Phookas

The ancient god Pan is said by some traditions to be the first Phooka. The name Pan became Puk over the centuries and as time went on both his name and the stories about him, began to change.

Pan became Puk.

Puk became Puka.

Puka became Pooka.

Pooka became Phooka.

And thus we see the name change from Pan to Phooka over the centuries.

But who was Pan? Carol & Dinah Mack have this to say:

Pan

Pan is closely linked with the satyrs, a rough, shaggy, goatlike species with demonical natures associated with contiuous orgies. Both Pan and the satyrs are associated with the pagan god Dionysus and the bacchanalia. These spirits of excess resemble the goatlike shedim and seirim (demons shunned by the ancient Jews) and contribute to the later image of Christians' horned, hirsute, goat-hoofed Devil.

Pan is also linked to the Italian Faunus, a mischievous woodland spirit associated with fertility and worshiped in ancient Rome. Pan, a powerful pagan spirit, is profoundly connected to the gecundity of both the woods and population.

Pan, free and untamable, was filled with and driven by wild insatiable lust. Though his advances were not infrequently rejected, and his nymphs metamorphosed to escape, his myrid of exploits were sometimes successful. One love affair with the nymph Pitys ended unhappily only when she was turned into a pine tree. Unremorseful, he pursued Echo ans as the nymph ran away from him made such hideous noise that a "pan-ic" spread through the forest and caused a group of frenzied shepherds to tear Echo apart, leaving only her voice.


Carol k. Mack & Dinah Mack, A Feld Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subversive Spirits (1989)

Brian Froud is by far the world's top authority on the Realm of Fae and it's many races. He has devoted his life to the study and collecting of folklores, myths, and legends regarding faeries. When a final word is needed about any race from the Realm of Fae, Brian Froud is the man to ask. Of Phookas, he has this to say:

Phooka

The Phooka is an Irish goblin with a variety of rough beast-like forms. He appears sometimes as a dog or a horse, or even a bull, but he is generally jet-black with blazing eyes. As a seemingly friendly, shaggy, sway-back pony Phooka offers the unwary traveller a welcome lift; but once astride he is taken for a wild and terrifying gallop across the wettest and most thorny country, eventually to be dumped hedlong into the mire or deposited in a ditch. The chuckle is that of the Phooka as he gallops away. Phooka sometimes takes the form of an eagle and carries men on his back.


~~Brian Froud , Faeries (1978)

Scan of the Phooka page from Brian Froud's books "Faeries", art by Alan Lee:

Not quite as well known as Brian Froud, Carol Rose, likewise has done extensive research into the Realm of Fae and it's various races.She wrote a 2 volume encyclopedia which gives brief details of nearly every Faerie Race that has ever existed at any point in history, in nearly every corner of the globe. Of Phookas she has this to say:

Pooka, Pouka

This is the name of a mostrous water horse in the folklore of Ireland. This supernatural is also known as Phooka, Pwca, and Puca. The Pooka is described as a horse or a shaggy-haired colt that may be hung about with chains or water weed. He is said to haunt wild places, the edges of lakes, and streams, where he will try to entice children to mount his back; if they do, he will race off with them straight into the water or even over a precipice.

Curiously, there is an account of a Pooka doing work as a horse in the fields for a poor farmer.

On the Celtic feast of Samhain (1 November), the Pooka in the shape of a horse, was said to trample the remaining blackberries and give prophetic answers to those humans who might consult him.

See also: Brownie, Hedley Kow, Household Spirit, Kelpie, Picktree Brag, Spirit


~~Carol Rose; Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins (1996)

I have vampires in most of my books... however, they are not the traditional undead "Dracula-style" vampires and I never call them vampires, though other characters in the story might call them that. By most traditions they are not even vampires at all, but rather more vampire-like.

My second most used "vampire" is being used in my NaNoWriMo novel this year (2007). He is not a human, nor is he a vampire. He is not an undead human, or a demon sent to walk the earth, or anything like that. He is a faerie, a Phooka to be exact.

A Phooka is a very dangerous and often violent shapeshifting trickster from Celtic myth, known for their ability to change into great fearsome black animals so that they can scare humans.

Some Phookas take a liking to humans and just play harmless pranks (like Harvey the rabbit of Jimmy Stewart movie fame) other Phookas are blood-thirsty creatures would lure humans to their doom.

My Phooka is of course the human eating vampire type. Black haired, black eyed, with a Mongolian appearance, about 6'1" in height, thin but very strong, and can change into any bird or animal he chooses...usually he chooses something big, black and scary. He is wild and savage, cruel and brutal, more a monster than a man. He'll not only drink the blood of, but also eat any human fool enough to get caught by him. You could say he is more like the traditional "pre-Dracula" type vampire.

This guy of course is my fearsome villain Blackbird from my Twighlight Manor stories.

I love phookas! they are my fave mythical creature/faerie/folklore creature/thing/being... I've got two of them (brothers) in my NaNo this year... I've used them before in other stories, they are so much fun to write about because not only can they be vampire-like but they can be were-wolf-like too, plus I'm not limited to wolves or full-moons, because they can change into any animal at any time they feel like.

1.) What is your character's name?

Born Esmerald Mudsburg, October 24, 1570, he was given the nickname Blackbird, after the form he chose to take on as his trademark shape.

2.) What does he/she look like?

He is Morphic Phooka, whose natural appearance if humanoid. He has exotic and highly attractive Mongolian features. His very long shaggy black hair that appears to have never seen a brush. He has unearthly, black, deeply slanted, almond shaped eyes lacking both whites and pupils, and which glow like blazen white coals when he is angered. His hands are long and thin, but muscular and abnormally strong. He is able to crush human bones with his bare hands. On his finger tips instead of fingernails he has sharp gleaming black eagle talons for ripping human flesh. Blackbird is both trickster and shapeshifter. He is neither human, nor does he have the emotions or mentality of a human. He is irrational and ruthless, known for acting fist and thinking later. His violent temper has lead to countless human deaths, many of whom he ate after killing. He often acts more animal than human and well growl, bare his fangs, and lash his claws when he feels threatened. Due to the fearsome nature of his natural appearance, Blackbird often takes the form of a human to befriend unsuspecting victims. His most often used form of choice however is the Veruex (The Black African Eagle) in a larger than natural size. Other favored forms include Panthers/Black Jaguars, and most black birds. In his natural "unmorphed" form he most resembles the Human called Alice Copper.

Blackbird looks just like this:



3.) Where does he/she live?

Blackbird lived most of his life in remote regions of China, Papua New Guinea, and the Amazon Rainforest. Later in life he was captured by humans and commited to The White Rock Asylum for the Criminally Insane. In this year's NaNoNovel he lives in the Amazon.

4.) How old is he/she?

this year: 437 years old, nearling the end of his races average 500 year life span

5.) What time period does he/she live in?

From 1570 - current.

6.) Does he/she have any relatives?

Living relatives: his father, 3 younger brothers, one younger sister

Dead relatives: mother, 37 wives (most of them human)

Other: has a twin brother rumored to be dead

7.) What is his/her favorite color?

black

8.) What is his/her favorite food?

human flesh

9.) What types of clothes does he/she wear?

Blackbird spent most of his life in China (1600's), and always dresses in black, wearing loose flowing silks in Asian cut. He sometimes wears elaborate masks and huge feathered headdresses of Mesoamerican style.

10.) Describe his/her pajamas:

wears a loose black silk kimono type robe to bed, but does not sleep on a bed, in humanoid and jaguar form he sleeps on the floor/ground, or in bird form in a tree

11.) What is his/her favorite book?

he is illiterate

12.) What is his/her favorite song/music genre?

likes wild tribal drum beats

13.) How often does your character shower/brush his/her teeth?

rarely

14.) When was the last time he/she went out on a date?

after 37 dead wives, women tend to stear clear of this dark creature

15.) Does he/she have allergies/asthma/some strange disease or susceptibility to disease?

no

16.) Does he/she play an instrument?

no

17.) Does he/she collect items?

the skulls of his victims; antique Chinese weapons; raises poison arrow frogs to make halucinagetic drugs with

18.) Does he/she have any friends?

only two, most people a terrified of him

19.) If you could place your person in a high school, which groups would he/she "click" with?

goths or emos would prob'ly find him cool

20.) What hair styles does your character have?

very long, shaggy, unkept, matted, unbrushed, very wild and savage looking

21.) If your character got lost in a forest, what would he/she do?

turn into a bird and fly over the tops of the trees to find the direction out

22.) If your character got flicked off by someone, what would he/she do?

rip out their throat and eat their heart

23.) If your character was asked out on a date by a random person, what would he/she do?

Women are his weakness, he has had many wives, several of them human, he tends to "woo" women in much the same hypnotic way that other dark races of faerie do. Women are adviced to keep their distance from him, as he tends to mate not date and lays claim to any woman willing to go near him, and well than slaughter and eat any male that gets near her

24.) Does your character have any phobias?

none for most of his life... after being released from the asylum he had many, including doctors and guards (they used toture to keep him sedated)

25.) Does your character have a job/profession?

Blackbird is the prime "deity/god" of the religous cult in several of my books; was a hitman for a ganster for a couple of years in more recent years.

26.) Is your character a morning person, or a late-night person?

Blackbird is very secretive and prefers his privacy, keeping out of the public eye, usually keeping to the shadows and is rarely seen by his victims. He uses stealth and the element of surprise to his advantage. People fear the darkness for fear than Blackbird will be lying in wait for them.

27.) If your character met you, what would he/she say/do?

??? no idea ???

28.) When is your character's birthday?

October 24, 1570

29.) What habits does your character have?

A dangerous blood thirsty Morphic Phooka from the Realm of Fae, Blackbird spends much of his days in the form of a giant Black African Eagle, though he can take the form of anything or anyone he chooses, making him all the more dangerous as he could be disguised as your best friend and you would not know it until it was too late.

Like most races of Faerie, the Phookan race is far from friendly towards humans. The mildest Phookas resort to pranks and trickery, while the darkest are outright brutal and deadly. Blackbird is feared not only by humans, but by other Phookas as well.

The eldest son of the Phookan warrior: Aardsvorkus Mudsburg, a.k.a. The Mudbug. Blackbird was raised and trained to be a fighter in gladiator style "faerie rings", where he quickly became the undefeated champion. His trademark was to change from humanoid to bird and back to humanoid form confusing his opponent, than killing them with a quick blow that turned their head front to back, and finally ensured their death by eating their heart and brain.

After The Red-Dragon and The Lansquin, Blackbird is considered the most feared and most dangerous man in the known universe (in my books).

30.) How would a character in your book who does not like this character describe him/her?

most say he is a monster; many would like to see him exicuted

The following pictures are conceptual art for my upcoming book, The Ruby Hummingbird. Each of the pictures below has at least one Phooka in it. My main character, Blackbird, is in all three of these pictures.

Here is the Phooka, Blackbird in his natural state humanoid form:



Here is the Phooka, Firehawk, Blackbird's younger brother, in his natural state humanoid form. In this picture he is wearing his warrior uniform. There are two differant Phookas in this picture. Can you find his older brother Blackbird in this pictue? Blackbird is in his raven form in this pictue and seen perched on FireHawks shoulder.



In this picture we see the human girl who is the hero of the story. She is seen pictured with the Phooka, Blackbird in his black panther or were-jaguar form.

The content of this lens was created by Wendy C. Allen compiled from posts on EK's Star Log, the official blog of author and artist Wendy C. Allen, a.k.a. EelKat. Reprinted here on Squidoo with permission.

EK's Star Log Copyright © Wendy C. Allen 2005-2007. Star Log, Space Dock 13, The Twighlight Manor Press, Moonsnails, Buried Treasure, Copper Cockeral, and Xavier's Nest Copyright © Wendy C. Allen 2005-2007. Twighlight Manor, EelKat, White Rock Asylum, Planet Ptarmagin, Crystonite Chronicles, Etiole, Sir Roderic, The Swanzen Family, Blackbird, The Twighlight Manor style Phookas, and all other related characters, info, writings, names, images, and content Copyright © Wendy C. Allen 1978-2007.

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