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.
Wonderful work! That is the type of info that are supposed to be shared around the net.
Disgrace on the seek engines for no longer positioning this submit upper!
Come on over and consult with my web site . Thanks =)
Its such as you read my mind! You seem to understand a lot about this,
like you wrote the guide in it or something. I
think that you simply can do with some percent to
power the message house a bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog.
An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple
iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog
and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the great work!
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of
this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of
times it’s very hard to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal.
I must say that you’ve done a excellent job with this.
In addition, the blog loads super quick for me on Safari. Excellent Blog!
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am quite sure I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
Amazing things here. I’m very happy to look your article.
Thank you a lot and I’m looking forward to touch you.
Will you kindly drop me a mail?
I’m really 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 designer to create your theme?
Exceptional work!
Thanks to my father who shared with me regarding this website, this web site is truly remarkable.
Hi Dear, are you truly visiting this website daily, if so afterward you will without
doubt get nice knowledge.
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or
did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really
make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got
your design. Thanks a lot
Keep this going please, great job!
If some one desires expert view on the topic of running a blog after that i suggest him/her
to visit this webpage, Keep up the nice work.
Have you ever thought about including a little bit
more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all.
Nevertheless imagine if you added some great photos or video
clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this website could undeniably be one of the very best in its field.
Great blog!
Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell
and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put
the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it
pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I
had to tell someone!
It’s hard to come by experienced people in this particular subject,
but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.
I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will
often come back in the future. I want to encourage yourself
to continue your great work, have a nice day!
Howdy! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are
you using for this site? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform.
I would be great if you could point me in the direction of
a good platform.
Hello, i believe that i noticed you visited my site thus i
came to go back the choose?.I am trying to find things to enhance my web site!I assume its ok to use a few of your
ideas!!
I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i am glad reading your article.
But want to remark on some general things, The web site style is wonderful, the
articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
Awesome! Its really awesome paragraph, I have got much clear idea concerning from this paragraph.
This info is priceless. How can I find out more?
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or working
out more. Thank you for magnificent information I was searching for this info for my mission.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz answer back as I’m looking to construct my own blog and would like to find out where
u got this from. thanks
Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your next write ups thank you once again.
I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but
good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
continuously i used to read smaller articles or reviews which
as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which I am reading
at this time.
Quality posts is the important to invite the viewers
to visit the web page, that’s what this website is providing.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the page
layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful
lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures. Maybe you
could space it out better?
My partner and I stumbled over here coming from a different web address and thought I
might as well check things out. I like what I see so now
i’m following you. Look forward to exploring
your web page yet again.
We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what
I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content available for you?
I wouldn’t mind composing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write about here.
Again, awesome web site!
I used to be able to find good info from your blog posts.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post!
It is the little changes which will make the most important changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Wow, that’s what I was looking for, what a stuff! existing here
at this weblog, thanks admin of this web page.
Remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your post.
Thank you a lot and I’m taking a look ahead to touch you.
Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Excellent, what a web site it is! This weblog provides
useful data to us, keep it up.
I know this web page presents quality dependent posts and additional data, is there any other web page
which gives these kinds of stuff in quality?
For the reason that the admin of this web page
is working, no uncertainty very shortly it will be well-known, due to
its feature contents.
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting!
I definitely enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.
I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and definitely will come back later
in life. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great writing, have a
nice evening!
There is certainly a lot to know about this subject.
I love all the points you have made.
all the time i used to read smaller content that as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this article which I am reading here.
My brother suggested I may like this website.
He used to be totally right. This submit actually made my
day. You cann’t believe simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thank
you!
Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness in your post is just great and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission let me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
Wonderful website. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to a
few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks
in your sweat!
What’s up Dear, are you genuinely visiting this web
page daily, if so then you will without doubt take nice know-how.
I know this web site offers quality based articles or reviews and other material, is there any other site which offers these kinds of stuff in quality?
What’s up to every one, it’s truly a good for me to go to see this site, it contains valuable Information.
Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts
and I will be waiting for your further post thank you once again.
Thank you for sharing your info. I really appreciate your
efforts and I will be waiting for your next write ups thanks once
again.
I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or weblog posts
in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website.
Reading this info So i’m glad to show that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon just
what I needed. I most definitely will make certain to don?t
put out of your mind this web site and give it a glance regularly.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now
each time a comment is added I get several emails with
the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Bless you!