Happy holidays, one and all! Whether you're celebrating the season, stuck working, or enjoying business mandated days off, I don't think it's an exaggeration to say we could all use a bit of festive cheer this year. Winter traditions range from the sweet to the downright malevolent (check out Krampus in our upcoming Bestiary 3), but by far one of the strangest is the Welsh tradition of the Mari Lwyd. This spooky, shrouded creature has a horse's skull for a head. It shows up either during Christmas or the New Year—depending on how much the local church freaks out about its presence—and carols at the doorways to peoples' houses, demanding entrance using Welsh rhymes. Those who let the Mari Lwyd inside must offer the creature hospitality, usually in the form of alcohol and cheese. (Golarion scholars are still debating the absolute definition of “cheese”, but the general rule is that if you have to ask if something counts, it doesn't.)
Of course, most people don't want to give up their holiday booze and cheese to a creepy skull-horse! Those who seek to deny the Mari Lwyd entrance must sing back, telling it to leave. The festive Welsh rap battle, known as Pwnco, continues until one party runs out of ideas and is defeated. Should the Mari Lwyd lose, it will be on its way. If it wins, the household invites it in, but only—most critically—after the occupants make it promise to behave. Otherwise, the creature parties too hard, wrecking the place in a joyous frenzy.
Many Pathfinder monsters are wicked or hostile, but the Mari Lwyd is simply out to enjoy the season. Are your characters and players up to challenge this frightening being to a contest of rhymes? Or would they throw a Kraft Single at it and hope it goes away?