Santac’Laus is Coming to Town

A Christmas Adventure For Four 8th Level Characters

By Dan Williams

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Summary
As long as anyone in the sleepy halfling village of Flodur
can remember, Christmas has been a time of terror. Every
year on Christmas Eve, the deranged mindflayer
Santac'Laus rides from his mountain lair, on a sleigh pulled
by a team of terrible eye monsters, to eat children's brains
and implant illithid tadpoles in the villagers.
Can the party put a stop to Santac'Laus' yearly visits?
What strange and terrible secrets will they find in his lair?
And why does he have a giant mech statue of himself?
Using this adventure
This adventure is shamelessly and unapologetically
ridiculous. It is designed for a party of four 8th level
adventurers, but could easily be handwaved to cater for
virtually any level - balance has taken a very firm second
place behind fun. If your players are looking like they're
struggling, throw them some favours. It is Christmas, after
all!
This adventure can used for a single stand-alone session,
or as part of a wider campaign. Flodur is small enough that
it is unlikely to be marked on any maps, so it can be slotted
in anywhere (or just teleport the party to a mysterious
pocket plane).
Scene 1: A Village Named
Flodur
The adventure begins as the party find themselves on a
snow-covered road, leading to the small halfling village of
Flodur. A dark mountain looms over Flodur, a snowy pine
forest on its lower slopes.
Dusk is falling as the party enter the village. A light
snowfall drifts across thatched roofs and cobbled paths.
The halfling villager are putting the finishing touches on
their Christmas decorations. Houses are decked out with
lights; a large tree stands in the middle of the village,
covered with arcane lamps, baubles and an enormous
glowing star. Logar Clodbottle, the village mayor, is
overseeing the decorating.
The village looks beautiful, but the mood is strangely
glum. The villagers appear tense and preoccupied, gazing
fearfully at the sky and toward the foreboding mountain.
They don't talk much, but periodically mutter comments
like "I hope they work this year."
As the party approach, Callie Gladbutton rushes past
with her young son, Teddy Gladbutton. The party can
overhear her telling him they "must get inside before it gets
dark." If the party attempt to engage her in conversation,
she will make every effort to hurry away from them. Teddy
is throwing snowballs containing rocks at people and
windows, and earns himself a scolding: "You know what
happens to naughty children!"
You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santac’Laus is coming to town
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An elderly male halfling, Gar Wrinkletoe, sits on a bench,
watching the preparations. He will grumpily explain what's
going on (see Santac'Laus: The Legend). If the party don't
approach him, he will instigate conversation: "Don't get
many strangers in these parts."
Gar plans to stay out for the night, as he does every year,
to watch the night with a bottle of Elsie Truffleslinger's
cranberry wine. Gar is old enough that he isn't worried
about Santac'Laus attacking him. He's also not keen on
children and has convinced himself that the annual visits
from Santac'Laus keep the village quiet and the children
under control. He'll point the party to The Holly and Ivy.
Santac'Laus: The Legend
Every year on Christmas Eve, the monster Santac'laus takes
to the sky, pulled by a team of terrible eye-beasts. The eyes
see everything around them, so Santac'Laus knows which
children have been particularly naughty. On this night, he
selects one family upon whom to visit his horrors.
Swooping down from his mountain lair, he comes to eat
the brains of the naughtiest children, and carry their parents
off in his sack, never to be seen again. Throughout the year,
children are reminded to be good - they know the danger of
being naughty is that they'll have the tastiest brains.
Every year, the villagers attempt to protect themselves by
putting up decorations:
bright lights to blind the eye-beasts;
covering trees with baubles to trick Santac'Laus into
thinking they're brains;
placing stars on treetops to throw the monster's night-
time navigation;
leaving out tantalising pies and drinks as a distraction.
None of it seems to work though, and every year the
people of Flodur must steel themselves for the Christmas
morning news of which family is no more.
There are a number of very reasonable questions to be
asked regarding the halflings' way of life. Why do they not
remove (or at least block up) their chimneys? Why don't
they group together and defend themselves? The answer is
simple: the halflings are stubborn and are stuck in their
ways, habits and traditions. You can't just go changing
these things!
Locations
Village Square A large open space in the centre of Flodur.
A few small grocer and general goods shops line the
perimeter, and a tall, decorated pine tree stands in the
middle.
The Holly and Ivy Local tavern, run by Elsie Truffleslinger.
Always has a warm fire and tables to spare. Spick and
span. Rooms can be rented for a modest sum. Elsie
tends the bar herself and employs Lillian Wigglestop as a
cook and general helper.
Farms Most of the villagers are farmers, and the land
around Flodur is largely taken up with a variety of crops
and animals - turkeys, geese, pigs, potatoes, parsnips,
carrots, sprouts.
Cast
Callie Gladbutton is a female halfling and a stressed out
mother, in her early forties. She has blonde hair, usually
pulled back in a ponytail and works in the grocery store.
Callie is married to Fingis Gladbutton; they have one
son, Teddy.
Elsie Truffleslinger is female halfling in her early 30s,
Elsie owns and local tavern, The Holly and Ivy. She tends
to be cheerful, but uses sarcasm as a coping mechanism.
Elsie runs a very tight operation, usually from behind the
bar, and makes excellent cranberry wine.
Fingis Gladbutton is a male halfling in his mid forties. He
spends most of his time tending farmland outside the
village proper, and so is unlikely to feature unless the
party pursue Callie and Teddy. Fingis is married to
Callie, and is the father of Teddy.
Gar Wrinkletoe is an elderly male halfling, Gar is balding,
grumpy and stubborn (even by halfling standards). He's
happy to give a piece of his mind to anyone who will
listen. Gar isn't a fan of children, so isn't too phased by
the coming events.
Lillian Wigglestop is a female halfling in her late teens.
Elsie has short, bright blue hair and a nose piercing. She
tends to be quiet, but will speak her mind when pressed.
Elsie works in The Holly and Ivy as a cook and helper.
Logar Clodbottle is the village mayor. Logar is a middle
aged male halfling with a mess of curly brown hair.
Usually dressed in his ceremonial red coat and hat,
Logar has been mayor for 7 years, since the previous
mayor attempted to lead an attack on Santac'Laus and
never returned. At this time of year, he is run ragged, as
he sees it his responsibility to keep the townspeople safe.
Teddy Gladbutton is a male halfling child, around 12 years
old. He has a reputation for getting into trouble and likes
to act up. Teddy is the son of Callie and Fingis
Gladbutton.
Scene 2: Santac'Laus is
Coming to Town
Wherever the party ends up spending the night, their rest is
disturbed in the small hours. If they're keeping watch, they
see a silhouette of a manta ray being pulled by a team of
eight spherical, betentacled bestial beholders (p7). Riding
atop the Manta Sleigh is a humanoid figure - Santac'Laus
(p9) himself.
However the party are spending Christmas Eve, they are
alerted by a commotion caused by the villagers. The Manta
Sleigh stops on top of the Gladbutton house and the figure
hops down the chimney. If any characters are close by, a
few screams might be heard, but barely two minutes later,
the figure returns carrying a full sack, climbs on the Sleigh
and takes off for the mountain.
Regardless of where the party start, it is exceedingly
unlikely that they will be able to reach the house in time to
prevent Santac'Laus making off with his quarry. This scene
can be run like a chase sequence, with the party having to
vault barrels, slide across icy flagstones and roofs and dive
through giant decorative holly wreaths.
If they do reach the house in time, Santac'Laus will do
his best to escape without engaging in a prolonged battle -
he will probably use his Mind Blast to stun the party before
casting Levitate to ascend the chimney and flee.
If the party arrive in time, they should be able to save
Teddy (or you may wish to give Teddy a gruesome ending).
A plate of mince pies and glass of brandy sit untouched by
the fireplace. There is no sign of Callie or Fingis - both have
been taken by Santac'Laus and infested with tadpoles, to
begin their transformation.
The villagers are obviously distressed and will ask the
party to help defeat Santac'Laus once and for all, pointing
them to a path that leads out of the village and up the
mountain. None of the villagers has dared travel close to
the mountain for quite some time, and they are quick to
make sure the party understand the path is not a safe one.
Scene 3: Mountain Path
The path up the mountain takes the party through farmland
and into a densely wooded pine forest, as they begin to
climb. If the party isn't waylaid, the trip will take a couple of
hours.
There are three suggestions below for how the party may
be waylaid - feel free to pick and choose from these,
depending on how strong the party is and how much time
is available for the session.
After dealing with these complications, it is a
straightforward climb to the entrance to the Grotto.
Turkey Dinner
Beyond the outskirts of the farmland around Flodur, hidden
just behind the treeline, the party come across a collection
of a dozen run-down wooden structures, each as large as a
house - giant bird coops. The broken remains of a fence
surrounds the coops, and much of the undergrowth here
shows signs of being trampled.
A successful DC 14 Nature check will allow the party to
identify and avoid the most trampled areas. Otherwise, they
are attacked by six aggressive dire turkeys (p8).
There is nothing of value in the coops, and they appear to
have been abandoned many years ago. A successful DC 18
Investigation check will reveal several halfling-sized bones
scattered about one of the coops.
No-one in Flodur knows anything about the dire turkeys
although, if questioned, some of the older halflings may
reminisce about Old Man Feathersprout and his
crossbreeding experiments. Old Man Feathersprout went
out to check his animals about sixty years ago, and was
never seen again...
Walking in Circles
Snow is still falling, and the path is often tricky to follow. A
successful DC 15 Survival check (or an appropriate spell)
will prevent the party from walking in circles. Each time
they find themselves back where they started, each
character must make a constitution saving throw (DC = 12
+ number of circles walked) or take a level of exhaustion
from the cold.
The Snowman
As they make their way through the forest, the party is
ambushed by a group of four animated snowmen (p8) (add
more if this seems too easy). A successful DC 16
Perception check will allow the party to spot the snowmen
in advance; otherwise they are surprised.
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Scene 4: The Grotto
Santac'Laus' Grotto is inside the mountain. Here, he has
created a home for himself and all his "friends". Unless
disturbed, Santac'Laus is in his Scrying Chamber.
There are six locations in the Grotto, described on the
following pages:
1 Candy Cane Entrance
2 Main Chamber
3 Workshop
4 Aquarium
5 Scrying Chamber
6 Hangar and Stables
1. Candy Cane Entrance
Exits to:
Outside
Main Chamber
The mountain path exits the forest and leads to a cave
entrance on a ledge after an easy climb. Patchy
undergrowth and foliage adorns the rock wall around the
outside of the cave, and the walls and ceiling of the cavern
itself. The inside of the cave is in complete darkness
beyond the first few feet.
Candy Canes
The cave mouth is flanked by a pair of 8-foot tall red and
white striped candy canes. A DC 16 Investigation or
Arcana check will idendify these as the source of a Force
Wall across the entrance to the cave.
Alternatively, running into the Force Wall will result in
1d6 force damage and the character being repelled.
The Force Wall can be destroyed by a Dispel Magic spell,
or by destroying the canes (25hp each, take 1d6 force
damage for each melee attack).
If any of the candy cane is eaten, the character gains a
sugar high for one minute (they gain both the Hasted and
Poisoned conditions).
Mistletoe
As the party make their way into the Grotto, whatever light
there is from the moon and stars fades, and the foliage
covering the walls and ceiling becomes more patchy. A DC
25 Perception check (with disadvantage if there is no light
source) will reveal that there seems to be some sort of
pattern to the foliage on the ceiling; a DC 20 Investigation
or Arcana check will reveal some arcane significance to the
arrangement, and also that there appears to be a path that
avoids the foliage, extending some 100ft.
If the characters attempt to traverse this path, they must
each make a DC 15 Dexterity check. Otherwise, anyone
caught underneath mistletoe must succeed on a DC 17
Strength saving throw or be physically flung into to the
nearest party member, each taking 1d6 bludgeoning
damage when they collide.
This condition lasts for 1 minute; the characters may use
an action to make another Strength save to pull apart, but
any turn on which they don't make this save, they are
smashed together again (another 1d6 bludgeoning
damage).
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Whilst smashed together, the characters have
disadvantage on all Dexterity based ability checks or saving
throws.
He's making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santac’Laus is coming to town
2. Main Chamber
Exits to:
Candy Canes Entrance
Aquarium
Workshop
Hangar and Stables
The tunnel opens out into a large, well-lit cavern, about
200ft across. A faint smell of cinnamon lingers in the air.
Ornate chandaliers hang from the ceiling.
A tunnel and two doors are on the far side of the
chamber. On the left, the tunnel leads down to the Hanger
and Stables. To the right of this, the door to the Workshop
is unlocked; to the right of this, the door to the Aquarium is
locked (requiring a DC 14 Dexterity check to pick the lock,
or a DC 16 Strength check to break the door down).
The cavern is full of illiflings playing simple playground
games with each other (some suggestions are given in the
table below), in a creepily silent and mechanical fashion.
These are clearly the missing halflings from Flodur, but
transformed into miniature mindflayer versions of
themselves. Overall, there are around 50 of them.
Catch
Football
Hopscotch
It/Tag
Tin soldiers
The fifth edition of a popular fantasy roleplaying game
The illiflings will ignore the characters unless they are
provoked, in which case they will attempt to run and hide.
They will only attack as a very last resort. If the characters
insert themselves into any of the games, the illiflings will
include them without fuss.
If any commotion is made, Santac'Laus will arrive from
the Aquarium door after around 30 seconds. If the illiflings
witness any fighting, when the party return to the Main
Chamber, the illiflings will have added acting out the fight
to their repertoire of playground games.
Illiflings have the stat block of a commoner (MM p345),
with the following changes:
Int, Wis and Cha scores are all 7 (-1).
Speed is 25ft.
Immunity to any charm effects.
Languages: Common, Halfling, Deep Speech, telepathy
(120ft.).
3. Workshop
Exits to:
Main Chamber
Aquarium (via secret door)
This rectangular chamber is haphazardly filled with
shelves and racks of non-functional magical items. Four
nothics (MM p236) are hard at work attempting to create
new magical items for Santac'Laus. They periodically
mutter nonsense phrases to each other (see Nothic
Nonsense) and will attack if they are disturbed, using the
plethora of items they have in progress.
At the start of each nothic's turn, roll 1d6 on the table
below to determine what item it picks up. Each item has a
single use before it becomes non-functional, as the nothics
are having difficulty imbuing the devices with the necessary
arcane energy. Once the use is expended, the item will fall
apart in an appropriate way (for example, the Wand of Web
might turn into a sticky, webby mess).
d6 Magic Item
1 Tentacle Rod
2 Circlet of Blasting
3 Wand of Fireballs
4 Wand of Lightning Bolts
5 Wand of Magic Missile
6 Wand of Web
The nothics have been working for Santac'Laus for some
time, and have been trying to find ways to make him feel
less lonely and more happy. The giant Stone Mindflayer
and tin soldiers found in the Hangar were the (misguided)
work of the nothics to make some friends for their master.
Since that didn't work, they've turned their attention to
making toys for him.
When the party loot the Workshop and succeed on an
Investigation check (DC 12), have them roll 2d6 each to
determine what they discover.
A successful DC 15 Investigation check will reveal the
existence of a secret passage behind one of the shelving
units (opened by removing a fake book from a shelf), that
leads to a secret hatch in the Aquarium.
Also in the room are plans and technical drawings
depicting a giant, pilotable statue of a mindflayer, as well as
designs for an assortment of smaller golem-like tin
soldiers. Each drawing is labelled "Friend?"
Nothic Nonsense
Traversing appendages lacking accuracy
Containment field enlargement commencing
Reticulating splines
Approaching thaumatic exceedance
Vocalisation complete
Processing calibration matrix
Locus acknowledged
Misleading confectionary
Statement confirmed
4. Aquarium
Exits to:
Main Chamber
Scrying Chamber
Workshop (via secret door)
This long rectangular room is filled with a soft blue-
green light, seemingly emanating from the water that
surrounds it on both sides and above, like a glass tunnel
through an aquarium. Within the water, there are hundreds
of immature illithid tadpoles.
A calender hangs on the wall by the door to the Main
Chamber, displaying December. Each day up to the 24th is
ticked off. The 25th is circled, with "New friends" written in
Qualith and a badly-drawn picture of a brain with a smiley
face.
A ladder at the far end leads up to gantry above which
contains a hatch, allowing access to the tank. The water is
warm and salty.
Lying on the aquarium floor below the hatch are Callie
and Fingis Gladbutton, seemingly asleep. They have both
been infested with tadpoles, and each have the beginnings
of several small tentacles growing over their mouths. They
cannot be woken. A Greater Restoration spell will remove
the effects of the tadpoles and restore them to
consciousness. They each have the stats of a Commonor
(MM p345), and know both Comman and Halfling.
A character in the water can find a secret hatch off to the
lefthand side with a successful DC 13 Investigation check.
The hatch leads to a tunnel that emerges in the Workshop.
A roll of 15 or higher on an Investigation check will
reveal a heavy metal chest on the aquarium floor among a
patch of reeds. The chest is locked and requires a DC 18
Dexterity check to open. The chest contains six crackers.
For every minute in the water, a character has a 25%
chance of attracting the hostile attention of a Swarm of
Tadpoles (p9).
A door at the far end of the Aquarium tunnel leads to the
Scrying Chamber.
Crackers
A failed experiment by the nothics in the workshop, these
paper tubes are filled with an explosive mixture originally
intended to produce a small pop. The nothics aren't very
competent though, and the crackers instead contain
enough explosive to do some real damage.
When the two ends of the cracker are pulled apart, the
explosives ignite, causing 2d6 fire damage to all creatures
in a 5 foot radius, or half damage on a successful DC 15
Dexterity save.
The crackers may also be ignited by a stray flame,
sudden movement or a stern glance. Crackers are best
stored underwater.
Once detonated, nothing remains of the cracker save for
a randomly coloured paper crown with a strange magical
aura that compels whoever picks it up to place it upon their
head.
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 5. Scrying Chamber
Exits to:
Aquarium
This domed chamber is filled with crystal balls balanced
carefully on pedestals at different heights. It is possible to
move between them, but only carefully. Movement is
reduced to half speed; otherwise the player must make a
DC 16 Dexterity check to avoid knocking a crystal ball from
a pedestal. Santac'Laus is able to move at full speed.
If a crystal ball falls, it smashes and deals 1d6 psychic
damage to anyone within 10ft. This will also alert
Santac'Laus to the party's presence in the chamber.
When the party enter, the chamber is illuminated with
only a dim light given my each crystal ball. If the party study
the crystal balls, they will see scenes of Flodur being
played out live: the village itself, families in their houses,
the decorations in the village square, and so on. Many of
the crystal balls show the village-folk mourning the
Gladbutton family. Mayor Logar can probably be seen
pacing backwards and forwards in his study.
This is how Santac'Laus is able to keep watch on Flodur
and choose which family to visit each Christmas.
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Santac'Laus himself sits in the centre of the chamber on a
comfy reclining armchair, watching his favourite Christmas
film (Scry Hard) on a large crystal ball.
If the party announce their presence he will cast
Invisibility on himself and carefully make his way to the exit
of the chamber, before blasting the party with a Mind Blast
(also destroying a large number of crystal balls, adding to
the psychic damage) and running to the Hangar and
Stables. Otherwise he will attempt to do this at the first
available opportunity.
Santac'Laus: The Reality
Santac'Laus is lonely in his mountain grotto. Every year,
when a small number of tadpoles reach maturity, he tries to
make some friends, targeting the families he believes will be
missed the least - those with the naughtiest children.
Landing on the chimney of his chosen house, he slips
down the chimney, eats the snack that is left for him (a nice
tasty brain) and implants tadpoles in the adult inhabitants.
The new hosts are then bundled into his sack and carried off
to mature into new illiflings.
Unfortunately, and despite the best efforts of the nothics,
the process of creating an illifling vastly reduces the
intelligence of the host, resulting in an almost childlike
intellect.
Still, every year Santac'Laus tries for some new friends, in
the hopes that one day, his Christmas dream will come true.
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6. Hangar and Stables
Exits to:
Main Chamber
Outside
A long corridoor leads away from the Main Chamber and
curves up into the mountain. More mistletoe adorns the
ceiling, requiring a DC 15 Dexterity check to avoid (see
Mistletoe on page 4). Santac'Laus is unaffected by it.
The corridoor ends in a pair of heavy stone doors. If
Santac'Laus has fled this way the doors will be open,
otherwise they will be closed. A DC 25 Strength check will
be required to prise the doors open. A DC 15 investigation
check will reveal the presence of an arcane rune inscribed
on one of the doors - a qualith Rune of Opening. If the party
are able to understand the rune, they discern that it may be
activated by expending a spell slot (level 1 or higher) into
the rune.
The doors are, in fact, the feet of a giant 40ft tall stone
mindflayer, pressed together as it stands in front of the
entrance to the Hangar. When the doors are opened, the
feet shift aside, revealing the cavern beyond - a roughly
rectangular chamber, 350ft wide and 100ft across, with a
60ft ceiling. The entrance lies in the middle of the long
edge. The cavern is illuminated by three large chandeliers
hanging from the ceiling.
Across the cavern from the entrance is a wide opening to
the world outside, with a sheer drop down the
mountainside. At the far righthand end is a fenced-off
stable area, holding eight bestial beholders and the Manta
Sleigh. At the far left end is a squad of eight tin soldiers.
Santac'Laus will attempt to reach the Manta Sleigh and
engage the party from above, using his spells. He also gains
2 Legendary Actions, each of which can be used to fire one
beholder eye ray (his choice of ray). When he enters the
Hangar, he will also activate the tin soldiers to defend him.
A circular portal is embedded in the rock wall in the
beholder pen; while the beholders are at rest, the party
might witness one of them using a telekinetic ray to pull a
lever next to the portal. The metal door irises open and a
live reindeer is ejected, which the beholders will carve up
(using their telekinetic and disintegration rays as cutlery)
and eat.
The floor of the Hangar is littered with fragments of
carved rock - the leftover from the nothics' initial attempts
to build the Stone Mindflayer. The chunks of rock vary in
size and the characters shouldn't have too much difficulty
in finding cover when they need it, while being able to
move about freely.
When it looks like defeat is inevitable, Santac'Laus will
attempt to appeal to the party for mercy and explain his
side of the story (see Santac'Laus: The Reality). He
genuinely doesn't understand the hatred that is shown to
him, and will repent of his ways if the party manage to
persuade him.
Tin Soldiers
The nothics' first attempt at creating friends for
Santac'Laus, these stone and metal constructs usually sit
idly by in the Hangar. They will remain dormant unless
they detect a character within 60ft. or Santac'Laus
commands them to assist him. The tin soldier didn't make
good friends for Santac'Laus, but they at least make useful
guards when needed.
Each tin soldier is armed with a longsword and has the
facial features of a mindflayer.
Manta Sleigh
This manta-ray shaped vehicle is pulled by the team of
eight beholders. There is enough room for four medium-
sized humanoids to squeeze on, although they might have
to make some Strength saving throws to hang on.
The Manta Sleigh has 600hp and an AC of 18. When
pulled by a full team of eight bestial beholders, it has a
flying speed of 10ft for every bestial beholder that is pulling
it (max 80ft, min 0ft). If all the bestial beholders are killed
(or otherwise untethered), the Manta Sleigh will slowly sink
to the Hangar floor.
Santac'Laus is able to take the reigns and cast spells
whilst in control of his vehicle. Whilst on the Manta Sleigh,
he has three-quarters cover from the floor of the chamber.
Bestial Beholders
The bestial beholders are little more than animals.
Santac'Laus tamed them long ago, and now they serve as
the sleigh team. They are still harnessed to the Manta
Sleigh, and will willingly take flight if commanded by
anyone, although it requires a DC 20 Animal Handling
check to work out how to make them respond.
Each beholder has been given an ancient arcane name of
deep and terrible significance: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,
Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
A bestial beholder has the stat block of a beholder (MM
p28) with the following changes:
Int, Wis and Cha scores are all 6 (-2).
Bestial beholder does not have Antimagic Cone.
While harnessed to the Manta Sleigh, the bestial
beholder cannot take actions or roll initiative.
Saving throw DC for eye rays is reduced to 12.
Damage dealt by eye rays is halved.
Reindeer Dispenser
Where do the reindeer come from? This isn't
something that's explored in this adventure, but
if the party want to investigate, here are some
ideas:
A funnel from the top of the mountain, baited
with a Rod of Reindeer Attraction.
The irising doorway is a planar portal to the
Elemental Plane of Reindeer.
A reindeer breeding centre, run by
Santac'Laus or an even weirder entity.
Stone Mindflayer
After the tin soldiers failed to bring happiness to
Santac'Laus, the nothics turned their attention to
constructing a giant version of the mindflayer for him to
ride around in. It took the nothics several tries to get this
right, and the remains of the earlier attempts can be see
(and navigated around) on the Hangar floor. Eventually,
they got it right, and the 40ft. tall stone mindflayer stands
proud over the entrance to the Hangar.
Sadly, the giant construction didn't make a good
companion for the lonely illithid, and so it now serves as
little more than a glorified door.
The giant stone mindflayer is easily climbed (DC 12
Athletics check), and there is a small entrance through the
mouth. If a character climbs in here, they enter a cockpit,
with a crystal ball as a viewport and six levers. There is just
about room for two medium-sized humanoids.
If a character starts playing with levers, they roll a d6 to
determine what that lever does. If the character has studied
the technical drawings found in the Workshop, they don't
need to roll. Each lever may be used with an action, a bonus
action, or a reaction. Aiming uses either the character's
Dexterity or Intelligence modifier - their choice. The stone
mindflayer has 1200hp and an AC of 6.
d8 Lever Effect
1 Left Leg Moves the statue up to 30ft and deals 4d6
stomping damage in a 10ft radius
2 Right Moves the statue up to 30ft and deals 4d6
Leg stomping damage in a 10ft radius
3 Left Flails the left arm and deals 2d8 punching
Arm damage, with a 15ft reach
4 Right Flails the right arm and deals 2d8 punching
Arm damage, with a 15ft reach
5 Aim
Head
Turns the head for better visibility and
aiming of the eye lasers
6 Fire Eye Fires the eye lasers for 2d12+12 laser
Lasers damage
Scene 5: Merry Christmas
To All
If Santac'Laus is defeated in combat, any remaining tin
soldiers will stand down; the bestial beholders will return
to their stable, hungry for some reindeer. If he is persuaded
to stop his evil ways, he will order his minions to stop, and
suggests that he could start trying to make Christmas a
joyous time for Flodur.
Either way, when the party return to Flodur (probably in
the early hours of Christmas morning), they are warmly
welcomed, albeit with some initial suspicion if Santac'Laus
joins them.
After hearing the exploits of the night before, Mayor
Clodbottle presents each member of the party with a gift
(see Logar's Gifts) and invites them to join him and the
other halflings in celebrating Christmas.
Logar's Gifts
No suggestions are given here for what Logar presents to
the party - instead it is up to the DM's discretion.
If this adventure is run as part of a longer campaign,
consider giving the characters items relevant to their
ongoing quest (perhaps with some Christmassy theme).
If you are running the adventure as a one-shot, either offer
outlandishly overpowered items, or else use this as an
opportunity to present your players with real-life gifts!
There are, of course, some loose threads. How will the
illiflings cope with Santac'Laus' death? Can Teddy
Gladbutton get used to his new half-mindflayer parents?
What happens when one a tadpole in the Aquarium
becomes a neothelid?
But those are stories for another Christmas...
7
 Animated Snowman Dire Turkey
Medium construct, unaligned Medium beast, neutral evil

Armor Class 12 (natural armour) Armor Class 8

Hit Points 45(6d8 + 18) Hit Points 22(3d10+6)
Speed 30ft. Speed 30ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 2 (-4) 2 (-4) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +6 Skills Perception +3

Skills Stealth +5 (in snowy conditions) Senses passive Perception 13
Damage Immunities cold, poison, psychic Languages —
Damage Vulnerabilities fire Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
poisoned, frightened, paralysed, petrified, Pack Tactics. The dire turkey has advantage on an
poisoned attack roll against a creature if at least one of the
Senses passive Perception 6 dire turkey's allies is within 5 feet of the creature
Languages — and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Challenge 2 (450 XP)

Carrot of Power. Dropped when the snowman is

Actions
killed. As an action, this carrot can be consumed Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft.,
in order to regain one spent spell slot of the one target. Hit 7 (2d4 + 2) piercing damage.
highest level available.
Gobble. The dire turkey targets one creature
Cold Absorption. Whenever the snowman is within 30ft. and produces a horrifying gobbling
subjected to cold damage, it takes no damage noise. The target must succeed on a DC 12
and instead regains a number of hit points equal Constitution saving throw or be paralysed until
to the cold damage dealt. the end of their next turn.
Construct Senses. If the snowman's carrot nose or
coal eyes are removed, it loses its sense of smell
or sight, respectively.
Icy Aura. Any non-snow-based character who ends
their turn within 5ft. of the snowman must
Tin Soldier
Medium construct, unaligned
succeed on DC 14 a strength saving throw to
avoid being frozen in place by ice growing up Armor Class 16 (natural armour)
their legs. On a failure, the character is restrained. Hit Points 33(6d8 + 6)
Natural Camouflage. Whilst stationary on snow- Speed 25ft.
covered ground, the snowman is
indistinguishable from a regular, non-animated
snowman. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 11 (+0) 13 (+1) 1 (-5) 3 (-4) 1 (-5)
Actions
Multiattack. The snowman makes two branch Damage Immunities poison, psychic
attacks. Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, paralysed, petrified, poisoned
Branch. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach Senses passive Perception 6
5ft., one target. Hit 5 (1d6 + 1) slashing damage. Languages —
Snowball. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach Challenge 1 (200 XP)
30ft., one target. Hit 7 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning
damage and 5 (1d8) cold damage. Actions
Multiattack. The tin soldier makes two longsword
attacks.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
reach 5ft., one target. Hit 6 (1d8 + 2)

8
Santac'Laus
Medium aberration, lawful neutral
Armor Class 15
Hit Points 127 (17d10 + 34)
Speed 30ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 12 15 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 13 (+1)
(+2) (+1) (+2)
Saving Throws Int +8, Wis +6, Cha +5
Condition Immunities None
Senses passive Perception 20
Languages Common, Deep Speech, telepathy
120ft.
Challenge 9 (5000 XP)
Magic Resistance. Santac'Laus has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical
effects.
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). Santac'Laus' innate
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC
15). He can innately cast the following spells,
requiring no components:
At will: dancing lights, detect thoughts,
invisibility, mage hand, levitate, scrying
1/day each: hold person, shield, Snilloc's
snowball swarm, telekinesis
Actions
Tentacles. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach
5ft., one target. Hit 15 (2d10 + 4) psychic
damage. If the target is medium or smaller, it is
grappled (escape DC 15) and must succeed on a
DC 15 Intelligence saving throw or be stunned
until this grapple ends.
Extract Brain. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit,
reach 5ft., one incapacitated humanoid grappled
by Santac'Laus. Hit: The target takes 55 (10d10)
piercing damage. If this damage reduces the
target to 0 hit points, Santac'Laus kills the target
by extracting and devouring the brain.
Mind Blast (Recharge 5-6). Santac'Laus magically
emits psychic energy in a 60-foot cone. Each
creature in that area must succeed on a DC 15
Intelligence saving throw or take 22 (4d8 + 4)
psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A
creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of
each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a
success.
Legendary Actions
Santac'Laus can take 2 legendary actions, using
the Eye Ray option below. He can only take one
legendary action at a time and only at the end of
another creature's turn. Santac'Laus regains spent
legendary actions at the start of his turn.
Eye Ray. Santac'Laus commands one bestial
beholder to use a random eye ray.
Swarm of Tadpoles
Medium swarm of Tiny beasts, unaligned
Armor Class 12
Hit Points 22(5d8)
Speed 0ft., swim 20ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
3 (-4) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 1 (-5) 7 (-2) 1 (-5)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing,
slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened,
paralysed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses blindsight 10ft., passive Perception 8
Languages —
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's
space and vice versa, and the swarm can move
through any opening large enough for a Tiny
tadpole. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain
temporary hit points.
Actions
Nibble. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach
0ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit 10
(4d4) piercing damage, or 5 (2d4) piercing
damage if the swarm has half of its hit points or
fewer.
The target must succeed on a DC 10
Constitution saving throw to avoid being infested
with a mature tadpole. If infested, the target will
take 1d4 piercing damage at the end of each of
their turns for every tadpole that has infested
them. If they are reduced to 0 hit points they fall
into a stable catatonic state as the process of
turning into a mindflayer begins.
A Greater Restoration spell will remove all
tadpoles and reverse this process.
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