Last year, the Snorunts granted Claude some decent personal luck! And some very questionable group-based luck re: the travel group, but oh well. As a result, regardless of whatever happens this year, Claude feels like he needs to repay the Snorunts for their kindness from last year.

So once they start appearing again, Claude promptly goes out and buys a massive number of poffins, and offers the Snorunts he sees their choice of poffin in gratitude for his luck last year. A mini-feast, if you will. Hopefully they take it well, although Claude expects he doesn't have much control over what they do this year. (Otherwise he might attempt straightforward bribes, but then probably everyone else would be doing the same.) But he's still determined to acknowledge and thank them for their kindness last year, whatever happens this time around.