The Baykok
An undead supernatural creature that stalks the most powerful of prey. The First Nations tribes have many legends surrounding this revenant like creature. Because of the rich oral traditions of the tribes and the lack of a written language prior to the arrive of Europeans, researching and hunting this creature is difficult.
The most commonly encountered form of the baykok (and there is evidence to indcate there are several varieties) is that of ‘The Hunter’. The hunter is a revenant of sorts. If a zealous or obsessive hunter dies (possibly under a Full Moon) they will rise one to three nights later a Baykok.
It is an emaciated, skeletal creature with elongated legs, a thin translucent skin, red glowing eyes, a banshee like shriek and may possess some form of flight or glidding. As they are mainly found in forested areas, hunters have provided conflicted accounts as to whether they can fly or are adept at leaping between trees.
When the Baykok rises from the dead, it has one imperative. Hunt. But it is not a mindless creature. It seeks out the strongest warriors, the canniest of hunters and the powerful of supernatural prey. Yes, hunters who have contacts among werewolves of Canada and the Northwest do report that the werewolves have had to contend with Baykok hunting them.
The baykok hunts with a bow of bone, supposedly strung tendons from fallen prey. The arrows of the Baykok are of some contervasry. Some claim they are invisible while others say they are the same shade as moonlight. Regardless of visible or not, they carry some form of mystical paralitic that will render prey unconscious with a single arrow in roughly half an hour. The typical hunting pattern of the baykok to stealthly follow it’s prey and then when terrain is to it’s advantage, let loose its shriek that typically induces terror and blind flight in the target and pursues them.
When the baykok finally catches it prey there is again disagreement. Some hunters and legends report the creature dispatches the quarry and harvests its organs and tendens and will take a troffy. Other sources say the baykok will remove the quarry’s liver and consume it, replacing it with a stone and letting the person die slowly over several days.
Defeating the baykok is a difficult task. There are many suggested ways from legend but hunter accounts seem to confirm two different ways. One is to sing a traditional First Nation songs of Thunderbird. This actively repels the Baykok. The second is that if one wears talismans made of quartz (hand gathered and hand carved) with owl feathers and/or talons, it will render you immune to its shrieks and arrows. Quarts being a natural conductor of power, channels the latent energy of the Owl (the silent hunter) and again breaks the power of the Baykok.
The crunchy parts
HP 11
Armor 1
Powers:
Supernatural speed: It is extremely adept and swift at moving through trees. It is of above average speed on the ground.
Shriek: Cool Check
6- & you’re running in a blind panic.
7-9 you’re scared and have penalties to mental tasks but you’re still holding it together.
10+ you’re heart is racing but you’re got it covered for now.
claws/talons 1harm (piercing)
Axe/Hatchet 2harm (messy)
Arrows – 2harm (1 piercing)
Poison: Tough Check
Fail & your legs are useless and you’ll be out soon.
7-9 its starting to kick in and you take minuses to physical tests but you’re still moving.
10+ you shrug off that arrow..but man it smarts.
Weaknesses:
The Thunderbird Song actively repels the Baykok as it is evoking the awesome power of Thunderbird. They hunt whales like eagles hunt salmon. Best recognize.
Quarts/Owl Talisman. Without its shriek and arrows, the Baykok is easy to hunt. Provided you can knock it out of the trees and get it on the ground.
