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.
Great web site. Plenty of useful info here.
I’m sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you to your sweat!
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also go to
see this weblog on regular basis to obtain updated from latest reports.
Right away I am going away to do my breakfast, once having my breakfast
coming over again to read further news.
hello!,I really like your writing so a lot! share
we communicate more about your post on AOL?
I need a specialist in this space to solve my problem.
Maybe that’s you! Taking a look ahead to see you.
Its like you read my thoughts! You appear to know a lot approximately this,
such as you wrote the e-book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some p.c. to force the message house a little bit, however other than that,
that is excellent blog. An excellent read.
I’ll definitely be back.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded
this onto a co-worker who has been doing a little homework on this.
And he in fact ordered me dinner because I found it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah,
thanx for spending time to discuss this issue here on your internet site.
What’s up Dear, are you actually visiting this site regularly, if so after that you
will absolutely obtain pleasant know-how.
Terrific work! That is the type of information that are meant to
be shared across the net. Disgrace on the search engines for
not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and discuss with my website .
Thank you =)
Hey there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog
and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
Wow, incredible blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is great, as well as the content!
Great items from you, man. I’ve have in mind your stuff prior to and you’re
simply too wonderful. I actually like what you have bought right here, really like what you’re stating and the way through which you are saying it.
You make it entertaining and you continue to take
care of to keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you.
That is actually a terrific site.
Its not my first time to pay a visit this web site, i am browsing this website dailly and take
nice data from here all the time.
I visited multiple websites but the audio feature for audio songs
existing at this web page is actually superb.
Keep on writing, great job!
Thank you for another informative site. Where else may I am getting that type of information written in such an ideal method?
I have a challenge that I’m just now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info.
If you want to obtain a great deal from this paragraph then you
have to apply such strategies to your won webpage.
Hello there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted
to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading through your articles.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that
cover the same subjects? Thank you so much!
Every weekend i used to go to see this web page, for the reason that
i want enjoyment, for the reason that this this web page conations genuinely good funny data too.
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site.
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!
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your
blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Awesome things here. I’m very satisfied to look your post.
Thank you a lot and I am having a look ahead to
contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
Howdy! I simply wish to give you a big thumbs up for your excellent info you have got right here on this post.
I’ll be coming back to your blog for more soon.
Very nice article, just what I was looking for.
Good day I am so grateful I found your webpage, I really found you by accident, while I
was looking on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like
to say thanks for a fantastic post and a all
round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it
all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds,
so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the
fantastic b.
Greetings! Very useful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes which will make the greatest changes.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Hiya! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d
figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging
links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa?
My website discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by
the way!
You’re so interesting! I do not believe I’ve truly read a single thing like this before.
So wonderful to find someone with some unique thoughts
on this topic. Really.. thanks for starting this up.
This site is something that is required on the internet, someone
with a little originality!
Wonderful, what a webpage it is! This web site provides valuable
data to us, keep it up.
I really like reading through an article that will make people think.
Also, thank you for permitting me to comment!
hello!,I like your writing so so much! proportion we communicate
more about your article on AOL? I need an expert in this house to solve my problem.
May be that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
Hello There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. That is an extremely well written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thank you for
the post. I will definitely return.
Howdy! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to
all your posts! Carry on the outstanding work!
Greetings! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe
guest writing a blog article or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of
the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly
benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It will always be interesting to read through content from
other writers and use something from other sites.
Wow, this post is pleasant, my sister is analyzing
such things, so I am going to let know her.
I like what you guys are usually up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve added you guys to my
personal blogroll.
Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with
hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended
up losing many months of hard work due to no
backup. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this web site regularly, this site is really good and the visitors are really
sharing fastidious thoughts.
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful websites on the internet.
I will highly recommend this web site!
Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I
know my subscribers would enjoy your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it
is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels.
I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious knowledge regarding unpredicted
feelings.
Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks
I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity,
Guess I will just book mark this page.
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or
copyright infringement? My site has a lot of completely
unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my authorization. Do
you know any solutions to help protect against content from being stolen? I’d definitely appreciate it.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. 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 completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
At this time I am ready to do my breakfast,
after having my breakfast coming over again to read more news.
Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You
have done a wonderful job!
Thank you for the good writeup. It in truth was a leisure account it.
Glance complex to far introduced agreeable from you! However, how can we
communicate?
Hello there, I found your web site via Google while
searching for a comparable matter, your website came up, it looks good.
I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, simply become aware of your blog via Google, and located that it
is really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels.
I will be grateful for those who proceed this in future.
Lots of other folks will likely be benefited from
your writing. Cheers!
If some one wishes expert view regarding blogging and site-building after that i advise
him/her to pay a quick visit this blog, Keep up the good job.