The snow spiraled down steadily. There were already several inches of it covering the ground and only more would fall as the day continued to wane. Several adventurers were following along the cobblestone paths in the town. They were all free of snow because of the genius of the mayor with the helping hand of a runesmith. He had commissioned the runesmith to inscribe a rune of warmth every so often that radiated enough heat to keep the snow from sticking to the ground and with nature of the cobblestone path the water would slowly seep in between the bricks.

The atmosphere in the town was rather joyous as some shops were already beginning to close early because the Yuletide season. Even the guards that kept the peace in the bustling city of Bradington were mostly smiles as they knew what awaited them once they got home tonight. The prospect of hot food and a loved one were enough to soothe even the most bitter of hearts. As the sun persisted to fall towards the horizon and darkness slowly crept into the city, many of the townsfolk found their way to warm homes.

However, there were many that were all going in a single direction. To a large tavern that was brightly lit and roaring with noise and laughter. Its massive oak doors decorated with carvings opened and a wave of heat and the smell of food poured out into the cold night as several entered into the building. A duo lowered their hoods as they found themselves a table and sat down taking in the sights of this place. One signaled with two of his fingers indicating he wished for two drinks. His girlfriend had her eyes focused on a decent sized gathering of people that were surrounding the crackling fireplace. She could hear a story over the din.

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The ground shook as Rudolph the Red took the blow that was meant for Frosty the Fellow. The reindeer's knees were threatening to buckle out from under him, but he threw his head upward piercing Old Son in its putrid yellow eye and throwing the creature backwards as it bellowed in pain. Its eyeball was already beginning to regenerate, when the Wendigo's body was suddenly snatched up in the mouth of the Yule Cat who bite down on its prey, running to put distance between it and its friends. The Yule cat did its best to ignore its flailing body as it tried to free itself.

Frosty's body had been struggling to replenish itself from the snow around it, but the brief respite allowed him to more or less regain his shape as he steadied his friend Rudolph. It was then that they both heard the Yule Cat's mournful cry as they saw it being tossed aside. The Wendigo had torn itself free. Normally this type of monster would have been a pushover for the forces of winter, but Old Son had managed to steal the magical powers from Krampus strengthening it far beyond what should have been possible.

Old Son raised its massive bloody claw to deal a fatal blow to the Yule Cat when a chain of ice materialized around its wrist and yanked the creature backwards off balance. A loud crack was followed as a large wooden shaft struck the Wendigo across its face, the moose skull that was its face had a jagged crack running through it now. A deep guttural growl escaped from Old Son as he stared at the two new arrivals.

Icy Joe Chill was already weaving his hands as he conjured up more frost chains that attempted to bind Old Son. While Holy Nicholas was already readying his enchanted shepherd's staff to deliver another blow. Behind the two was running a massive man in red and in his hands...

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"Honey....Honey!" The woman snapped back to attention as her boyfriend had been trying to get her attention.

"Sorry." She smiled awkwardly.

The server laughed. "Ohh don't worry about that. You would not be the first person to get engrossed in his stories."