The Awful Bugaboo by Eugene Field

A bugaboo, or bugbear, is a variant of the faeries that scare parents into seeing to their children. In Realms of Power : Faerie this would be a variant of the ogre Gello. Thanks to Ann and her production team for the recording.

***

THERE was an awful Bugaboo

Whose Eyes were Red and Hair was Blue;

His Teeth were Long and Sharp and white

And he went Prowling ’round at Night.

❦

A little Girl was Tucked in Bed,

A pretty Night Cap on her Head;

Her Mamma heard her Pleading Say,

“Oh, do not Take the Lamp away!”

❦

But Mamma took away the Lamp

And oh, the Room was Dark and Damp;

The little Girl was Scared to Death—

She did not Dare to Draw her Breath.

❦

And all at Once the Bugaboo

Came Rattling down the Chimney Flue;

He Perched upon the little Bed

And scratched the Girl until she bled.

❦

He drank the Blood and Scratched again—

The little Girl cried out in Vain—

He picked Her up and Off he Flew—

This Naughty, Naughty Bugaboo!

❦

So, children, when in Bed to-night,

Don’t let them Take away the Light,

Or else the Awful Bugaboo

May come and Fly away with You!

***

Stat block:

Faerie Might: 10 (Corpus)

Characteristics: Int +1, Per +1, Pre –2, Com 0, Str –4, Sta +1, Dex +3, Qik +2

Size: –2

Virtues and Flaws: Faerie Sight, Faerie Speech, Feast of the Fae (blood), Hybrid Form, 2 x Personal Faerie Powers; Little, Sovereign Ward (Light), Incognizant.

Personality Traits: Cruel +1

Combat:

Brawl (bite): Init+3, Attack +11, Defense +9, Damage +1

Brawl (talons)*: Init+1, Attack +11, Defense +9, Damage 0

*Note that the bugaboo may prefer to scuffle if it wants to steal a living child, doing Fatigue rather than Wound damage. The scuffle rules are in the Non-lethal combat section on page 174 of the ArM5 core rules. The Scuffle Effects Table is on page 175.

Soak: +1 (shaggy hair).

Wound Penalties: –1 (1-3), –3 (4-6), –5 (7-9), Incapacitated (10), Dead (12+)

Pretenses: Athletics 2 (climbing)*, Awareness 3 (children), Brawl 3 (children), Faerie Speech 5

* Has virtue allowing supernatural athletics.

Powers:

Flight: 2 points, constant, Corpus. The bugaboo can fly and carry surprisingly heavy loads, like terrified children.

Supernatural Agility: 0 points, constant, Corpus (3 intricacy points spent on cost).

Individual Bugaboos may have powers which allow them to spend Might to produce effects. The creature drinking blood in the poem might be restoring the Might use from activating it Flight power.

Vis: 2 pawn (Corpus). A discarded wig.

Source: Based on the Kallikantzaro in Realms of Power: Faerie, page 87.

Appearance: There was an awful Bugaboo / Whose Eyes were Red and Hair was Blue; His Teeth were Long and Sharp and white…