Krampus in Call of Cthulhu

It's that time of year, when us Role Players are so soaked in roasted chesnuts and egg nog that we abortively begin plans to make Santa a villain in our Call of Cthulhu campaigns. Of course, while a magic teleporting elf/weird Christian saint makes for an interesting challenge, the same region of the world that brought us Nicholas and the Christmas tree has an even more appropriate figure available for use in your imaginary monster fighting game of choice.

The Krampus

The Krampus is a mythological figure from Germanic folklore who is in charge of punishing misbehaving children. He carries around branches of birch, tongue hanging out, ready to strike the loutish and greedy. He is also sometimes depicted as having a burlap sack with which to spirit children away to the Black Forest. Krampus is an obvious extension of the figure of Pan or the satyr. See Arthur Machen's story The Great God Pan for more information on a Weird approach to Pan. As a figure of nature and sexuality, the Krampus could also be depicted as being in cahoots, or an extension of, Shub Niggurath.

Some possible adventure hooks

Call of Cthulhu - In 1920's rural Pennsylvania, a beast has been emerging and defiling women and stealing children. Locals say it is the Krampus, come to punish us for our godless ways. You suspect that it is something more. Easily ported to the present day, it can be an episode of the X-Files... or a Delta Green adventure.

Dreamlands - The men of Leng in the Dreamlands are also depicted as Satyrs. Is the Krampus a rogue man of Leng, dragging defenseless children off to the slave pits of Leng?

Cthulhu Invictus - The Roman Legions invaded Germany. Perhaps the lands had additional defenses besides barbarians? How you actually want to portray the Krampus is up to you. Is he a Wilbur Whateley esque goat man half bred with Yog Sothoth? Is he actually the Krampus? A leftover from the age of myth and legend somehow still kicking around? Is he a mask of Nyarlathotep (known to wear the Horned God mask, I believe) or an avatar of Shub Niggurath?

Let me know how you end up using the fun little devil guy!