One question arises in every Changeling Chronicle: How to handle Pooka Characters? All too easily they become cardboard cutout characters with lots of "cute" and little depth. No worries; here's a few snippets from White Wolf's Kithbook: Pooka to help those players who fear that no Pooka can be built that is not a "silly" character.
 Common Household Pooka.
So what about those cat, dog, squirrel, rabbit or mice pooka? Are they all sweet, cuddly, fuzzy, funny, silly ne'er-do-wells? Ever heard the story of the child mauled by the neighbor's dog? Ever have to help a mailman who had a squirrel bite him? Many false stereotypes develop regarding pooka. As more information about this enigmatic kith becomes known, their reputation has shifted to the darker, more frightening aspect it had during the Mythic Age or even earlier times. Some cynical changelings dare to suggest that pooka have purposely misled their fellow faeries in an attempt to get close--so they can go for the throat. Why is it that the first Pooka to emerge from their hiding places [after the Shattering] were those cute and fuzzy variety? Maybe all those playful little monsters that so regularly annoy the torlls (and every other kith) had a hard time staying away from mortals. Maybe they got lonely. Maybe with their happy-go-lucky attitudes, they didn't consider the dangers of returning. Or maybe they were simply the first to get killed in the Dream-burrows. Considering the way the faeries living in those pockets of the Near Dreaming courted Bedlam, the favourite pastime for the more irritable, deadly pooka could easily have become bopping little bunny Fu-Fu on the head. And poof, Fu-Fu finds himself reincarnated back into the mortal realm where he can happily annoy those changelings living there. Other theories exist as well. If one faction among the changeling conspiracy theorists is to be believed, pooka have instigated a complex and malevolent plot. Did the pooka send out the cute, annoying members of their kith as cannon fodder, testing the waters to see if it's safe for all to return? Were these adorable little fuzzballs scouts sent to deceive the other changelings into a false sense of security in advance of a pooka invasion and overthrow of the nobility? What's the truth? The pooka, as usual, aren't saying. Most other changelings fail to realize there is more to the pooka than is apparent at first. Much of this knowledge has been lost in the Mists and forgotten even by the pooka themselves, but it still affects their behavior and runs in their blood like the primal rivers that flow deep below the surface of the land. Hints of it reveal themselves as the more exotic pooka reincarnate back into the mortal realm, completely baffling and frightening those changelings who bought into the pooka-pet craze.  The Guide to Pooka Affinities
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 Lies
The pooka tendancy to lie has developed into a language all its own, and yet, it is a language with many dialects and nuances. Subtle differences between personalities direct the many ways that pooka express themselves. They have mastered the art of subterfuge and created individual means of never giving a straight answer. Despite what most changelings think, pooka can be very cunning, even Machiavellian in their lies and diversions. They use a variety of methods to avoid answering a question honestly, combining different approaches in a complicated dance of communication that leaves their fellow faeries unsure of what's true or false. Rarely is every word that comes out of a pooka's mouth directly in opposition to the truth. Instead, they confuse things and toss falsehoods in with the truth so that their listener never knows exactly what to believe. They give half-truths and skirt the precipice of veracity without actually stepping into either a completely black or entirely white realm. Pooka have an innate urge to avoid scrutiny and to keep their innermost truths out of the limelight. Most importantly, pooka hate being the target of interrogation. When asked a direct question, they instinctively avoid it. No pooka uses only one dialect of Pooka-ese, but combines them all and chooses the tactic that best suits the moment. One tactic pooka use never to have to commit to a definite answer involves asking questions. It's the "Old Man on the Mountain" technique. When asked a question, they answer with a question. This method frustrates the other faeries as much, if not more, than any other. It especially infuriates the sidhe, who often view this as insubordination. Subtlety is the pooka's ace up the sleeve. Master conversationalists and manipulators, they divert attention from themselves with a wave of the hand. This rarely fails for them and only under the most directed scrutiny do they find it difficult to evade an issue or question. Pooka use cunning and slyness to redirect the conversation away from themselves and onto a different topic. They'll change the subject, beat around the bush, and never answer directly. Pooka often put off giving the answer until it becomes painful for the listener to wait or until the listener can't stick around for the mement when the answer is finally revealed. To accomplish this, pooka start telling the story of exactly what happened, but far in advance of the moment when the event in question occurred. In their every interaction, pooka twist, falsify and exaggerate the facts. Most of the time, they just listen and ask lots of questions, but sometimes they want to tell a story or relay a philosophy. The listener can expect to be entertained when a pooka gets in a talkative mood. Pooka have a knack for exaggeration. One dialect of Pooka-ese involves embellishing the truth with grandiose magnification of the facts. Every statement becomes a hyperbole, full of mostly bullshit. This type of Pooka-ese entertains other changelings, but is rarely taken seriously. When the tale of how the troll saved his oathcircle a long walk by waving down a taxi becomes an extravagant tapestry of knightly honor and courage against the great yellow dragon on 5th street, everyone chuckles and shakes their head without paying much attention. The truth lurks somewhere in there, but the pooka, in his telling, turns the story into something quite magical... and not quite true.
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