Tinsel & Treachery

Sourcing some minis to start building some operations teams. here’s my current list of potentials.  Looking for any recommendations anyone out there might have that I missed.

Anthalonica Wargaming

Anvil Industry

Black Powder Red Earth

Blackhill Games

Combat Octopus

Crooked Dice – Great for security guards, cops, criminals, and civilians.

Empress Miniatures – metal minis and resin & metal vehicles.

Eureka Miniatures – metals, almost impossible to navigate website. Australian.

Hasslefree Miniatures – UK, mostly metals, some terrain. Artemis Blacks Plastic Trailer is a real highlight.

INXCountry – game itself seems to be defunct, but the sculptor is still doing minis on MMF.

Miska Miniatures

Pendraken Miniatures – great source for rioters, survivalists.

Spectre Miniatures – seems to be the “go to” for modern warfare minis.

The Assault Group – really cool hand sculpted minis.

TurnBase Miniatures – vehicles, infantry, the works.

White Dragon Miniatures – some soldiers, some taliban, some military vehicles.

O gauge civilians from amazon – https://www.amazon.com/100Pcs-Assorted-Painted-People-Architectural/dp/B0DKJGRG9V

History

Evergreen International began as a coalition of environmental activists aiming to reform the harmful practices of the Christmas Movie Industrial Complex. They rallied against the mass deforestation of Christmas tree farms, the environmental toll of artificial snow production, and the unchecked pollution caused by corporate holiday operations.

Over time, as lobbying and peaceful protests achieved little against the might of megacorporations, Evergreen radicalized. They turned to more aggressive tactics, combining eco-activism with sabotage and direct action. While they still maintain a public image of being a global green advocacy organization, their covert operations reveal a darker, more militant side.

Structure

Evergreen International operates as a dual-entity organization, blending a visible, legitimate front with a shadow network of operatives who carry out their more extreme objectives.

1. The Green Spire: The public face of Evergreen, focused on lobbying, fundraising, and raising environmental awareness. They organize protests and litigation while masking the actions of their militant counterparts.
2. Branchcutters: Elite operatives specializing in industrial sabotage, targeting Christmas tree farms, artificial decoration factories, and corporate logistics networks.
3. Frost Guardians: The militant arm of Evergreen, trained in eco-warfare and equipped to take on heavily defended corporate facilities.
4. Snowtide Scouts: A clandestine unit of eco-spies who gather intelligence on corporate practices and identify high-value targets for future operations.

Tactics

Evergreen International wages a two-front war: one of public persuasion and one of covert action. Their tactics are designed to protect the planet while directly crippling the Christmas industrial complex.

1. Industrial Sabotage: Destroying production facilities for artificial trees, decorations, and snow, often by planting explosive devices or disabling critical machinery.
2. Eco-Raids: Storming deforested zones and tree farms, liberating remaining saplings while leaving corporate equipment in ruins.
3. Environmental Blockades: Using reforestation projects, booby traps, and barricades to prevent resource extraction and disrupt supply lines.
4. Propaganda Campaigns: Producing viral media that highlights the environmental destruction caused by holiday production, often incorporating shocking visuals and data leaks.
5. Corporate Espionage: Infiltrating enemy organizations to expose unethical practices or acquire schematics for destruction.

Philosophy

Evergreen International believes that Christmas should be sustainable and in harmony with nature. However, they see the modern holiday as an engine of ecological devastation, prioritizing profits over the planet. Their mission is to force the industry to adopt eco-friendly practices—or destroy it in the process.

They are not anti-Christmas but reject its current form, advocating for a return to simpler, handcrafted traditions and renewable practices. For Evergreen, every action—no matter how extreme—is justified if it preserves the Earth for future generations.

History

The Humbug Underground began as a scattered collection of anti-corporate protesters, disillusioned with the rampant consumerism and greed that had consumed Christmas. Initially a loose coalition of activists, their frustration with peaceful demonstrations grew as their voices were drowned out by megacorporations’ propaganda.

Over time, the Underground transformed into a full-blown anarchist movement, united by their hatred of the “Christmas Machine.” Operating in the shadows, they evolved into a sophisticated network of saboteurs, insurgents, and provocateurs, striking at the heart of holiday commerce and tradition.

Structure

The Humbug Underground thrives on chaos and operates as a leaderless movement. Its decentralized structure makes it nearly impossible to eradicate, as cells operate independently but share common goals.

1. Black Bells: Small cells responsible for carrying out acts of sabotage and guerrilla strikes.
2. The Obscured Choir: A shadowy council of strategists and ideologues who disseminate propaganda and coordinate high-profile operations.
3. Coal Rats: Infiltrators and double agents embedded within corporate structures, leaking intelligence and spreading discord.
4. Krampus Corps: The Underground’s most militant wing, composed of violent extremists who specialize in terror attacks and false-flag operations.

Tactics

The Humbug Underground uses asymmetrical warfare and subversive propaganda to achieve their objectives. They seek to destabilize the Christmas industrial complex and erode public trust in its traditions.

1. Propaganda Bombing: Distributing anti-Christmas media through hacked broadcasts, graffiti, and viral campaigns. Their work blends humor, grim messaging, and biting satire.
2. Sabotage: Disrupting production lines, destroying marketing displays, and ruining corporate-sponsored holiday events.
3. False-Flag Operations: Staging attacks that implicate rival factions, sowing mistrust and escalating tensions.
4. Terror Strikes: Targeting high-profile events, such as holiday markets or Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, to maximize fear and visibility.
5. Espionage and Blackmail: Using leaked information to expose corporate corruption and intimidate their enemies.

Philosophy

The Humbug Underground rejects the idea of Christmas entirely, viewing it as a hollow, manipulative construct designed to enforce conformity, greed, and societal control. To them, Christmas is a mask for corporate exploitation, environmental destruction, and emotional manipulation.

Their goal isn’t to reform the system but to annihilate it. They seek to tear down the icons of the holiday season—both literal and metaphorical—and replace them with nothing but freedom through chaos.

While many view their methods as extreme, the Underground sees themselves as the only honest resistance to a world blinded by false cheer and jingling lies.

• Operation “Twisted Tinsel”
  The Underground infiltrated a major NorthStar Media Conglomerate premiere for their latest Christmas blockbuster. Agents released swarms of drones carrying acid-filled ornaments that destroyed the red carpet and projector equipment, shutting down the event and leaving attendees in disarray.
• Operation “Sugar Crash”
  Using stolen shipment schedules from a Gingerbread Trust mole, the Underground bombed a key distribution hub for holiday confections. The explosion destroyed tons of merchandise, causing panic and massive financial losses for the Trust.
• Operation “Silent Wreath”
  The Humbug Underground hacked into a Yuletide Dynamics broadcast of animatronic Santas, replacing it with a grim, dystopian message exposing the company’s ties to unethical weaponized tech development. The broadcast concluded with the Santas melting into grotesque, skeletal figures.
• Operation “Coalstorm”
  Krampus Corps operatives sabotaged the lighting of a 100-foot Christmas tree in a corporate plaza, rigging it to burst into flames. The resulting inferno became a viral spectacle, accompanied by propaganda framing the event as a symbol of corporate corruption.
• Operation “Snowbound”
  In their most audacious act to date, the Underground blocked a major shipping route by orchestrating avalanches using dynamite-laden snow plows. The disruption halted deliveries of artificial snow and decorations for weeks, leaving corporate events barren and public sentiment boiling.

The Humbug Underground continues to be a terrifying and enigmatic force, committed to the complete dismantling of Christmas traditions and their replacement with an uncertain, chaotic future.

History
Yuletide Dynamics began as a small engineering firm focused on developing innovative holiday-themed technology. Initially, they specialized in consumer products like automated Christmas lights, artificial snow generators, and high-tech gift wrapping machines. However, as the company expanded, they saw the potential for a more lucrative market in military-grade tech and covert operations. With deep ties to both government contractors and powerful holiday conglomerates, Yuletide Dynamics gradually shifted toward developing high-tech weapons, surveillance systems, and espionage tools, all disguised under the festive guise of “holiday magic.” Now, Yuletide Dynamics is a shadowy corporate giant that plays a dual role: a market leader in holiday gadgets and a key supplier of tech-based warfare.

They see the commercialization of Christmas as a means to drive both profits and control, using their technological superiority to reshape the holiday industry and eliminate any competition. This relentless pursuit of power has made them enemies of not just NorthStar Media, but also radical factions like the Red Sleigh Union and Evergreen International, who view them as a symbol of corporate greed and environmental destruction.

Structure
Yuletide Dynamics operates with a tightly controlled but expansive organizational structure. Its divisions span the worlds of both public and covert operations.

• Board of Directors: The elite leadership that controls the overall direction of the company. Known for their cold, calculating demeanor, they focus on increasing the company’s power and reach, both within the Christmas market and beyond.
• Holiday R&D Division: This team is responsible for developing the cutting-edge holiday tech that the company markets to consumers, including holiday drones, autonomous sleighs, and interactive light shows. They also handle secretive projects like weaponized holiday tech and covert espionage devices.
• Global Security Force: A private army that handles internal security, corporate espionage, and the suppression of dissent. They are also responsible for carrying out assassinations and sabotage missions against rivals and enemies, including rogue employees and activist groups.
• Tactical Operations Group (TOG): A paramilitary unit specializing in high-intensity combat, black ops, and the use of Yuletide tech for strategic advantage. TOG operatives are often sent to eliminate high-value targets or sabotage the infrastructure of enemies like the RSU or Evergreen International.
• Media and Public Relations Department: Although this department’s main job is to promote Yuletide’s family-friendly image, they are also instrumental in running disinformation campaigns and controlling the narrative around their more nefarious activities.

Tactics
Yuletide Dynamics uses a mix of cutting-edge technology, corporate warfare, and military force to maintain its grip on the Christmas industry. Their tactics are calculated, precise, and often involve leveraging their advanced tech in both the commercial and military realms.

• Tech-Dominated Warfare: Yuletide uses sophisticated gadgets to control and manipulate the battlefield. From drone sleighs to Christmas-themed assault robots, they bring high-tech weaponry disguised as festive novelties to the fight.
• Covert Operations: They frequently use espionage and sabotage to weaken rivals. This includes planting listening devices in NorthStar’s factories, infiltrating the RSU to leak information, or disrupting Evergreen’s eco-sabotage efforts with advanced countermeasures.
• Corporate Takeovers: Through hostile acquisitions and aggressive mergers, Yuletide often absorbs smaller companies and eliminates competitors. They also work behind the scenes to stifle any rebellion from smaller manufacturers or activist groups.
• Psychological Warfare: Yuletide Dynamics uses its media influence to brainwash the masses into supporting its vision of Christmas, often painting opponents as terrorists or anti-Christmas extremists. Their PR campaigns target holiday shoppers, making it difficult for smaller rivals to compete in the market.
• Weaponized Holidays: Beyond toys and gadgets, Yuletide designs and manufactures weapons and surveillance systems that blur the line between festive fun and military-grade tech. For example, drones that deliver presents could easily be repurposed for reconnaissance or the delivery of targeted munitions strikes, and “magical” snow generators can mask military operations or emit toxins to incapacitate enemies.

Philosophy
Yuletide Dynamics operates under the belief that the future of Christmas lies in technological innovation and corporate control. They believe that Christmas should be experienced through the lens of efficiency and spectacle—where traditions are optimized, and every consumer interaction is a profitable transaction. The company’s leadership sees Christmas not as a celebration of culture and community but as a market to be dominated. To Yuletide, those who resist this vision—be it the lowly artisans of the RSU, the eco-terrorists of Evergreen International, or the outdated competitors like NorthStar Media—are obstacles to ground down under the ever churning wheel of progress.

While Yuletide presents a public image of promoting holiday joy and comfort, in truth, they use their products to pacify and control the masses, ensuring that no one questions their claim over the holiday industry. Their use of violence and espionage is justified by their belief that their vision of Christmas is the only one that matters—everything else is simply outdated nostalgia or a threat to their bottom line.

• Operation “Winter’s Wrath”: In response to a series of high-profile RSU raids on corporate facilities, Yuletide Dynamics deployed a squadron of combat drones disguised as festive light displays to disrupt an RSU cell’s attempt to sabotage a research facility. The drones eliminated the saboteurs and captured video footage, which was later used in a media campaign to paint the RSU as violent criminals.
• Operation “Mistletoe Protocol”: Yuletide infiltrated a key distribution center for NorthStar Media’s toy line, releasing evidence of illegal child labor and environmental violations. The scandal severely damaged NorthStar’s reputation, leading to massive recalls and a significant drop in sales, allowing Yuletide to make significant gains in  toy market with its more expensive toys.
• Operation “Gift of Steel”: Yuletide supplied advanced surveillance drones and automated defense systems to key government figures and corporate elites, positioning themselves as the go-to provider for high-end holiday security. This move allowed them to establish even more influence in the world of political and corporate espionage.

Yuletide Dynamics remains a powerful and dangerous force in the Christmas Movie Industrial Complex, using its cutting-edge technology to maintain an edge over both the holiday industry and the political landscape. They are determined to continue their rise to dominance, unchallenged by those who would dare disrupt their vision of the “perfect” Christmas.

History

The Red Sleigh Union began as a collective of artisan craftsmen dedicated to preserving the art of traditional holiday handcrafts in the face of mass-produced, corporate Christmas merchandise. Once respected for their intricate craftsmanship and deep cultural roots, the RSU initially fought for fair trade practices and ethical production standards.

However, decades of exploitation, corporate consolidation, and the erasure of traditional crafts pushed the Union to the brink. When even the most skilled artisans were reduced to factory cogs or driven out of business, the RSU radicalized. Now, it is a militant movement of disenfranchised workers and craftsmen, determined to dismantle the corporate control of Christmas by any means necessary.

Structure

The RSU operates as a decentralized collective, united by shared ideals rather than a rigid hierarchy.

1. Council of the Forge: A leadership council composed of veteran artisans and outspoken worker leaders. They develop strategies and rally support but leave operations in the hands of local cells.
2. Craft Guilds: Regional cells composed of artisan craftsmen, factory workers, and grassroots organizers. They handle propaganda, recruitment, and localized actions.
3. Union Brigades: Armed militias formed from disillusioned workers, combat-trained mercenaries, and those willing to take up arms for the cause.
4. Labor Vanguard: A covert group specializing in sabotage and intelligence gathering, often operating deep within corporate facilities.

Tactics

The RSU relies on a mix of grassroots organizing, direct action, and armed resistance to advance their cause:

1. Worker Strikes and Factory Takeovers: Organizing mass walkouts and occupying key production facilities to disrupt holiday supply chains.
2. Raids on Corporate Warehouses: Seizing goods and redistributing them to communities, often coupled with public demonstrations to highlight corporate greed.
3. Sabotage: Targeting corporate infrastructure, from sabotaging automated assembly lines to orchestrating cyberattacks on logistics networks.
4. Guerilla Warfare: The Union Brigades engage in skirmishes and ambushes against corporate security forces, especially in regions where RSU influence is strongest.

Philosophy

The RSU believes in a Christmas built on fairness, community, and human connection rather than cold corporate profit. To them, the mass-produced, glossy veneer of modern Christmas is a betrayal of its roots in handcraft, generosity, and shared tradition.

They seek to dismantle the structures that exploit workers and commodify holiday traditions, envisioning a future where artisans, small businesses, and local communities reclaim Christmas. While their methods are often extreme, they see themselves as liberators fighting against a system that values profit over people.

• Operation “Golden Hammers”
  RSU agents infiltrated a massive holiday ornament factory owned by NorthStar Media Conglomerate. Posing as temporary workers, they sabotaged critical machinery and leaked footage of harsh working conditions to the public. The resulting scandal led to weeks of strikes and cost NorthStar millions in lost revenue.
• Operation “Sugar Chains”
  The RSU targeted a Gingerbread Trust sugar plantation notorious for exploitative practices. A brigade launched a coordinated assault, seizing shipments of sugar and redistributing them to impoverished communities. The operation sparked a wave of local uprisings against Trust facilities.
• Operation “Red Frost”
  In response to the Tinsel Committee’s crackdown on worker protests in a key industrial hub, the RSU mounted a daring counterattack. Union Brigades ambushed Purification Corps units, using improvised explosives and guerrilla tactics to reclaim the region. The skirmish marked a significant victory for the RSU but escalated tensions with the Committee.
• Operation “Gilded Stockings”
  To disrupt the unveiling of Yuletide Dynamics’ latest holiday tech line, the RSU staged a dramatic assault on their headquarters. Artisan craftsmen in disguise delivered “gift boxes” rigged with EMP devices, shutting down the facility’s automated systems. The chaos allowed a Vanguard team to extract sensitive schematics later leaked to the public.
• Operation “The People’s Christmas”
  The RSU held a massive public festival in defiance of NorthStar’s corporate-sponsored event in the same city. The festival showcased hand-made crafts, live performances, and free holiday meals sourced from seized corporate warehouses. Despite repeated attempts by NorthStar’s PR teams to shut it down, the event drew widespread attention and support.

The RSU continues to be a thorn in the side of the wider Christmas Movie Industrial Complex, blending traditional craftsmanship with radical resistance to fight for a holiday that belongs to the people.

History

The Tinsel Committee emerged in the early 1980s as a reaction to what its founders saw as the growing corruption of Christmas traditions. Formed by a coalition of moral crusaders, conservative think tanks, and religious leaders, the Committee began as a lobbying group aimed at “purifying” holiday media and marketing. They gained momentum during the 1990s with high-profile campaigns against what they deemed “subversive” holiday films and products.

Over time, the Committee’s methods grew more aggressive. What began as public protests and boycotts escalated into shadowy deals, blackmail, and outright sabotage. As their influence spread, they began enforcing their vision of Christmas with an iron fist, targeting anyone who challenged their dogma. Now, the Tinsel Committee operates as both a political force and a covert paramilitary organization, using fear and control to shape Christmas traditions worldwide.

Structure

The Tinsel Committee operates with rigid hierarchy and secrecy, mimicking the structure of an authoritarian state.

1. The High Council: A cabal of influential figures who set the faction’s agenda and approve major operations. These shadowy leaders are rarely seen in public.
2. Regional Overseers: Managers of the Committee’s influence in specific territories, responsible for local propaganda and enforcement campaigns.
3. Moral Enforcers: Operatives tasked with rooting out “corruption” and ensuring adherence to the Committee’s vision. They are part investigator, part executioner.
4. The Purification Corps: A paramilitary wing trained for direct action, including raids, sabotage, and the suppression of dissent.

Tactics

The Tinsel Committee wields both soft and hard power to impose its will:

1. Censorship and Propaganda: They pressure governments, corporations, and media outlets to conform to their vision of Christmas.
2. Moralistic Witch Hunts: Targeting individuals or groups they consider a threat to their ideals, often through smear campaigns or blackmail.
3. Sabotage Operations: Destroying or disrupting holiday productions and events that deviate from their approved message.
4. Direct Action: Deploying the Purification Corps to eliminate threats through covert raids or staged “accidents.”

Philosophy

The Tinsel Committee believes Christmas should be a time of unity, morality, and tradition, but their interpretation of these values is deeply authoritarian. They see themselves as the guardians of a “pure” Christmas, untainted by modern decadence or commercialization (except where it serves their agenda). They reject the idea of Christmas as a secular or inclusive holiday, instead promoting a narrow and exclusionary vision rooted in their own ideals.

To the Committee, dissent is a threat to the holiday itself. Anyone who disagrees with their interpretation of Christmas is branded an enemy—whether they are progressive activists, rival factions, or even independent filmmakers.

• Operation “Silent Night”
  A guerrilla film festival organized by the Ho-Ho-Hollywood Guild was gaining traction, promoting “blasphemous” takes on Christmas. The Committee’s Purification Corps launched a midnight raid on the venue, seizing equipment, attacking audiences, and apprehending key organizers. The event ended in chaos, with heavy casualties on both sides.
• Operation “Tradition’s Gate”
  The Committee uncovered plans by Evergreen International to host a “Green Winter Solstice Gala,” highlighting eco-friendly cross-cultural holiday traditions and sustainable practices. Viewing this as a threat to their ideals, the Committee deployed agents to infiltrate the gala. The operatives sabotaged the event by triggering a staged power outage, ruining the live broadcasts, and planting propaganda materials and contraband to discredit Evergreen.
• Operation “Gift of Unity”
  To counter rising dissent within a major holiday manufacturing hub, the Committee staged a “relief campaign,” delivering food and aid to struggling factory workers. However, the operation was a front for installing surveillance systems and recruiting informants to report any subversive activity. The region was soon under tight control, with dissent crushed before it could organize.
• Operation “Saint’s Judgment”
  The Committee launched a covert attack on a Red Sleigh Union stronghold, framing the rebel faction for an attack on civilian holiday markets. This false-flag operation sowed discord among anti-corporate factions, isolating the RSU from potential allies and solidifying the Committee’s narrative as the protectors of Christmas order.

By combining propaganda, force, and manipulation, the Tinsel Committee continues to shape Christmas according to their ironclad vision, silencing opposition wherever it arises.

History

Ho-Ho-Hollywood Freelancers’ Guild (H3, The Guild) was born from the ashes of independent filmmakers crushed under the boot of mega-corporations like NorthStar Media. During the late 1990s, a group of rogue directors, actors, and screenwriters formed the Guild as a desperate countermeasure to preserve creative integrity in holiday filmmaking. These idealists were fueled by a passion for unfiltered artistic expression and a deep resentment toward the corporate behemoths that homogenized Christmas media.

At first, H3 operated in relative obscurity, crafting heartfelt, low-budget holiday movies. However, as corporate Christmas blockbusters pushed them further to the margins, their tactics grew more extreme. By the mid-2000s, Ho-Ho-Hollywood had transformed into a guerrilla filmmaking syndicate, waging war against the studios that controlled the holiday narrative. They began using black-market resources to fund their productions and staged impromptu public screenings in defiance of corporate censorship.

Today, the Guild straddles the line between rebels and criminals. While their works are celebrated by underground audiences, their methods are far from noble. Armed with cameras, scripts, and explosives, they are as much saboteurs as they are storytellers, willing to destroy the Christmas machine to keep their vision alive.

Structure

Ho-Ho-Hollywood is decentralized, operating more like a loose collective than a unified organization. Each “cell” within the Guild is led by a director or producer with their own style and goals. Though they share resources and coordinate for larger operations, internal rivalries often lead to chaos.

1. Directors’ Circle: The informal leadership of the Guild, made up of the most influential rogue filmmakers. They provide strategic direction, but every cell has autonomy.
2. Production Cells: Small teams of filmmakers, technicians, and mercenaries who carry out guerrilla productions and sabotage missions.
3. The Talent Pool: Disenfranchised actors, writers, and crew members who provide support, often moonlighting in Guild productions to escape corporate contracts.

Tactics

The Guild specializes in guerrilla filmmaking and disruption. Their tactics blur the line between art and warfare:

1. Guerrilla Productions: Filming on location without permits, often in hostile corporate-controlled zones.
2. Media Bombing: Releasing viral content that mocks or undermines rival factions’ propaganda.
3. Sabotage Operations: Disabling corporate equipment, vandalizing sets, or disrupting filming schedules to bleed rival studios dry.

Operatives

• Washed-Up Directors: Veterans of the industry who’ve been blacklisted by corporate studios, now leveraging their experience in the Guild’s operations.
• Rogue Producers: Financial masterminds who secure illicit funding and manage the logistics of underground productions.
• Pyrotechnic Artists: Explosive experts who double as special effects coordinators, bringing chaos to both the screen and the battlefield.
• Guerilla Film Crews: Skilled cinematographers and technicians who can turn even a warzone into a movie set.

Current Agendas

• Expose Corporate Exploitation: The Guild seeks to reveal the corruption and soulless practices of factions like NorthStar Media.
• Take Back Christmas Media: By producing authentic holiday films, they aim to re-center holiday content around art and creativity rather than profit.
• Destabilize Rival Studios: Their sabotage operations directly target the infrastructure and public relations of corporate-controlled Christmas media.

• Screening: “Mall Santa”
  The Guild infiltrates a corporate-controlled shopping mall during the holiday season, covertly broadcasting one of their banned films on every screen. A skirmish breaks out as corporate enforcers arrive to shut them down, turning the food court into a battleground of popcorn bombs and guerrilla tactics.
• Production: “Final Cut”
  A rival studio’s Christmas blockbuster is set to debut in a heavily secured theater. The Guild stages a daring raid to steal the master copy of the film, hoping to expose its vapid content and humiliate its creators. The mission devolves into a firefight when corporate security corners the operatives mid-extraction.
• Principal VFX: “Shooting Star”
  Under the guise of promoting an indie holiday film festival, the Guild infiltrates a gala sponsored by Yuletide Dynamics. Their true goal: rigging the stage with pyrotechnics to destroy the advanced holiday drones on display, striking a blow against the faction’s growing influence.

History

The Gingerbread Trust began as a loose network of independent bakers and confectioners in the late 19th century, united by the common goal of resisting corporate monopolies in the growing holiday treat industry. Styled as a trade organization advocating for small businesses, the Trust initially provided legal and financial support to struggling bakers. However, behind the scenes, it began using intimidation, extortion, and sabotage to eliminate competition and consolidate power.

By the mid-20th century, the Gingerbread Trust had evolved into something far darker: a clandestine criminal empire operating under the guise of a benevolent trade group. Publicly, it continues to champion traditional holiday craftsmanship and “family values,” but beneath this wholesome image lies a vast network of operatives who ensure the Trust’s dominance in the holiday market by any means necessary.

Structure

The Gingerbread Trust operates as a syndicate of semi-autonomous “families” or “cliques,” each controlling a specific region or segment of the holiday trade. While the families appear to be loosely affiliated, they answer to the Gingerbread Council, an elusive group of shadowy figures believed to consist of the heads of the most powerful factions within the Trust.

Key layers of the organization include:

• The Bakers’ Union: The public face of the Trust, this organization lobbies governments, negotiates with suppliers, and runs charity drives to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
• The Biscuitmen: Elite enforcers and saboteurs, these operatives carry out the Trust’s more “direct” actions, from intimidation to outright assassination.
• Spice Barons: The Trust controls the black-market trade in rare holiday ingredients, such as saffron, cinnamon, and other spices critical to festive treats. These barons operate in the shadows, ensuring competitors can’t access the resources they need.
• Gingerbread Guilds: Smaller regional factions that produce the Trust’s holiday goods. While outwardly independent, these guilds pay tribute to the Council and adhere to their strict codes.

Tactics

The Gingerbread Trust thrives on secrecy, preferring to eliminate threats quietly and decisively while maintaining its wholesome reputation. Their methods are highly organized and deeply manipulative:

• Controlled Scarcity: The Trust manipulates ingredient supplies to cripple rivals, often hoarding critical resources like sugar or flour in underground warehouses.
• Whisper Campaigns: Through planted rumors and covert smear campaigns, the Trust discredits competitors without revealing their own involvement.
• Holiday Sabotage: Operatives have been known to infiltrate rival operations, ruining production lines, tampering with products, or creating “accidents” during peak holiday seasons.
• Charity Shield: Any investigation into the Trust is deflected by their highly publicized charitable works, which range from food drives to sponsoring Christmas parades.

Philosophy

The Gingerbread Trust claims to be the protector of holiday traditions, insisting their work ensures the survival of festive craftsmanship in an increasingly soulless corporate world. However, this rhetoric masks a deeply cynical and self-serving ethos. The Trust believes the holiday market belongs to them by right, and they see rivals, governments, and even the public as pawns to be manipulated.

While the Trust’s upper echelons are pragmatic and calculating, the rank-and-file operatives often view themselves as part of a grand crusade, ensuring the “true spirit of Christmas” survives—even if that means enforcing it at gunpoint.

• Operation Sugar Cane Siege
  In a desperate bid to control a major sugar plantation in a South American country, the Gingerbread Trust deployed mercenary forces to lay siege to the plantation after its owners refused to sell. Local workers were armed by the plantation owners, leading to an intense standoff. The Trust’s Biscuitmen, supported by hired gunmen, used guerrilla tactics to sabotage supply lines, poison water reserves, and terrorize the surrounding region until the defenders surrendered. The battlefield was littered with burned cane fields, booby-trapped warehouses, and desperate, last-stand firefights in the shadow of refining facilities.
• Operation Silent Night
  A holiday market in Eastern Europe promoting “sugar-free Christmas treats” became the target of a violent covert operation by the Trust. Disguised as a spontaneous gang uprising, a group of armed thugs—secretly backed by the Trust—stormed the market. Their objective was to destroy sugar-free competitors, sow chaos, and send a message to any other businesses considering similar ventures. What started as a riot escalated into a deadly street battle when local security forces intervened. Trust operatives, embedded among the rioters, directed the chaos and eliminated key figures to ensure the operation’s success.
• Operation Sweet Reprisal
  After a rival studio began producing a holiday-themed blockbuster with a subplot mocking traditional confections, the Trust orchestrated a brutal act of retaliation. A highly-trained Biscuitman squad was sent to sabotage the film’s set, located in a small Midwestern town. Portraying themselves as militarized Sovereign Citizens, armed with automatic weapons and explosives, the operatives engaged in a calculated assault to destroy equipment, eliminate studio guards, and threaten the production team into abandoning the project. The operation devolved into a firefight with local law enforcement, leaving the town scarred by the Trust’s ruthless insistence on controlling the holiday narrative.
• Operation Gingerbread Firewall
  When an insurgent faction of sugar smugglers in Southeast Asia attempted to break free of the Trust’s control, the Council authorized a full-scale reprisal. Using proxy street gangs armed with Trust-provided weapons, they launched a brutal campaign to reclaim the region. Battles raged through industrial zones and coastal warehouses as the Trust’s operatives sabotaged supply lines, fought off heavily armed smugglers, and secured vital shipments. The operation culminated in an all-out assault on a fortified sugar refinery, where the Trust’s hired forces stormed the complex under heavy fire, claiming victory at a steep cost.

History

NorthStar Media began as a modest film studio in the early 20th century, producing seasonal holiday shorts and low-budget animated features. By the 1950s, their star rose with the release of The Snowbound Miracle, a groundbreaking film that became the gold standard for Christmas cinema. NorthStar leveraged this success into an empire, acquiring smaller studios and branching out into merchandising, music production, and even publishing. By the turn of the millennium, they had absorbed half a dozen rival companies and positioned themselves as the undisputed leader in holiday-themed entertainment.

The 21st century saw NorthStar become a pioneer in crafting the Total Holiday Experience. They dominate not just films but also holiday music charts, Christmas toy production, and theme park spectacles. Their vast media reach allows them to dictate the narrative of what Christmas should be, ensuring their branded vision becomes synonymous with the holiday itself. Critics accuse them of monopolizing the holiday spirit, but NorthStar dismisses such claims, instead branding themselves as “the Guardians of Christmas Joy.”

Structure

NorthStar Media is a sprawling megacorporation divided into three primary divisions:

• Film & Entertainment Division: The heart of NorthStar, this branch handles blockbuster holiday movie production, TV specials, and animated features. They churn out dozens of titles every year, ensuring constant saturation of the market.
• Merchandising & Licensing Division: Responsible for every NorthStar-branded product, from collectible ornaments to Christmas pajamas. This division also oversees partnerships with major retailers, securing exclusive deals to flood stores with their goods.
• Public Relations & Cultural Affairs Division: The real power behind NorthStar’s throne, this division manipulates public perception, crafts viral marketing campaigns, and quashes dissent. They are also responsible for “holiday outreach programs,” which are thinly veiled propaganda efforts aimed at ensuring NorthStar’s dominance in the public eye.

The corporation’s executive board, known as The Twelve Stars, wields total control over strategy and direction. Each “Star” oversees some aspect of the company’s operations, and their internal politics are as cutthroat as the external competition.

Tactics

NorthStar’s tactics are a seamless blend of corporate ruthlessness and covert operations.

• Media Supremacy: NorthStar dominates the airwaves and internet, ensuring their holiday-themed content outshines and overshadows competitors. Rival releases are buried under marketing onslaughts, and critics who resist are blacklisted.
• Propaganda Warfare: Through carefully curated campaigns, NorthStar manipulates public opinion to portray themselves as the saviors of Christmas. They frame competitors as threats to tradition and ensure their brand becomes synonymous with the holiday.
• Mercenary Forces: Beneath the glossy image, NorthStar employs professional operatives to carry out more direct forms of competition. From sabotaging rival studios’ sets to intimidating dissident creators, their mercenaries are skilled, discrete, and deadly.
• Economic Strangleholds: NorthStar uses its immense resources to undercut competitors, drive them into bankruptcy, and absorb their assets. Entire production companies have vanished after failing to withstand NorthStar’s financial might.

Philosophy

To NorthStar, Christmas is more than a holiday—it’s an institution, and they are its rightful stewards. They believe their vision of Christmas as a cheerful, commercialized spectacle is the only valid one. Anything that threatens this vision is seen as heretical, and NorthStar will go to any lengths to protect their monopoly over the holiday spirit.

Operation Silent Slopes: The Reluctant Eastern European Town

When NorthStar Media chose the picturesque town of Krenshova as the backdrop for their holiday blockbuster The Spirit of Snow, the townsfolk resisted. Krenshova’s mayor and council were adamant about preserving their traditions and refused to grant filming permits. NorthStar deployed a team from their Public Relations & Cultural Affairs Division, backed by a mercenary unit disguised as private contractors.

• Tactics Used:
  • Economic Leverage: NorthStar offered lucrative “renovation grants” to local businesses, subtly creating a divide between the mayor and opportunistic residents.
  • Blackmail: Operatives unearthed incriminating evidence on key council members, forcing their compliance.
  • Covert Sabotage: When negotiations faltered, NorthStar agents orchestrated accidents that disrupted local utilities, forcing the mayor to step aside under public pressure.

By the time filming began, Krenshova was fully under NorthStar’s control. The film’s release earned billions, while the town’s resistance became an urban legend buried by a flood of propaganda.

Operation Tinsel Shadow: The Elliot Steele Scandal

Rival studio Candlelight Pictures posed a growing threat to NorthStar’s box office dominance. Their rising star, Elliot Steele, had an untarnished public image, making him the face of their holiday content. To eliminate this threat, NorthStar launched a covert operation to gather damaging kompromat on Steele.

• Tactics Used:
  • Honeytrap Operations: A NorthStar operative infiltrated Steele’s inner circle, posing as a trusted confidant.
  • Digital Espionage: Hackers from NorthStar’s Intelligence Division accessed Steele’s personal devices, uncovering salacious private correspondence and financial irregularities.
  • Controlled Leak: Rather than release the material outright, NorthStar subtly spread rumors, sowing doubt about Steele’s integrity.

The result was devastating. Steele’s reputation crumbled under relentless media scrutiny, and Candlelight Pictures was forced to shelve two major productions. NorthStar emerged unscathed, their media empire stronger than ever.

Operation Candy Cane Crush: Riot Suppression in Factory 46

At Factory 46, one of NorthStar’s sweatshops in Southeast Asia, intolerable working conditions sparked a workers’ riot. The factory produced limited-edition ornaments tied to an upcoming blockbuster, and a delay threatened millions in merchandise sales. NorthStar responded swiftly and brutally.

• Tactics Used:
  • Strikebreaking Mercenaries: NorthStar deployed private security contractors equipped with riot suppression gear to regain control of the facility.
  • Psy-Ops Campaign: Messages were broadcast across the factory floor, portraying the rioters as saboteurs intent on destroying the workers’ livelihoods.
  • Token Concessions: Once the riot was quelled, NorthStar announced minor wage increases and improved break policies to placate the international media.

Though the factory resumed operations within 48 hours, several workers “disappeared” during the incident. NorthStar’s PR Division spun the event as a “tragic misunderstanding” caused by “third-party agitators,” ensuring no significant fallout.

Beneath the glittering facade of holiday cheer lies a battlefield where studios, political factions, and corporate conglomerates wage a cutthroat war for dominance. Every candy cane is a dagger in disguise, every jingle hides a coded threat, and every smiling Santa masks a shadowy agenda.

The Christmas spirit isn’t just a warm feeling—it’s a weaponized commodity. Studios vie for box office dominance, political factions scheme to reshape holiday traditions, and rogue freelancers risk it all to challenge the system.

Will you uphold the illusion of festive joy or tear it all down?

The world of Tinsel & Treachery is a dystopia where Christmas has become the ultimate global industry. Forget heartwarming tales of family and generosity—this is a world where holiday cheer is sold by the megacorporation and enforced by mercenaries in Santa hats. The sprawling Christmas Movie Industrial Complex (CMIC) governs all aspects of holiday production, from movies and music to gift distribution and decoration manufacturing. This is no longer about spreading joy—it’s about control, profit, and power.

A Holiday Empire Built on Blood and Glitter

At the heart of the CMIC are the Studios, monolithic corporations that churn out endless Christmas content for every market demographic. Their sprawling empires are fueled by sweatshops staffed with overworked laborers, forest-stripping operations for the perfect trees, and ruthless marketing campaigns that leave no room for competing visions of the holiday. Beneath their polished public image lie cutthroat executives, covert operatives, and merciless enforcers who stop at nothing to maintain their dominance.

Beyond the studios, shadowy political interest groups and underground factions fight for their own vision of the holiday season. Some seek to preserve Christmas traditions at any cost, while others aim to burn the entire system to the ground. From eco-terrorists sabotaging fake snow factories to sugar cartels waging covert wars over candy cane distribution, every faction has its agenda—and they all collide in a storm of Tinsel and Treachery.

It’s a world where the stakes are high, and the snow is always red.

Key Features of the Setting

1. Corporate Warfare
   Christmas is big business, and the studios don’t play nice. From NorthStar Media Conglomerate’s propaganda machine to Yuletide Dynamics’ weaponized snow drones, these corporations fight dirty to secure their market share. Espionage, sabotage, and hostile takeovers are just another day at the office.
2. The Moral Frontlines
   Groups like The Tinsel Committee push for a sanitized, “wholesome” version of Christmas, while anarchist factions like The Humbug Underground reject the holiday altogether. The battle isn’t just about money—it’s about controlling the narrative of what Christmas should be.
3. Weaponized Holiday Cheer
   The factions battle not just with guns and mercenaries but also with symbols, slogans, and cinematic spectacles. Films and ads become tools of ideological warfare, shaping public opinion and rallying support for their vision of Christmas. From viral marketing campaigns to cultural boycotts, the fight over holiday traditions is as much about controlling hearts and minds as it is about controlling territory.
4. A World on the Brink
   The commercialization of Christmas has consumed everything. Forests are razed for Christmas tree farms, factories churn out endless supplies of plastic holiday junk, and the labor force—whether retailers, freelancers, or underpaid seasonal workers—is at a breaking point. Beneath the tinsel-covered surface, revolution is brewing.