Warlock Patron: Krampus, The Devil of Christmas

Christmastime is a time of family, friends, eating cookies, drinking too much eggnog, and sharing gifts and talents with others. Some cultures celebrate this time with the patronage of Saint Nicholas the Jolly who makes a list of those that were naughty and those that were nice in the past year. The Saint’s elves makes gifts for the nice in their workshop and Saint Nicholas delivers them on Christmas night. Saint Nicholas leaves coal for those that are naughty, marking them for Krampus, the Devil of Christmas.

The Devil of Christmas is the one that comes for the naughty. Toys he brings are terrible, vicious, sharp, and full of teeth. Krampus sneaks into the marked ones homes, kidnaps them, and takes them to Hell to live forever in torment or be eaten, mutilated, or otherwise sacrificed during the next summer solstice.

The Gods in Heaven tried to bind Krampus with chains to try to preserve the sanctity of Christmas and the joy that is meant to be had. Krampus broke these chains and wraps himself in them to mock the Gods and their hubris. He even uses these chains to bind his captives and drag them to Hell.

Covens of witches and cabals of warlocks have sworn patronage to Krampus for centuries, pledging themselves to his service for countless reasons. Krampus accepts these pledges without question and bestows his gifts and graces upon his servants to further assist him in his work. Many of his servants practice human sacrifice during the summer solstice and during the winter, see themselves as the Devil’s Hands meant send the naughty to hell through ritualistic murder.

With the disappearance of Saint Nicholas, nobody is keeping a list or leaving coal to mark the naughty. Krampus is left to make his own list. On Krampus’ list, everyone is naughty.

Krampus Expanded Spells

Spell Level Spells 1st Bane, Entangle 2nd Knock, Zone of Truth 3rd Bestow Curse, Sleet Storm 4th Locate Creature, Phantasmal Killer 5th Cone of Cold, Animate Objects

Everyone’s Naughty

Starting at 1st level, you gain proficiency with the insight skill. Additionally, you have advantage on insight checks to determine the intentions of a creature that is not interacting with you.

New Invocations Snow Devil Prerequisite: Krampus, the Devil of Christmas Patron The Devil of Christmas has blessed you with his ability to fade from sight into the snowy landscape at the blink of an eye. You can use the Hide action as a bonus action. Additionally, you can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by heavy mist, rain, falling snow, or any winter weather. Silent as the Night Prerequisite: 5th level and Krampus, the Devil of Christmas Patron You can cast pass without trace once using a warlock spell slot. You can't do so again until you finish a long rest.





Grasping Chains

At 1st level, you learn the thorn whip cantrip, which does not count against your cantrips known. Additionally, when you use this cantrip, you add your Charisma modifier to the damage.

Hateful Presence

At 6th level, you can use your reaction to cause a creature you can see within 60 feet that succeeded on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw to reroll their result with disadvantage, ignoring any advantage it may have. Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Devil of Christmas

Beginning at 10th level, you start to take on the traits of your devilish patron: coarse black fur, cloven hooves, and ram horns protruding from your skull. You gain resistance to cold and necrotic damage and cannot be charmed. Additionally, you leave no tracks in snow and ignore difficult terrain caused by snow.