The fat man cometh...
have you been naughty or nice?
Name: Saint Nicholas Claus
Nickname(s): Santa, "Sandy Claws"
Age: Over 1000 years old
Gender: Male
Species: Human*
(Although Santa is by all rights human, he's also long ago become the living incarnation of the Christmas spirit, thus as long as Christmas exists Santa will never die of old age.)
Position: Neutral Good
Weapon/Items:
(artwork from the MMO Sacred Seasons)
The ancient Yule Staff is more a symbol of the Christmas spirit than an actual weapon, though its ability to channel magic related to the holiday is not to be underestimated. For a long time Santa has kept this noble staff tucked away, only bringing it out for ceremony's sake at important events. Now, however, with the spread of darkness across the worlds becoming an ever greater threat the jolly old man has determined to bring the staff with him on his journey, knowing well the utility of its ages-old magics. The Yule Staff is no Keyblade though; it can deliver a solid WHACK! if necessary (it's not actually made out of candy) but, spellcasting aside, isn't of much use in a tussle. Only one whose heart bears a strong light and in whom the spirit of Christmas dwells richly can wield the Yule Staff; for the worthy it is light as a feather... but in the hands of those unfit it becomes impossibly heavy, an unbearable weight for even the mightiest giant, for such is the true burden of Christmas' calling: to care for and uplift all the poor, the unfortunate, the sullen, and the lonely in every world where the light touches... a gargantuan task beyond any mere act of might.
Powers/Abilities/Techniques/Skills: {SANTA'S MAGICS and TOOLS}
~Flight~
"And laying a finger aside of his nose; and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose."
Santa makes use of a rather peculiar flight spell, one utterly unique to his line of work. Glowing faintly with a shimmering blue haze that looks a bit like falling snow, the venerable saint of Christmastime touches the side of his nose lightly with one finger and begins to levitate. While this spell is active Santa (including any objects he's carrying or any one person holding his free hand) can fit magically through any small space bigger than a mouse hole, as well as fly about freely for a time. The downside is that it occupies one of his hands and makes any other spellcasting impossible while it is in use.
~Dream Sense~
"He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake."
One of Santa's most curious powers is to hear when people are dreaming; not just snoring or what have you, but hear the dreams themselves. To old Saint Nick a dream is a bit like listening to an old radio drama; the sleeper's own voice whispers in his mind of the "visions of sugar plums" and other such things the dreamer experiences. This may seem a bit voyeuristic but when you've been around as long as Santa not much surprises you anymore. He can "quiet" the dream-speech in his mind to give the sleepers privacy and let him focus, but the one distinctive sound that doesn't fade is the twang, almost like a guitar string being plucked, that is heard when a sleeper wakes up. That's his signal to quietly withdraw, leaving only the presents, stockings, and an empty plate of cookies as proof of his passing.
Santa's Dream Sense extends to roughly a fifty-foot radius, meaning he can hear dreams within his immediate environment only. As with normal hearing, the closer he gets to the dreamer the more clearly he can 'hear' their dreams.
~The List~
Santa's infamous list, a long scroll of paper infused with Christmas magics to perfectly track and sort every person in the Realm of Light as either Naughty or Nice. This list was created to do away with the huge hassle of paperwork and research the elves were put through yearly, instead relying on the spirit of Christmas itself to write and update the list. By default all (known) villains are on the Naughty list, simply by virtue of their occupation. Those who claim Santa doesn't exist also end up listed as Naughty, though exceptions can be made from time to time. The list rolls up magically to fit inside Santa's pockets; its magics also make it fireproof and resistant to tearing.
~Bag of Giving~
"...gonna find out who's Naughty and Nice."
Everyone knows that Santa Claus carries a big bag full of toys with him on his sled, a magical bag that can carry enough presents for everyone in every single World he visits. But less commonly known... is the back-up bag.
The back-up bag, or 'Bag of Giving' as Santa prefers, came about by necessity. Sometimes the elves would botch things up; a boy would be gifted a present clearly made for a girl or vice versa or, on happier occasions, some rare good deed at the last moment would put a child on the Nice list with no time to fill the order. And so a fall-back was made: imbued with some of the most potent Christmas magics, the Bag of Giving was made. It could create a present completely by magic, "listening in" on the hearts of those nearby and capturing an impression that could be made into a toy or gift. It worked surprisingly well, and Santa keeps it with him whenever he travels "just to be sure".
The Bag of Giving is a tiny enchanted pouch that Santa keeps tucked away in one of his pockets; with a wave of his hands it becomes a full-size sack. Anyone can reach into the sack once it's open... but the results can vary greatly. If someone is on the Nice list the bag will do what it can to make them a nice present; made to produce toys, pleasant keepsakes, and the like, most practical objects -- like healing potions, for instance -- are beyond its capabilities. For weapons the best it can produce is a wooden practice sword; similarly you shouldn't expect armor better than padded shirts and pants. It can make nice things though, so don't turn your nose up at Santa's gifts. All presents emerge from the bag fully gift-wrapped.
For those on the Naughty list... don't be surprised if the bag spits out a lump of coal. Forcefully.
The bag also doubles as emergency storage for Santa; the magics worked on it make it so that any object that can fit through the sack's opening gets tucked away inside, even if by all rights it shouldn't fit. Only Santa or the object's owner can pull a deposited object back out again; anyone else will just find themselves reaching into an empty bag.
There's also this rumor that one of the elves got curious and crawled inside the bag, only to disappear. It's just a rumor, though...
~The Sleigh~
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
With so very many worlds that celebrate Christmas, it should come as no surprise that Santa's sleight can travel the Lanes Between to reach them. Guided by his crack squad of reindeer, and headed up by the infamous glowing-nosed Rudolph, Santa's sleigh can reach any world that's not sealed up by a Keyblade's power, a strong barrier of darkness (the light from Rudolph's nose can dispel minor darkness-based barriers), or something akin to these forces. What's more, it's fast -- carried forward by the power of Christmas magic, the sleigh is quick enough to make it to every house in every world and back to the North Pole in a single night, bending the very nature of time to do so! However, it can only perform at that level of speed on Christmas night, when Christmas magic is at its strongest -- the rest of the year, though, the sleigh can still keep up with most Gummi ships and other inter-world forms of transportation (aside from "teleportation" methods like Corridors of Darkness and such). If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, Santa's sleigh can certainly deliver!
{MAGIC of the YULE STAFF}
~Fire~
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."
The Yule Staff is not meant to be a weapon in its own right, yet it is empowered with a few very basic spells that its bearer can use for self defense. This basic fire spell causes a momentary whirl of flames to swirl around the spellcaster, doing minor damage to any foes at close range; alternately it can launch a small, fist-sized fireball at a single opponent. Is also handy for warming up if stuck out in the cold.
~Blizzard~
"... Jack Frost nipping at your nose."
The Yule Staff is not meant to be a weapon in its own right, yet it is empowered with a few very basic spells that its bearer can use for self defense. This basic ice spell causes a streamer of magic energy to shoot off in the direction the staff is aimed, exploding in a burst of icy vapor on contact with enemies while doing minor damage. The spell can also create a thin layer of ice on any surface it hits, ideal for on-the-spot repairs to ice sculptures and snowmen.
Unique to the Yule Staff, if fired into the sky this spell will also cause the weather to change to a light snow shower, even in the middle of the hottest desert.
~Curaga~
"Peace on earth, goodwill towards men."
Whereas its offensive / utility spells are rather weak, the Yule Staff's healing magic is nothing shy of top notch. Selecting up to three wounded allies within his immediate awareness (or himself, if needed), Santa raises the staff high and calls upon the very spirit of Christmas to bring healing to the afflicted and strength to the weakened. A flurry of tiny lights, looking very much like snowflakes, surrounds the ones to be healed, mending wounds nigh-instantly. It just won't do to be worn out and hurting on Christmas, after all!
COOLDOWN: 3 posts
~Summon Spirit :: Ghost of Christmas Past~
[/url] of DeviantArt)[/size][/ul]
The lithe and eerily beautiful Ghost of Christmas Past is a sight to behold, a maiden in wispy white robes who seems to float above the ground without effort, her knowing gaze flickering with a phantom light like twin tiny flames of gold. Her essence is the memories of Christmases gone by, giving off the warm aura and fondness of the holiday. She is the most elusive of the ghosts, preferring to avoid conflict herself while casting her empowering light upon others. If contained physically she will snuff out like an extinguished candle flame and vanish; the light of memory was not meant to be put in a box and be forgotten.
DURATION: 4 posts
COOLDOWN: 5 posts
[/b] LIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE
While this Ghost is summoned she radiates a strong light all around her, its warmth inviting Santa's allies to think back on the joy they have known and draw strength from it. Allies can recharge any powers / skills / abilities currently in cooldown one post quicker that usual simply by stepping into the light. However, this power only effects Light or Neutral characters; Dark characters gain nothing from the Light of Remembrance.[/ul]
~Summon Spirit :: Ghost of Christmas Present~[/url] of DeviantArt)[/size][/ul]
A giant of a man whose laughter shakes the air and whose shout resembles a thunderclap, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows himself in long festive robes, bearing a torch and an empty scabbard. Of the three spirits he is easily the most formidable presence, a towering figure of great strength and vitality. Though he could easily do harm with his great size and brawn the Ghost is not violent by nature, choosing instead the role of protector. His is the essence of
living Christmas; though short-lived its impact on the heart can be tremendous, thus so too is he.
DURATION: 2 posts
COOLDOWN: 7 posts
[/b] SHIELD OF CELEBRATION
Holding high his festive torch, the Ghost projects a bubble of faint golden light around where he stands, creating a safe zone where allies can rally without fear of hostile magics. The Shield lasts for only a single round of posts and cannot move but establishes an area forty feet wide that is briefly impenetrable to ranged magic attacks. The Shield, however, cannot block non-magical attacks or close-ranged magic. When the Shield fades the Ghost of Christmas Present also fades away from the battlefield.
DURATION: 1 post
COOLDOWN:
n/a; removes summon from battlefield after use[/ul]
~Summon Spirit :: Ghost of Christmas Future~[/url] of DeviantArt)[/size][/ul]
The most feared of the Ghosts of Christmas, this grim figure in tattered robes rides upon a steed made of phantasmic black smoke and bears a terrible, deadly scythe like unto the grim reaper. Unlike the other two this ghost is as silent as the grave and prosecutes the enemies of Christmastime with a cold fervor that would make even the ghouls of Halloween Town quake with fear. He is the personification of suffering and loneliness for those who know not the light of Yuletide, a dread phantom against whom repentance is the truest defense. Santa only calls upon this Ghost when situations become most dire and all other options have been exhausted, for once Christmas Future emerges suffering will inevitably follow in his wake.
DURATION: 6 posts
COOLDOWN: 10 posts
[/b] MERCILESS PHANTOM
While Christmas Past could be snuffed out and Christmas Present outlasted, there is no easy reprieve from Christmas Future. This particular ghost knows no boundaries, able to freely pass through walls and ride his steed into the skies in pursuit of any foe. This is not to say physical matter and gravity have no effect on him; even an attack with a wooden sword, by its very nature as an act of aggression, must be met head-on -- for that is the Ghost's nature. Similarly, if knocked from his nightmarish steed the Ghost will be at the full mercies of whatever fall awaits. It is fully possible to destroy Christmas Future through such methods; what's more, healing and restorative powers / items have no effect on him. Even so, it is wise to fear him... for he will seldom relent in his pursuit and attacks once brought forth.
COOLDOWN:
n/a[/ul][/blockquote]
Picture:Appearance: Know ye not of Santa? The jolly old Saint Nicholas -- the very soul of Christmas? Old as time, they say, yet full of mirth; flush red cheeks framing a welcoming smile and a portly belly that jiggles like jelly. Long, thick white beard, eyes that twinkle and sparkle just so, a hearty, happy laugh of "Ho ho ho!" as he spreads joy and goodwill wherever he goes. Not a titan of war but a man of peace, fat from feasting and ever ready to give a warming hug to friend and stranger alike. This is the man, the myth, the legend: clad in red-trimmed-white, clambering upon rooftops and down chimneys, coming and leaving like a ghost to deposit merrily wrapped presents (and add those cookies and milk you left to his already ponderous weight). Know ye not of Santa Claus? Well... soon you shall, friend.
Personality:What can be said of him? Santa Claus is a beacon of peace on earth and goodwill to all he meets, overflowing with kindness and generosity. The jolly old man is quick to make and build friendships where he can, only taking on a harsh tone when absolutely necessary -- such as when Christmas itself is threatened. He does take his job quite seriously, maintaining not only the
manifestations of Christmas -- colorfully wrapped presents, stockings full to burst, and the occasional Christmas miracle -- but also the
spirit of the holiday as well: that people be kind and good, that the less fortunate are not forgotten, that the cold and damp of winter be beaten back by the light and warmth of hearts united in celebration... for Christmas is truly more a posture of the heart than it is an event, as Santa ever seeks to remind those who visit him. To those on the 'nice' list he is the gracious benefactor, giving gifts and helping out where he's able -- to those who make the 'naughty' list Santa becomes instead the bringer of lumps of coal (if even that) and, for the truly villainous especially, a very vocal and stubborn roadblock to their selfish desires. This is not a man who seeks conflict, but will rise to the occasion if it means protecting the peace; he always seeks the good in others, and wherever possible do his best to bring it to the surface.
Original World: Christmas Town (Halloween Town)
Current World: Traverse Town
Movie/Video Game(s): Kingdom Hearts II, Nightmare Before Christmas
History:For so long as there has been a Christmas, they say... there has been a
Santa Claus.
Santa's history is lost in the legends and myths of old. Some say he was merely a kindly old man who began a generous tradition that touched many hearts and, in so doing, the very heart of the world. Other stories suggest he was once akin to the great Hercules, a child of mixed mortal and divine birthright who found his place in the worlds of humanity -- not with feats of strength, mind, but with acts of generosity and goodwill. And, as the name would suggest, there are tales which paint him a Saint of the Light, blessed with an open and powerful heart that transformed the depths of winter from a time of fear, chill, and desperation to a season of color, warmth of hearth and home, sharing and abundance.
Whatever the case, Santa's history has been quiet and peaceful for a long, long time -- and the man himself, well, he doesn't talk much about things that far back. "Too much snow on those tracks", he'd say, with a patient and knowing grin.
Yet Santa's history has been eventful lately -- that whole business with Jack Skellington, Oogie Boogie, and later on Sora, the Heartless, and Maleficent. Even as far as ten years or more before, however, the faintest tinge of worry began to make its way into the mind of Saint Nick. Though he was no Yen Sid, he had his ways of keeping track of the way things were going in the worlds... and as the years progressed, worrying signs appeared. People began to despair and lose hope as the darkness spread... he could feel its impact on the spirit of Christmas, albeit distantly. But the balance had shifted before and would shift again, and so he tried to put it out of his mind...
... until names, countless names, began to disappear from his list. As the worlds were plunged into darkness whole swaths of Christmas celebrants were lost -- a terrible thing indeed. And new names, strange names he had never read before, were added. 'Xemnas, Xigbar, Axel, Larxene', and many more, all simply materialized down at the very bottom... with the strangest bit being the last three names, and their
highly unusual heading.
[/u]
Roxas
Namine
Xion[/font][/ul][/size]
He never quite understood how a magical list, which grouped every person in all the Worlds as 'Naughty' or 'Nice', could suddenly have a third category. It simply didn't seem possible. And within a year's time all those names had vanished once again. It was the strangest, most inexplicable thing. Names were added to the list when a child was old enough to know right from wrong... but he knew the name of every child in every world, and these weren't the names of any of them. And names only left the list when... well, when life meets its end. That part at least made some sense, though it was the wrong end of the explanation.
It wasn't until a month or so later, when glancing at the list after dinner, that old Santa was due in for a
true shock. For although names came and went from the list as people lived their lives... no name ever
returned to the list. It was very faint, and at first he mistook it for a smudge or perhaps a crinkle in the paper... but on closer examination, he found he could read it... if just barely.
There, at the very bottom, marked clearly as 'Naughty'...
Xehanort
He knew Xehanort -- not personally, but the man had been on the naughty list for almost his entire life, and had acquired a reputation as a Keyblade Master that had reached Santa's ears despite paying little heed to the politics and messy goings-on outside Christmas Town and his one special night a year. There was no mistaking
that name. Poor old Saint Nick quite nearly had a heart attack.
It was an ill omen... and as he wracked his brain, things slowly began to click into place. Xehanort's name had faded from the list shortly before the rise of darkness that sundered countless worlds... and now it was coming
back? It couldn't be mere coincidence. Somewhere, somehow, forces had been put into play that radically upset the balance -- this much he knew Sora had fixed. But... perhaps not
all was mended. If Xehanort was the cause, then those worlds that remained were in great danger...
...
Christmas was at
unthinkable risk.
Yet, as he sat back and tried to remain calm, Santa couldn't help but feel helpless. He was no warrior, no Keyblade bearer who could cut through the darkness. He was just Santa -- a fat old man who brought presents and happiness to children. How could he...
what could he possibly...?
And then, taking a deep breath, a look of resolution came to those normally jolly eyes. These were dark times... grim with peril, filled with danger and uncertainty. To fight the darkness, people needed courage and hope... and if there was one thing Santa Claus knew he could do, it was bring
hope. Perhaps being Santa
would be enough.
Perhaps.
Role Playing Sample: "It's dangerous, I know... but if I don't do
something, if I don't at least
try --"
"You're
Santa Claus, dear! You can't run off to fight -- you could hardly bring yourself to knock over a
snowman. I can't believe I have to remind you, of all people, but Christmas magic... it's not... you can't"
It was perhaps the couple's first real fight in centuries; with them arguing, the entire balance of Christmas Town seemed completely and utterly
off. The toy assembly line moved erratically and sluggishly, the elves couldn't seem to focus, the reindeer seemed nervous. Everyone and everything was on edge; the tension hung in the air like slow-drifting snowfall, yet heavy as a blizzard.
"I don't plan to fight, sugar plum -- not unless I have to. But sitting back and doing nothing is the same as letting that man, and those like him, win. You've said it yourself: it's not enough that children
be good, they must also
do good -- how can we be any different?"
"But you can't put yourself at risk! What if something were to happen to you?"
Weary from a discussion that seemed to be going nowhere, Santa hung his hat and plopped down into his favorite chair. For several long moments he was silent. "... Perhaps we thought that separating ourselves from the troubles of other worlds would keep Christmas pure and hope safe. It's just not true anymore. You remember when the Heartless came? How that bag of bugs and terrible witch were about to --"
"I can't even think of it, dear! How can you go risking yourself like that all over again??"
"I never set out to find such trouble -- it found me. First Jack found me, and then everything unfolded after that." He sighed and rubbed his temples. "What I'm trying to say, cocoa cup... is that there's no guarantee of safety. Not here, not out there. But... if I can find those in need, if I can help them, give them the hope and courage to keep their hearts true in these dark times . . . isn't that what Christmas
is? Isn't that who I
am?"
A long, uneasy silence fell between the ancient couple. The only sound in the room was the crackle of logs burning in the fireplace.
"...You'll be careful?" Mrs. Claus spoke up at length, and he looked over to see fear in her eyes. But there was something more...
Love. Admiration. Support.
He was up from the chair in a wink, holding her in his arms. "You know I will. I
must. I'll be home before Christmas, to make sure everything's ready. If I were gone, who would bring the children of the worlds presents? Who would keep their hope alive, their dreams sparkling?"
"... I don't think I've seen you like this since we first fell in love." She whispered, kissing his cheek. "Okay... do what you feel is right. I trust you."
Still, it was hard for her to see him off that night. Even with the Yule Staff and the bound Spirits of Christmas to protect him, this journey would be vastly more perilous than any Christmas Eve flight. With Rudolph's glowing nose illuminating the way ahead the sled took off -- his eyes held hers until his wife was just a dot below, Christmas Town a dim cloud of colorful lights blazing in the night. With resignation, he turned his eyes away... and with all the courage he could muster, stared forward into the dark of night.
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen! Rudolph, take the lead and find the way! Onward all, 'till Christmas Day!!"
Questions/Comments/Suggestions? I realize that I played a bit loosely with Santa's equipment and powers, but nothing I think that's outside the core nature of the character, and so hopefully it'll be acceptable. Also, if I'm approved to RP Santa, I'll gladly help out with any Christmastime events / RPs that the staff set up -- only fair, really, for Santa to be 'hands on' with his own holiday.
T H E M E . M U S I C 
