The masses are obsequious, contented in their sleep...
At this time of year, Geldeheim glittered like ice. The buildings of the metropolis towered in twinkling glasstic and steel, coldly smiling on their citizens who trudged through snowy streets with armfuls of purchases like they were all on personal missions to claim little parcels of the Gross Domestic Product for themselves. They used to use the city's name, "Golden Home", as an ironic cliche. Now though...
It had been a good year. A good few years, actually. Located on the chaotic edge of the Terran Dimensional Megacluster, this universe had changed hands between a number of petty kingdoms, experienced the ravages of the warfare between them. Then the Fay'lia came along. In return for loyalty and obedience, they brought peace and prosperity. A devil's bargain? Maybe.
But the politicians didn't care, and neither did most citizens. Voter satisfaction was up, crime was down. People felt safe for once. They knew themselves to be under the aegis of the most powerful empire in the multiverse. They could look to the sky and no longer fear bombs, needles, fireballs. No more grieving widows. No more shaking one's fist at the heavens.
Everywhere the Fay'lia were reminding them of this. From the few Fay'lian skyscrapers (sinuous columns of a translucent material grown from crystals, holos of the Infinite Hierophant and his Magi Guards projected onto the sides), from billboards, from 2d and 3d broadcasts. And above even them, the figures of Senter Klauses, in their red togas, on floaters underneath vacuum bags, pulled by teams of magical lungfish.
Every year they would come. To those who had proved loyal to the men in power...presents! To those who hadn't, a number of bad fates. Opting out was simply not an option. Then they would know for sure. And besides, who wanted to be a Grinch? Noone. At least noone would admit to it in public anyway. So if a few of the smiles near Christmastime were forced and desperate, that could be overlooked.
It was to this environment that the volunteers from Senburu-Trati'salan arrived. As usual, they touched down in farmland. On their secret frequency, they broadcast to the local resistance cell and hoped for the best...
[OOC: Warnings: graphic murder, possible child abuse, Christmas is canceled forever]
It had been a good year. A good few years, actually. Located on the chaotic edge of the Terran Dimensional Megacluster, this universe had changed hands between a number of petty kingdoms, experienced the ravages of the warfare between them. Then the Fay'lia came along. In return for loyalty and obedience, they brought peace and prosperity. A devil's bargain? Maybe.
But the politicians didn't care, and neither did most citizens. Voter satisfaction was up, crime was down. People felt safe for once. They knew themselves to be under the aegis of the most powerful empire in the multiverse. They could look to the sky and no longer fear bombs, needles, fireballs. No more grieving widows. No more shaking one's fist at the heavens.
Everywhere the Fay'lia were reminding them of this. From the few Fay'lian skyscrapers (sinuous columns of a translucent material grown from crystals, holos of the Infinite Hierophant and his Magi Guards projected onto the sides), from billboards, from 2d and 3d broadcasts. And above even them, the figures of Senter Klauses, in their red togas, on floaters underneath vacuum bags, pulled by teams of magical lungfish.
Every year they would come. To those who had proved loyal to the men in power...presents! To those who hadn't, a number of bad fates. Opting out was simply not an option. Then they would know for sure. And besides, who wanted to be a Grinch? Noone. At least noone would admit to it in public anyway. So if a few of the smiles near Christmastime were forced and desperate, that could be overlooked.
It was to this environment that the volunteers from Senburu-Trati'salan arrived. As usual, they touched down in farmland. On their secret frequency, they broadcast to the local resistance cell and hoped for the best...
[OOC: Warnings: graphic murder, possible child abuse, Christmas is canceled forever]