It’s that time of year again, kids. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and you know what that means; Krampus is in town again and he’s looking for naughty kids. In today’s live fast, die young culture… let’s face it, we’re all naughty. So it’s important that you have the knowledge you need to survive Krampusnacht. He’s sure to be extra active this year with a whole movie coming out about him. So here’s everything you’ll ever need to know about the dreaded Anti-Claus:
HISTORY: Krampus is a demon hailing from Haedis, the 7th circle of Hell. He’s also known as Black Peter, Rample, Charampath, the Goat of Orcus, and the Black Scapegoat. He is the twin brother of Azazel the Red Scapegoat. Krampus is one of the Unbound Forty which means that, since he was among the 40 demons not in the Underworld at the time it was sealed, he’s pretty much free to roam around as he pleases, unrestrained by transdimensional law.
MOTIVATION: A Fallen Angel, Krampus suffers from the same delusion several demons share; a Salvation Complex. He follows the coattails of Saint Nicholas in a misguided crusade to punish the wicked, as if doing so will somehow expunge his own sins and aright his record with Heaven. He is called the Black Scapegoat because the punishment he deals out to naughty children is really an effort to project his own misdeeds onto others to put his own twisted mind at ease.
APPEARANCE: Krampus appears as a goat-like monster with large curved horns, black fur and large, tusk-like teeth protruding from his lower jaw. He stands over seven feet tall (hunched over and not counting horns) and he covers his twisted form beneath a red, fur-trimmed coat similar to one worn by Saint Nicholas, but tattered and covered in volcanic ash. He carries iron chains with shackles and barbs and you can always hear the ringing of his Black Iron bells.
TRADITION: On December 5th, the Eve of Saint Nicholas Day, the generous saint was known to visit homes, bearing gifts for good children. Behind him stalked Krampus with chains and switches. As time went by, Saint Nicholas relocated his visit to Christmas Eve, while Krampus continues to emerge from his volcanic lair beneath Mount Elbrus every December 5th which is still called Krampusnacht.
POWERS AND ARMAMENTS: Like all demons, Krampus possesses considerable supernatural power. As one of the Unbound Forty, his power has fewer limitations than demons who exist in our world only as spirits. Aside from superhuman strength and vitality, Kramus enjoys a sixth sense that allows him to hone in on evil and find those who perpetrate it. Though he normally concentrates on the actions of youths, he has been known to appear to unscrupulous adults as well. Hailing from the Valley of Orcus, Krampus is inclined toward fire magic and can conjure flames at will. His hooves are shod in Black Felmarian Iron and can crush stone. He is armed with switches for minor offenders (ranging from simple light reeds to barbed rods depending on the deserved punishment) and, for more egregious offenders, heavy Black Iron chains and hooks. Children he deems especially deserving of punishment and hearty enough for work, he chains up and places in his sack, carrying them off to Mount Elbrus. There he puts them to hard labor in his fiery foundries, building weapons and infernal devices for the inevitable return of his diabolical brothers and sisters.
DEFENSE: Krampus has only three true weaknesses. 1: Mistletoe. the demon is particularly repelled by the scent of this little holiday plant which has come to be a symbol of love. Like garlic and wolfsbane for the Vampire and the Werewolf, mistletoe is a proven ward against the Krampus and he will not pass through a hall or doorway where the plant is hanging. Thus it has often been hung in doorways to thwart the demon’s passage into other parts of the house, especially rooms where children sleep. 2: Silver. Like all demons, Krampus is highly allergic to silver. Touching the metal will cause burns, the sight of it blinds, and the sound of silver bells is abhorrent to him. This is why Saint Nicholas decks his sleigh with silver bells whose chimes are noticeably different from the dull gong of Krampus’ own bells of Black Felmarian Iron. 3. Gingerbread Cookies. The tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa Clause goes back a long time, but it was originated, not as a gift to Kris Kringle, but a defense against Krampus. Because the demon is inclined to abduct and enslave children to work in his subterranean furnaces and foundries, parents began taking extra measures to defend their own children from the Black Scapegoat. After blocking off the rest of the house with mistletoe, little children made of gingerbread were left in the common room in the hopes of placating Krampus into leaving the home and family unharmed. Supposedly it still works and the demon has been known to settle for gingerbread kids when he can’t get the real deal.
With this information you, too, can be safe this Krampusnacht and keep yourself off this Anti-Claus’ list!
