Yule critters from the Land of Frost…part I

The Yule Demon – the real Sandy Claws…

Pencil drawing. Inked in ArtRage. Artyfarty-modded in Photoshop. By dawnrazor.

In the Lands of Eternal frost, Yule-time is a time of fear. For it is then the Demon of Yule comes to punish the evil and sometimes reward the good…in it’s own way. It comes across the skies in a bone-rattling chariot drawn by huge Yule Wolves, attended by hoards of Eaters, Sandy’s little helpers. The Yule Demon usually arrives on the 24th day of the Darkest and Coldest month of the year, and stays for 3 horror-filled days. Most of the hard work is carried out by the Eaters, but sometimes the Yule Demon pays a special visit to someone worthy…

SANDY CLAWS (YULE DEMON)
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Large Outsider, Chaotic (CN), High Intelligence, Unique creature

HD        8     
AC        14 [+1] (Only hit by +1 weapons or better)
ATK       2 claws (1d6), bite (1d8) and tail (1d6)
MV        40
SV         F 7, R 8, W 6
XP         2000 (CL 10)

Special Qualities: Immune to electricity and poison. Magic resistance 30%. Rend attack (claws and tail). Vulnerable to fire (takes double damage).

Spells: At will–invisibility, dispel magic, detect good, detect evil, fear, teleport (no error),  ; 3/day–plane shift (Dreamlands), psychic crush

The Yule Demon comes from the Lands of Dream, feeding on broken dreams and hopeless wishes. In it’s twisted mind all flesh beings are naughty and evil and in need of punishment. Sometimes, however, it leaves gifts in the form of body parts from the punished, or it will even let someone return to the village as a Son of Yule – an undead parody of its former self. It is in constant telepathic contact with all its servants at all times, and can summon 2d10 Eaters and 1d8 Yule Wolfs at any given time. It has no eyes, but can “see everything” using some other sense.

The above stats are for Blood & Treasure. I realize that B&T might not be on everybody’s game shelf, so I’ve included some ideas for conversion below:

Armor class (AC): S&W 5 [14]; LL 5
Move (MV): S&W 15′; LL 150′ (50′)
Save (SV): S&W 8; LL As Fighter 8
Spells: Use equivalents from your favourite game

Yule Goat costume

The inspiration for the Yule Demon is the Swedish Yule Goat.
The Yule Goat was a benign nature being, and had the same functions as Santa does now. The red-clad Santa did not take over until the end of the 1800s. At X-mas Eve, the Yule Goat would be around in every house, invisible, and watch who was good and naughty.


Stay tuned for the Eaters and the Yule Wolves…