Seasonal Greetings

Mayhem in the Toy Factory

No one in town has seen Kris, the owner of the local toy shop, for days. 

Kris Knich is a long vaunted legend of a kindly old man who, once a year, delivers gifts to the less fortunate in town. But this year the rounds may not be made. 

Father Thomas and a number of citizens in town are concerned and ask the Team Pilates to investigate Kris’ disappearance.

When they approach the toy shop and factory, the party hears activity on the main factory floor. Three doors provide entrance to the building.

The team split up and charge through the different doors surprising those inside.

The gnomes working on toys suddenly hide under the tables.

Three cluttered tables, filled with toys in various states of completion, fill the room. The team notice some movement beneath one or more of the tables.

Enforcers come out to meet the team, and the team battle them, as they get close to one of the tables a gnome rushes out and stabs them, then rushes back under the table.

As the fight progresses “Mad” Makaylah hears the sounds of battle and appears atop the platform in the back of the room.

“You fools! You dare to attack the famous Makaylah? Prepare to die.”

Big battle ensures with the team getting hit quite hard.

In the aftermath the find out that the gnomes feel compelled to fight the party. Makaylah threatened them that she will kill Kris if they don’t follow her orders.

She provided valuable assistance to the town, getting rid of rats and other pests for quite a few years. No one quite knew how she did it. Then one day, rumor spread through town that Makaylah called the rats so she could be paid to remove them. Everyone refused to pay her and she soon ran out of money. To get her revenge, she kidnapped Kris and forced his gnomes to create toys that play an entrancing melody.

On the next full moon, the toys will play their tune and leave the homes, bringing the children with them.

She points her staff at the chandelier overhead and it glows brightly Background Makaylah is quite mad. 

The team learns that Kris is not here and has been transported elsewhere to a more rural district.

Saving Kris Knicholus 

Krampus , has been been stalking this town. However, his power is directly tied to the emotions of the people surrounding him and the good cheer spread by Kris Knich simply won’t do. 

So Krampus sent his minions off to steal the old man away. 

So far they’ve kept him alive, but only because Krampus is considering crushing the hope of the people by having him publicly killed on the day that he would normally deliver his presents. But the minions are not too bright and were quite sloppy during the kidnapping and the trail is clear and easy to follow. 

The Team follow clear and obvious tracks in the snow from old Kris Knich’s home off to the north.

The tracks are clearly not human, however, they only have three toes and are both clawed and webbed.

The team trudge through the snow, cold wind on their faces and toes starting to go numb and Bondidio thinks this trail may take you clear out into the wilderness and then it takes a turn straight for Gurlag’s ranch.

Gurlag was known for being a crazy old man who trained stags to be mounts. He claimed that some of them even had magical properties.

Few people have ever actually met the old rancher, but it seems out of character for him to be involved in such a plot. 

As team Pilates get closer they determine that, in fact, he is not involved...he’s been killed and left frozen several yards from his cottage.

They investigate the stag pen, when No Know notices movement at the end of the pen. There seems to be a cellar of sorts and the door just closed all of a sudden, and he is certain that he saw light.

Upon climbing down those stairs team Pilates find themselves in a sort of underground barn that is situated below the pen and there across the way is old Knicholus himself, tied up and helpless. But between him and you are a pack of small, green and black skinned creatures that clearly aren’t happy to see you.

As the team progress into the barn, more and more Grinches appear from hiding.

As team Pilates are fighting the Grinches, Krampus flings the door open and enters the fight. Krampus fights his way towards the brace in the middle of the room and attacks the brace, seeking to destroy it , causing the ceiling to collapse.

After all the Grinches and Krampus have been vanquished by Team Pilates, the team find Kris in the corner tied up.