I was toying with this idea. Christmas "villains" used to keep children in line by scaring them, throughout different folklore, made into a Christmas DnD adventure.
The villagers hire the party, because a number of their children have gone missing. These were the naughtiest of children from the village, but still (obviously) loved by their parents. The distraught parents and villagers worried their children might be next have hired the party to find and return their children, before Christmas morning.
So Krampus is the end boss, but you can have Frau Perchta skinned into a hag/witch of some variety. Gryla, who kidnaps naughty children and cooks them in a stew is described as a "huge ogre," maybe a annis hag for stats with a few other nasty surprises? The Yule lads who are her children, are mischievous pranksters, would factor in. Jólakötturinn or the Yule Cat could be with Gryla or a separate encounter. Hans Trapp (who is cannibal) I would make into a ghast with multiple ghouls with him.
I think this is coming together! If I do this, I will make it into a pdf for all to use as a basic outline of an adventure or one shot! What are your thoughts? These are the articles that triggered my thoughts/concepts.
How about some Christmas themed magic items, likely of temporary nature and limited in quantity, so as to not effect your regular game much.
+2 Candy Cane of Smiting- has three or four charges and when you hit, you can choose to add in a d8 of radiant damage.
Christmas cookies- give various minor buffs and pluses for one hour. Differ the colors and varieties of the cookies, but have a chart of what's what. Green Christmas tree cookie gives a concentration free bless spell. Red Santa hat gives a temp +2 to Dex for one hour (only one cookie effect can apply at any given time). That sort of thing. Just because the DM giveth and taketh away, I would have a larger variety of cookies, so if they ate too many (say 6 or so), it would give them an overfull one level of exhaustion! lol
Santa Suit- clothing i.e. anybody can wear, AC 18 + DEX, able to squeeze in spaces one size smaller than you normally would be able to do, resistant to cold damage. The suit magically assumes the proportions of whomever attempts to wear it (humanoid physique). So it fits a goblin and a goliath equally well!
I would make the items only work on the night of December 24th i.e. only good for the one shot adventure, if you are allowing an existing party to play or it doesn't matter if it's a true one shot party.
Another thought, Rime of the Frostmaiden has an "awakened shrub," you re-skin that into a 4 ft tall "awakened" Christmas tree. It's a walking sentient small Christmas tree, that is missing its star on top. That star can be a magic item, crucial to the final fight with Krampus! Withing that 30 ft area, it gives off a light that pierces the dark of Krampus and gives 1d6 temporary hit points or healing, every turn to all friendly creatures, as you wish. Krampus is only vulnerable within the light of Christmas!
Krampus can't truly be killed, but will arise again next Christmas season! He's a part of the "spirit of Christmas" and that magic can't be undone or ever truly killed.
If you are not running this as a true One Shot, but taking an existing party into the Halls of Krampus, you allow the party members who succeed a gold reward or whatever was agreed upon. On Christmas morning, the party finds out that Santa has left an extra magic item for them in their stocking that the DM picks. This item will be allowed for them to take into their general campaign. I would suggest something useful, but clearly not OP. I would pick and choose something that would benefit each character. Santa is wise after all!
I was trying to think of what DnD monster Krampus would be closest too? Frau Perchta, who is a witch in Christmas lore, is easy as a hag of some sort, perhaps a bheur hag. But Krampus? What is the comp?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I was toying with this idea. Christmas "villains" used to keep children in line by scaring them, throughout different folklore, made into a Christmas DnD adventure.
The seven most terrifying Christmas traditions around the world | Christmas | The Guardian
FB post on the Yule Cat, Jólakötturinn. It's a video, so best with speakers and some may not have Facebook.
Facebook
I would make the items only work on the night of December 24th i.e. only good for the one shot adventure, if you are allowing an existing party to play or it doesn't matter if it's a true one shot party.
Awakened Shrub - Monsters - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
If you are not running this as a true One Shot, but taking an existing party into the Halls of Krampus, you allow the party members who succeed a gold reward or whatever was agreed upon. On Christmas morning, the party finds out that Santa has left an extra magic item for them in their stocking that the DM picks. This item will be allowed for them to take into their general campaign. I would suggest something useful, but clearly not OP. I would pick and choose something that would benefit each character. Santa is wise after all!
What do you think? Like the concept?
Krampus absolutely must have a bag of child devouring.
I was trying to think of what DnD monster Krampus would be closest too? Frau Perchta, who is a witch in Christmas lore, is easy as a hag of some sort, perhaps a bheur hag. But Krampus? What is the comp?