P Is for Pauguk
But the third and latest arrow
Swiftest flew, and wounded sorest,
And the mighty Megissogwon
Saw the fiery eyes of Pauguk,
Saw the eyes of Death glare at him,
Heard his voice call in the darkness;
At the feet of Hiawatha
Lifeless lay the great Pearl-Feather,
Lay the mightiest of Magicians.
Pauguk, emaciated and with translucent skin and glowing eyes of flame, serves Death itself. When important or powerful beings fall in battle, Pauguk arrives, visible only to its victim. It calls its victim’s name, and then takes the victim’s soul to whatever afterlife awaits, leaving behind the lifeless body.
Pauguk
Hit Dice: 10
Armor Class: 0 [19]
Attacks: warclub (1d8+2)
Saving Throw: 5
Special: Call soul, invisibility
Move: 15/24 flying
Alignment: Law
Challenge Level/XP: 14/2,600
Pauguk seldom has to fight. It arrives to claim the soul of its victim, invisible to everyone but the victim, who is often already on death’s door when Pauguk arrives. Death’s lackey then calls the victim’s soul, an action which has the same effect as power word kill. Pauguk can call a creature’s soul once per day. Should a victim somehow avoid Pauguk, the creature simply flies away to wait for the next time Death sends it on an errand.
It is widely believed that there is only one Pauguk, or least only one Pauguk in existence at any given time. Legends speak of heroes who manage to defeat Pauguk, bringing death to Death’s minion. If these legends are true, Pauguk’s demise hasn’t stopped Pauguk from further activity.
