The Bovo Popuo

[aldarron]

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.

Well, I think the Freds World Balrogs are pretty close to how the beasties were seen in early Blackmoor and OD&D. The OD&D Balrog is listed as a sub variety of dragon, perhaps very similar to "half Dragons" and related creatures from Wotc D&D. So, taken together, I wouldn't have any qualms about seeing them as an ancient "race" and not necessarily as "demons" whatever exactly demons may be.