In 2002, I headed up and hosted an event called the 12 Games of Christmas. Every day, from December 13th to the 24th, I put up a short game-related bit done by myself or a game industry buddy for free. The offerings included a new magic school for John Tynes‘ and Greg Stolze‘s Unknown Armies, a riff on Clinton R. Nixon’s game Paladin, and even an original game, Amazing Monkey Adventures, by Jared A. Sorensen.
One of the things I cooked up was a take on the gift-giving fat man for use with the original Little Fears. As a present to Little Fears fans (old and new), I’ve decided to bring him back this holiday season. Enjoy this peek into Little Fears’ past and maybe give the Kringle-creature a home in your own tales.
Santa Claws
a merry old soul for Little Fears
He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice…
Pray you’re not on it.
The Truth (Story #1)
He knows when you are sleeping; he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, and he can get into your house without arousing suspicion. Do you really believe he’s just a jolly old elf who wants to spread holiday cheer? I don’t think so.
Santa Claws uses his global chimney route to kidnap children to work in his toy shop. Oh yes, he really is the one who gives toys to all the girls and boys but smart kids know better than to trust him farther than they can throw him. Santa can get into any house that has a chimney—and can temporarily install chimneys in homes that don’t. Thankfully, he can only do this at one time of the year: exactly one minute after midnight on December 25th.
The portion of children that Santa Claws can get is narrow because Santa can only grab those who believe in him. Parents unwittingly perpetuate the elf’s agenda by instilling belief of the fat man into every generation. However, other kids can still see the old elf—but they cannot be kidnapped. The longer the children stay there, the longer their ears get and the slighter their eyes get. After a few years, they’re indistinguishable from the native elves Santa has in his “employ.” Each year, Santa nabs about twenty brand new kids—enough to keep production going, but not enough to create a big stir around the rest of world.
The Truth (Story #2)
You see, the real Saint Nick has been stuffed away at the back of his toy factory and his whole production has been taken over by an evil doppelganger masquerading as Santa Claus. No one knows how long this has been going on (it’s up the GM to determine if this is a one-time deal a la The Nightmare Before Christmas or whether Claws has been perverting the holiday for years). But the North Pole has become a sad, dark place since Santa Claws took over. There’s no whistling and no singing, just the constant droning
hum of the Cookie Machine.
What the kids will need to do is get to the North Pole (through Santa Claws’ bag), find the real Santa, and free him. Once there, they’ll see that all the happy elves who used to spend their time making toys are working the Great Cookie Machine. Of course, the wicked Santa is bound to find out that some children are meddling with his plan to keep his cookie craving fed, and he’s not about to take it lying down. Once free, Santa will turn Claws into a harmless puppy and give it to one of the children as a Christmas
gift. Then, after a quick ride in his sleigh, Santa will return the children home and right all the wrongs that Claws has left in his wake.
Being Santa Claws
You’re happy, you’re jolly, and you have a great big belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly. You have a beguiling twinkle in your eye and your cheerful “Ho-ho-ho’s” can make anyone your friend, but you need kids to keep the Great Cookie Machine going and your sugar-craving satisfied.
Santa Claws looks like a mix between a werewolf and Kris Kringle. He wears a tattered Santa suit and has long hairy forearms that end in glistening talons. He has the eye of a falcon, and a low rumbling voice that sounds like a cat screeching at a train wreck.
Santa Claws cannot resist milk and cookies. In fact, he goes absolutely berserk around them; stuffing the cookies into his maw—crumbs be damned!—and glugging down whole glasses full of milk in a single swallow. Santa always has his bag strapped to his back. While at first look, it will appear to be a simple red sack chock full of brightly wrapped packages, it holds a more devious secret. If a child can manage to get into Santa’s bag they’ll realize it leads directly into his workshop.
Santa Claws can pretend to look just like the real Saint Nick for a short period of time. Under this guise, all kids attempting to hurt him are at -1 die. Thankfully, this doesn’t last long.
Using Santa Claws
Santa Claws is best suited for the Dark Faery Tale vein of storytelling. He swaps toys for children then sweeps back to his icebrick
castle atop the North Pole. Once there, he puts his captives to work at the Great Cookie Machine. Every hour of every day, the Great Cookie Machine keeps pumping out a wide variety of cookies: chocolate chip, gingerbread, frosted sugar. Without children to work this machine, Santa Claws’ wicked craving for cookies won’t be satisfied.
Text is Copyright 2002 Jason L Blair. All rights reserved.
This site certainly has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I was suggested this website by means of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether or not this submit is written through him
as nobody else understand such distinctive approximately
my trouble. You are wonderful! Thanks!
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more
pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Fantastic work!
Hi all, here every one is sharing these know-how, thus it’s
pleasant to read this website, and I used to visit this blog
daily.
Good day I am so delighted I found your blog page,
I really found you by error, while I was looking on Google for something
else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like
to say thanks a lot for a fantastic post and a all round entertaining blog (I
also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it
all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added your
RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the great job.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but
your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and
bookmark your website to come back in the future.
Cheers
Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger,
and I was curious about your situation; we have developed
some nice practices and we are looking to trade solutions with others,
please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of
my previous roommate! He continually kept talking about this.
I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have
a great read. Thanks for sharing!
Fabulous, what a blog it is! This webpage gives valuable information to us, keep it up.
Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing the other person’s weblog link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do similar in support of
you.
Amazing! Its truly amazing article, I have got much clear
idea about from this post.
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to
write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo
subject but usually people do not speak about such topics.
To the next! Kind regards!!
It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly
donate to this excellent blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding
your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to
fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
I go to see everyday a few sites and blogs to read content, but this webpage presents quality based posts.
Fabulous, what a website it is! This webpage provides valuable facts to us, keep it up.
Wow! At last I got a web site from where I can really take useful data regarding my study and knowledge.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “return the favor”.I
am trying to find things to enhance my site!I suppose
its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it
can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be
a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views.
I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
It’s in fact very difficult in this busy life to listen news on Television, so I simply
use internet for that reason, and obtain the most recent information.
Hello colleagues, how is everything, and what you desire to
say about this paragraph, in my view its genuinely amazing in favor of
me.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something
that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad
for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
It’s hard to come by well-informed people for this topic,
but you seem like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Hi, for all time i used to check blog posts here in the
early hours in the dawn, because i enjoy to gain knowledge of more and more.
Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your further
post thank you once again.
I love it when folks get together and share thoughts.
Great website, keep it up!
Hi there, I enjoy reading all of your article. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate
you writing this post and also the rest of the website is
really good.
Wow, incredible blog format! How long have you been running
a blog for? you made blogging glance easy.
The whole glance of your website is magnificent, let alone the content material!
I blog often and I genuinely thank you for your content.
This article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your blog and keep
checking for new information about once per
week. I subscribed to your RSS feed as well.
Now I am going away to do my breakfast, later than having my breakfast coming over again to read additional news.
Just want to say your article is as surprising.
The clarity to your publish is just spectacular and that i could think you’re a professional
in this subject. Fine along with your permission allow me to grasp your
feed to stay updated with coming near near post. Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things
out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start.
Do you have any points or suggestions? Cheers
What i don’t realize is in reality how you’re no longer really much more smartly-favored than you might be
right now. You’re very intelligent. You already know therefore significantly when it comes to this matter,
produced me personally consider it from numerous various angles.
Its like men and women aren’t interested except it’s one thing to accomplish with Woman gaga!
Your own stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!
Wow, wonderful blog format! How lengthy have you ever
been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The full glance of your website is
great, as well as the content material!
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue with your site in internet explorer,
would check this? IE still is the market leader and a large component of people will omit your wonderful writing due to this problem.
Hi there mates, how is the whole thing, and what you wish
for to say regarding this paragraph, in my view its genuinely remarkable in support of me.
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Spending some time and actual effort
to produce a great article… but what can I say… I
procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get anything done.
Hi there, every time i used to check blog posts here early in the break of day, since i enjoy to gain knowledge of more and more.
I seriously love your site.. Great colors & theme.
Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m
planning to create my own website and want to find out where you
got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Appreciate it!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an incredibly
long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out.
Please let me know where you got your design. Kudos
I think the admin of this site is actually working
hard in support of his web site, for the reason that here every information is quality based material.
Good article! We will be linking to this particularly great post
on our website. Keep up the great writing.
Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told was a enjoyment account it.
Look complex to far brought agreeable from you! By the way, how could we keep
in touch?
I know this web page gives quality based posts and other material, is there any other website
which gives these kinds of stuff in quality?
Wow! In the end I got a blog from where I can actually get helpful facts concerning my study and knowledge.
Hello colleagues, its great paragraph concerning cultureand
entirely explained, keep it up all the time.
I delight in, result in I found just what I
was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt!
God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
I read this post completely about the resemblance of latest and previous technologies, it’s remarkable
article.
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
I’m experiencing some small security issues with my latest site
and I would like to find something more risk-free.
Do you have any suggestions?