I have a berbalang (from Pathfinder Bestiary 3 [First Edition]) in my campaign, set in Ustalav.
I don't know if there are any mentions of berbalangs in the canon materials for Golarion, or in the canon fiction (novels or short stories) of Golarion. If there are, I'd like to know where so I can read-up on the way they're handled canonically.
I'm considering home-brewing berbalangs in my game as a kind of ghoul (giving their bite attack ghoul fever, or possibly ghoul distemper [from Horror Adventures], and allowing them to qualify for ghoul-only feats) but I don't want to do that if it conflicts with any of their published appearances.
So, you know, are there any instances of berbalangs in Golarion in the canon materials, either for First Edition, or Second Edition, or the fiction line?
Oh! Came over here because I recognised the monster but realising I don't have too much to contribute. I also used a berbalang in Ustalav, specifically in the Carrion Crown AP. I don't know any canon appearances of berbalangs but you may be aware that they are actually creatures from Filipino mythology! This means likely in Canon they originate from the most southeast Asia-analogue country in Tian-Xia, but I quickly made the executive decision to establish them as an evolution of ghouls which may be more common in Tian-Xia, but which could be found in Ustalav no less.
The berbalang is also notably compared with vampire-like ghouls, between their habit of feasting on the dead, their number of unusual abilities including astral projection and wings, and most especially their bizarre weakness to specific plants--specifically lime juice and 'coconut pearls'.
Personally I like the 'advanced ghoul subspecies' hypothesis most, perhaps as a missing link between vampires and ghouls if that tickles your fancy.
There is one in the second chapter of Wrath of the Righteous.
Thanks. I'll have to look for that. I have that book.
(I don't own the Society scenario mentioned by the previous poster.)