masterlist entry | spreadsheet | player profile
Current GP: 139
If you’ve stumbled in from Google/Bing/Wherever while searching for the folkloric Púca:
My apologies; this page is a profile for a game character whose personality is loosely based on the Púca but is ultimately fictional and unrelated. If you are searching for actual lore, I’d suggest having a look around duchas.ie and doegen.ie. Deasún Breathnach’s “Chugat an Púca” and “The Púca: A multi-functional Irish supernatural entity” as well as Dáithí Ó hÓgáin’s “The Lore of Ireland” might be worth checking out too.
1321 | Púca
Irish, “spirit/ghost” - audio prounciation
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origin abnormal . nature fickle . boundary overgrown ringfort . size trifling
nature features
furze (Ulex europaeus), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), moss (brachythecium), common liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha)
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enchanted familiar sighthound + spectral aura
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original form críos transformed by 360
available as a creator | art & writing welcome | may be freely used in others’ stories
Púca’s Jams (silly, upbeat, misadventurous)
The Frost Is All Over - The Chieftains
The Creel - Paul Brady
The Waterford Boys - The Dubliners
King of the Fairies - The Dubliners
I’m a Rover - Ye Vagabonds
Johnny’s Flush / The Boiling Hen - The McDades
The Ballad of Lidl and Aldi - Mick MacConnel
An Poc ar Buile - The Cheiftains
fickle | whimsical | puckish | enigmatic | curious
Púca can be difficult to understand and tolerate, but is generally well-intended and far from malicious or dangerous. He is prone to harmless trickery and diversion, frequent abrupt changes of opinion and direction, and takes precious little seriously. His behavior is driven by whims of curiosity, forever dictated by the present moment with very little heed paid to the past or future. Despite his oddness, he greatly enjoys the company of others (with complete disregard as to whether or not they enjoy his in return), revels in large groups, and is usually a good adventure companion due to his boldness (but be wary of any directions he tries to give, or objects you may be carrying with you).
Púca typically spends his days wandering about, playing various tricks on humans or fellow esk, following whims of curiosity, and causing harmless trouble wherever his legs lead him. While he is not seen by humans, the spooky occurrences in his ringfort and occasional sightings of his familiar by villagers keep storytelling traditions about the púca and the black dog alive and well among the locals. One of his favorite activities involves squirreling away objects he finds, regardless of who they belong to or how precious or banal they are. Many of these he uses to decorate his ringfort, while others he may place in the boundaries of esk he is acquainted with when they are not around.
He regularly visits Gealach who lives fairly nearby in the Burren, and frequently gets up to trouble with Cóilí who’s boundary is just outside his own.
Ráth, Draigheann, Aiteann
A ringfort (ráth, lios), is an human-made earthwork, once used for settlement. They are marked notably by a earthen bank, sometimes with circular ditches or fosse around them. In folklore, mystery surrounds these structures and all are believed to be haunted. Entering one could cause any number of strange, otherworldly things to happen; damaging one almost gaurantees it.
The design of Púca’s very overgrown ringfort is inspired by Tulach Óg in Tyrone.
Furze (aiteann, also whin, gorse) is a flowering shub that grows prolifically through the Irish countryside. It blooms with deep yellow, sweet flowers set against dark, alarmingly thorny foliage (perhaps an apt symbol of Púca’s temperamentalness)
Blackthorn (draigheann) is a type of hawthorn which figures prominently in folklore and myth. Like the ringfort, it too is associated with the otherworld and there are countless stories told about the dangers of meddling with it. It blooms with small white flowers in the spring which give way to dusty, dark-blue sloes.
"This creature is the Pooka. Pay no mind to the shape he wears, for he’s none of his own, and no soul either. Ware him ever, trust him never, but when the wind’s right he has his uses. Never forget that you will never know him. The Pooka’s a mystery even to the Pooka."
— Peter S. Beagle, Tamsin
Impressions
His personality is based on the púca of folklore
His vibration is subtle and soft but oddly syncopated. It sometimes seems to ring like a tiny, broken bell with a bad case of the hiccups. The sweet, coconut-like smell of gorse radiates from his petals.
Púca does not speak. His communication is based on body language and subtle nuance, like changes in his nature feature, vibration, short mental chimes and chirrups, or posture. His familiar’s behavior can also provide clues to this puzzle.
The furze on his back can burst into wild bloom, spreading over the crests of his eyes, down the tops of his legs, and trailing off behind him in a thick golden blanket. It also has the ability to glow. Such a display often happens when he is excited and can’t contain it, or defensive and needs to make himself appear bigger.
He is about 8” tall (similar in height to some thrushes; ie an American robin), but when fully extending his long legs can get quite a bit more height!
His transformations are performed out of pure curiosity, and know no bounds. Anything, anywhere, is fair game so long as he finds it interesting.
Enchanted Sighthound - Toit
Irish, smoke - audio pronunciation (Ulster dialect)
Toit is a large black sighthound-type dog with long, silky fur. The Spectral Aura enchantment placed on her causes her to appear ghostlike and ephemeral, with wisps floating around her. She is quiet, observant, and well-mannered, but can be protective at times, and enjoys aiding Púca in his trickery.
Toit is based on ‘black dog’ lore that is common throughout Ireland and the UK; here is a video of Eddie Lenihan relaying a tale.
Relationships & Story
Relationships
1551 | Gealach - Close Confidantes
2574 | Cóilí - Thick as Thieves
360 - Púca’s Creator
Origins & Stories
Transformations
Púca’s transformations know no limits - they can be anything at all and are dictated almost solely by his curiosity (though he is not totally heartless - he has been known to help truly lost things as well). As a post-transformation mentor, however, he falls flat; he is not a good instructor or source of comfort, and whether he sticks around with new esk at all can be a coin toss. Some esk may end up alone afterward as he bumbles off to his next adventure, while others may be dragged into or subject to tricks and diversions rather than helpful introductions.
2574 | Cóilí - carved Connemara marble
3610 | Delyn - Red Kite feather
5146 - carved Sus barbatus tusk
Gallery
Click images to view fully. Much of this artwork is not mine but has been gifted or commissioned. Credits and links to these wonderful artists’ profiles are listed - on desktop, hover over the image; on mobile, you will have to hit the white circle in the bottom right corner (I am working on trying to find a different solution to the latter.)
