Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 1/25

Far to the north in the land of the midnight sun and freezing snowstorms, nestled in a small forest, is the village of toys. To enter the small village of toys you must find the path in the forest and enter a special door. This pretty village is where Santa has his workshop. Something is happening in this village, aside from the regular toy making, wrapping of presents, baking and the usual activities that go into making one of the biggest events of the year, a success.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 2/25

Merry, is one of the newest reindeer accepted to join the gang up in the North Pole and is happy for the experience, but he wants to be a detective more than anything. It is his dream. Having grown up on the thrilling tales of famous detectives Merry fancies himself an amateur sleuth.

Merry has not seen Santa in many days and with a small notebook at the ready Merry has asked many of the toy village’s residents when they last saw Santa. Most cannot give a definite answer, and some villagers think it was over a week ago.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 3/25

As Merry walked home he was thinking about the conversation with Mrs. Santa, the last of the villagers that he spoke with. She had assured Merry that it was common for Santa not to be around the month before Christmas as he usually went on a short vacation. Merry was told not to worry, yet he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Nearing his house, and more than ready for a hot drink and his comfy chair, Merry noticed something sticking out of the community mailbox. Grabbing the envelope and reading the front of it Merry saw it was addressed to Toy Village, not any pet in particular. It was too late for the post to be delivered. Merry looked around but could not see anyone in the area. Looking down at the snow Merry saw many foot and paw prints so that was no help. Merry hurried inside his house and closed the door.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 4/25

Once inside Merry quickly made a hot peppermint drink and lit the wood in the fireplace. It was a warm and cozy house, perfect for one pet to live happily in.

Merry inspected the front of the envelope but did not recognize the writing. He took the sheet of paper out of the envelope and started to read. What he read set his heart racing.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 5/25

To The Toy Village



We have Santa. You won’t see him again and there will be no toys going out on Christmas Eve or any time until we get what we want. Santa is stubborn and refuses to give us what we want. Sell us the land the Toy Village is on so we can build a luxury resort and we will release Santa. We are not playing around. We have big plans.



The Evil, but Ambitious Twins

Merry sat down abruptly. He did not want to start a panic in the village so he would keep this secret until he found out more. But, it would be helpful to have one other know of this. Chiaroscuro, Merry’s best friend in the village, a true and steady friend. With that decided Merry hurried out to talk to Chiaroscuro and make plans.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 6/25

Merry met his friend outside.

“You’ve read the note, do you have any ideas, did you hear any rumours about selling the Toy Village?”

Chiaroscuro shook her head, “I have not heard anything about this. I wonder if Santa was in communication with these Evil Twins, maybe it is a prank.”

Merry said, “I don’t think it is a prank and if Santa was dealing with this then he did not let anyone, not even Mrs. Santa know about it. She thinks Santa is on vacation. I want you to be my ears and eyes here in the village and I am going to head to the nearest town and see if I can pick up any clues. I will send you messages on your phone and if you find out anything you can message me. I will leave in the morning.”

Chiaroscuro agreed to this plan but wondered if Merry would be better off taking some pet along.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 7/25

Merry left the Toy Village very early in the morning. The snow was falling and though the land was covered in snow it was not all that cold. He had the idea to head to the nearest town and have a chat with some of the shopkeepers and see if anyone had seen Santa. Mrs. Santa had not said where Santa went on his vacation but when Merry had checked, Santa’s suitcase was missing from his closet so he did indeed go away on his own, to start with.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 8/25

Merry finally reached the residential section of the town. Here, snow had fallen lightly on the ground, just a dusting, a taste of what was yet to come to this area.

A fox was walking along the sidewalk, with his nose in a book. Merry said hello and asked if the fox had seen a cheerful fellow in a red suit. The fox had not seen anyone wearing such a costume and said with a laugh that it sounded like Santa, but was it not too early for Santa to appear? The fox suggested trying the shops just a few blocks further up the road.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 9/25

“Good morning,” said Merry. “This is a lovely shop. I am from the Toy Village and wondered if you have seen a jolly fellow in a red suit.”

The proprietor put down the paper he was reading, “Good morning to you. Yes, a fellow with red cheeks and white hair and a red suit as you say, he was in a week ago and bought some sunscreen. I remember because we don’t sell sunscreen at this time of year and the red suit was unusual. Said that he forgot to buy some before packing for his vacation.”

This was exciting news to Merry. “You don’t happen to know where this fellow was headed, do you?

The shopkeeper laughed, “Lost Santa, have you? No, I don’t know where the fellow was headed, but sunscreen suggests somewhere warm. There are some beaches down south.”

Merry thanked the shopkeeper and left the shop.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 10/25

Buoyed up by this news, Merry looked around the street and spotted a shop called, Sail. From the window display, it looked like it might sell things for a vacation at the seashore.

“Good morning,” said Merry entering the shop.

“Ahoy!” sang out the otter standing behind the counter.

Looking around Merry saw all manner of things to use while in the water or at the seashore.

“Have you seen a merry fellow in a red suit, lately?”

The shopkeeper thought, “Oh yes, how could I forget for even a moment? A jolly chap and he was jolly, singing and full of happiness. He bought an inflatable, he said he would use it on his vacation.”

Merry thanked the otter and left the shop.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 11/25

Merry stood outside the shop and grabbed his phone. Chiaroscuro would be happy to receive a message that Santa had been seen and that Merry was on the right track so far. Santa had been in good spirits and was indeed headed to somewhere warm for a vacation, just as Mrs. Santa had said.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 12/25

Back in the Toy Village, Chiaroscuro heard his phone ping. A message from Merry. Chiaroscuro had been headed back to the workshop and stopped to read the message.

I am in the town. Two shopkeepers have seen Santa. He bought sunscreen and an inflatable. Santa probably headed south to the ocean. I will take the train south. Merry.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 13/25

The train trip was pleasant and Merry spent the time looking at the scenery and thinking about what he might find when he reached the seaside. Of course, he hoped that he would find Santa enjoying himself at the beach but the note was so disconcerting and without any other information, Merry was not sure what to think.

Maybe Santa had gone south to meet with the Evil Twins but surely Santa would not consider selling the land to them. If Santa had been truly Santa-napped then what would Merry be able to do by himself?

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 14/25

The train was pulling into the seashore station. The view of the beach was wonderful and Merry thought how great it would be if this were truly his vacation instead of an upsetting journey to ensure Santa was alright.

Leaving the train, Merry sent a quick text to Chiaroscuro letting her know that he had arrived and would start looking for any signs that Santa was or had been in this location.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 15/25

Merry looked around and spied a hotel sitting over on the beachfront. It was a cozy-looking place with some surfboards outside. Once inside Merry asked at the front desk if a jolly fellow dressed in red had registered. Indeed such a guest was registered, but the desk clerk had not seen them since. Merry was able to get the room number and a key and made his way up to the room.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 16/25

Meanwhile back in the Toy Village as Chiaroscuro was walking to the dining room to grab some lunch she decided to check the mailbox. Sure enough, there was another envelope waiting. Quickly opening it Chiaroscuro read the note inside.

We won’t wait much longer. Send a message that you are ready to sell the land, to the address below.

Chiaroscuro thought fast, and racing to the village’s post office she sent off a message asking for proof that they held Santa. Then Chiaroscuro sent a screenshot of the letter to Merry adding that she had asked for proof that Santa was with the Evil Twins.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 17/25

When Merry entered the room Santa was supposed to be staying in he was met with no Santa. A red suitcase, an inflatable, sunscreen, a travel book and a pair of sunglasses, were all on the bed, the suitcase had not been unpacked.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 18/25

As Merry stood in the hotel room thinking about what to do next his phone pinged and upon opening the screen he saw a picture. It looked like a cave and on the side of the photograph he could make out part of Santa. So Santa was being held and it must be close by.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 19/25

Merry raced out of the room, dropped the key off at the front desk and asked the clerk if they recognized the area in the photograph on Merry’s phone. The clerk thought it looked familiar. There were stories about how pirates, long ago, would hide treasure somewhere around this area. The clerk suggested Merry ask one of the fisher pets down near the pier.

Merry found the dock and as luck would have it there were some fishing boats tied up. A bear had come back from fishing and when Merry showed him the picture the bear knew exactly where the cave was and agreed to take Merry there.

“Hunting for the lost treasure are you?”

Merry replied, “No, looking for Santa.”

The bear laughed and said he thought Merry was looking in the wrong place.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 20/25

“You aren’t thinking of going in that cave by yourself are you?”

Merry replied, “I have no choice, Santa is being held captive and I came here alone. I will be fine, I am a detective after all.”

Merry was feeling like a real detective, and though it was thrilling in many ways he was too worried about Santa to think about the danger to himself.

The bear grunted and said, “I will wait with my boat, if you think it is too dangerous we can go back and get the authorities.”

Mist was starting to form the closer the boat sailed to the cave lending a spooky atmosphere to the trip.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 21/25

Merry entered the cave and listened, he did not hear anything. Thankfully the light from outside reached into the cave. Merry turned and waved at the bear and headed deeper inside.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 22/25

There were lanterns strung up in the cave which meant that someone used this cave. Suddenly Merry heard a sound. He stopped walking and listened. It sounded like laughter.

Merry walked on, careful to not make a sound. Rounding a corner A strange sight greeted Merry.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 23/25

The chamber of the cave was decorated for Christmas, there was even a tree with baubles and lights on it. Santa, and two others—who did look like twins— were sitting at a table, laughing, and crafting wreaths.

“Ho, ho, ho, welcome Merry. Glad you found the cave.”

“Santa?” Merry was confused. Santa was not held captive, there was no danger and Merry was guessing that unless this was the merriest bunch of evil twins ever, the twins were not even evil.

Santa spoke again, “You did great Merry. I am sorry if you were worried, but I always take a vacation at this time of year and I thought it was the perfect time to test your detective skills. Yes, I know you wish to be a detective and I wanted to give you a little taste of what could be involved. These two are my friends and we decided to have some fun making this cave a cheery place for Christmas while waiting for you to arrive, and I never had any doubt you would arrive. But, I think it is time to head home.”

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 24/25

Back in the Toy Village, Santa, Merry, the twins and Chiaroscuro gathered together outside Merry’s house and toasted the success of the investigation, with eggnog and many laughs.

Chiaroscuro is questing! Episode 25/25

Everyone was tired and they drifted off to their homes to get some rest. Merry approached Chiaroscuro and handed them a beautiful painted egg.

“Thank you for all your help, Chiaroscuro. Santa had us fooled, but it was fun and now I am sure that a detective is what I want to be. Good night.”
Chiaroscuro has enjoyed her Reindeer Tale. Please select another pet as visitor, so it can join in the fun!