Creature Feature: What The Puca?

Creature Feature created by Michael is a feature that focuses on the wonderful world of fantasy, science fiction, and horror creatures.

Today we are here with Sean O'Brien, Irish creature extraordinaire to talk about the Puca. A strange creature that is featured in some folklore. 


Me:Welcome Sean.

Sean: Good day to you lad. Nice of you to invite me to talk about this Wild creature.

Me: What does a pica look like?

Sean: That's a tricky question, you see, the Puca is a shape-shifter, so it can come in many different forms. There have been stories of people encountering them as a goats, horses, dogs, and rabbits. Though they typically have 3 distinctive features black hair, glowing gold or red eyes, and they can speak human language no matter what form they take.

Me: Do they eat humans?

Sean: Nay they shan't do that. They do they play tricks on humans though. They do like to tell tales, and can trick you into thinking they are telling you the truth about your house or family. And make you talk to them until you lose track of time. And they disappears without a trace, and you will wonder why you alone out in field by yourselves. They also like to offer rides as a horse. They will give you a terrifying ride of your life until the dawn breaks. They will do death defying leaps and give quite a fright lad. They then shall leave you in a far away place and you will have to make your way home by foot.

Me: Neither of those sound very good to me. Where would you encounter such creatures.

Sean: Oftentimes in open fields and usually often after harvest. It's best to leave them a bit behind to not anger them, which will cause them to wreak havoc on you or your family.

Me: Can you tame a Puca so you can ride them in horse form?

Sean: Aye, I've heard the tale of High King Brian Boru who tamed the beast.

Me: Does Puca pose a deadly threat to us?

Sean: Nay, I don't reckon they do. They are mostly tricksters and like to give terrifying rides to travelers on foot. They are interesting creatures with mischievous intentions.

Me: Thanks for the information and have a good day.

Sean: ta an la go maith

Me: what?

Sean: That's good day in Gaelic

Books featuring the Puca: 

Movies featuring the Puca:

Creature Feature: Trolls! In The Dungeon!

Creature Feature created by Michael is a feature that focuses on the wonderful world of fantasy, science fiction, and horror creatures. 

We are joined today by the great ship sailor, mighty Troll slayer, and fantastic ax-wielding Gunnar Sorenson.

Me: Glad you could make it today to discuss your foe, the troll.

Gunnar: Those nasty things they are just plain evil.

Me: How many trolls have slayed in your journeys?

Gunnar: Over 350 but I lost count some time ago.

Me: Did you take them all on single-handed?

Gunnar: Well I have 2 hands...

Me: I mean did you have anybody else along who helped you take those trolls down.

Gunnar: some trolls I needed me kamerats to take down, but there were some I was able to take down myself.

Me: Kamerats?

Gunnar: Me shipmates. 

Me: how tall are trolls because I have heard stories that they can be as big as 10 feet and some are smaller under 3 feet.

Gunnar: Aye yes some are small but some very large. Almost as big as my ship.

Me: what do trolls look like?

Gunnar: All sorts of different types of trolls. They live in the forest and those have green like skin and look more branch like and very tall(8'-10') Some live in caves and more like your size (5'10"). They are gray and have skin that looks kind of like rocks. Jagged and rough. Then there are the ones live in mountains and very short (3' or less) and have clay-like skin and are brown.

Me:  Do they hate sunlight?

Gunnar: aye yes sunlight causes trolls to turn to stone. So those in forest stay hidden amongst trees. Those in caves don't come during daylight. And those in mountains retreat to caves in mountains during the day. That is how I defeated some trolls was to enrage them enough to forget about sunlight and they stepped out into it and turned to stone within seconds.

Me: Did trolls attack your village or did you have to seek them out?

Gunnar: Sometimes they attacked our churches late at night. Though sometimes they stole some of our supplies so we were tasked to hunt these creatures down and take them out.

Me: Well I think that is all we have time for. Thank you for coming by and discussing trolls with us today.

Gunnar: Aye good day to ya.

Trolls in different media 

Books

Movies

Video Games