Upon a closer look James saw that the hag’s teeth had been sharpened to points, but had since dulled due to being rotted, what few she still had anyway. “My name is James Jones. You can call me James.”

“Hello James. Would you and your friends like to partake in my wares?” James tilted his head slightly as he registered what the hag had just asked him. He turned back to see the response of his teammates.

They seemed to be debating for a moment, they turned to face James seeming to have come to a consensus. Sasha nodded and So James turned back to the hag. He was about to respond when he was reminded once more of its nature. “We would hate if you hadn’t offered such hospitality.”

The hag looked upon him as a wide creepy grin formed upon its gnarled face. The hag waved a hand and a bridge of rotted roots and decaying plant life sprung up from the water.

Jacob elected to walk upon the bridge so graciously provided, lest the hag take insult. James and his party continued onward over the bridge to the large ramshackle multistory wooden village on stilts.

When James stepped foot upon the platform supporting the large structure, the lights in every window burned to life. The hag led them to a larger section of the place. When the hag opened the door, they saw potions and items of all different kinds.

The room seemed to be 20 feet wide by 10 feet tall. The hag sat down upon a rocking chair in the corner of the room. Noticing a few of the party standing hesitantly at the door the hag called out, “Come in, come in. Tell Grandmother Raven what it is that you desire. Let us strike a deal.”

James noticed a large pot on the floor in the corner. The pot had its lid on and was bound with chains. Every few seconds he could swear he saw the pot move, and hear a tapping coming from it. It reminded him of that episode of American dad where the demon of Christmas was trapped in a pot.

Not seeing the harm James pointed at the pot and asked, “What’s in the pot?” The Hag turned to where he was pointing its neck creaking and cracking in an unsettling manner as it turned its head.

“Oh, that is my special pot. A demon came the village where I grew up one winter night long ago when I was but a little girl.” The hag stopped for a moment to laughed like you would expect an old woman to laugh. Then it continued.

“He claimed that I needed to be punished for my misdeeds. So, when he went to grab me and stuff me in his sack. I pushed him into the pot that my mother had used to cook that night. I slammed the lid down on him, and no matter how hard he tried he could not escape. When I moved here, I brought it with me.”

James nodded, ‘So it is the demon of Christmas in that pot.’ James was about to thank her for the information when a thought crossed his mind, “Grandmother Raven would you like us to slay the demon in that pot?”

The Hag’s eyes darted to James seeming to pierce his very soul, and then it smiled. “Oh dearie, I have waited for so long for someone to come and slay him. He has something that I want. IF you kill him and bring that item back to me…” the hag stopped for a moment as if contemplating.

A moment later the hag stood tall and spread out its arms as it said, “All that I have and am will be yours.” A quest screen popped up in front of James and his party.

Hidden Quest: Slay the Demon in the pot

Grandmother Raven has offered you everything in her possession, even herself, in exchange for the item in the possession of the demon in the pot.

Accept?

Y / N

Jacob turned to his party who were all looking upon the same quest screen, "So guys what do you think?" The first to answer was one of the newer recruits, followed quickly by the rest. They all hit yes and so the quest began. Grandmother Raven walked oved and leaned down only a little to pick up the pot. She handed the pot to James, "Return to me when it is done." Then she shooed them out the door.

Jacob thought for a moment then asked, "Do you guys want to earn the experience or do you just want me to kill this guy?" Their faced bursting with joy as they looked about ready to answer only for their smiles to fade. They began to look at each other and then huddled up. After a moment of discussion they broke their huddle with their answer. "We want to kill him."

Jacob nodded say, "I'll play support, and i won't step in unless you guys are getting your asses handed to you. Sound fair?" His teammates nodded in agreement. They walked back across the bridge into the forest. they walked for a few minutes before stopping. "This seems like a good place." Jacobs teammates asked, "Why did we have to go this far?"

James simply looked at them say, "I have a feeling." Many made faces of discontent at his statement but otherwise did not argue. James set down the pot and began passing out buffs, and when they were good and ready, James began to pull the chins apart until none remained. James placed his hand on the lid, the pot almost hoping up and down. "This demon really wants out, be careful." His teammates nodded showing they were ready, so James tore off the pots lid flying back to get clear of the demon that was about to spawn.

But nothing happened. James' party looked on with confusion, still readying themselves for a fight. James hovered above the pot and looked down into it. In the pot he saw a small red demon. "He's tiny. What the Fuck?" James exclaimed his surprise. Then the demon looked up at him. The demon jumped out of its pot taking on its full size.

The demon stood 10 feet tall. Like the hag it would be taller if it weren't hunched. James realized that the red he had seen was a coat. 'This damn thing is a cruel mockery of Santa.' The gnarled face of the demon opened as it looked ready to roar, the staring bell for the fight, but then he spoke. "I give you my thanks. Am I to assume that that little hag has set you up to slay me?"

James flew down landing on the ground. He looked back at his somewhat stunned teammates, giving them a look of, i told you so. James turned back and saw a white name hovering above the demons head. Krampus, The Demon of Christmas. "Let me guess you want us to kill the hag." Krampus did not hesitate to say, "I would love to see that monster punished, but i can always return for vengence later. Undoubtably the hag will want some form of proof that you have slain me." He reached into his coat and pulled out his sack holding it out for James to take. Then there was a quest notice.

Hidden Quest: Slay the Demon in the pot has been updated

Option 1: Kill the demon as agreed and retrieve the item for Grandmother Raven Option 2: Kill Grandmother Raven for Krampus, Unknown rewards Option 3: Be a murder hobo and kill them both, take it all! Option 4: Take the sack and present it to Grandmother Raven, trick the Hag!

James walked over to his teamates and they began to discuss the options.