Barghest

Barghest

(Creature)

2E1E

Common

Medium

Beast

Unholy

Level

4

Images of barghests

Source: Monster Core, pg(s). 38

Legacy 2E: Barghests had the

CE

and

Fiend

traits and lacked the

Beast

and

Unholy

traits in Bestiary 36–37, which also changed their alignment from lawful evil to chaotic evil.

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

Ⅰ

Ⅱ

More information about this subject might be available on StarfinderWiki.

See also: Greater barghest

Barghests are sapient, canine, shapeshifting beasts with inherent primal powers who hunt challenging, intelligent prey.

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.

Abilities

Barghests possess a keen intelligence easily equal to that of most humanoids, and possess innate primal powers that allow them to briefly create mist, light, and small illusions, become invisible, and teleport to a creature that flees from of their reach. However, barghests who instill fear through supernatural means 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, coerce families of less powerful humanoids into their service, or follow the leadership of even more powerful kin, such as witchwargs.

On Golarion

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.

Origin legends

See also: Greater barghest

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