[OOC] the Christmas Conundrum! [Modern/Supernatural]

[OneEyedChurro]

The Christmas Conundrum!

It's nearing Christmas, and the workshop is in tatters. Overturned tables block rusted conveyor belts, brown metallic pipes leak a variety of gasses, and presents lay strewn about the massive loading bay, some still remaining unfinished. Even the massive Sleigh, normally a shining red beacon of the nearing holiday, is caked with a layer of dust and cobwebs.

The entrance that leads further into the Workshop shoots open, and the few elves who were even remotely exposed scamper away, hiding behind makeshift barricades or darting into ventilation shafts. The rotund figure who stands at the door looks in.

"What has happened to my husband?" She whispers to herself, tears in her eyes. She remains in the doorway for a few moments before collecting herself. She turns, pressing a button to close the door behind her, and disappears deeper into the facility.

---

Setting

It's almost Christmas time, and things are shaping up to be a bad year- if, in fact, there even is a Christmas. Something has happened to Santa Claus, a fact well known to the supernatural world by now, and only now has Mrs. Claus finally decided to unleash a plea for aid. Describing Santa's condition as "dire", this plea has reached your ears. Whether you're a holiday, or just an old fable, you feel only obligated to help. Being unsure of who else will be arriving, you ready yourself for the worst and embark on a long journey North in an effort to save Christmas- though little do you know, you'll be saving the world.

Characters

Players will be playing as the supernatural characters of fables, fairy tales, legends, etc. Personifications of holidays is also great. Some examples could be Old Man Winter, Valentine, Jack Frost, etc., though they don't have to be winter related. I only have a few restrictions here, however:

1. Your character is limited to only a few supernatural abilities. A lot of their abilities are self-explanatory (They are fables, after all), but I won't mind if you throw in one or two more that could also be related to the character. There is combat, so if your ability seems like it would be too powerful I may not allow it.

2. There are a few characters that I will not allow, for story purposes. These are currently only Dracula and Father Time, though in the future I may think of some more that will have a better place as an NPC.

3. Though I talked about it in the Interest Check, I will actually not be instating a form of Character Sheet. I do want applications submitted through Character Sheets, however, but feel free to use your own template. The more information you provide, the higher chance of your approval.

Quests

The style in which the RP will happen. There will be an overarching plot with a few pre-defined objectives, though there is plenty of room for story arcs, sidequests, whatever you want to call them. I will occasionally present the party with opportunities to engage in these, but I would also encourage everyone to come up with some arcs of their own, as long as they OK it with me first. Keep in mind that I want the arcs to either further characters or further the story, so I don't want a lot of "Do this just to do it" style here.

My hope with this RP is to expand it into an episodic series of sorts, and the goal of this quest system is to allow players to drop or join easily and flawlessly.

Once this gets up and running and intros are made (IC), I'll give the party their first quest, at which point I will be adding a quest log here in the OOC to keep things more organized and our options clearer. I normally prefer the more "narrator" role as a GM, so I'll mainly be controlling the NPCs and may or may not have characters within the party.

Rules

*First and foremost, I won't allow time travel as an ability. Too finickity and would offset the story for the RP.
*Stay in character. A lot of the legends/fables/etc have pretty established personalities, try and think and act as they would.
*Be creative. Obviously there is some creative boundary as we're playing established legends/holidays/etc., but do your best to put a fresh perspective on the character for all of us.
*I'm the GM. Respect me, I respect you.
*I reserve the right to expel any member as per the need. Hopefully this won't ever have to happen, though.
*Since there is a main plot to this, try and keep your character from doing super game-changing things. Same goes for the arcs and sidequests- you're playing as a party, try and keep it that way.
*Mature content is absolutely allowed here- be as gory, gritty, and graphic as you want. However, as with a lot of roleplays, keep sexual content PG-13, any farther and it needs to go to a PM.
*Standard Guild and Roleplay ethics apply here. Being the the Advanced section, we should all be very familiar with these.

[Astarael42]

here are my characters for your approval/denial...only one now I will edit in a second (either the fairy godmother or old man winter) later

Pied Piper Appearance

Pied Piper Character Sheet

Name: Piper (once called the Pied Piper)
Gender: Male
Age: Born in 1284
Homeland: Originated in Germany but has since formed no homeland attachment.

Abilities:WIP (things involving dance, lure, charm, etc...still contemplating this)

Personality: Piper is dark and brooding, he takes offense easily but under it all there is a desire to help. He feels often that the world is against him; though he tried so hard to be helpful. He rarely gives people a chance to get to know him to avoid the hurt when they start to hate him. His reputation as a murder is a dark point to him; he never murdered anyone but no one ever believes this. He rarely tries to defend himself anymore knowing it’s a loosing game. He doesn’t trust easily, is generally quiet, but certain topics he does enjoy discussing at length. Religon, Justice, History, and music are among his favorites. He still loves to pipe and when he gets to his most melancholy just talking about his piping tunes picks his spirits up. He can be charming when he chooses to be, but it has been so long since anyone has really wanted him to be his skills are somewhat rusty. He used to be outgoing, flamboyant, and fun and with time and the chance to prove he is not what legend has made him out to be he could be that way again.

History:
Piper was born to a very poor family in medieval Germany. His parents could hardly afford bread much less anything else and Piper’s birth just meant another mouth to feed. He learned to pipe at first to lure the rats away from the rubbish bins; he made most of his meals out of searching the rubbish. He hated the rats were always there first, their naked little tails and nasty little faces revolted him. Not to mention they nibbled on everything, including him if he stood still too long.

He stole his first pipe, though later on he learned to make them. He taught himself to play a wide variety of songs and when he was comfortable he left his parents “house”—hovel really—to venture into the wild world.

He made his living piping; people would occasionally drop him a coin or two or give him room and board in exchange for entertainment. One day, however, he helped rid an inn of rats in the basement. The innkeeper called him a witch and he was forced to flee. By now piper had realized that people crafted opinions of a person based on the stories they heard, rarely on their own merits. So he decided to turn himself into a rat catcher—famed far and wide. Then people would pay him well, and they would leave him alone.

He decided he needed a persona, something distinctive, and donned pied clothing. It did not take long for him to become the pied piper, friend to all as he helped rid towns and villages of rat problems.

Not long into his career as a rat catcher he visited the village of Hamlin. It was so overrun with rats that Piper couldn’t help but be revolted. The mayor, having heard of Piper’s fame for now he was the Pied Piper, rat catcher extraordinaire, begged for his help offering all the money in the towns treasury.

Piper would have helped for free; but growing up poor he appreciated money. He set to work and lured all the rats away. The town was free and clear of rats and the people were extactic. The mayor, however, was furious. He had thought that Piper caught the rats by normal means. That he did it with enchantments and charms was infuriating. It was the devils work. He, and the townsfolk at his urging, drove Piper away with a beating nearly killing him.

Piper, furious, returned once he had healed. While all the adults were at church he pipped a song to lure the children from the town. He led them, days, by his charming tune until he was far from the town. He led them toTransylvania, a land that had been decimated by the invasions of the Mongols and had lost most of their own children. The children were welcomed, and they settled there.

Back in Hamlin, when they found out what happened, Piper was denounced as a devil piper. Word spread and his theft of the children cemented his place in history as a mass murderer of innocents. They naturally left out the abuse of the Piper and anything that might remotely have been their fault. They blamed it all on Piper and he was soon hated by all the people of the lands.

Hurt Piper wandered, alone and unwelcome, for many years. His story was passed on and own until it became legend, as he did.

He is not an evil person, but legends and fables are defined by the way that mortals see them. And he was seen as vile and repulsive. Soon he lost his pied clothing, and everything cheerful, and began to dress in all black to go with the ominous persona people believed him to be. He is still hurt by peoples hatred of him, when originally he set out to help the world. His bitterness spills over often into his songs, and while he can still charm and lure as he once could, much of what he does is now tinged with bitterness and sadness and melancholy notes. Rats have begun to follow him around, he hates that, but people started to believe he was in league with the rats and that forced the vile beasts upon him. He has tried to make friends with them...but he just cant get over how ugly the things are. And they still nibble on him.

[cthulu]

Name: Sandy.
Holiday: Sandman.
Age: 198 Years old.
Birthday: March some time 1841.
Gender: Female.
Ability/ies: WIP
Draws power from: Good Dreams.
Relationship to the Claus’: Often seen working closely with Santa Christmas eve the pair have a really close bond and it's inconceivable Sandy would do anything to her bestest chum! Often even when they aren't working Sandy's over for tea -when she can stay awake- or for board games.
History: WIP
Personality: She's such a sleepy head, often off day dreaming even when she is awake but when she is coherent and does talk you better listen. She hardly ever speaks above a whisper but what she does say, when she says it, is usually important. She abhors violence and will do all she can -including putting enemies to sleep- to avoid it. Preferring that everyone have nice dreams than fight. Once could easily mistake her for an air head and socially awkward until they get to know her but thats just her way.



Name: Dia Muertos
Holiday: Dia de los muertos.
Age: 3000 Years old.
Birthday: November 2nd.
Gender: Female.
Ability/ies: WIP
Draws power from: Memories and parties.
Relationship to the Claus’: She's been frequently seen arguing with Mr. Claus but any that know the pair know its more like sibling rivalry than anything malicious and while the pair do not really mix outside of holiday get togethers and emergencies neither has an issue with the other. Dia always sends Mr. Clause sugar skulls and he sends her a little something at Christmas.
History: WIP
Personality: Once people get passed the make-up and the outfit usually they find Dia quite fun, misunderstood these days she was never about fearing the dead but celebrating them in the most ostentatious way possible! She loves parties and good times, she's almost like that mischievous little sister you wish you had. Reminding you that now and again it's okay to let your hair down and act silly and have a bit of fun! She can be quick to lose her temper -maybe its all the sugar- but she is just as quick to forgive and forget.

Still need to add more to my two, just haven't had much time.