Chapter 01: Act I - The Horseman of Christmas Past

[keeperoftales]

A Hollow Christmas Carol: Act I—

§ instructions.
This is the designated log for all the main scenes for Act I: The Horseman of Christmas Past. All sub quests and nonrelated threads are to be made in their own posts. The scenes are listed below along with the assigned cast. Organization wise, the threads can happen in any order so you don't have to wait for one group to post before you do. Just start when you're ready! But to help, include in the subject line the scene header (ex. Scene 1, Scene 2, etc.) You can fluff it up a little to make it more specific like including the main characters or even scene title. Just be sure to have the number so we know which is which!

As a reminder, characters will have the necessary information within their journals. Those who are selected to play a scene will find their journal flashing red, so hard to miss. Aside from a few aesthetic changes (costumes, makeup, etc., think stage effects), all characters will be unchanged and won't gain any new powers or properties (ie. "Ghosts" are still tangible). The information they have is roughly the same as what is written OOCly.

Although there are certain characters set for a scene, it's not impossible for those not directly involved to make an appearance as random side characters or helpers. Characters can either just happen to be there or those cast as the role can make a "call out" through the journals. Any items and locations found through the main scenes are also free to be used by others for fun. There are also Bonus scenes that are basically extra prompts for people to have fun with if they'd like.

If you have any questions, post them to the Game Notes.

---

§ main scenes.

¶ Scene 1: Ebegeeser and Horseman of Christmas Past. The Horseman is supposed to show Ebegeeser how he was as a teacher and he was (supposedly) a decent guy. So the best way to showcase that is give Ebegeeser a classroom to teach. The two will need to recreate the Schoolhouse, take care of some pranks, and deal with animated straw children. The "children" can behave however players want them to. Angels or devils, throwing things at Ebegeeser. Even the Horseman can be a brat and play along if they want. The Horseman will also have their pony to deal with and yes—must ride it at some point. Note: If it's pre-planned to not find the Schoolhouse here, let us know so that it's noted in other scenes involving it.

• Find the gift with the Schoolhouse to kick things off. [It's a big green box with a piece of a chalk on top so it should be be pretty obvious]
  
  
• Disarm three pranks set up within the Schoolhouse. [Pranks can be whatever you guys want]
  
  
• Ebegeeser "teach" a class of "children" and the Horseman.

Cast: Ebegeezer - Kazuma Asougi; Horseman - 9S

¶ Scene 2: Ebegeeser's first meeting with Beltrina. Set in the Schoolhouse, Ebegeeser first meets the beautiful Beltrina...and starts thinking about her wealth. Beltrina herself is practicing the violin and is already in a relationship with Bromfred. But could Ebegeeser worm his way into her heart!? Time for Ebeneeser to get his flirt on...and the Horseman might sit on the side and watch. MUSICAL NUMBER ♫ Note: If the Schoolhouse is pre-planned to not be found in the other scene, then they will need to find the box. Otherwise, the scene is set in a random building.

• Beltrina plays or uses the violin. [Can be meshed with the musical]
  
  
• Ebegeeser tries to flirt with Beltrina through song. [♫]
  
  
• Mention Bromfred.
  
  
• Bonus: Horseman of Christmas Past makes an appearance to speak with Ebegeeser [Can have a separate thread]

Cast: Ebegeezer - Cyrus Albright; Beltrina - Pearl; Horseman - Therion

¶ Scene 3: Bromfred's arrogance and Ebegeeser's jealousy. After learning about Beltrina's relationship with Bromfred and Bromfred constantly messing with him, Ebegeeser is brimming with hatred and jealousy. Bromfred's feelings are far simpler—he just finds the guy dumb and an easy target (no one said Bromfred was nice). So they are at each other's throats and will showcase their dislike through the magic of rap. The characters will have to find microphones, make a stage, and then dish out insults at each other a la "Drop the Mic." Who will be the victor? Will Ebegeeser let slip his murderous thoughts!? MUSICAL NUMBER ♫

• Find the gift containing two microphones. [Small yellow triangular box up in a tree]
  
  
• Make a stage. [There will be planks of wood and a toolset available nearby]
  
  
• Rap at each other. [♫]
  
  
• Bonus: Horseman appears to warn Ebegeeser through rap. [♫; can have separate threads]

Cast: Ebegeeser - Edna; Bromfred - Therion; Horseman - Ib

---

[Mod note: Refer to the accompanying Game Notes for more information. If you wish to switch out of your current role, let us know!]

Comments

Scene 1.

[chippedsoul]

[Locked to 9S]
[The Disciple wasn't sure what to expect on the method of transportation to this Drafted world, but it was certainly an out of this world experience. It almost felt like how he had been tossed into the Storyteller's world in the first place. At the end of light, he stumbles when his feet finally touch actual ground, gripping onto a nearby pole to stop himself from completely falling on his bum. Once he had his bearings, he discovers that his clothes have changed to suit his role, and that he was standing at the entrance to a small town. Lowry, wasn't it? A town is what it was supposed to be, but it barely resembled one with the lack of colors and fragmented buildings. It was unsettling, how lifeless this place was, hitting a little too close to home. ]

[A - Studying up]
[Once they've created the Schoolhouse, the Disciple waste no time familiarizing himself with the building and the materials he would need to "teach" the children. English, Math, History...simplified of course. He hums quietly to himself, leaning back in the seat he's occupying in the school yard. ] One person at a time on the slide--no climbing the swing. [All the while, he's trying...well half-heartedly telling the "kids" off from misbehaving. He's not even looking at them, too busying with his nose in a book and jotting notes down.

If they, even yourself decide to throw something at him, he'll swap it away with his book like some bug. Maybe make it into a game to see who can hit the teacher.

If you're actually just minding your own business, you might find yourself getting charged at by a small pony with a bundle of straw in its mouth. You might even have time to notice that the straw bundle is flailing in silent distress. 9S is running and shouting at said pony close behind, but it's probably too late for you... ]

[B - Class has Begun!]
Recite the passage on page 15. [There was silence in response, but one can't expect much when you have a bunch of straw kids as student. Maybe a few were actual people.] ...All right, I'll recite first and you repeat after me.

There was a fisherman named Fisher
who fizz for some fishure-" [He stops. Wait, that's not right. There's sound of the straw people shuffling in their seats as he clears his throat, trying to recite the words again.]

There was a fisherman named Fisher
who fished for some fist in fisher-wait, no that's not right either! [What the hell? He's never had any problems with speaking English, so why was he getting tongue twisted now?! He clenches the podium, staring down at the words. He could hear the straws shuffling, whispering.

The passage in full is:
There was a fisherman named Fisher
who fished for some fish in a fissure.
Till a fish with a grin,
pulled the fisherman in.
Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.]

[C - Prank call]
[ A message goes out to everyone who isn't the Disciple via journal: ]

Hey, everyone. 9S here. I'm your Horseman of Christmas Past. It says here that I'm supposed to give old Ebegeeser the full schoolhouse experience, so I guess that includes a round of harassment. Seems a little harsh, but I don't make the rules.

I don't have much experience with this kind of thing, so I could use your help. What are some good pranks to pull on a teacher? And hey, the more the better, right?

[ This is 9S's call for help, but feel free to reply with either a journal response or the actual prank itself if your character will be present! 9S can set up pranks submitted by absentees. ]

[OOC: Responses will either come from 9S or the Disciple]

intro!

[decryptic]

[ 9S's boots crunch up the path as he comes up on the Disciple. The town before them looks a little broken down, and that too reminds 9S of "home". He puts the feeling aside to focus on the mission... even if the mission does sound a little ridiculous.

A dramatic ghostly cape floats behind him, but that's about all that's different about his outfit. Blindfold Goggles, check. Boy shorts, double check. A random, extremely localized fog tumbles around his lower half, which he can already tell is going to get annoying. ]

Uh, hey. Are you Ebegeeser?

[chippedsoul]

[He makes a face at the name, but quickly returns to something more neutral when he looks to the newcomer.] Yes. The Horseman of Christmas Past? [Easy enough to guess by the fog around him, but...] Something seems to be missing. [Like, a horse?]

[decryptic]

Don't look at me. I've never even seen a horse in person.

[ He looks toward the village. ]

Maybe we can find one roaming around? [ Do horses do that? ] By the way, you can call me 9S. "The Horseman of Christmas Past" sounds like a pain to say.

[chippedsoul]

[That causes an eyebrow raise. Never seen a horse? Huh.] 9S is simple enough. Call me the Disciple. [They're team weird names apparently.]

Your horse can't have wandered far. [Saying it as if he knows how this works. He'll take the first step towards the town then. If there were passing people, they were not whole, more like physical shadows wandering the streets.]

C

[apothecarry]

Why would people want to do that to someone who's teaching them?

[Alfyn, good soul that he is, always paid attention to whatever he was learning and asked probably too many questions but being informed is always better when you're dealing with people's lives, all right?]

Makes it a lot harder to learn what you need to, if you ask me.

[decryptic]

Well... if you don't really feel like learning, I guess it's more fun to stir up trouble. And just between you and me, Ebegeeser isn't the most charismatic lecturer.

[ 9S likes learning, and he's still finding the Disciple's lecture a bit dry. ]

Either way, it has to be done. What do you think about... filling his desk with sand?

[apothecarry]

[He knows at least one very charismatic lecturer who still manages, sometimes, to lose him in the sea of words just pouring out of him. ...He still wouldn't do anything cruel to the guy.]

I guess...that's not so bad, as far as stirring up trouble? It'd be rough to clean up but at least nobody's getting hurt and none of his books or anything could be ruined by a little sand.

[decryptic]

Great! I'll put that down as prank number one.

[ 9S finds sand intensely annoying. Ultimately harmless, yet somehow still the worst. ]

Did you go to school, Alfyn?

B

[rokubro]

[There's someone sitting in the back of the classroom, feet propped up against the desk as he leans back in his chair. Why is he here, you ask? Because he just happened to find them while trekking through the forests and thought this interesting.]

Sounds like you're having trouble fishing your words, Teach.

[That is so lame and he knows it, but he doesn't care. Just a smiiiiirk.]

[chippedsoul]

[Uggh.] Feet off the desk and you recite it. [See how hard it is yourself.]

[rokubro]

I would, but I don't have a copy.

[Also, not removing feet.]

[chippedsoul]

. . . [Why didn't he have a book? Taking in some air, he takes an extra book from his table, walks over and smacks his feet with the book.] Page 15.

B

[starseeing]

[ Oh boy, school! Like, with an actual class room like how the children of wealthy nobles send their sons to!!!

Ophilia seems more than excited to attend, especially since she’s never had a formal education beyond what the Order has taught her. Still, she has a sharper mind and an even sharper curiosity to learn more of what she does not know. Even if this is just an exercise about speech, she’s enthusiastic to learn it.


DO YOU SEE HOW EXCITED SHE IS AS SHE’S RAISING HER HAND? DO YOU?! she’s sitting right in the front too pick me, professor, pick me!!!! ]

[chippedsoul]

[He eventually does, after finally looking up from his book in frustration. Who the hell would teach tongue twisters--oh.]

...Miss Clement? [He calls to her, both because she really wanted to be picked and because he hasn't forgotten what happened back on the Index and surprised to be seeing her again.]

[starseeing]

[ It's true; they haven't seen each other since that battle. And while that incident weighs on her mind, she knows that what he's doing right now-- acting out a role in this story-- is even more important. Besides, he's clearly himself right now, and that's the part of him she wishes to support.

(And maybe fulfill a selfish wish of attending a formal school.) ] Yes! [ Lowering her hand, she rises from her seat, raising the book upward. ]

I believe the passage is spoken as follows-- [ Clearing her throat: ]

There was a fisherman named Fisher
who fished for some fish in a fissure.
Till a fish with a grin,
pulled the fisherman in.
Now they're fishing the fissure for Fisher.

[ What the Order did teach was a good deal of magical lore, some of it spoken through incantations. Thus correct pronunciations of words is important! When she's done she looks at him proudly as if expecting him to tell her good job.

Instead she gets some boos and neeeeerd from the other "students" in the class, which only causes that smile to falter and her cheeks to redden. ]

Scene 2

[scrutinies]

( a. musical number with beltrina )

[Play the part of a schoolmaster? Well, that much, Cyrus can certainly manage, although the miserly part won't come quite as naturally. As Cyrus peruses the necessary information in his journal one last time, he feels some mild apprehension at the notion of having to sing. Of course, he quite enjoys singing, but whether or not others enjoy his singing— well, he knows for a fact they don't.

He'll just have to make up for his poor pitch with heart. The show must go on!

He clears his throat as he snaps his journal closed, tucking it away inside of the jacket that had come with being cast in the role, and turns towards his partner in this particular scene— a Miss 'Beltrina von Cratchit.' They're to be meeting for the first time here, and he is to woo her with song. Simple enough, he supposes!]

Fair Beltrina, pray, though I know you are quite dedicated to your music lessons, may I beg of you but a moment of your time?

[... yeah, he's just playing himself so far. He'll figure it out eventually?]

( b. horseman heckling )

[No more than half a bar of that musical number had been on-key, but stars above, he had tried. It was difficult to remember that he need be more interested in Beltrina's money than her person, a sentiment that Cyrus himself finds absolutely deplorable, but this is acting, of a sort— and all for a more than worthy cause. He has a responsibility to play the part a miser, and he will do it.

With the musical number now over, he drops heavily into the seat behind the desk at the front of the schoolhouse. Was there meant to be more to this scene...?]

A

[myown]

[This is for a good cause. Pearl has to keep reminding herself of that, because she's certainly no actress. The fact that she can focus her performance on the musical aspect does help, but she's still outside of her comfort zone. Still... How hard can it be? She's playing her violin when the expected interruption comes, and she finds herself suddenly wishing she knew more about this Beltrina character. How is she supposed to play this? She decides to go for a polite, meek smile. Slip back into the role of someone subservient. It's not... Fun for her, but it seems like it'll work.]

Why, of course, Sir. How may I help you?

[scrutinies]

I couldn't help noticing how very skilled you are with the violin—

[Also, something about her father's money? The idea of lusting after someone for their wealth is reprehensible, but it's a necessary part of the scene— he'll work it out somehow.]

Truly, you honor me by playing in my presence! May I ask— what brings a woman of your talent and graces to this humble schoolhouse?

[This would probably be better if he knew how to flirt. He doesn't. It just happens naturally in day-to-day life, but now that he's supposed to be trying, he's not sure how to manage it.]

[myown]

[Her first reaction is to be skeptic; call him out on flattering her. But that's the whole point, isn't it? He's flirting, in-character. And.. Hmm. Why is she playing at the schoolhouse, anyway...? Well, that one isn't too tricky to come up with.]

I'm simply here to offer music lessons to the students. I'm honored that you think so highly of my playing, though! I appreciate -

[Oh, right. She's supposed to be romantically entangled already, in this role, so...]

- I appreciate the compliment, but mind yourself. My dear Bromfred is protective of me when men approach me with lecherous intent.

[Ew. She set that up terribly; she feels bad for whoever is playing Bromfred. Sure, the character is supposed to be arrogant, but she just made him out to be downright possessive, and - Just acting. Right, right.

She tries to recover by starting to play the violin again.]

Do you perform musically at all, Sir?

b at long last

[trustfallen]

[Was there meant to be more? Well, whether there was meant to be more or not, Therion is making there be more because he can't just continue to sit on his horse and keep watching without any commentary. It had been an absolute struggle to keep a straight face throughout the entirety of the scene - both for respect of the theater and his role and because he wouldn't put it past 'Beltrina' to brandish a sword at him again.

But now? Now there's room in the script for a bit of improvisation. He's meant to guide Cyr-- Ebegeezer through whatever he's meant to have learned from revisting memories, but there were no actual lines about it, so...

Regardless, Therion has not often had the luxury of a horse pony to ride, so he means to make full use of it,and he enters the stage with the fat pony kicking in the schoolhouse doors and trotting in. Therion sits straight and tall and pretends this is a noble and imposing steed as he crosses his arms and smirks at Cyrus.]

Honestly, if that's the best you can do, no wonder you lost the girl.

[No one said the Horseman couldn't be an asshole...]

[scrutinies]

[Cyrus jolts upwards, sitting up straight in his seat as Therion enters on his steed— really, oughtn't he had left that out of doors?]

It's not often you see a pony in a schoolhouse.

[They don't typically make very good students. Cyrus sighs, followed by an easy smile— perhaps he's meant to be crankier than this given his role, but that's a touch difficult for him even on some of his worst days.]

Now, now. I may have lost the battle, but I've not yet lost the war. These things take time.

[trustfallen]

Sometimes even majestic steeds want to learn, you know.

[Therion leans forward to pat the pony on the neck. There, there - she's a horse in his heart!]

Anyway, I dunno. At the rate you're going, it seems pretty hopeless.

[With a final scratch, he settles back in the saddle and regards Cyrus more seriously.]

Maybe the past you should have let her go to concentrate on less... musical pursuits. Other poorly tuned fish in the sea, and all.

Scene 3.

[breakingthrough]

A. You Can't Have A Show Without a Stage

[Ebegeeser has never had such lovely hair before, and likely never will again. For the sake of the role, Edna has done her best to take the feisty locks and contain them closer to her head. The rest of the costume is easy enough to mimic, even if it's terribly unflattering and she's already taking a moment to sigh over it. But-- the problem seems to present itself to them now is that... for what is meant to be a large scene, there's not much for them to work with here.

...no, to be more specific, there are many pieces and tools nearby but nothing reasonable. Just a large amount of wood and several man-made tools.]

What shining star should be forced to do something as ugly as manual labor? My delicate arms would be crushed under the weight--

[If she should just make her self at home in this tree; a comfortable grin on her face. She also found something up here, once she'd properly climbed the height of the tree but-- she won't bring that up just yet. It might come in handy if the others struggle with her over the construction of this set.]

Naturally, I'll be supervising.

B. MUSICAL NUMBER: Throwing Down (with Rap)

Now that that's done-- there's only one thing left to do.

[This, unlike the building of stages, is something she's actually looked forward too quite a bit. The format is a little different but this is something she should be able to do just fine.]

I hope you have some thick skin, because I'm not going to go easy on you. And I won't apologize if the truth makes you cry.

[It's time to get into BATTLE MODE.]

B - I'm so sorry this has taken so long

[trustfallen]

[One quick change later (i.e. he swapped hats and cloaks), Therion has refused to relinquish his darling pony, so he rides her into the next scene, a cocky smirk twisting his lips as he looks down at this foolish Ebegeeser rival!]

Heh. Please. As if you've anything worth saying.

[He urges the pony to center stage so that they can pose together to show off how obviously superior he is and how little this other is worth his time. He gestures casually with his mic.]

I'm feeling generous, though, and in a good mood, after having spend such a lovely afternoon with Beltrina. So you can have a moment of my time.

[In other words, he's letting Edna go first, curious what sort of person is behind the role this scene and just how good or not she is at this sort of thing.]