Pu'gwis

The Pu'gwis are one of the kiths of the nunnehi, changelings native to North America.

Overview
Perhaps the most tragic of the Nunnehi, these fae have truly hideous and loathsome physical forms, but hearts full of love. Legends say that they were once the most beautiful of the Nunnehi, but were so boastful of their resplendent appearance that the spirits felt it necessary to punish them.

Also called Bukwus, these Nunnehi live in the deep forests of the Northwest and Far North. Unlike  other fae who usually continue to live with their mortal families, these changelings almost always leave their homes after undergoing the Chrysalis. Fortunately, most pu’gwis don’t undergo their transformation until later in life, usually in their late teens or early 20s. Even so, many of them die in the wilderness or succumb to Bedlam.

A pu’gwis maintains a solitary life, but is always in search of a soulmate — someone with whom he  can share his life and his love. Their own tribesmen fear them, believing that they lure people into the forest to kill them and eat them. Pu’gwis do lure humans into the forest, but only in attempts to win their love. Ironically, pu’gwis are gifted with beautiful voices and are able to sing so sweetly that mortals, and others, are lured to the sound and even enthralled for a time.

While their repulsive features have made them reclusive, their curse has also made them sensitive to the plight of those who have less than others. Those who come to know the pu’gwis, and respect their beliefs, find them to be true and loyal friends. They are so misunderstood and hated because of their appearance that they hold tightly to anyone who gives them the chance to prove themselves, rather than  assuming the worst. Pu’gwis act as caretakers of the woods, striving to maintain habitats for animals of the forest and preserve the forests from logging and other destruction.

Pu’gwis look like human corpses. Their flesh is grayish and desiccated — what skin remains is stretched tight over their bones. Their noses are decayed holes in their faces, and their lips have peeled back from their teeth, exposing yellowed and chipped teeth. Their eyes are pus-filled, runny, and appear to be decaying in their sockets.

Affinity: Actor

Birthrights
Song of Beckoning — This potent song has a hypnotic effect on any who hear it, causing them to seek out its source. Anyone who is affected by the Song is compelled to find the pu’gwis and remain in her presence without taking action until the spell is broken. Once in the presence of the pu’gwis, anyone under the effect of the Song can attempt another Willpower roll once per minute to break its effect. If the pu’gwis takes any violent action, or if anyone attacks the target, the effect is immediately broken.

Song of Dismissal — This power allows the pu’gwis to remove all memories of herself from the minds of those who hear it. It is most often used on humans who are frightened by the pu’gwis and allowed to return to civilization, though it can be used on anyone the pu’gwis desires.

Frailty
Decay — All pu’gwis have an Appearance of 0 in their fae mien (and 1 in their mortal seeming), which can never be raised. Also, pu’gwis can never have a Strength rating above 3.