The Bovo Popuo

[Havard]

It looks to me like Bovo Pupuo is made up dwarven for "before people" so there doesn't seem to be a clue in the name.

The "lingering spirits deep below the mountains" bit hints at Balrogs. I wonder if it could be an inside reference to how original Blackmoor had Balrogs all over the place but that it was decided to not include them in the DA series, except perhaps, for a few lingering in shadows.

Interesting point. There is definately a Moria analogy here. I agree with you that Balrogs would have been more numerous in the past. None of the DA modules make use of any such creature, but the Immortal Rules were published one year before the DA modules (1986) and did include the Roaring Demon which is BECMI's equivalent of the Balrog. Probably DA5 would have included such a creature. However, they are much more powerful than OD&D's Balrogs and having them in every dungeon would have been disasterous even for Companion level play. I like the idea of Balrogs/Demons living below the dwarven mines but OTOH, my impression is that the Bovo Popuo would have been a race, and demons would be limited to a few select indivduals.

Garls are new to me and sound kinda cool. Where are they referenced Havard?

They are described in DA3 City of the Gods. The module lists them in the encounter tables for the Badlands, Ash Hills and Blue Hills, surrounding the Valley of the Ancients. The D20 CS does not mention Garls specifically, but does mention "all sorts of twisted, mutated creatures" living in this region.

Garls previously appeared in AC9 and the module CM9 Where Chaos Reigns.

-Havard