Pogrebin

The Pogrebin is a Russian demon whose inconspicuous shape and persistent pursuit make it dangerous to humans: it can follow a person for hours until despair stops them in their tracks.

Appearance and Classification

Barely a foot tall, the Pogrebin has a hairy body and a smooth, oversized grey head. When it crouches, its rounded form resembles a shiny rock, an appearance that helps it go unnoticed. The Ministry of Magic classifies it as XXX.

Hunting Behaviour

Pogrebins are attracted to humans and enjoy tailing them. They keep to a person’s shadow, crouching quickly whenever the person turns around. The pursuit is quiet and sustained rather than openly forceful: the demon follows while its victim continues walking, remaining close but difficult to distinguish from an ordinary shadow or stone.

Effects on Victims

After many hours of being followed, a human prey animal is overcome by a sense of great futility. The effect deepens into lethargy and despair; eventually, the victim stops walking and sinks to their knees to weep at the pointlessness of it all. The Pogrebin’s threat therefore lies not only in its concealment, but in the prolonged psychological collapse its shadowing produces.