12/23/17 - Christmas Costume Party

Lights up on our intrepid crew: Spud, Pooh, Chris, Julie, Shannon and Brooke.

Sound up to … yelling. So much yelling.
Our heroes pile in to the boss’ office, hopeful that will make him stop.
What’s happened? There is a report of vandalism at the Wilderness Lodge Resort! The team is to report to the site, meet with security and the client contact immediately! (Faster, if possible.)
After a fairly drawn-out process of gearing up, “All I got was a bag full of ‘no’” grumbles Brooke, it’s a quick trip to the Wilderness Lodge. Gasps of awe escape lips — the lobby does look lovely when it’s decorated for the holiday season.
At the foot of the absolutely gigantic Christmas tree stands a security guard. A scared & feeling quite unsecure security guard. With a bit of prodding, he agrees to demonstrate the problem. Approaching the fireplace, he flips a switch to turn the lights on the tree.
<WHOOSH>
Suddenly, a beautiful pine lounge chair goes flying into the tree … and disappears.
Looking around, our heroes do notice a few holes in the otherwise organized lobby furniture layout. General speculation and confusion follows.
Suddenly … Spud becomes very interested in something at the base of the tree — Rizzo the Rat! To prevent any unnecessary death (and the inability to question Rizzo about his appearance) Spud is knocked unconscious. (For his own good, of course.)
In the meantime, the rest of the team makes their way into the Whispering Canyon restaurant, and have a meeting with Kermit — their client contact. He informs them that the Ghosts have gone missing from the Muppet Christmas Carol, and their help is needed. They must go through the door and obtain the slab, stick and stone to put things right again. (And hopefully return the Wilderness Lodge lobby to its intended arrangement.)
Wait … what’s that noise? Brad! Rizzo! This could be bad.
As Spud and Rizzo circle the lobby tree in a frenzy, the rest of the group is unsure how to intervene. Julie attempts an action, but it is turned against her and she instead joins Spud in his merry chase of Rizzo. Knowing that there is no good end to this romp, Shannon whisks Rizzo to safety at the top of the tree. 
Suddenly, Rizzo jumps! … and [poof] disappears into the tree. Could this be the “door” Kermit spoke of?
Cautiously, Shannon engages her grappling hook and shimmies down the rope … [poof]
Julie tosses her hook … [poof] and the rope keep going! Quickly the remaining team grabs Spud and the rope and are yanked into the tree to … London, England??
Yes, it’s a thoroughfare of Industrial Revolution London — the very same place A Muppet Christmas Carol takes place. Momentarily stunned, the group takes stock … and Pooh walks off down the street. The remaining crew discusses next steps, reviewing Kermit’s words: the Ghosts are missing, and they must obtain the slab, stick and stone to put things back to rights.
Unsure of their place in the timeline, there is discussion about where to start. Looking around, they discover they are in front of young Scrooge’s school and decide to explore it — hoping for clues.
Inside, they find a young Scrooge and teacher (Sam the Eagle.) Chris engages his special skill: identifying magic. Young Scrooge’s slate is glowing … could this be the “slab” that Kermit spoke of?
Unfortunately, our heroes discover they are not able to grasp or interact with young Scrooge — as if they are ghosts themselves! Perhaps they are not in the correct timeline for recovery? They decide to locate Pooh and see what shenanigans have befallen merry old England.
Thanks to a finding spell from Julie, they quickly arrive at the waterfront tracking Pooh-sized golden footprints. As they follow, they approach a warehouse with dark, hulking silhouette. A bat with a peg leg approaches, warning them to steer clear, but when have they ever taken advice (and from a bat with a peg leg? Never!) The dark shape responds without words … but with the ringing of a small bell from a white-gloved hand.
A shadow looms large over our heroes … what approaches in the darkness?
Find out … next time.