‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the site

Not a creature was stirring, not one forumite

The stockings were hung up, in all shapes and type

In neat little rows on our Meter of Hype

The gamers were nestled all snug in their beds

While dreams of adventure news danced in their heads

We staffers, at last, though from all 'round the map

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter

We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter

We thought it was Santa, but needed to see

'Cause who can resist a late night mystery?

In silence we tiptoed our way 'cross the floor

While fumbling in darkness 'til we reached the door

We grabbed the brass handle and gave it a turn

And just then a shocking surprise did we learn

No matter how hard we would jiggle and nudge

That stupid old doorknob, it just wouldn't budge!

Confounded so early, pursuing our goal

We noticed no light peeking through the keyhole

"Of course!" we all cried, "The key's jammed in the lock

But on the wrong side and it's causing our block!"

The mood quickly soured and approached mass hysterics

Blame fingers were pointed, agreed it was Marek

But being adventurers all through and through

We thought up a plan 'til we knew what to do

We slid out some paper right down underneath

And popped the key onto it, "Whew! What relief!"

We all felt so proud over what we had done

But knew our adventure had only begun

Just then we heard those strange noises again

And thought that it came from the back corner den

That's where we had stashed our big Christmas surprise

Concealed from the snoopers and wandering eyes

"But that cannot be," we all scoffed with a laugh

"The lock for that room takes an hour and a half!"

And why, you may ask, would it take such a while?

The door lock's a puzzle with eight sliding tiles

So just when we thought the intruder was magic

We heard a dull thumping from up in the attic

We raced to the place and looked up at the ceiling

But just couldn't reach it -- oh, such hopeless feeling!

These obstacles threatened to make us all sadder

If only we knew where to find a stepladder

When someone exclaimed, with a quick joyous dance

"Our problem is solved, I've got one in my pants!"

"Yeah, right," we retorted, "There's just no way that it

Could stuff in your pockets; can't possibly fit!"

But we were all wrong, because next in the story

A ladder emerged from a small inventory

Our mouths all agape, did we look on in awe

And just not quite sure that we'd seen what we saw

But while still in shock, we were caught unaware

For just then we heard a loud creak of the stairs

Arriving in seconds, we still were too slow

But figured from there was just one place to go

The music room off down the hall to the right

But some just refused, saying "No, not tonight."

"We're not going in there; you know we're tone deaf

And don't know an eighth note from a treble clef."

Yet that didn't matter, when sounds from the back

Alerted us that our pursuit was off-track

But nothing was there when we got to the spot

Which left us head-scratching and grumbling a lot

We probed and examined behind and out front

The whole search became a real life pixel hunt

The house was so big, it was just like a maze

The rate we were going, we'd be at it for days

We knew that we needed a logical system

With mapping and notes so we'd know if we missed him

And so we began moving through the abode

Carefully plotting our way, node to node

There must be a clue, so we thought -- wouldn't you?

If only real life also had a walkthrough

And just when we started to tire looking 'round

Again came a sound, but this time underground

We traced the commotion and whispered, "The cellar!

He's gone to the basement, the crazy ol' feller."

And then we rejoiced, having trapped him at last

There's only one exit, no way to get past

We could have just waited, but started to doubt

We'd lost him so often, we'd best flush him out

To catch him red-handed, we'd have to be smart

With timing and stealth that starts pumping the heart

While most of us thought this would bring satisfaction

A few people said, "No, not me -- too much action."

There just was no swaying the ones who weren't sure

They claimed it was mindless, no fun, and not pure

And so we got fighting, our plan having failed

But then took a breath and so cool heads prevailed

But no sooner had the last harsh word been spoken

We noticed the door to the cellar now open!

Our mystery guest had again disappeared

Eluding our grasp as we all should have feared

To drive home the total extent of our goof

The next sound we heard filtered down from the roof

We ran to the window with feelings of dread

Most fully expecting a fat man in red

But not even that did we see from our view

Which made us start questioning just what we knew

Had what we'd been seeking been real or illusion?

It just didn't matter, we reached as conclusion

The question is not whether Santa Claus came

But if we had fun with our Christmas Eve game

On that we're agreed, 'twas pervasive and wild

Reminding us all of good times as a child

Although we'd have liked to find proof of St. Nick

We loved the adventure, though not point & click

The house was now quiet, with nothing to see

And so to relax we grouped 'round the big tree

Yet only just then did it strike us absurd

From this room alone had not one sound been heard

For all of our efforts to find evidence

The obvious place was just plain common sense

How often that happens, as everyone knows

The last place you look is right under your nose

Now something was different; a slight, subtle change

At first no one noticed as nothing seemed strange

The tree, though, its lights seemed to twinkle and say

"You'll find what you seek if you'll just glance my way!"

So when we looked closer, our spirits did lift

Addressed to each one of us was a new gift

And not just a random collection of toys

But each our most wanted adventure of choice

While giving's divine and receiving is moot

Let's not kid ourselves, we still dig getting loot!

Of course, in this time of goodwill o'er the Earth

It's now we acknowledge the things of true worth

It's friendship and family and others who care

Including all those that can't be with you there

And in that last group are those here at AG

We're so glad you're part of our community

Wherever you are, then, we wish with all might

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

...

Oh, wait -- one more thing, before you depart

Just click the next page to find your Christmas card

Once you've stopped laughing...

... From all of us to all of you, thanks again for being a part of what makes Adventure Gamers so special. Have a very Merry (and safe) Christmas holiday!