canta slaus, chaotic good barbarian socalist warlord, is bringing presents for the townpeople. the party can be assured that he will be bring them each a piece of (decent) magical equipment, which will also serve as their reward for the quest. unfortunately, attacked and captured along the road, his famous red suit is taken and used to impersonate him alongside an illusion spell. when canta slaus arrives in town, he begins making odd demands. in order for the spirit of christmas to stay alive, and maintain the gift-giving tradition, he will need one/a few sacrifices. preferably children.
as the party races to stop/investigate the sacrifices they discover that this man is not in fact canta slaus--for example, he is eating reindeer stew, something canta would never do. they slowly realize that a terrible cult has impersonated canta in order to secure the sacrifice to resurrect the fallen Winter God on Winter Solstice, who will bring about an eternal winter unless the party can find and free Canta Slaus and help him defeat the terrible evil.
