A certain Carol in Ravenloft - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A certain Carol in Ravenloft

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tykus
Dec 15, 2004 14:56:26 It's been noted in several RL products about the use of Jacob Marley as an example of cursing various individuals for their evil deeds. This gets me to wondering if anybody has actually tried to use "A Christmas Carol" in Ravenloft?

The only thing I can come up with for this type of adventure is the use of the Furies in place of the 3 Christmas spirits and its an attempt to prevent the redemption of the "Scrooge."

Thoughts? Ideas? :evillaugh
#2
ivid
Dec 15, 2004 15:29:30 This is absolutely silly...

I LIKE IT!

What I always suspected, that *ghost* being no one less than tormented Azalin Rex himself on a winter holiday, now could come true!

*Merry Christmas*

#3
zombiegleemax
Dec 20, 2004 2:04:06 Are the PCs or an NPC Ebenezzer? Having one or more PCs be Ebenezzer is desirable in that it puts them at the heart of the action and the storry but in terms of adventure structure it'd be a real problem to build tension (they have to have been doing something wrong, not regretting it, and have a change of heart). If its an NPC then how do the PCs find out/experience the hauntings?

Being visited by the three furries might match the structure of a Christmas Carol but woudln't easily lend themselves to a story of redemption IMO - they are creatures of revenge.

As I mull it over I think the best way for something like this to happen is for PCs to be chosen as agents of change by a "spirit" of innocence. CotN: Ghosts has some good examples of these. The spirit could be a Ghost, Fey, Vistani or even Isolde (perhaps with three mirrors...). The PCs are part of a vision of events past (a traumatising event perhaps involving the PCs in combat), events happening in the present (showing what the past has wrought and what the NPCs are doing), and a dismal future outcome (that sucks in and devours the PCs of the vision as well).

Then the PCs wake up. They have to decide to intervene to try to save the NPC(s). Someone willing to do some work could take the final chapter in Bleak House in this direction and combine it with the end of VRgtVistani.

-Eric Gorman
#4
zombiegleemax
Dec 20, 2004 10:41:25 What a neat idea! I am a huge fan of Dicken's classic...I own 30+ different versions of the movie. Recently I received one on a a DVD entitled "House of the Dead". Using the theme of "A Christmas Carol" can be done in Ravenloft. I suggest reading the original, reviewing several different versions of the movies, and begin putting the ideas to paper. I may do so myself.
A good starting place would be to define "Scrooge". A local kingpin figure involved in both legitimate and illegal activities. He is consiously unaware of the lasting impacts of his "businesses".
Perhaps he is travelling down the road to damnation via becoming a Darklord? The PCs would be intermediaries attempting to stop the decent.
Another thought line...start with "Cratchit". Overworked, underpaid and bent on revenge?
"A Christmas Carol" can be made into a dark play. Perhaps picking up where it left off?
#5
sabbattack
Dec 20, 2004 15:21:19 House of the Dead is connected to Dicken's Carol??? THAT is Ravenloft my friend. I bet ol' boy Charlie will be twisting in his rest place!!!

Please though, DO explain me why!!

As for the cover itself, I always liked converting books/movies/album concepts into Ravenloft adventures. I'm currently trying Operation: Mindcrime whith one of my players!!

Good luck!!
#6
tykus
Dec 23, 2004 13:16:46
Are the PCs or an NPC Ebenezzer?

At least one PC :D

Being visited by the three furries might match the structure of a Christmas Carol but woudln't easily lend themselves to a story of redemption IMO - they are creatures of revenge.

I was thinking the story as more of an attempt to prevent redemption, hence the Furies.

:angelhide

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
#7
zombiegleemax
Jan 02, 2005 10:40:50 The setting of Ravenloft would work with the Furies as the spirits. Using the PCs, who think they are helping, the Furies set into motion the stroll down the path to damnation. Rather than saving poor Ebee, they push him deeper into his own hell. This could lead to the creation of a new domain where a perpetual gloom of Victorian-esq depression exists. I would urge you to read "A Christmas Carol" twice. Once as it is written for inspiration of the giving, and second with the Ravenloft twist in mind. You will begin to formulate a dastardly plan to damn Scrooge.
Another thought...Jacob is haunting Scrooge for failing to save him when he was on death's bed?! The movie with Alastir Sim has a moment when Scrooge visits Marley AFTER closing at 7 (he was informed of the impending death 2 hours before). Marley could utter a curse. Marley, realizing the error of his ways, can only mutter something like "save yourself", "wrong ways", etc.
#8
ivid
Jan 04, 2005 6:04:10 Looks liek we're going for a new navegaccio book, aren't we...? ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tykus Dec 15, 2004 14:56:26	It's been noted in several RL products about the use of Jacob Marley as an example of cursing various individuals for their evil deeds. This gets me to wondering if anybody has actually tried to use "A Christmas Carol" in Ravenloft? The only thing I can come up with for this type of adventure is the use of the Furies in place of the 3 Christmas spirits and its an attempt to prevent the redemption of the "Scrooge." Thoughts? Ideas? :evillaugh
#2 ivid Dec 15, 2004 15:29:30	This is absolutely silly... I LIKE IT! What I always suspected, that ghost being no one less than tormented Azalin Rex himself on a winter holiday, now could come true! Merry Christmas
#3 zombiegleemax Dec 20, 2004 2:04:06	Are the PCs or an NPC Ebenezzer? Having one or more PCs be Ebenezzer is desirable in that it puts them at the heart of the action and the storry but in terms of adventure structure it'd be a real problem to build tension (they have to have been doing something wrong, not regretting it, and have a change of heart). If its an NPC then how do the PCs find out/experience the hauntings? Being visited by the three furries might match the structure of a Christmas Carol but woudln't easily lend themselves to a story of redemption IMO - they are creatures of revenge. As I mull it over I think the best way for something like this to happen is for PCs to be chosen as agents of change by a "spirit" of innocence. CotN: Ghosts has some good examples of these. The spirit could be a Ghost, Fey, Vistani or even Isolde (perhaps with three mirrors...). The PCs are part of a vision of events past (a traumatising event perhaps involving the PCs in combat), events happening in the present (showing what the past has wrought and what the NPCs are doing), and a dismal future outcome (that sucks in and devours the PCs of the vision as well). Then the PCs wake up. They have to decide to intervene to try to save the NPC(s). Someone willing to do some work could take the final chapter in Bleak House in this direction and combine it with the end of VRgtVistani. -Eric Gorman
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 20, 2004 10:41:25	What a neat idea! I am a huge fan of Dicken's classic...I own 30+ different versions of the movie. Recently I received one on a a DVD entitled "House of the Dead". Using the theme of "A Christmas Carol" can be done in Ravenloft. I suggest reading the original, reviewing several different versions of the movies, and begin putting the ideas to paper. I may do so myself. A good starting place would be to define "Scrooge". A local kingpin figure involved in both legitimate and illegal activities. He is consiously unaware of the lasting impacts of his "businesses". Perhaps he is travelling down the road to damnation via becoming a Darklord? The PCs would be intermediaries attempting to stop the decent. Another thought line...start with "Cratchit". Overworked, underpaid and bent on revenge? "A Christmas Carol" can be made into a dark play. Perhaps picking up where it left off?
#5 sabbattack Dec 20, 2004 15:21:19	House of the Dead is connected to Dicken's Carol??? THAT is Ravenloft my friend. I bet ol' boy Charlie will be twisting in his rest place!!! Please though, DO explain me why!! As for the cover itself, I always liked converting books/movies/album concepts into Ravenloft adventures. I'm currently trying Operation: Mindcrime whith one of my players!! Good luck!!
#6 tykus Dec 23, 2004 13:16:46	Are the PCs or an NPC Ebenezzer? At least one PC :D Being visited by the three furries might match the structure of a Christmas Carol but woudln't easily lend themselves to a story of redemption IMO - they are creatures of revenge. I was thinking the story as more of an attempt to prevent redemption, hence the Furies. :angelhide Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
#7 zombiegleemax Jan 02, 2005 10:40:50	The setting of Ravenloft would work with the Furies as the spirits. Using the PCs, who think they are helping, the Furies set into motion the stroll down the path to damnation. Rather than saving poor Ebee, they push him deeper into his own hell. This could lead to the creation of a new domain where a perpetual gloom of Victorian-esq depression exists. I would urge you to read "A Christmas Carol" twice. Once as it is written for inspiration of the giving, and second with the Ravenloft twist in mind. You will begin to formulate a dastardly plan to damn Scrooge. Another thought...Jacob is haunting Scrooge for failing to save him when he was on death's bed?! The movie with Alastir Sim has a moment when Scrooge visits Marley AFTER closing at 7 (he was informed of the impending death 2 hours before). Marley could utter a curse. Marley, realizing the error of his ways, can only mutter something like "save yourself", "wrong ways", etc.
#8 ivid Jan 04, 2005 6:04:10	Looks liek we're going for a new navegaccio book, aren't we...? ;)