Merry Christmas Detective

The shadows have grown longer as the day has past by. You should probably see to those horses. They’ll be wanting their supper. [[Go tend to the horse->Seeing to the horses]] [[Snuggle in and delay a bit more]]

You bundle up to go outside. Gloves, hat, coat, scarf, boots. It is bitter cold and biting when you open the door. Your cabin always takes the brunt of winter, icy storms often blasting against it as they rail through the trees. The magic behind the house seems to draw the winter in, the village below doesn’t get nearly the depth of snow you do. The horses stamp and snort at you as you wrestle the stable door open and then closed again. They’re gifts from the Queen of the Elves, all three. Slightly immortal, retirees from the Wild Hunt. A good thing for you, since you have yet to manage to get to a case involving the magic lands that doesn’t land you off the horse in the first five minutes. What in the world does magic have against horses? You have three horses, who will you see to first? [[See to Hans]] [[See to Jacob]] [[See to Wilhelm]]

You snuggle in further. The blankets are warm, the book is good, the tea isn’t cold yet. The horses can wait a little. The clock on the mantle chimes the hour. It is getting late. Better look after those horses or it will be dark before you know it. [[Go mind the horses]]

Hans is a large chestnut draft horse. He’s a good cart or wagon horse, and surprisingly nimble for such a big boy. He’s willful when he wants to be, but then he doesn’t quite trust you anymore. He has a long scar across one shoulder from a fall off a cliff that even a magic horse was lucky to walk away from. He’s been less than a fan of yours ever since. You fill his food a bit more and check his water and blanket. [[See to Jacob]] [[See to Wilhelm]] [[The horses are done, back to your own fire]]

Jacob is your swiftest horse, pale and golden, a fast runner who can get you places in a hurry. It’s good he’s such a trusting fool though, as he’s gotten shot at (and not by bullets) more times than you care to remember but still does what you tell him. He always just takes himself straight home after you’ve gotten dumped and can usually be found standing outside the stable with a look that says ‘where have you been?’ You check his water and hay, and adjust his blanket that he has somehow gotten skewed. [[See to Hans]] [[See to Wilhelm]] [[The horses are done, back to your own fire]]

Wil is your favorite horse. Not that you’d tell the other two. He’s clever and quick and loyal. Whenever the world blows up, he finds a safe place to hide and wait it out, and always manages to be waiting for you when it’s time to go home. You love this guy. He was the Queen’s own horse too, so sometimes he seems to be a bit too clever for a horse. You slip him a treat after checking the blankets, water, and hay. [[See to Hans]] [[See to Jacob]] [[The horses are done, back to your own fire]]

Back inside you stamp your feet to dislodge the snow. Off with coat and gloves and scarf, back to your chair and blanket and fire. And book. You fill your empty cup with tea from the pot you keep just near enough to the fire to keep it warm. You hear a knock on the door. Who could it be at this hour? You can just make out a shape at the door through the frosted glass. [[Answer the door]] [[Ignore the knocking]]

You have three horses, who will you visit first? [[Hans]] [[Wilhelm]] [[Jacob]]

Whatever this person might be selling, you want none of it. Or worse, they aren’t selling anything which means you want to talk to them even less. You’re warm and comfortable and don’t feel like getting up. Maybe they’ll go away. You’re not taking visitors, and you have a feeling you know who this one is. You snuggle deeper and return to your book. They knock again, rather more insistent this time. [[Continue to ignore it]] [[Go get the door]]

“Francis. What’s it this time? A case, I presume.” “For once, Nope” he answers, “not this time! Boss got sent some stuff for you, seeing as you don’t go leaving your address about.” He gestures behind him, where there’s a large package. He hands you a note, then turns to lift it. “Well, are you going to let me in? It’s awfully cold out here.” You step aside so he can bring the box in. The note reads: Dear Detective, Our offices have received a number of gifts for you from former cases. We’ve sent them on, Merry Christmas! Inspector Child PS to ensure they reach you undisturbed, a simple code lock has been added to each. You’ll find the clues attached. [[Francis and the box]]

Francis has set the large box down on the rug near your chair. You go and fetch another cup. “Tea?” “Yes please, it’s a cold day today.” Francis takes the chair with a cup of tea and some biscuits, seemingly uneager to return to the snow outside. You open the box, finding five chests inside. “Well,” says Francis, “Those are interesting. Christmas presents I suppose.” So it would seem. You wonder if you should open them now, or wait for the proper day. Best see to Francis first. “How is the inspector?” “Oh, she’s well. Grumpy as ever, and complaining she’s yet to find another detective as good as you. You know how she gets this time of year.” You do know. The inspector became in charge of the division that handles cases with a possible magic or other worldly connection not by choice. She’d had a husband once who was stolen away by magic, and she’d never got him back, for to this day she had yet to discover which group of elves or fairies or goblins or other magic folks had taken him away. It was the only cold case the division had, and all detectives were required to keep an eye out for any clues. There were rumors that the Inspector’s last case before her husband disappeared had been her first case involving the fairy tale lands, and that he’d been taken because of it. The inspector had become an expert on all things magic ever since. “I suppose I best return home, before it gets too late” says Francis. “Thanks for the tea!” and with that he’s off, back out into the snow. Well. Those boxes are calling. [[Open the boxes]]

There are five boxes, a beautiful crystal box that shimmers an icy blue in the firelight, a red wooden box, finely carved with scenes of the forest, a golden box covered in enamel inlaiys showing the ocean, a white box that glows like moonlight, and a green box painted over with flowers. Which will you open now? [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[Open the green flower box]]

There’s a loud thump as something lands on your stoop. A piece of paper is shoved through the mail slot before the figure stalks off. A package. Well, that’s better than the alternatives. You should probably go get it before it freezes. [[Go get the box->There's a shape by the door]]

After a glance out and a deep sigh, you open the door. It’s Francis, Inspector Child’s errand boy. Steeling yourself for whatever emergency case has sent him to your door this time, you greet the boy. Talking to Francis “Francis. What’s it this time? A case, I presume.” “For once, Nope” he answers, “not this time! Boss got sent some stuff for you, seeing as you don’t go leaving your address about.” He gestures behind him, where there’s a large package. He hands you a note, then turns to lift it. “Well, are you going to let me in? It’s awfully cold out here. What took you so long anyway?” You step aside so he can bring the box in. The note reads: Dear Detective, Our offices have received a number of gifts for you from former cases. We’ve sent them on, Merry Christmas! Inspector Child PS to ensure they reach you undisturbed, a simple code lock has been added to each. You’ll find the clues attached. “Well, I’d best be going” Says Francis, “I can see you’re busy. Happy Christmas!” He heads back out the door with a wave, leaving you alone with the box in the front hall. You wrestle it further inside. When you open the box, you discover five small chests of various sizes. [[Open the boxes]]

You notice a shape through the window of the front door, and a piece of paper stuck through the mail slot. You grab the note as you open the door. Sitting on your stoop is a large box. You wrestle the thing inside. It rattles a bit. As you set it down you open the note: Dear Detective, Our offices have received a number of gifts for you from former cases. We’ve sent them on, Merry Christmas! Inspector Child PS to ensure they reach you undisturbed, a simple code lock has been added to each. You’ll find the clues attached. Inside the box you find five small chests of various sizes and styles. [[Open the boxes]]

If one person can run one lap of a race in 6 minutes and another can run it in four, how soon will the faster runner lap the slower? [[10 minutes->Wrong Answer]] [[12 minutes->The Crystal Box]] [[4 minutes->Wrong Answer]]

Taking 3 as the subject to reason about, we add 7 and 10 then multiply out by 1000 less 8. The result we proceed to divide by 992. Then subtract 17 and the answer must be exactly and perfectly true: [[Three->The Red wooden box]] [[17->Wrong Answer]] [[100->Wrong Answer]]

A man is climbing up a wall, 60 feet high. Every minute he climbs up 3 feet but slips back two. How long does it take him to climb the wall? [[60 minutes->Wrong Answer]] [[58 minutes->The Enamel Box]] [[61 minutes->Wrong Answer]]

A shopkeep put four sweets into a bag, one white, one blue, and two red. He takes out two sweets without showing them to you and looks at them. He tells you at least one of the sweets is red. What are the chances the other sweet is also red? [[One in three->Wrong Answer]] [[One in four->Wrong Answer]] [[One in five->The Moon White Box]]

10 gentlemen are walking along the beach. All of them are wearing hats. Suddenly a great gust of wind comes up and blows all their hats off into a pile. As they all have sand in their eyes, they can't see the hats before them as they each reach down to pick up a hat. What are the odds that exactly 9 of them pick up their own hat? [[One in 9->Wrong Answer]] [[9 in 10->Wrong Answer]] [[None at all->The Green Flower Box]]

Inside the crystal box is a snowglobe, the figure inside is that of a small fairy, with icy wings and blue sparkling clothes. You turn the crank and a magical tune springs to life. Fairy music. You remember the first time you heard such a thing. [[A memory of Fairy music]]

Once upon a time there was a bold and clever young woman who lived in the highlands of Scotland. Her family found her very odd, for she was far too bold and far too clever for a girl, and did not know her place or know to hide such things to keep men happy. One bright evening, when the midsummer sun was just about to set, and the midsummer bonfires lit for the solstice festival, she found herself alone on the side of a hill she had never seen before. She had run here, away from some village boys, who were fond of yelling ‘tom boy’ at her and throwing rocks. One had glanced off her brow, leaving a trickle of blood behind. She knew she had never seen this hill before because set into the side of it was a door. Hearing the boys coming up the lane, with nary a thought she tried the door, and surprisingly it opened! She darted inside and slammed the door behind her. Once inside she realized she could hear music. Oh such music! Never had she heard such beautiful sounds. She stumbled forward through the dark, towards the wonderful music. Around a corner of the cave she could see a faint glow, and she hurried towards it. Another bend and she stumbled into a glorious cavern lit by torches, full of people! Only they weren’t people, she quickly realized, but elves, and she was an idiot who’d blundered under hill and right into the Summer Court. Which is how she met the Elf Queen. Quickly caught by the elves, she was brought before the queen. “Well,” said the Queen, “a mortal underhill, and on Midsummer’s Night. What ever shall we do with you?” She was young, but as said she was clever, and the girl knew her stories. “I believe a challenge of some sort is traditional.” “Oh,” laughed the Queen, “what sort of challenge did you have in mind?” “Riddles.” answered the girl. “A game of riddles.” The queen agreed, but on condition that so as to not take all night, they be limited to 3 riddles each. “If you win, I shall grant you a boon,” said She, “and if you lose you shall be mine. Should we tie, well then, you’ll be free but I’ll have a job for you.” The girl agreed and they began. "You take a knife and cut me deep, I am not hurt but still you weep" Asked the Queen. "An onion" answered the girl. "You must choose between three doors. One has a lion who hasn't eaten in 6 months, another a maze paved in red hot coals, and the third a bottomless hole. Which door should a mortal choose?" "The one with the lion, of course, as a lion who hasn't eaten in 6 months is surely dead." The Queen answered. "Let me eat and I will live but give me water and surely I will die." "A fire" the girl answered easily. "I weigh nothing but you can see me, put me in a bucket of water and I'll make it lighter." "A hole of course." The Queen then asked her final riddle: "I always perform under pressure, in theaters I don't entertain, audiences can't stand to see me, but display me in fury and shame." The girl had to have a long think about this one, and almost would have lost if not for the feeling of embarrassed blood rushing to her face. "Blood." The court clapped. "Well done then, now ask your last." "Once there was a king who decided to hold a horse race to decide who would inherit the throne. He had two sons, and decided that the owner of the slower horse would inherit. How can the race be fairly run so that each has an incentive to win?" The Queen thought for a long moment before she answered. "They must switch their horses, as it's the *owner* of the slower horse that wins." Having tied, the girl's future was set. [[Read the Crystal box Letter]]

You set the snow globe aside as you read the enclosed letter: Dear Detective, We were so happy to have you come to the wedding, especially since we ended up needing you to save the day again (sorry about that). We wanted to let you know we were able to find a cure for Gwyn’s mother, Snow White. She is recovering well, but it will be awhile yet before her magic is back to full strength. Please enjoy this music box, we hope it finds you well. Come visit some time! Love, Gerda and Gwyn [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[Open the green flower box]] [[You have opened all the boxes]]

The last box open, you survey your new treasures. A beautiful plant to help you sleep. A fine new pair of gloves. A moon stone of protection. A snow globe and a map. A fine Christmas bounty, even if you did go and open them all early. It’s grown late, and the darkness is deep outside. You add more wood to the fire, and fix a new pot of tea,and locate a few things for a light supper. Thoughts of travel and visits and old friends can wait for tomorrow. You turn back to your book. Snow falls outside, and before the fire, you drift off to gently to sleep. The End.

Inside the box is a pair of soft leather gloves. They’re a subtle red, not garish but noticeable. You slip them on, and of course they fit exactly as they should. You remember the first pair of gloves you got: [[A Memory of Gloves]]

Once upon a time there was a young detective. She hadn’t meant to become a detective, but the queen of the elves had chosen her as her mortal champion, to set to rights breaches between the fairy realms and the mortal world. She was clever and she was quick, but her hands were not going to survive this. “What in the world did you touch this time?” asked Inspector Child, tutting as she looked over the the spider web of angry red lines wrapping around her new detective’s hands. “Don’t tell me. Something magical. Again. Which then reacted badly to your anti magical nature. Again.” Inspector Child sighed and went over to the wardrobe in his office, rooting around for a bit and then pulling out a pair of gloves. The inspector was an older woman, but most of the time she seemed far to severe to seem nurturing. She had shown something of a soft spot for her newest detective however, who had come to special branch just a few months ago. Most who got assigned to the inspector’s division took a while to get used to the idea that magic was real and it was their job in Underground International Special Operations to deal with it. This young woman, however, had shown up already well aware of it, and with a letter of recommendation from the Queen of the Elves herself. It seemed the Queen had picked her out specially to deal with marginal cases--things that wandered between both worlds, and to help her out had given the new detective special blessings. Inspector Child tossed the gloves at the detective’s head. “Don’t lose them. And don’t take them off!” [[Read the red box letter]]

You keep them on as you read the enclosed letter: Dear Detective, We hope this letter finds you well, and that you will have a Merry Christmas! We’ve recently finished some major renovations to our base. Do come and visit us soon! Love, The Red Riding Hood Sisters [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[Open the green flower box]] [[You have opened all the boxes]]

Inside the enamel box is a folded square of old paper. You unfold it carefully. It’s a map. You recognize parts of it, marked carefully is a village you’ve been to before, in Ireland. Your first case, as a matter of fact. [[A memory of your first case]]

Once upon a time there was a lake. It was dark, deep lake, tucked away between several of Ireland’s green hills. It was an enchanted lake, and everyone who lived near its shores knew that. Now the locals knew well to stay well away from it, but Ireland’s green lanes and hills draw many a wanderer down into its valleys. Many such went a wandering in and never wandered out again. Inspector Child was going to change that, and she had just the new recruit to help her do it. The Queen of the Elves had brought to her door a clever young woman, who had quickly shown promise as a fine detective. Or so she thought. The two women stood on the shore of the lake and walked warily up to the edge. If you looked deep enough, and just the right way, a magical glow could be seen from the bottom. “Well, nothing for it” Said the younger, and she jumped in before the Inspector could stop her. Perhaps not so clever, the inspector surely must have thought, but a few hours later the detective emerged. There was, it seemed, an entire manor house down below the lake, a little fairy world, where those who’d been lost to the waters lived enchanted. The detective had managed to destroy the orb that kept their minds in thrawl and was followed out by all those who cared to leave, much to the dismay of the lonely fairy woman who live below the lake. [[Read the enamel box letter]]

You smile at the memory of the inspector’s face as you read the enclosed letter: Dear Detective, We hope you’re enjoying a bit of peace and quiet. We came across a map of access points to magic realm in Ireland during our travels, and thought you could maybe use it. Have a Merry Christmas! From, Jack and Emma Well, at least you know one point on it was accurate. [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[Open the green flower box]] [[You have opened all the boxes]]

Inside the enamel box is a small milk white gem on a silver chain. It glitters in the lamp light, gently glowing with an ethereal light. A moonstone. You remember seeing such a stone before. [[A memory of moon stones]]

Once upon a time there was a detective. She was clever, but not so quick anymore. The culprit in her latest case stood before her, taunting her as he pulled his latest victim closer to the sacrificial altar. He’d proven impervious to anything she had tried throwing at him. Until she spied the milk white stone around his neck. He had been wearing it the whole time. It glowed slightly every time the man was attacked. That was it. That stone was the key. She rooted around for something, anything to help. A few sticks. The rubber band from around a bundle of pencils, a small scrap of leather. A stone. She'd always been good at cobbling together what she needed from what she had. One chance at this shot. There, a careful aim and it was away, striking true and shattering the stone. Another case closed. [[Read the white box letter]]

You put it on as you read the enclosed letter: My Dear Detective, I hope this message finds you well. I hope I do not presume too much to send you such a token as this. It should offer you some additional protections not covered by the ones you already carry. Should you wish, at any time, to pay me a visit, you may find me in the moon temple north of the Snowfall Kingdom. Greta and Gwyn can lead you there. Your, Hansel Oh. Is it just you, or does this letter seem. A bit flirty? You’ll have to think about how you feel about that. [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the green flower box]] [[You have opened all the boxes]]

Inside the box is a small plant, a coiled mass of vines with tightly curled buds. It shudders when you touch it and unfurls one beautiful flower. A sweet fragrance fills the room. A dream flower! You remember the first time you encountered the enchanted bloom: [[A memory of Flowers]]

Once upon a time there was a detective. She was going to stop being so clever if she couldn’t get any sleep. Too many nightmares plagued her dreams, memories of dark portals, evil mirrors, and magic. Always magic. After so many nights spent in fitful half sleep and waking in terror at the things she had fought, she finally confided in her boss, Inspector Child. “It happens to us all in time” the inspector said, “but I have just the thing for it. Hard to come by, but there’s nothing better.” She opened a drawer in one of the many cabinets in her office and pulled out a dried flower. “This is a dream flower. They come from a fairy land, Floralia, though they are hard to come by now. Make tea with it and drink it before bed.” Grateful, the detective took the flower and did just as the inspector had asked, finally sleeping well, the power of her dreams broken. [[Read the flower box letter]]

You set the plant on the table as you open the enclosed letter to read: Dear detective: We hope this message finds you well! You’ve been such a help to us. We wanted you to know that we have found each other again, and intend to marry! We’ve heard from others some of the cases you have dealt with over the last few years, and know those who fight evil constantly are drained by it. We hope this gift will give you restful sleep. Keep it on a window near your bed. We do hope you’ll attend our wedding! Sincerely, Rapunzel and Ross Red Well! It’s nice to hear those two are doing well. [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[You have opened all the boxes]]

Oh dear, that wasn't right. You will have to try again. [[Open the blue crystal box]] [[Open the red wooden box]] [[Open the enamel box]] [[Open the moon white box]] [[Open the green flower box]]