Barghest
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- See also: Greater barghest
The fiendish barghest[1] is said to be related to the goblinoid races of Golarion. It resembles a cross between a wolf and a goblin and comes to this world to feed on the flesh and souls of mortals.[2][3]
Appearance
Being shapechangers, barghests can take on the form of a wolf or a goblin. Their natural shape is a worg-sized hybrid of the two. They generally walk on all fours, although their feet bear a greater resemblance to clawed hands than paws. Like goblins, they have oversized, pointed ears, a snub and nearly non-existent nose, and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Their powerful bite can tear through flesh and bone, and they can consume an entire human-sized creature in under six seconds. Their bodies are covered with dark, matted hair, and they posses of wolf-like tail.[2]
Barghests possess a keen intelligence easily equal to that of most humanoids, and possess innate magical abilities that allow them to charm prey, levitate, teleport across short distances, and avoid detection through divination magic. They can also insinuate themselves into the minds of their prey and flood them with thoughts of utterly hopeless despair.[2]
On Golarion
Barghests come to Golarion to feed on humanoid flesh out of more than just hunger (which they certainly do not lack). They can become greater barghests by consuming enough and returning to the Abyss, although their lack of innate planar travel means such a return can take years for them to achieve.[3]
Being creatures of the Great Beyond, barghests can be found in many parts of Golarion. They have been spotted in the hills around Bloodsworn Vale,[4] in the environs of the old Chelish capital of Westcrown,[5] in the Greenbelt region of the Stolen Lands,[6] near Canterwall in Ustalav,[7] roaming the Mana Wastes,[8] and leading goblin tribes in the River Kingdom of Lambreth.[9]
Connection to Lamashtu
Although barghests are disciplined, cunning hunters who generally wish to have no part in the unbridled chaos of demons, they share a special connection with the demon goddess Lamashtu. Scholars claim that in the time before time, the goddess freed a group of barghests kept in a kennel by the god Asmodeus. She elevated them to demigod status and created small realms within her Abyssal realm for them. Goblins believe that the four strongest of these—Hadregash, Venkelvore, Zarongel, and Zogmugot—founded their species.[10] Worshipers of the Goddess of Monsters have been known to be able to summon these creatures as well.[11]
References
- ↑ Note that the alignment of barghests and greater barghests has changed from lawful evil in 1E to chaotic evil in 2E.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jason Bulmahn. (2009). Bestiary (First Edition), p. 27. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-183-1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Mark Seifter, et al. (2019). Bestiary (Second Edition), p. 36–37. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-170-2
- ↑ Jason Bulmahn. (2007). Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-049-0
- ↑ Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Tim Nightengale, and F. Wesley Schneider. (2010). Bestiary. Mother of Flies, p. 77. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-199-2
- ↑ Adam Daigle, Ed Greenwood, Rob McCreary, Sean K Reynolds, and James L. Sutter. (2010). Bestiary. Rivers Run Red, p. 79. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-233-3
- ↑ Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, and Sean K. Reynolds. (2011). Bestiary. Trial of the Beast, p. 83. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-309-5
- ↑ Erik Mona et al. (2008). Campaign Setting, p. 77. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-112-1
- ↑ Jason Nelson. (2010). Lambreth. Guide to the River Kingdoms, p. 25. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-203-6
- ↑ James Jacobs. (2008). Goblin. Classic Monsters Revisited, p. 20. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-079-7
- ↑ Sean K Reynolds. (2008). Lamashtu. Sins of the Saviors, p. 72. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-040-7
External links
- Barghest (real-world folkloric creature)