[He adjusts his glasses, peering over the tops of his frames.]

For real. There's a similar legend in Germany and Austria, of a goat-man monster or demon which emerges from the mountain forests. Supposedly old Saint Nick tamed the creature and gave it permission to bedevil the children on the naughty list. For all we know, the creature on the rooftops is the reality behind the legend. I've seen one goat-like half-Pthumerian about the town.