Turkey + Cthulhu?

The holiday season is around the corner, and many tables crave something festive. Turkeythulhu and the Realm of Holidoom, by Michael J Winegar, is a fusion of a Christmas carol and Ravenloft, taking place in a new domain of dread, Holidoom.

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free digital copy of this product.

The scenario

What is a Turkeythulhu?
This supplement introduces us to Holidoom, a mysterious realm with unpredictable weather that changes every two hours. Do not expect a cheerful holiday spirit, as it was devoured by an eldritch poultry called Turkeythulhu. This terrifying entity is part holiday feast and part cosmic horror, and will definitely feast upon you emotionally and literally.

Now, what if I told you that there are turkeyli-li too? These vicious tentacly abominations are smaller than the Turkeythulhu, but their hunger is endless and even makes them attack one another. But I’ll let you in on a secret: they are said to be delicious…

Apart from exploring this new setting, the supplement includes an adventure designed for characters of any level. The adventure begins as the party travels to Holidoom, perhaps by fate, to uncover the truth about the gargantuan feathered being. Once a place filled with light and warmth, Holidoom is now a twisted version of its former self. The realm’s last hope is recovering the Cloud Star, an artifact that was resting on the tallest of trees, the Annomundi Tree. Two great figures worth highlighting are Odin Saint Nick and Ebenezer Marigold. As you have probably guessed, the first one represents generosity and kindness, while the second is the embodiment of greed.

The story isn’t all horror and laughter, as it plays with the themes of melancholy and redemption too. There is a big plot twist about who the real darklord is, but I will leave that for you to uncover. And if you don’t, well, you may end up devoured by a cosmic turkey.

Encounters

As for the encounters, there are general ideas present for you to use in the possible combat encounters section, just before the adventure, with a nice balance between roleplay, exploration and combat. Is Turkeythulhu the final boss? Of course it is! It also is immune to all attacks and spells, so how do you fight it? All I am going to say is with Electric Turkey Carvers.

Other encounters vary from turkeyli-li to winter wolves and mercenaries that are also Turkultists, whatever that might be, I truly wonder.

Layout & Art

The supplement features a clean two-column layout, making it easy to read and easier to run. Visual highlights like bold text, headers and boxed read-aloud sections separate information meant for players from what is for the GM’s eyes only. Also, the contents menu is hyperlinked for easier navigation, a nice touch that keeps everything a click away.

The art is vibrant and charming, with vividly colored illustrations that effectively capture the beauty and weirdness of the setting. From the mighty Turkeythulhu to the actual map of Holidoom, each piece supports the text, without cluttering the pages. As for the cover, it is a holiday calendar fitting the theme of the story and overall setting.

Speaking of maps, there is a beautiful high-resolution map of Holidoom provided in both hexed and unhexed versions. Practical and pretty, it helps you immerse yourself in the festive madness.

Extras

What about extras? This supplement does not disappoint as it is stuffed like a turkey with not one, not two, but seven Appendices. Starting off with Appendix A, which provides lists of existing statblocks for various challenge rating levels, allowing you to scale the encounters according to your preference and the party’s level (or reward them with how naughty or nice they were this year). In Appendix B, you will find magic items, including the electric turkey carver that I mentioned before. Appendix C provides the Holidoom calendar, an extra touch that aids you in keeping track of every little detail. Then, Appendix D has additional maps (hexed and route of turkeythulhu), while Appendix E offers a quickplay guide to use Holidoom as a single-session adventure. Lastly, Appendix F is an expansion guide for turning a holiday one-shot into a seasonal saga.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I believe that Turkeythulhu and the Realm of Holidoom is the perfect blend of holiday cheer and cosmic horror, ideal for a festive and unforgettable session. It is a supplement that feels well-crafted and full of flavour, so if you are on the lookout for seasonal spices and a reminder that there is still light even in the darkest winter, I definitely recommend it for you!
One thing is for sure: Turkeythulhu is coming to the dinner table!

Stay crafty and doom that poultry,
Your new favourite author.

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