Sunday, December 5, 2021

Wyrd of the Week: Santa Claus

 With all the holiday craziness, I missed a week - sorry about that! But this time we've got an appearance by the big man of the season himself this time on Wyrd of the Week. I present you with Santa Claus for use in all your heroic holiday journeys!

Santa Claus (Unique Being)

Defense: 22

Endurance: 100

Reduction Value: 5

Attack Modifier: +7

Attacks: Santa’s Walking Stick (1d6+3)

Special: Enchanted Thievery, Gift from Santa, Holiday Hope, In Defense of Children, Little Helpers,

Master Craftsman, Naughty or Nice, Teleportation

Move: 5

Saving Throw: 3

Hope Rating: 12

He is known by many names. Dwarves call him Jólnir Langbarðr. The elves call him Daidí na Nollag. Halflings

call him Kringle. But humans, and most of the world, know him as Santa Claus. Whether he is a mortal wizard

of immense power, an unknowable fey creature, or a force of nature personified, none can say. Though legends

of his heroic deeds have been heard through all time and in all cultures, especially in regards to his compassion

towards and defense of children, many of the truths regarding him vary from culture to culture. 

There are several traits agreed upon by the many cultures and heritages of the world. Santa Claus appears as a

man with a snowy white beard and is known to be tall and broad - though sometimes to his consternation, he is

described as “fat.” Always clad in a great red winter coat that is trimmed in white fur, with a broad belt and black

boots, he strides the winter landscape with a merry twinkle in his green eyes. Strangely enough, his heritage

seems to vary depending on which culture is telling his story - always appearing as the same heritage telling the

tale. To humans he is human and to dwarves he is a dwarf. Elves see him as one of their own, as do halflings. In

the case of the latter, who do not traditionally grow facial hair, Santa appears to have a dashing van dyke when

among the elves and a pair of glorious mutton chops when among the halflings.

Santa has a myriad of magical abilities, only a few of which are described below. He is a master craftsman in all

forms and some dwarves say that he is actually Wayland the Smith in disguise. He can craft very nearly any work

of wood, metal, stone, or jewel without fail and do so in one-tenth of the time it would take a normal mortal. He

is also capable of teleporting to any location in the Mortal Realm at will, though he must always appear within

100’ of a child or in his own home - which is said to be somewhere in the vast north of the Mortal Realm and to

border Fairie. Santa is remarkably stealthy as well, in spite of being depicted as rotund and large in size. He has a

Thievery of 5, which he can use to avoid or disable even magical traps. He always rolls Thievery with Advantage.

Perhaps the greatest of his abilities is that if any mortal being meets his green-eyed gaze, he can instantly tell if

they are pure of heart or have chosen to serve the forces of darkness. This effect can only be avoided by the

target if they make a successful Resolve-based Attribute Saving Throw at Disadvantage.

Those who are seen to be pure of heart may receive a Gift from Santa. This Gift is always magical in nature. It is

an Heirloom with a Myth Point cost equal to the level of the one receiving the Gift. Thus a 4th level character

receiving a Gift from Santa receives an Heirloom worth 4 Myth Points. It is given freely and in good spirits by

Santa, but it can only be given once per year. 

In addition, all who are pure of heart that see Santa with their own eyes find their spirit lifted in even the darkest

times. Instead of having a Despair Rating, Santa has a Hope Rating. Anyone Santa has deemed as pure of heart

who sees him may make a Resolve-based Attribute Saving Throw with Advantage. Those that succeed gain a

pool of Hope Points equal to Santa’s Hope score. These points can be used to gain a bonus equal to the number

of points spent on any Despair Saving until the next Yule. 

Many grown adults in the Mortal Realm say they do not believe in Santa Claus. Unfortunately, anyone who has

made this claim can never receive a Gift from Santa or the benefit of his Holiday Hope unless they perform an act

of great heroism worthy of being called a Holiday Miracle in the service of Santa and all he believes. Also, he’d

very much appreciate an apology.

Santa almost never fights except in defense of children, of whom he is fiercely protective. He is surprisingly well-

armed, carrying a gnarled walking stick of remarkably strong pine that has been lacquered and polished. It is a

Balanced, Bane, Blessed, and Winter-Kissed Staff, with a Bane against anyone who has injured children or been

gazed upon by Santa and seen to not be pure of heart. When fighting in defense of children, Santa receives

Advantage on all initiative checks, attack rolls, damage rolls, and Saving Throws.

Finally, on very rare occasions, perhaps once in a century, Santa Claus needs help to save the holiday from the

myriad of strange beings who would see it destroyed. He may select a handful of heroes who he has seen to be

pure of heart and name them his Little Helpers. Little Helpers are able to use Thievery with the same level of

skill and ability as Santa himself, can teleport as he does, and receive all of the same benefits in combat as Santa

does himself. The benefits of being a Little Helper lasts for but a single night.

This strange gifter of gifts and protector of children is said to have countless other abilities that uncanny allies.

Whether they be great elk, enchanted to fly at speeds beyond mortal comprehension, or a cadre of elvish

craftsmen who aid him at the forge, or even a jolly little wife whose kindness and skill at the oven are beyond

even his own (the halflings in particular, favor this one), Santa Claus and his legend continue to bring hope and

joy to children and adults who still believe - even during the darkest and coldest of winters.


The Hero's Journey, Second Edition and all its supplements can be purchased at DriveThruRPG.com!

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