Barghest

Barghest
(Creature)
Common Medium Beast Unholy Level 4 Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Images of barghests Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 38 Type Outsider (evil, extraplanar, lawful, shapechanger) CR 4 Environment Any Alignment LG NG CG LN N CN LE NE CE Images of barghests Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 27

This article might have further canon details available on StarfinderWiki.

See also: Greater barghest

Barghests are said to be related to the goblinoid ancestries of Golarion. It resembles a cross between a wolf and a goblin and feeds on the flesh and souls of mortals.

Appearance

Being shapechangers, barghests can take on the form of a canine or humanoid, which they often use to hide in plain sight and return to their true form to frighten others. 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.

Abilities

Barghests possess a keen intelligence easily equal to that of most humanoids, and possess innate primal magic that allow them to briefly create mist, light, and small illusions, become invisible, and teleport to a creature that flees from of their reach. Barghests who learn to instill magical fear find the artificial terror they create to be unfulfilling.

They are less vulnerable to weapons not made of cold iron, while their claws bear a curse that can prevent a victim's wounds from being magically healed.

Ecology

The relative intelligence of barghests often makes them better suited for the company of wargs and werewolves than mundane canines, who instinctively hate them. Many lead packs of intelligent canines or follow the leadership of even more powerful kin, such as witchwargs.

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 Outer Rifts, although their lack of innate planar travel means such a return can take years for them to achieve.

Barghests have been spotted in the hills around Bloodsworn Vale, in the environs of the old Chelaxian capital of Westcrown, in the Greenbelt region of the Stolen Lands, near Canterwall in Ustalav, roaming the Mana Wastes, and leading goblin tribes in the River Kingdom of Lambreth.

Connection to Lamashtu

Barghests are disciplined, cunning hunters who generally have little interest in the legends about their creation and wish to have no part in the unbridled chaos of demons. However, legends suggest 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. Worshipers of the Goddess of Monsters have also summoned these creatures.

Other legends connect barghests to the Wild Hunt of the fey.

External links

• Barghest (real-world folkloric creature) on Wikipedia