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.

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§ 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

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[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

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.]

[decryptic]

[ The Disciple is a weird name even by 9S standards, which is saying something. He falls in step with his new companion, peering around at all of the shadows curiously. Creepy. ]

What are you a disciple of?

[chippedsoul]

Law. [He ignores the turning heads of the shadows, keeping his eye out for a horse or at least the schoolhouse.]

[decryptic]

Oh. [ A spark of interest lifts his voice. ] I didn't know they needed disciples for that kind of thing. I always thought the law was supposed to be cut and dry by definition.

[chippedsoul]

Depends. [How much does he really feel like talking?] There are different branches of law where I'm from. I study courtroom procedures as a prosecutor.

[decryptic]

Huh. [ An explanation that didn't really explain anything... ] You're pretty cut and dry yourself, aren't you.

[ It doesn't bother 9S at all though. If anything, it's what he's used to.

Suddenly, he spies a bit of mist leaking out of a nearby window. ]

Look!

[ He dashes off to check the inside of the building, which is really more of a hut than anything. It turns out to be a stable housing exactly three horses: the first a large, majestic steed, the second a glossy and elegant mare, and the third a stubby pony. The pony has an equally tiny cloud of fog around its hooves. ]

[chippedsoul]

Hm? [He follows 9S as he disappears into the hut. He could hear the horses muffled neighs as he finds the doorway into the place. Any of these horses would have been suitable for the role, except...]

The small one? [The fog around its hooves is sort of telling that's the horse they're looking for. If one could still call it a proper horse.]

[decryptic]

[ 9S looks at the first two horses, then the pony. It's a bit of a letdown, but... ]

The fog doesn't lie. Well, I guess it's you and me, little guy.

[ He opens up the pony's stall, and it clops out sleepily. Oookay. 9S grabs its reins, because that seems right. ]

That takes care of that. What next?

[chippedsoul]

[Hold your horses now.] Do you know how to handle it? [Cause that pony seems a little agitated.]

[decryptic]

[ He pauses. ]

I've ridden moose and boar before. How much trouble can this little guy be?

[chippedsoul]

[...There are boars big enough to carry someone? Well, if 9S is sure of himself, he just shrugs.] We should go locate the Schoolhouse then. [He'll go on ahead and head out the hut first.]

[decryptic]

[ 9S starts to follow, then gets stopped by the pony not budging. He pulls on the reins at first gently, then more insistently. ]

Come on, buddy. Don't be stubborn...

[ After a moment of hesitation, 9S sidles up next to the pony and hops into the saddle. He feels entirely too heavy for it, and the pony snorts in protest, but it doesn't buck or fight.

Well, the thing is stronger than 9S expected. He gives it a little squeeze and directs it by the reins, and he manages to steer the pony out of the stable. Veeery slooowly. But eventually, they plod up to the Disciple to follow. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He glances back when 9S doesn't follow him immediately. He says nothing, but hums quietly when the pony gives him a bit of a challenge.]

Very frightening. [He says rather dryly when 9S trots up on his mighty spooky steed.]

[decryptic]

[ He's very aware of how silly he must look, so he doesn't fight the comment. He replies lightly. ]

I wouldn't be so quick to mock, Ebegeeser. If this is what I have to work with, your forecast isn't looking much-- whoa!

[ 9S sways in his saddle as the pony suddenly veers away. It plods over to a bush, sticks its head in, and then comes away with a piece of chalk in its mouth that it begins to nibble on. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He's trying very hard not to look amuse as the pony has a mind of it's own what it wants. When it pulls out a chalk from the bush, that gets his attention. He walks over to check the bush and the area a little more. He finds more chalk pieces on the ground and some child-like drawings along a building. It seem like a trail of sorts, so he proceeds to follow it....and not tell 9S what he's doing.]

[decryptic]

[ Thanks for being a bro, Disciple. 9S doesn't notice him walking away, instead absorbing himself in making sure his steed doesn't poison itself. ]

Is that... chalk?! That isn't food, little guy!

[ 9S hops off the pony to try and snatch the chalk out of its mouth. It snorts and swings its head and keeps turning stubbornly, and I guess 9S will just be wrestling with his horse while the Disciple is off being productive. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Sounds like a fun time, too bad the Disciple isn't there to join in. He's already disappeared behind the building, continuing to follow the trail. Eventually though, he will come back.] Are you coming? because I found something. [Does...does he not notice 9S plight with the pony?]

[decryptic]

Rrrgh!

[ You win this time, Pony. Eat chalk and die. 9S hops back into the saddle and nudges the pony into a blistering stroll. ]

I'm coming!

[ eventually ]

[chippedsoul]

[He waits patiently, trying not to look too amuse.] I think he likes you. [He'll move on ahead once he's caught up with him. At the end of the trail was an open space, big enough to be a small park.]

There's a box. [He points to a green box that seem out of place and just sitting under a tree.]

[decryptic]

Oh. Talk about conspicuous.

[ 9S goes peak curious. He hops off the pony a safe distance away. ]

Could be a trap. Let me check it out first.

[ Without waiting for the Disciple's response, 9S jogs off toward the box to open it. He doesn't detect anything unusual about it, but just in case it is booby-trapped, he'd rather it be him than the Disciple who takes the hit. He's sturdier than the average human and all that. ]

[chippedsoul]

Wait- [Too late. He really wished he had a weapon right now.] Maybe find something to knock it open. [And not risk loosing your hands?]

[decryptic]

You think?

[ It's not an unreasonable suggestion, so after a second of thought, 9S finds a hearty rock on the floor. He gauges what an explosive of that box's size might be able to do, then scoots back to a relatively safe radius. He pitches the rock at the box, knocks it over, and--

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* poof *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

-- there's a massive, weirdly aggressive puff of smoke that blows 9S back head over tail. As he tumbles back toward the Disciple, a big silhouette looms from the smoke where the box used to be... ]