of the Emerald Empress. She murmurs, "You | ||
| ClubFloyd | do not understand. We already know the answers to our questions. | ||
| ClubFloyd | These are questions you must ask yourself. We already know the | ||
| ClubFloyd | course we will take. You are free to go. We will be observing you." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Just then, one of your magical alerts goes off. Krinkle Corp must | ||
| ClubFloyd | be at it again. This is an opportune time for you to leave. You bow | ||
| ClubFloyd | to the other members, then depart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You use the pathways of the Heart to teleport to a small meadow | ||
| ClubFloyd | deep in the Blue Forests. You appear in the top of a tree a safe | ||
| ClubFloyd | distance away. There you hide, watching a group of Krinkle Corp | ||
| ClubFloyd | agents assembling yet another one of their hideous portal devices. | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is the second one this week! Probably got some bleeder stuck | ||
| ClubFloyd | in there again. You feel more pressure than usual, knowing the | ||
| ClubFloyd | remaining members of the Council of Seven are watching. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | But first, you have a bit of reconnaissance to do. Not that you | ||
| ClubFloyd | have to do it alone anymore. You've brought along a companion to | ||
| ClubFloyd | help, part of the new crew you're trying to train in subterfuge and | ||
| ClubFloyd | sabotage. One of the many odd denizens in Claus's castle. Whom have | ||
| ClubFloyd | you brought? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Seventh Sister, a hardliner isolationist elf from the old days. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Golden Boulder, a kind and friendly golem who wants to | ||
| ClubFloyd | annihilate Krinkle Corp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) Winding Water, a nymph who is excited to see things shaken up, | ||
| ClubFloyd | old ways turned new. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) Spring Bonnet, pixie, professor of mortal studies, and human | ||
| ClubFloyd | enthusiast. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "B or D" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "I can almost see how each of these choices can go horribly wrong." | ||
| DavidW says, "oh yes" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "D, I guess?" | ||
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Spring Bonnet dances back and forth in excitement. "Oh, I've got to | ||
| ClubFloyd | see them!" She turns invisible and, presumably, departs. Minutes | ||
| ClubFloyd | later, she reappears. "How very, very interesting! Their | ||
| ClubFloyd | interpersonal dynamics are even better than I expected. There's a | ||
| ClubFloyd | love triangle and one of the males doesn't even know it! They've | ||
| ClubFloyd | got an older man with them, too, and he seems to be sedated. I wish | ||
| ClubFloyd | we could sedate them all, I'd love to study them." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You give the signal. Spring Bonnet grabs her dart gun and gives you | ||
| ClubFloyd | a cheery grin. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Then you slide down the back of the tree to take your part in this | ||
| ClubFloyd | affair. Not only are you trying to take down this group of Krinkle | ||
| ClubFloyd | Corp agents, but you're also training your future staff. What do | ||
| ClubFloyd | you show them? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I infiltrate the camp with perfect silence, sabotaging the | ||
| ClubFloyd | machine. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I activate an electromagical device that should disable all of | ||
| ClubFloyd | their equipment. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I transform into a mud lizard and go on the rampage. Gotta have | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I turn all their guns into gumdrops������or gundrops������whatever you | ||
| ClubFloyd | want to call them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "C?" | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You sigh. This has all been exhausting. At least this will be | ||
| ClubFloyd | something new. You concentrate and release the bounds of your body | ||
| ClubFloyd | through your mind. You feel yourself expanding and growing. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You extend your claws and roar with your new-found gullet. Then you | ||
| ClubFloyd | leap towards the group, knocking over their device. They pull out | ||
| ClubFloyd | their weapons, taking aim at you with bright rays. They glance off | ||
| ClubFloyd | your moist hide. You strike quickly, sending humans flying in every | ||
| ClubFloyd | direction. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | While you're causing a mighty distraction, Spring Bonnet fires with | ||
| ClubFloyd | incredible speed, piercing the skin of each of the agents with her | ||
| ClubFloyd | tranquilizer darts. She starts taking copious notes about each of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the agents while you break open the device. The bleeder is revealed | ||
| ClubFloyd | inside, an elderly man with grizzled hair. Another human in the Fae | ||
| ClubFloyd | world. You handle him like you handled all the others. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I push him back through the rift. No more, no less. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I bring him with us. He could be friendly. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I leave him here. No need to get involved. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I investigate the rift to make sure he'll be alright, then put | ||
| ClubFloyd | him in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "d, I'd say." | |
| DavidW says, "sure" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "d" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You have a soft spot for humans, after your years of Christmas | ||
| ClubFloyd | service. But you don't like these rifts crossing the two worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You return to Claus Castle, or your castle, now. You haven't | ||
| ClubFloyd | changed the name yet. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | You look over your materials from Krinkle Corp. With enough of | ||
| ClubFloyd | these, you think, you might be able to do it. To bring back Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Another month passes. It's closer to Easter, now. You | ||
| ClubFloyd | receive news that Krinkle Corp is heavily investing in an ad | ||
| ClubFloyd | campaign against Easter, and against all holidays, really. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's not openly against holidays, of course. That would be too | ||
| ClubFloyd | obvious. Instead, it's a campaign for buying now. "Why wait?" is | ||
| ClubFloyd | the slogan. The idea is that people deserve pampering year-round, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and buying something you don't like because it's "in season," or | ||
| ClubFloyd | waiting on a nice gift because it's not some random calendar date | ||
| ClubFloyd | is just silly. They're advertising with new 3-D hologram | ||
| ClubFloyd | projectors. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Whatever the humans think of this, it's bad for the Fae. While | ||
| ClubFloyd | individual bleeders can change small portions of your world, the | ||
| ClubFloyd | collective human consciousness is its very lifeblood. Holidays are | ||
| ClubFloyd | a means of channeling that. Without a doubt, this campaign will | ||
| ClubFloyd | decrease the Christmas Spirit in the world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In fact, you've received notice that Copper Crank is gone. She only | ||
| ClubFloyd | had a tenuous connection to the mortal imagination to begin with, | ||
| ClubFloyd | and this was the last thread. Witnesses say that Copper just faded | ||
| ClubFloyd | away, a smile on her face. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your prot����g����, Spring Bonnet, has spent hours online researching | ||
| ClubFloyd | their advertising strategy and compiling notes for you. You are too | ||
| ClubFloyd | busy to organize a counter-campaign in person, but hopefully your | ||
| ClubFloyd | own skills and talents have rubbed off on your team. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I let Krinkle Corp continue their ads in peace. I'm not | ||
| ClubFloyd | concerned about protecting Christmas. But I want one of those | ||
| ClubFloyd | projectors taken and analyzed. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I ask Spring Bonnet to mount a counter-campaign promoting | ||
| ClubFloyd | holiday spirit and cheer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I send a covert team to engage in sabotage against the campaign. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "B" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "B or C I guess, but what would be more efficient?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "B, then." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Unfortunately, you haven't spent much time with your team working | ||
| ClubFloyd | on Christmas cheer. Your campaign actually increased anger against | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas and the holidays. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fall is coming, and things are getting worse. Cai is the latest to | ||
| ClubFloyd | be struck, with dozens of their bodies dissolving into thin air | ||
| ClubFloyd | over the last few weeks. There is news of Krinkle Corp shutting | ||
| ClubFloyd | down the faerie circles, severely limiting your people's ability to | ||
| ClubFloyd | traverse the worlds. The Ocean of Sorrows has been hit particularly | ||
| ClubFloyd | hard. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This area is exactly in the domain which you have control over | ||
| ClubFloyd | under your agreement with the Council of Seven. Fae are panicking | ||
| ClubFloyd | and calling on you to do something to stop the damage there. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I have been making diplomatic overtures to the bog faeries. I | ||
| ClubFloyd | might negotiate with them to make more rings. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I get Spring Bonnet to lead a team to shift into mock faerie | ||
| ClubFloyd | rings in order to ambush Krinkle Corp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I instruct my agents to use subterfuge to pretend to do rituals | ||
| ClubFloyd | to strengthen the bond between worlds. But I'd rather let that bond | ||
| ClubFloyd | die, and this will help. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Ouch." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "B?" | ||
| DavidW says, "I dunno. We can try that." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | You instruct your prot����g���� to gather a team together, and you lead | ||
| ClubFloyd | them in shifting exercises. Fungi can be particularly hard to | ||
| ClubFloyd | handle when shifting, so you give strict attention to that part. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your leader returns with a glowing report. All of the team had been | ||
| ClubFloyd | successful in producing accurate-looking mimics, and they ambushed | ||
| ClubFloyd | five different Krinkle Corp parties. Spring Bonnet shows you the | ||
| ClubFloyd | extensive notes she's developed concerning Krinkle Corp. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With all that in the past, one of your little projects you've been | ||
| ClubFloyd | working on has now come to fruition. You've acquired enough of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Krinkle Corp's equipment to understand how it works. You've been | ||
| ClubFloyd | able to actually reverse some of its effects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In fact, you might be able to bring back Claus from her weakened | ||
| ClubFloyd | state. The fact that you have a living body to work with should | ||
| ClubFloyd | make things easier. How do you feel about it? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Let's do it! I'd love to have Claus back and in charge. I'm sick | ||
| ClubFloyd | of being responsible for everything. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I'll do it, but if Claus thinks she can boss me around, she has | ||
| ClubFloyd | another thing coming. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I'm not going to do it. I have no interest in the return of | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "A." | |
| DavidW says, "A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | With careful steps, you descend into the cellars of Claus Castle. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Down past the ruins of Christmas past, down past the Olmecs and the | ||
| ClubFloyd | Greeks, down to the coffin that once held Santa's Heart, and which | ||
| ClubFloyd | now holds the body of Claus, surrounded by mounds of metallic | ||
| ClubFloyd | components and wires. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With a deep breath, you pull a switch. Bolts of electricity streak | ||
| ClubFloyd | out from the casing, striking everything in the room, including | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's body and you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The equipment sparks and smokes, but continues to work. You thank | ||
| ClubFloyd | your lucky stars that you managed to steal parts from Krinkle Corp | ||
| ClubFloyd | at every opportunity. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Mrs. Claus looks around, understanding slowly dawning on | ||
| ClubFloyd | her face. She stretches, her bones cracking from long disuse, then | ||
| ClubFloyd | steps out of the coffin. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | "Well, Club Floyd, it seems some time has passed since our last | ||
| ClubFloyd | meeting. What's happened since then?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) " Something bad happened to you. I fixed it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "I found the Heart, defeated Flame, and have been struggling | ||
| ClubFloyd | with Krinkle Corp." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) "A lot. But we kept Christmas going." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu asks, "C?" | |
| DavidW says, "okay" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | She looks concerned. "How many did I miss?" You give her a big | ||
| ClubFloyd | smile and say, "Only one. I hurried as fast I could." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Her smile fades as she notices the Heart in your hand. "So, what | ||
| ClubFloyd | are you going to do, now? What are your intentions with the Heart?" | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) "It's yours, unconditionally. Of course I wouldn't take it from | ||
| ClubFloyd | you!" | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) "Well, I've grown accustomed to holding this. I'd like to keep | ||
| ClubFloyd | it that way for now." | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I panic and use the machine to kill her. I wasn't prepared for | ||
| ClubFloyd | this. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu exclaims, "Our precious!" | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "A?" | ||
| DavidW says, "A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus sighs in relief and accepts the Heart from you. "Thank | ||
| ClubFloyd | you, Club Floyd. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | This is going to take some getting used to. You're both different | ||
| ClubFloyd | people than you were before. But you're looking forward to the | ||
| ClubFloyd | upcoming weeks. It'll be great to get to know each other again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You and Claus have been talking. Claus's return was | ||
| ClubFloyd | heralded with enthusiasm by her former subordinates. But the | ||
| ClubFloyd | celebrations and feasts didn't last long. Krinkle Corp has been | ||
| ClubFloyd | pressing ever closer. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Today, the two of you are discussing your plans for ending the war. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's idea is to call Phil in for negotiations. Compromise. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What's your idea? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I call in Phil directly for negotiations on neutral ground. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I send Spring Bonnet to assassinate Phil. Hopefully, she's | ||
| ClubFloyd | trained enough. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I pretend to go along with Claus, but defect to Phil. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "We should retain our teleportation ability, I think." | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Possibly." | ||
| DavidW says, "A" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I am almost tempted by B, but yeah, A." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "a" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus smiles at you, pleased you've accepted the | ||
| ClubFloyd | recommendation. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You and Claus are meeting in conference to determine the | ||
| ClubFloyd | future of Christmas and of both worlds. Phil is seated opposite of | ||
| ClubFloyd | you. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Phil says, "I want to make it clear that I am here on behalf of not | ||
| ClubFloyd | only Krinkle Corp, but all humans. I strongly believe the meddling | ||
| ClubFloyd | of Fae in the human world is irresponsible and must stop. Let's see | ||
| ClubFloyd | what your requests are." | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's time to make your choices as equals (more or less). Hopefully | ||
| ClubFloyd | you can reach an agreement. But you may not be able to achieve all | ||
| ClubFloyd | of these goals. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | What do you think should be the fate of the two worlds? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I suggest we bring the worlds as close together as possible. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I suggest we ensure that no one interfere with the connections | ||
| ClubFloyd | between the worlds. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I suggest we keep the worlds separate. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "They're still mistaking themselves as the president of Humanity." | |
| DavidW says, "yeah, that's weird." | ||
| DavidW asks, "B?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Seems the status quo. Sure." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "B" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus votes for things to be as they were. Phil votes to keep the | ||
| ClubFloyd | worlds apart. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | After much discussion, the committee has come to an agreement. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | worlds must be separated as far as you can make them. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And what are your thoughts about Christmas? | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I think it's time to stop Christmas altogether. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) It shouldn't be up to us. I suggest we keep Christmas exactly as | ||
| ClubFloyd | it is. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I suggest we strengthen Christmas and the Heart as much as | ||
| ClubFloyd | possible. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | DavidW says, "C" | |
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "c" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus votes to strengthen Christmas. Phil votes for a weaker | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas. Well after midnight, you finish your discussions and | ||
| ClubFloyd | come to a consensus. Christmas needs to be rejuvenated and expanded | ||
| ClubFloyd | upon. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | With your views made known, you go to a well-earned rest. The dawn | ||
| ClubFloyd | will shine on a new world, one that you had a part in. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next Chapter --[IMAGE: Chapter Thirteen Epilogue] | ||
| ClubFloyd | The decisions made that night work their way through the fabric of | ||
| ClubFloyd | the worlds, and influence all the years that follow. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Despite the committee's resolutions, the worlds' relationship to | ||
| ClubFloyd | each other has remained largely the same. Dreamers still pass into | ||
| ClubFloyd | your world. Elves and monsters still pass into the mortal world. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The stability allows your world to heal faster than it otherwise | ||
| ClubFloyd | could have. The worst of the damage done by Krinkle Corp and by the | ||
| ClubFloyd | incursions of the Nightmare King is slowly cleaned up or sealed | ||
| ClubFloyd | away. The tooth fairies continue their raids for the disposable | ||
| ClubFloyd | bones of mankind. The Emerald Empress still conducts her bizarre | ||
| ClubFloyd | experiments into human anatomy, capturing the weak and helpless in | ||
| ClubFloyd | her saucer-shaped skyboats to take them to her kingdom. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | As for Christmas, the committee's choices have influenced the | ||
| ClubFloyd | holiday's future, but so have your actions over the last few years. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is now stronger than it ever was. The presence in China, | ||
| ClubFloyd | India, and sub-Saharan Africa grows without bound. A new | ||
| ClubFloyd | international carol singing competition springs up, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | universities begin offering courses in the theory of Christmas. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas shopping season starts in April now, and a secondary | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas celebration is established in March for those workers who | ||
| ClubFloyd | were unable to get the main Christmas off. Many people celebrate | ||
| ClubFloyd | both. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | In the Fae world, Claus Castle becomes a metropolis, with thousands | ||
| ClubFloyd | upon thousands of Fae flocking there for jobs and opportunities for | ||
| ClubFloyd | advancement. Great trade routes are established by land, sea, and | ||
| ClubFloyd | air, and soon the largest industries in the Fae world are all | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas-related: toy making, list checking, sleigh-making. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Desperate Fae volunteer to be turned into reindeer to help pull the | ||
| ClubFloyd | additional sleighs of toys in return for a guaranteed lifetime of | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfort in the new, modern stables. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Epilogue." | |
| Knight_Otu asks, "What have we wrought!?" | ||
| DavidW says, "Double-Christmas." | ||
| DavidW says, "Jesus is twins now." | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "Nightmare King, take me with you!" | ||
| DavidW says, "yeah, we may have made a mistake in strengthening Christmas this much." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I didn't expect it to go this strong." | ||
| DavidW says, "Neither did I." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Krinkle Corp has been put on the defensive. With | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas more popular than ever, Krinkle Corp finds its market | ||
| ClubFloyd | share shrinking and its foothold against the Fae ever more tenuous. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Soon, it is reduced to guerrilla tactics. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Flickering Flame is no longer a force in the land. The | ||
| ClubFloyd | statue of Flame posed you a bit of a conundrum, but you settled on | ||
| ClubFloyd | donating it to a mortal children's museum that had a medieval | ||
| ClubFloyd | fantasy section. Being constantly bumped into by sticky-fingered | ||
| ClubFloyd | toddlers seems like an appropriate fate for Flame. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | The Fae world does seem a bit drabber without him, though. If | ||
| ClubFloyd | anything, he provided a bit of color to the universe whenever he | ||
| ClubFloyd | wasn't fear-mongering, war-mongering, or any other kind of | ||
| ClubFloyd | mongering. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "I guess it beats the serpent's venom imprisonment." | |
| DavidW says, "yes, since he chose his own prison." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "True." | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --You remain faithfully employed to Mrs. Claus. Even death | ||
| ClubFloyd | is not able to keep the two of you down, and your working | ||
| ClubFloyd | relationship seems destined to last for quite a long time. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is stronger than ever, and so Claus is working harder | ||
| ClubFloyd | than ever. She is constantly busy in the workshop, throwing out | ||
| ClubFloyd | ideas: Christmas animatronics that make and hand out presents, new | ||
| ClubFloyd | varieties of Christmas treats that incorporate cuisine from around | ||
| ClubFloyd | the world, and a rebranding of Santa to better represent the new | ||
| ClubFloyd | market. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Your daily work hasn't changed too much. Claus regained the hearts | ||
| ClubFloyd | of her people as soon as she was revived and restored to power. And | ||
| ClubFloyd | you returned to your place. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Recently Claus, due to your actions in restoring her to life, has | ||
| ClubFloyd | decided to recognize you in an official capacity. She������s left it | ||
| ClubFloyd | up to you to decide what you'd prefer in the way of ceremony. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) I request a grand convocation in the Great Hall of Claus Castle | ||
| ClubFloyd | with speeches and a choir. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) I request a small gathering with my closest friends, including | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus. | ||
| ClubFloyd | C) I request a piece of artwork to be displayed in my honor. | ||
| ClubFloyd | D) I ask for no ceremony at all. My actions are their own reward. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "B or D" | |
| DavidW says, "B" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "b" | ||
| ClubFloyd | # | ||
| ClubFloyd | In a quiet meeting in Mrs. Claus's parlor, you are presented with a | ||
| ClubFloyd | certificate of achievement. More importantly, though, everyone | ||
| ClubFloyd | present goes through their favorite memories of you, your noblest | ||
| ClubFloyd | deeds and your funniest adventures. You leave feeling warm and | ||
| ClubFloyd | happy inside. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | There's one last thing that you think about before you go to sleep | ||
| ClubFloyd | this night. A long time ago, you set a goal for yourself. You told | ||
| ClubFloyd | yourself that you wanted to get Santa's Heart back and restore Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus's power. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And you did it. Christmas magic has survived. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | And so, you did what you set out to do. You saw the future you | ||
| ClubFloyd | wanted and you took it with both hands, and you are, by your own | ||
| ClubFloyd | measure, a success. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- End --We hope you've enjoyed playing _In the Service of Mrs. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Claus._ | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Choice of Games releases new games like this one on a regular | ||
| ClubFloyd | basis. Email us at subscribe@choiceofgames.com to subscribe to our | ||
| ClubFloyd | mailing list! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Whew." | |
| DavidW asks, "We finished?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "achivements" | ||
| ClubFloyd | -- Next --Thanks for playing! | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Play again. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Quit. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Roger says, "our long yuletide nightmare is over" | |
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "We did!" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "achivements" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, | ||
| ClubFloyd | or QUIT | DavidW says, "Thank Christmas." | |
| Roger says, "hmmm yeah weird we can't see our final score. Oh, there we go, maybe" | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "achievements" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Achieved 5 out of 15 | ||
| ClubFloyd | Score: 225 out of 550 | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Achieved: | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A Mini Me: Witness the birth of a smaller piece of you. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ho Ho Ho: Deliver presents in Santa's sleigh. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Three-headed Friend: Befriend Cerberus. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | It's Alive: Bring someone back from the dead. (50 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Eternal: Save Christmas for future generations. (100 | ||
| ClubFloyd | points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | Achievements remaining: | ||
| ClubFloyd | Dark Secrets: Learn the truth about Santa's death. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nine to Five: Find a job in the mortal world. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Ten Thousand Followers: Become the head of a cult. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Friends in High Places: Have your heart's wish granted by an | ||
| ClubFloyd | extradimensional being. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Scrooge: Destroy Christmas. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | There Can Be Only One: Be the last person standing at the end. (25 | ||
| ClubFloyd | points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shocking: Meet Shank Zappa. (25 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Wedding Bells: Celebrate your wedding day! (50 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Triumphant: Win a war decisively. (50 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | Turncoat: Betray Mrs. Claus and the rest of the elves. (50 points) | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "Misspelled that." | |
| Knight_Otu presses the yellow enter button. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Invalid response. Type a letter, or STATS, ACHIEVEMENTS, RESTART, | ||
| ClubFloyd | or QUIT | ||
| Knight_Otu says (to ClubFloyd), "stats" | ||
| ClubFloyd | Name: Club Floyd | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Traits] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Grumpy Goose: 7% / Happy Helper: 93% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Steadfast: 15% / Open Minded: 85% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gluttonous: 53% / Temperate: 47% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elegant: 38% / Rustic: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Skills] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Shifting: 80% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Tinkering: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Trickery: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer: 44% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Connections: 32% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Relationships] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Mrs. Claus: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Candid Mistletoe: 66% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Flickering Flame: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cai the Magician: 62% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Donner: 52% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Fractured Quartz: 56% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Nightmare King: 75% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Gray the Dreamer: 70% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Copper Crank: 49% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Glass Ghost: 50% | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | [IMAGE: Other] | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas Spirit: 76% | ||
| ClubFloyd | Elf Rank: Legendary Elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *A Brief Explanation* | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Shifting* represents the ability to transform your body into | ||
| ClubFloyd | various shapes, species, etc. High shifting will allow you to mimic | ||
| ClubFloyd | others or, more often, to gain the powers of a specialized form. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Low shifting may cause you to shift into something slightly | ||
| ClubFloyd | different than what you were going for, sometimes with disastrous | ||
| ClubFloyd | consequences. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Tinkering* represents the ability to create and understand | ||
| ClubFloyd | complicated devices. Elves with high tinkering carry an assortment | ||
| ClubFloyd | of mechanical pieces and tools with them at all times. High | ||
| ClubFloyd | tinkering also represents scientific understanding and spatial | ||
| ClubFloyd | reasoning. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Trickery* represents sneakiness and shadowiness. High trickery | ||
| ClubFloyd | allows an elf to be invisible, to perform sleight of hand and other | ||
| ClubFloyd | magic tricks, and to be stealthy. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Cheer* is Christmas magic. Elves with high cheer are prone to | ||
| ClubFloyd | miraculous occurrences and the creation of oversized food objects. | ||
| ClubFloyd | Cheer can lift spirits or create Christmas decorations or music. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Connections* is a measure of how much you know other magical | ||
| ClubFloyd | creatures, both personally and from rumor. Connections may help you | ||
| ClubFloyd | remember a legend, or a helpful spirit who owes you a favor. Low | ||
| ClubFloyd | connections represents gaps in your knowledge. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Grumpy Goose/Happy Helper* measures your attitude. A Happy Helper | ||
| ClubFloyd | is more friendly and relatable, but sometimes you need a Grumpy | ||
| ClubFloyd | Goose to knock some sense into people. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Steadfast/Open Minded* describes your views on change. A Steadfast | ||
| ClubFloyd | elf is loyal to friends and resistant to temptation, while an Open | ||
| ClubFloyd | Minded elf is a quick learner and can handle new situations and | ||
| ClubFloyd | viewpoints with ease. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Gluttonous/Temperate* describes your relationship with food and | ||
| ClubFloyd | fun. A Gluttonous elf is fun at parties but struggles with | ||
| ClubFloyd | self-control, while a Temperate elf is level-headed but a bit dull. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elegant/Rustic* measures your sophistication. An Elegant elf is | ||
| ClubFloyd | comfortable with high fashion, etiquette, art, and crystals, while | ||
| ClubFloyd | a Rustic elf is suited to the outdoors and to plain speaking. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Christmas Spirit* represents how strong the faith and belief in | ||
| ClubFloyd | Christmas is throughout the mortal world. It gives Mrs. Claus power | ||
| ClubFloyd | through an unknown mechanism, but the elves rumor that it involves | ||
| ClubFloyd | her deceased husband. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | *Elf Rank* is your standing with your fellow elves. A higher elf | ||
| ClubFloyd | rank allows you to command their respect and obedience. | ||
| ClubFloyd | | ||
| ClubFloyd | A) Return to the game. | ||
| ClubFloyd | B) Learn more about American Christmas traditions | ||
| ClubFloyd | | Knight_Otu says, "All that Christmas, and Christmas Spirit is only at 76%." | |
| DavidW says, "We just didn't eat enough." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "I guess that is true." | ||
| DavidW says, "And we shoulda turned Phil into a go-go potted plant." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "As I said, I was tempted a bit by the assassination option." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "But that's no way to solve problems." | ||
| DavidW says, "yes, but we weren't really playing as killers this time 'round." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "That, too. We were happy helpers, not killing krampuses." | ||
| DavidW says, "I wonder how Santa really died." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "We could replay the game.... eventually." | ||
| DavidW says, "I'm in no hurry." | ||
| DavidW says, "It'll be so good to play something else next week." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Certainly no replay in the near future." | ||
| Knight_Otu exclaims, "But hey, with two Christmases a year, we have a chance at Christmas games twice as often!" | ||
| DavidW says, "I was sad to see Copper Clank go." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Yeah." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Maybe we should have pushed for bringing the worlds together more, and less for strengthening Christmas." | ||
| DavidW asks, "hm. And what would that be like?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Perhaps an urban fantasy world?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "Bugbears with cell phones playing Pokemon GO?" | ||
| Knight_Otu asks, "Kids with actual pokemons?" | ||
| DavidW asks, "Starbucks using actual unicorn poo?" | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "Ew." | ||
| DavidW says, "Gosh, actual pokemon everywhere would change up things a lot." | ||
| DavidW says, "The Council of Squirrels would get quite nutty." | ||
| Knight_Otu says, "The world itself would, probably." | ||
| DavidW says, "Dogs would be barking a lot more often." | ||
