Klaus the Gift Giver
The mighty artificer and wizard known as Klaus the Gift Giver has avatars throughout the multiverse. On the holiest eve of winter, he gives magical gifts to all the children of his homeland. The Heavenly Council of Ki-rins could never duplicate the feat. Eventually, they turned to the Council of Klauses who gave them the means to summon one of their number to the Zone every Anamas Eve.
We get a new red elf every year! Sometimes he's not even an elf! They go by names like Kris or Jack or Santa CLU. One year we got a properly tusked Gift Giver with a sleigh drawn by boars! You can bet your Ol' Sarge was in bed with candied bacon and a pint of mead out that Anamas Eve!
Sgt. Kill Flayer
Throughout the multiverse, myths of Winter Gift Givers who make their global deliveries in one night are common. For decades, the Heavenly Council of Ki-rins attempted to replicate these feats during Anamas Gifts Giving. Despite expending massive amounts of magical power, they were never able to accomplish the task.
One year they discovered the Council of Klauses, a multiversal organization of the gift-givers dedicated to watching over the children of the planes.
Moon Breeze & the Council of Klauses
Moon Breeze the ki-rin flew as she slept,
A winterland came to Kirinal Rift,
She knew ‘twas time, find the Giver of Gifts.
For kids of Kirinal, in dreams, she wept.
She chased a red light through the foggy eve,
It called with a voice that shouted with glee,
“Follow my glow to the Palace of Ice,
What you seek is there, I won’t tell you twice!”
To the northern pole, her journey did lead,
A fortress of chimneys, carved from the snow.
She could smell cookies and hot cocoa,
She heard the tools of the toymakers' beat.
She entered halls where the white beards abide,
On thrones so grand, comfortable and wide.
The oldest said, “Welcome Moon Breeze so grand!
In this place, only the worthy can stand.”
A gnome with pointed nose did then inquire,
“Why seek us out, noble unicorn bright?”
“In the Zone, Kirinal Kids live in plight,
We shield their flesh, but their souls need your fire.”
“To match your night of giving, we try,
But our efforts fall short, year after year,
“Can you help us bring the children good cheer?”
The Father replied, “We’ll help you by…”
“Singing the songs and showing totems true,
One shall answer you, a Klaus of our crew.
But when we call, your aid must be given.
Do you agree? This bargain we’ve stricken?”
Every Anamas Eve, Moon Breeze leads the Summon the Gift Giver Ritual. Every year a different member of the Council comes to give the gifts that the Great Spirits have prepared.
In exchange, Moon Breeze returns with the answering Klaus to their world. On their night of giving, instead of a red nose, a shining silver horn leads the Gift Giver's vehicle.
And that's how Rudolph got a night off.
It took me *forever* to read this article because I was laughing from the moment I saw it in my notifications. "He didn't. Did he? Naaaaahhhh. But I mean, he does sometimes, tho.... OMG HE DID! BWAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHDSLKFAH!!!!!!" F'k me, mate. Just... Well done. Well done.
Haly, the Moonlight Bard
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I'm glad you liked it! You may have read it mid-edit, but I completely re-did the "story" part as a poem/song.
Take a look at my Institutions of Learning challenge article.
Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak and check out my award winning article about the Ghost Boy of Kirinal!