You’re watching the television when the regular programming is interrupted. Television news anchorman Buzz Murdock comes on the screen.

“We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special news bulletin. KRAW Action News has just received word of a hostage situation unfolding right here in our fair city. KRAW has received a webcast with the horrid details of this kidnapping for ransom plot. Before we show you this video we urge parents of small children to have those kids leave the room. The images you’re about to see are shockingly graphic.”

Buzz pauses for a moment and continues. “According to the webcast we’ve received, armed gunmen are holding a man hostage at an unknown location in the city. Here is the broadcast unedited.”

The image of the newscaster is replaced by the dark interior of some sort of industrial building. Concrete pillars and walls are visible in the room. The floor appears to be concrete as well and flickering florescent panels are lighting the room. Large metal hooks hang ominously from a metal rail. There is a man sitting center screen in a wooden chair. His hands are behind his back. Most disturbing however is how the man is dressed. The man is Santa Claus!

The pudgy Claus is in full Santa uniform from his red hat to his black boots. Two men holding rifles flank him. The men are wearing felt hats like Santa’s elves but have black ski masks covering their faces. They are wearing combat fatigues and boots.

“Attention Christmas shoppers,” one of the men says with a smile. “In the spirit of the holidays we want you to give. Give to us that is!” The two men laugh evilly. “We want ten million dollars delivered to us by 6pm on Christmas Eve or else we cancel Christmas and the fat man with it!” The man pokes Santa with the tip of his rifle.

“Please, let me go for the sake of the children,” Santa pleads.

“Be quiet,” the gunman slaps Santa on the back of the head. “You’ve got just over 48 hours to deliver the cash or Santa has delivered his last present.” The gunman looks off camera a moment as loud rumbling sound echoes through the near-empty building. “Remember, 6pm or Santa gets it,” he yells over the rumble and the screen goes dark.

Buzz Murdock comes back on. “Obviously the police are treating this very seriously. Detective Steve Vincent is handling the case and told KRAW by phone that this is obviously more than a typical hostage situation. It is an attempt to terrorize our community’s children.”

Saving Saint Nick is a M&M Superlink adventure for 1-4 street level or four-color heroes. It can be run in any urban campaign setting as a stand-alone encounter. The adventure begins on December 22nd of the campaign year. It can easily be adjusted to another power level to better fit your needs.

Includes:

1. Dozens of detailed clues in non-linear fashion
   
2. 1-page GM battle charts for easy of play
   
3. Fully detailed villains to challenge your heroes
   
4. Optional stats for higher and lower power levels
   
5. Map and NPC details for running various encounters
   
6. Follow-up hooks that blend easilly into any campaign
   
7. A fun adventure to challenge skills and power