The púca (Irish for spirit/ghost), pooka, phouka, phooka, phooca, puca or púka, is primarily a creature of Irish folklore. Considered to be bringers both of good and bad fortune, they could either help or hinder rural and marine communities. The creatures were said to be shape changers which could take the appearance of black horses, goats and rabbits. Phoukas are shapeshifting fey that delight in playing tricks on humanoids. A phouka does not intentionally harm others or cause trouble, but collateral damage sometimes arises from their mischief.
The púca has counterparts throughout the Celtic cultures of Northwest Europe. For instance, in Welsh mythology it is named the pwca or pwwka, and in Cornish the Bucca In the Channel Islands, the pouque were said to be fairies who lived near ancient stones; in Channel Island French a cromlech is referred to as a pouquelée or pouquelay(e); poulpiquet and polpegan are corresponding terms in Brittany.
The origin of the name may have come from the Old Norse term pook or puki, which refers to a "nature spirit". In Germanic languages, such as Frisian or English, this became pucel, pook or puck.
The pooka may be regarded as being either menacing or beneficent. Fairy mythologist Thomas Keightley said "notions respecting it are very vague," and in a brief description gives an account collected by Croker from a boy living near Killarney that "old people used to say that the Pookas were very numerous...long ago..., were wicked-minded, black-looking, bad things...that would come in the form of wild colts, with chains hanging about them." and that did much to harm unwary travellers. Also, children were warned not to eat overripe blackberries, because this was a sign that the pooka has befouled them.
In contrast, the phouka is represented as being helpful to farmers by Lady Wilde, who relates the following tale. A farmer's son named Phadraig one day noticed the invisible presence of the phouka brushing by, and called out to him, offering a coat. The phouka appeared in the guise of a young bull, and told him to come to the old mill at night. From that time onward, the phoukas came secretly at night and performed all the work of milling the sacks of corn into flour. Phadraig fell asleep the first time, but later concealed himself in a chest to catch sight of them, and later made a present of a fine silk suit. This unexpectedly caused the phoukas to go off to "see a little of the world" and cease their work. But by then the farmer's wealth allowed him to retire and give his son an education. Later, at Phadraic's wedding, the phouka left a gift of a golden cup filled with drink that evidently ensured their happiness.
There are stories of some phooka being blood-thirsty and vampire-like creatures. Other stories even say some are man eating beings, hunting down, killing, and eating their victims.
Phouka jokes may include assuming the form of a gold ring or gemstone, then once picked up, abruptly changing into a huge rock or a mule. A favored trick of phoukas is to take the shape of fine horse and wait for someone to mount it. It then takes off at breakneck speed, carrying its unfortunate rider into all sorts of perilous and frightening situations, before finally dumping the rider in a hedge, pool, or dungheap and cantering off, whinnying with laughter. The rider will suffer no injury except to his pride on these wild rides, as long as he can stay on his wild mount.
Phoukas tend to pester wild areas, but never stray far from humanoid settlements. They particularly like waiting for victims by the roadside.
Little is known of phoukas' ecology. Their reproduction process has never been observed, and it is rare to find more than one phouka in a region. They seem to be omnivorous, often assuming the form of a goat to eat (since goats can eat almost anything). They scavenge and steal rather than hunt.
A phouka in its natural form is about 5 feet in diameter and 2 feet high at the center. Swirls of color indicate sensory organs. In this form, a phouka slithers about like an ooze and can attack with a pseudopod. It weighs about 400 pounds. Phoukas can also speak Sylvan but prefer telepathic communication.
Phoukas prefer to avoid combat, assuming a swift form to flee or a small, stealthy form to hide. If cornered, though, a phouka may assume a more powerful, dangerous form. If its foes do not flee, it will attempt to do so itself at the first opportunity. A phouka also uses its Intimidation skill to frighten off opponents.