Father Holliday

All seems to say, "Throw cares away!"

One of the oldest legends of Aohiri comes from a town sitting deep in the heart of Prostesa. Chief above all legends is that of Father Holliday, a figure that revels in mirth and generosity. To this day, he is said to watch quietly over Prostesa, punishing the bad and rewarding the good.
Grimm Holliday, Old Man Winter, Father Frost—these are the many names given to Father Holliday across Aohiri’s many years of living. His name is as old as time itself, immortalized by the virtues of kindness and love. Like many legendary figures with multiple names, Father Holliday is perceived differently on each continent, and his name appears to change with each millennium that passes. His origins, though muddled with age, are still as strange as they are today.

A Grimm Tale

The man that would become known as Grimm Holliday was originally a gambler from Bethalon. Like most Bethians in his position, addictions trapped Grimm in a vicious cycle of withdrawal and indulgence. Above all these addictions, however, was his gambling addiction. A silver coin, a locket, a pocket watch—the chance to gain rather than lose seemed to only get bigger when something more valuable than the last was on the line. Grimm had gambled all his possessions away by the time he had met Old Ear-to-Ear, a catfish-like devil who always had a pleasant smile on his face. Accompanying him was a fellow Baatezu, this one looking indistinguishable from a human, concealing nothing but the eyes. His voice was friendly—welcoming, even—and so Grimm did what Grimm always did and decided to take another gamble. Old Grimm, he’d heard much of the tricks devils employed to con their way to victory. Grimm refused to be conned, offering weighted dice to be used for the game, yet another bad habit he'd picked up.
“Well, tough luck there, my friend! Looks like I come out on top today! Pay up!”
And for the first time in what felt like centuries, Grimm had finally won a game. But, this act of dishonesty would not come without punishment. Anyone who has ever gambled with a devil knows that you can’t cheat your way out of a contract. Games between mortals and devils were much like contracts; Grimm had crossed a line.
That night, while Grimm was sleeping, he was visited by Old Ear-to-Ear. The devil’s smile was so wide that one could’ve thought it would walk off his face. This time, it was the devil’s turn to make a wager.
“Gotta say, friend, I’m mighty impressed with you. How about another game? If you can win against me, I’ll make you a king. I’ve got the authority and the luck to do it.”
Not bothering to question the devil’s sincerity, Grimm eagerly accepted. But, poor Grimm hadn’t a clue the man he was gambling with. Any man who knew enough about the world to stay sane wouldn’t have taken that bet. Old Ear-to-Ear wasn’t called the Archdevil of Fortune and Misfortune for any old reason. Whispering promises of riches into people’s ears before stealing it away was something the devil sustained himself on. Grimm had walked right into a trap.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Grimm, Old Ear-to-Ear couldn’t take his soul so easily. As greedy as the devil was, he was generous too, and so Grimm was given a chance to even out his crimes. For every soul Grimm had conned, something must be given. If he were to give as much as he took, he would be spared, and Old Ear-to-Ear wouldn’t trouble him ever again.
And that is how Grimm became Grimm Holliday, a figure based on the principles of giving instead of taking. This story isn’t just a folktale, it’s a lesson. Be mindful of who you trick because they may just come back to bite you.

- Granny Smiff, elderly resident of Bethalon

Historical Basis

A man by the name of Ebenezer Carronway was a haggardly old man that was known for never smiling. Folks that lived in Bethalon alongside him referred to him as “Sour Ebe.” In what was perhaps the bravest and most foolish stunt of his life, he had conned a poor man out of his money with weighted dice and flaunted this accomplishment in Bethalon’s most popular tavern, the Rolling Dustbin. The next night, Ebenezer stumbled onto the streets and shouted prayers to the gods for help. “The devils have come for me!” he cried, but nobody answered his plea. The next day, Ebenezer was gone, and the house he inhabited has been seen torn down and rebuilt.

Spread

The story of Father Holliday is so well known that his name has become associated with the Festival of Lights, a winter event that is hosted annually in Illwurn. Because of Illwurn, Father Holliday has been adapted into several distinct seasonal events spanning Aohiri’s lifetime, and all of them encompass the same values of gratitude and kindness. Children are often told the story of Father Holliday both as a way of immortalizing his name and keeping the holiday spirit but also to ensure that their children never fall into the same habits as Grimm Holliday. Those residing on Aohiri and are old enough to grasp the purpose of the story understand that Father Holliday's tale is both a warning and a lesson.

Variations & Mutation

It’s unknown when exactly it was created, but the modern portrayal of Father Holliday—a jolly man in a red suit—comes from Ustenstead, who popularized it out of a growing fear of debauchery during holiday seasons. This change to his character was done to both bar children from potentially harmful stories about gambling and addiction and to bring new values to the holiday spirit, which was commonly thought to be too encouraging of culturally inappropriate behavior.
Illwurn, the nation that popularized the Father Holliday tale, seems to have adapted the original story into their own modern portrayal. Illian stories about Father Holliday depict the same jolly gift-giver suddenly turning strict and heavy-handed when in the face of cruelty and immaturity. It was from Illwurn that the name “Father Holliday” was created, as the Illian portrayal of Father Holliday acted much like a parent to good children and an advisor to the elderly.

Date of First Recording

2500 AA

Related Locations

• Bethalon