Barghests, or bloodhounds, are wraiths who have been Moliated into monstrous shapes and “lobotomized” by the grafting of a specially prepared muzzle of Stygian steel to their Corpus. The wraith who holds the corresponding “whistle” for a brace of barghests controls their actions. Barghests are animalistic and feral, but have extremely keen senses and are completely obedient to their controller. They are used as hunters and assassins by the Hierarchy. Braces of barghests search the Shadowlands for wraiths (or other beings) who bear significant amounts of Oblivion taint and destroy them.
Overview[]
These unfortunate, Moliated souls are used extensively by Legionnaire units for tracking, for ferreting out enemies and hiding wraiths, and as shock troops. A smart Centurion always orders barghests to be released into unknown or believed-dangerous territory before putting Legionnaires at risk.
There is a limit to what can be done with barghests, though. Their low intelligence makes them virtual killing machines to those they're turned on. Barghests can't be unleashed if a quarry is wanted "alive."
Nor are barghests completely expendable. They have to be Moliated into shape, and specially made muzzles must be grafted onto each one. An investment of time and expense is made in the creation of each muzzle, and a Marshal who loses barghests repeatedly must answer to their Overlord eventually. When a barghest is destroyed, Legionnaires do their best to recover its muzzle. That, after all, has had some time and effort invested in it, as opposed to the Moliated Corpus of the beast, which is expendable.
Barghest handlers who let their charges' muzzles be destroyed are often disciplined, if not demoted or pressed into the ranks themselves. There have been increasing reports of attacks staged by packs of Spectres that bear an appearance disturbingly similar to barghests', The nature of these incidents supports the theory that Harrowed barghests have been muzzled into the service of Oblivion. Legionnaires known to have abused barghests in the past have been torn to shreds of plasm by packs of such beasts.
Known Types of Barghest[]
Kuei-go[]
In Yellow Springs, similar creatures called kuei-go are trained by a special class of wraith, though their muzzle is made of jade rather than iron. Kuei-go are most numerous in the Bad Dog Village on the road to Feng-tu.
Stats[]
Wraith: The Oblivion Rulebook
Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 5, Charisma 0, Manipulation 3, Appearance 0, Perception 5, Intelligence 1, Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 4, Brawl 2, Intimidation 3, Tracking 5
Arcanos: Argos 1, Keening 4 (primarily Dirge and Crescendo)
Willpower: 4
Angst: 7/5
Corpus: 6
Equipment: Barghest Muzzle
Dark Kingdom of Jade
Sample Kuei-go
Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3
Mental: Intelligence 0, Perception 5, Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 2, Athletics 3, Brawl 4, Dodge 3, Subterfuge 1, Stealth 2
Corpus: 15
Willpower: 8 with muzzle on, 2 with muzzle off
All kuei-go have teeth and claws which do aggravated damage.
Dark Kingdom of Jade Adventures
Kuei-go
Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3
Social: Charisma 1, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0
Mental: Perception 5, Intelligence 0, Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 2, Athletics 3, Brawl 4, Dodge 3, Subterfuge 1, Stealth 2
Permanent Corpus: 15
Willpower: 8 (with Jade muzzle), 2 (with muzzle removed)
Equipment: All kuei-go have teeth and claws which case aggravated damage.
Wraith: The Oblivion Second Edition
Sample Barghest Statistics
Physical: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 5
Social: Charisma 0, Manipulation 3 (for Intimidation purposes only), Appearance 1
Mental: Perception 5, Intelligence 0, Wits 3
Talents: Alertness 4, Brawl 2, Dodge 2, Intimidation 3
Skills: Tracking 5
Arcanoi: Argos 1, Kenning 4
Passions: Serve (Loyalty) 5
Fetters: 1 point remaining
Willpower: 5
Pathos: 5
Angst: 7/5
Permanent Corpus: 8
Equipment: Muzzle, soulforged chewtoy
References[]
- WTO: Wraith: The Oblivion Rulebook, p. 65, 233
- WTO: Dark Kingdom of Jade, p. 17, 91, 102-103
- WTO: Dark Kingdom of Jade Adventures, p. 9, 80
- WTO: Wraith: The Oblivion Second Edition, p. 52, 275-276
- WTO: The Book of Legions, p. 144
- WTO/cMET: Oblivion, p. 50-51