Barbegazi
| Name | Barbegazi |
| Race | Monster |
| Type | Hyperborean |
| Faction | Independent |
| Premiere | Desideratum: Blood Bonds |
| Relative(s) | None Applicable |
Barbegazi
"Oui, oui! Please help us; we are peaceful!"
Biography
Barbegazi are mythical creatures from Swiss and French mythology. A barbegazi resembles a small white or gray-furred man with a long beard and enormous feet. Their skin usually has a blue coloring to it, and they travel in the mountains that are their home by skiing with their massive feet, or using them as snowshoes. In the summer, they aestivate in caves and tunnels and do not come out until the first snowfall. The word barbegazi comes from the French barbe-glacée, meaning “frozen beard”. Because of their penchant for high altitudes and low temperatures, they are rarely sighted by humans, but sometimes help shepherds round up lost sheep. Their greatest known excitement is surfing on avalanches with their remarkably large feet, but they are said to give low whistling cries to warn humans of the danger above. They also do their best to dig humans out from the snow, if the mortals become trapped.
During the French colonization of North America, a migration of the Barbegazi occurred, predominantly to a locale of French origin in northwest Minnesota named Roseau County. Numerous sightings have been reported along the Roseau River, in the depths of the often frigid northern Minnesota winters. However, from there, during viciously cold winters, some adventurous barbegazi sought out other mountains to explore and ski, one pocket of which inhabits the summit of Mount Hood in Oregon. This group befriended Jacques Lombar as he often patrolled the mountain at night, hunting any unsavory creatures. When Adrasteia, the dark elf, created blizzards and more monsters swarmed Mount Hood, the barbegazi asked for his aid and the Quebecois gave it.
They used their magic to summon a bridge of ice and the lumberjack followed it into the cavernous, cold chambers within the summit of the mountain. However, he became trapped in enchanted ice. There, he would have stayed, but Absinthe Van Gothen arrived on Mount Hood, looking for Jacques. There, she discovered massive footprints in the snow and tracked them up the mountain. These barbegazi footprints led her to their home atop Mount Hood in some old ruins carved by freemasons in the early 1800’s. She slew the hyperborean monsters on the mountain and they followed her to the summit eager to now save their friend, Jacques. Again, they created the bridge of ice, and Absinthe crossed.
She managed to slay the dark elf and obtain the artifact the elf guarded- the fire sword named Dyrnwyn. She used the magical flames to melt the enchanted ice that held the lumberjack, and together, they descended the mountain to the joyous songs of the barbegazi. To this day, the little furry monsters ski on the snow slopes of Mount Hood and enjoy the company of their friend, Jacques.
Abilities
- Ice Magic
- Expert Tracking
