Barghest

Barghests were fiendish lupines that consumed mortal souls to gain power.

Description
The true form of the barghests resembled goblin–wolf hybrids with monstrous jaws and razor sharp claws. They were able to shapeshift into either a goblin or canine form, each of which were indistinguishable from normal members of their kind to most. Goblins immediately recognized barghests in their goblin forms and no matter the canine form they assumed, whether war dog, wild dog or wolf, other canines could easily identify them. A hateful, orange glow was given off by their intelligent eyes when they were excited and they occasionally possessed unusual traits that betrayed their true nature, such as a shock of white hair or a discolored eye.

Barghest whelps naturally appeared as larger, yellow-skinned goblins, eventually developing the ability to take on the form of a large wolf with powerful claws, their true form as this stage. As barghests matured, their forms grew to about long, weighed, and their yellow skin darkened to a shade of bluish-red until eventually turning entirely blue. Barghests that achieved greater status could transform into tall,, goblin-like monsters or into dire wolves. On incredibly rare occasions, barghests could grow to such gargantuan proportions that they could occupy small mountains. Other goblinoid races like the bugbears or hobgoblins were known to have barghest versions of their kind.

Personality
Barghests were treacherous tyrants that craved power over others, ruling goblinoids through fear and force. During their time in the Material Plane they grew not only physically but mentally, learning the skills and strategies needed to lead and hunt in the much harsher and competitive Gehenna. Bugbear barghests often attempted to incite other goblinoids into committing acts of violence against others while hobgoblin barghests commanded the terrified respect of their underlings and enemies.

Abilities
Barghests had numerous spell-like abilities at their disposal, such as levitate, pass without trace, dimension door, charm person, and numerous illusion and enchantment powers. Greater barghests had access to group spells such as invisibility sphere, mass bull's strength, mass enlarge.

They could take on either their true forms, goblinoid forms or canine forms in a matter of seconds although their equipment was left behind. Their goblinoid forms were generally deprived of natural weapons but could don armor and handle tools. Some were also capable of taking on other humanoid shapes, such as those of drow, but would keep their bestial strength even in more lithe forms. Their wolf form was faster and stealthier than their true form and able to use past without trace much quicker, but lacked much of their spellcasting, and the claws of their true form. Canines were immediately driven to fear and hate barghests in their wolf forms, attacking them whenever feasible.

Although enchanted weapons were required to seriously harm a barghest, they possessed a number of glaring weaknesses. Holy water was a viable weapon against them and barghests that had not reached greater status could be affected by fiend targeting powers like protection from evil or the turning powers of some clerics. Ironically, the fiends were most threatened by open flames, as infernos larger than their bodies, either 10 feet tall or wide, could immediately return them to Gehenna. They could attempt to resist the draw of their home plane and normally could not be banished by explosions or bursts of fire like from the breath of a red dragon or a fireball spell. When in canine form however, barghests suddenly enveloped by magical flame were just as likely to be sent back to the Fourfold Furnaces as they were under normal conditions.

Society
Barghests originated from the plane of Gehenna but were sent to the Prime Material Plane to mature. Once they reached maturity, they were allowed to return to their native plane. Their method of doing this was gruesome in nature. To grow and become stronger, the barghest, known as a barghest whelp in its formative years, had to devour victims in order to gain size and strength. The stronger the victim consumed, the more power was absorbed by the whelp.

Ecology
Barghests were terrible outsiders who came to the mortal world to feed upon its heroes. These wolf-like creatures had an affinity with goblins, and could assume the form of a goblin or wolf at will. Many goblins worshiped barghests as gods.

History
A barghest named Ulgulu lived out his early years around the region of Sundabar and became very strong after many such consumptions, so strong in fact as to be near able to return to Gehenna. In the, he slew a farmer family called the Thistledowns and devoured the eldest daughter. In the process, he left false evidence to point the blame at the drow ranger Drizzt Do'Urden so as to cover his crimes. In revenge for the slain family, the dark elf killed Ulgulu, along with the creature's minions and brother Kempfana. Ulgulu died halfway between changing back from the form of a gigantic wolf, proving the barghest's ability to shape change.