Leviathan

 

 

ORIGIN

 

He is believed to have originated within the legends of the Ancient peoples that the Jews came into contact with, possibly either Babylonian or Canaanite (both who have their own versions of the monster).

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

They have been apart of sea lore for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. They may even be older than the bible itself. Like most sea lore, it is hard to pick out a starting point as a lot of it is either not recorded or passed down, almost like an urban legend.

 

APPEARANCE

They are of immense size. In some cases he has the head similar to a dragon with razor sharp teeth that hold deadly venom. He has the body of a very large snake/serpent and sometimes has either legs or wings. In some depictions he has 7 heads.

 

GENDER

The monster is thought to be male.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

In modern Hebrew, the name simply means "whale".

 

REPELLED BY

As he is described as unstoppable, there does not seem to be anything that can kill him as such. In some cases, there may be a way in which he can be controlled and this can only be achieved by or through a higher power.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

Because he is an ancient creature, he is known for his super human strength, his powerful jaws filled with razor sharp teeth (in which hold his deathly venom) in particular being the most fearsome thing about him. He is also said, in some cases, to be able to fly (or to jump to great heights). Some may also be able to shape shift and have the power of clairvoyance, although, this is not really associated with him too much. Too some people who believe him to be good, he has the power to heal.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

He is a large sea monster that is also referenced in the Tanakh (The Old Testament). They are also very popular within the mythology of the Ancient Near East. In Sumeria, he is depicted as being overcome by the God Ninurta. Sometimes the creature is identified as a Dragon possibly because of the way it looks. God has apparently created him and a mate called Taninim. God then destroyed her saying that if they were to procreate, the world would not be able to stand against them. It is said that one day he will be slain and his flesh will be served in a feast to the righteous and, in time, his skin will be used to cover the tent where the banquet will take place. He angrily churns the oceans, waiting for judgement day to devour the souls of the damned. Gabriel will fight and overcome him at the time of resurrection.

 

CAN BE FOUND

He can be found in the deepest of seas with no preference to whether it is cold or hot.

 

TALES

In the Old Testament, he is mentioned 6 times, going into detail about how he looks in particular (Job 41:1 - 34). In Psalm 74, God is said to break his heads into pieces and in Isaiah 27:1 he is called the "wriggling serpent" who will be killed at the end of time. In other Jewish tales, he is thought to be unstoppable, with no sword taking effect on him.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

In June 1983. a man called Owen Burham discovered a carcass on Bungalow Beach in Gambia. He had no camera however so had to bring back a description and some measurements. They found that it was unavailable for analysis by those who tried to identify it. It was thought to be some prehistoric marine animal that was still living in the waters. There was also a sighting on May 1st 1983 by an African biologist called Marcellin Agnagna. He spotted a Mokele-mbembe (a name for a legendary water dwelling creature of the Congo River folklore).

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Tiamat, Behemoth, Hydra

Baba Yaga

 

 

ORIGIN

She comes from Slavic folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

The first recorded folktale concerning her was in Mikhail V. Lomonosov's Rossijskaya grammatika (Russian grammar) in 1755, where she is mentioned as a figure of largely Slavic tradition.

 

APPEARANCE

In most pictures, she is shown as an elderly looking woman who is deformed in some way and, at times, very ferocious looking. She is often seen flying around in a large mortar whilst holding a pestle (in some cases this can either be a mop or a broom). In some tales, her nose is depicted as sticking to the ceiling (maybe assuming that it was either very long or very large). Other parts of her body such as her breasts, buttocks and her genitalia have also been described as repulsive. She also has extremely long teeth.

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

She is sometimes referred to as Baba Yaga Bony Legs (Baba Yaga Kostianaya Noga). The word baba in Old Russian may refer to either "midwife", "sorceress" or "fortune teller". In modern Russia, the word babushka means "grandmother" as does the Polish word babcia. This can also be used in a detrimental way. There is no clear term for the word yaga, it is thought to maybe represent a "snake" or "serpent".

 

REPELLED BY

There doesn't seem to be anything specific that she is repelled by. As she cannot affect those who have a pure heart, it is quite possible that a show of love or a pure act can distract her or possibly kill her.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

As she is closely associated with a hag it is quite possible that she can both cast spells and make powerful potions. It appears that she has no power over those who are of a pure heart. She also seems to be able to rule over the elements, with the red, white and black horseman as her servants, whom she refers to as her red sun, bright dawn and dark midnight. In her more benevolent aspect, she also gives advice.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

She is mainly depicted as a single Witch but at times she can be one of a trio of sisters of the same name. Her personality is not strictly the same. In some cases she may either help or hinder you, maybe even take on a maternal role as such. She also has strong associations with wildlife. She has often been identified as one of the most memorable figures in Eastern Europe. It is also said that inside her hut, she can be found stretched over her stove. You may also find that she mentions the "Russian scent" (russkiy dukh) which is basically a human scent.

 

CAN BE FOUND

It is said that she can be found deep within the forest, living in her hut that stands on chicken legs. Around the house is a fence that is decorated with human skulls.

 

TALES

There have been tales that she likes to frighten the hero of the story, usually by telling him that she is going to eat him. However, she will help him if he shows her that he is brave. In Vladimir Propp's Morphology Of The Folktale, she often appears as the villain of the story. In various other tales, she kidnaps children, roasts them in her oven and eats them. In a version of "The Maiden Tsar" by Alexander Afanasyev, released in the 19th century, she is depicted as a trio. In the story, a merchants son makes his way to the home of one of them.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

In most of the tales that have been told about her, the one that stands out most with people is the one were people search for her in hope that they may receive help from her. It is safe to say that people still try and do this to this day, walking through a deep forest in search for the strange little hut, to no avail obviously. Some claim however, that they have met her and she has helped change their lives, almost like finding a Genies lamp. The best one however is a "sighting" in 2007 in Ohio where someone spotted what they thought was a Baba Yaga's hut.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Jezibaba, Hag, Baba Roga

　

Bhoot

 

 

ORIGIN

They are of Indian origin.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

For thousands of years, possibly longer. People have been spiritual for as long as they have been on this Earth so there is a possibility that the legends could have been around then.

 

APPEARANCE

Most commonly, they are said to appear in only white clothing. In most cases they appear to look the exact same as before they died, with more of a translucency. They cast no shadows. When they speak, they do it with a nasal twang.

 

GENDER

They can be young or old of both gender.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

The name can also be spelled as bhut. The name is a Sanskrit term that basically translates as "past" and "being". It has Indo-European roots, hence similar words such as bha (Irish), be (English), but (Latvian) and budan (Persian). The name is also somewhat of an Idiom in the languages of the Northern subcontinent such as Hindu, Punjabi and Sindhi.

 

REPELLED BY

They are supposed to be afraid of water, steel and iron objects. Keeping these nearby you is enough to scare them off. Burnt turmeric is also said to ward them off. The holy figures and deities have also been invoked to ward them off. Sprinkling Earth on yourself can also prevent you from harm seeing as the can not be in contact with it. In Hindu mythology, a soul cannot be destroyed, and seeing that the Bhoot is still a soul, albeit an evil and angry one, it can never be destroyed. Instead, they perform a ritual called the Atma-shanti, according to the Atharva Veda, which is basically like a promise by the person that they will do everything in their power to help them with their unfinished business. The Bhoot will stop troubling them as it is getting what it wants.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They can both alter and assume the form of many animals at their own will. The only thing that gives them away however is the fact that there feet face the opposite way.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are a supernatural creature. They tend to be the ghost of a deceased person. There are many tales about how they came to be this way but the most popular definition is that they became this way through a violent and sudden death which has caused them to not move on and become restless. In some other cases, they have either got unfinished business or they were not given the proper burial rights when they passed on. In India, the Earth is regarded as sacred and this is why they will go to almost any lengths to avoid any contact with it. This is why they are said to float. There is a kind of Bhoot called a Churail, who is a woman that has died either during pregnancy or childbirth. There is also a select few called Bhutas who are the defiled spirits of heroes, evil beings and Hindu deities. They are often wrongly thought of as being "ghosts" or "demons" and are actually protective, despite being extremely violent and powerful.

 

CAN BE FOUND

It is said that they like to lurk about in the trees. They may also haunt specific houses (also known as "bhoot banglas" or "bhoot bungalows"). These houses usually tend to be ones that they were either killed/died in or one that they have a significant attachment to.

 

TALES

Many tales in the region take on the house that they are usually attached to. One of the most popular ones is someone fails to flee a house when approached by a Bhoot. They then unwillingly accept their companionship (In some tales, they have met them in the forest or they have picked them up in their car after seeing them by the road at night). Through time they become very aware that the person is not alive (the backwards feet being the big giveaway). Another tale is that they love to immerse themselves in milk. They like to contaminate it which then gives them possession over humans.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

As they are in a similar category to the Western Ghost, there are plenty of pictures and video footage of them all over the internet. As to whether these are real or not is another matter for you to decide. Some are very convincing I have to say but it is hard to trust anything over the internet. The most interesting ones are the "real life" recounts. Some are very deep and dare I say, quite frightening (even if they do turn out to be fake).

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Ghosts, Churail

 

 

　

 

Black Shuck

 

 

ORIGIN

The countrysides of East Anglia.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

They were first recorded in England in 1577, this was also the first supposed sighting. Werewolf tales however, have been around much longer so it is possible that at some point, some of the tales may have clashed or had a wrong origin. It is also possible that the animal may have been around a lot longer than we are led to believe.

 

APPEARANCE

They are most commonly thought to have shaggy black fur, sharp teeth and bright red eyes (in some accounts, he has a single eye and in others, his eyes are green). His size may also vary depending on who you ask. He can be from the size of a large dog to the size of a horse. In 1877, Walter Rye wrote that the Shuck was "the most curious of our local apparitions, as they are no doubt varieties of the same animal". They are classified as Cryptid, which is an animal whose existence has been suggested but not recognised by a scientific consensus. In some rare accounts, he is either headless or seen floating on a carpet of mist.

 

GENDER

Generally referred to as either male or unknown.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Old Shuck, Old Shock or just Shuck. Other variations of the name include Yeth (Devon), Pooka (Ireland) and Barguest (Yorkshire).

 

REPELLED BY

There is not anything specific that he is recorded as being repelled by. There are however tales of him being linked to or being the Devil himself. If this is the case then holy artefacts could possibly work. If his is linked to a Werewolf then there could be a chance that he has a weakness to silver.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

No magical powers are recorded. If he is supernatural then there is a chance that he has a heightened strength to go with it.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

It is a ghostly black dog that is said to roam wild on the coastlines and in the countryside's of East Anglia. All across the British Isles, there are many tales of black dogs, with him being possibly one of the most famous ones. His name is thought to have derived from scucca, an Old English word that means "demon". It is also possible that the name came the local dialect word for shucky which means either "shaggy" or "hairy". In 1577, there was an alleged sighting at Bungay and Blythburgh. It has become somewhat of a famous account as this is the point (or so believed) when the sinister dogs became apart of the iconography of that area. Dr Simon Sherwood believes that the earliest surviving description of the animal is in an account of an incident that happened in Peterborough Abbey, recorded in the Peterborough Chronicle around 1127. This is one of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

 

CAN BE FOUND

Although it is said to roam in the countryside's, it is possible that they may hide out in deep forests or woodlands in order to conceal themselves. Luckily for them, England is known for its woodlands so it has no shortage of hiding places. He is also said to haunt side roads, cross roads, graveyards and coastlines.

 

TALES

Most of the folklore originates around the areas of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the Cambridgeshire Fens. Although some are regarded as companions to men, most times they are held as an omen of death. It is said that his appearance bodes ill to the eyes of the beholder. An example of this came from the Malden and Dengue areas of Essex, where sightings of him meant almost immediate death. Some tales tell of him not physically harming his victims but terrifying them to the point of illness and even death. W.A. Dutt gives a description of him in his 1901 book "Highways & Byways in East Anglia". It is because of his description that he is commonly known as "Old Snarleyow", a description of a dog found in Fredrick Marryat's 1837 novel "Snarleyyow" or "The Dog Fiend". It is thought that Conan Doyle based "Hound Of The Baskervilles" after hearing one of the legends. In contrast to the previous tales, there are however benign ones which say that he accompanied women on the way home so as to protect them. They have even been known to help lost travellers find their way.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

Over the years there have been many "sightings" of the animal, to many to list here as they are all very similar. Most of them occur around people taking walks at night or walking through some of the local churches. Whether or not these are real is for you to decide. The pictures that circulate on the internet are primarily fakes or too hard to give a real answer too. In some cases, some peoples tales appear to be genuine so it is possible that someone may have seen something.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Werewolves

　

Minotaur

 

 

ORIGIN

He is from Greek mythology.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

The tales are very old, possibly around 65 BC. There is even evidence to suggest that it may have came from the 13th century BC. It is hard to pinpoint them exactly.

 

APPEARANCE

He is most popularly depicted as having the head of a bull and the body of a man.

 

GENDER

Male.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

In Crete, he is also known by his proper name, Asterion.

 

REPELLED BY

N/A

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

He doesn't have any magical powers apart from superhuman strength.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

His Father was a Cretan bull and his Mother was Pasiphae. King Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a snow white bull as a sign of support, a bull that he was to also sacrifice in honour of the God. He received the bull, but was so overwhelmed by its beauty, he kept it and sacrificed one of his own bulls. Aphrodite punished him by making his wife, Pasiphae, fall deeply in love with the white bull. His mother had the craftsman, Daedalus, make her a hollow wooden cow so that she could mate with the bull. This is how he was conceived. His mother nursed him through his infancy but as he grew older, he became more ferocious. As he was an unnatural offspring, he did not have any natural source of nourishment so he could only eat man as this sustained him. Due to this, Minos had Daedalus build a gigantic labyrinth to contain him.

 

CAN BE FOUND

He is said to have lived in the center of the Cretan Labyrinth in Crete, Greece. His hideout was designed by the architect Daedalus and his son Icarus.

 

TALES

There is a tale that says that Athens was compelled by the cruel plague to pay penalties for the killing of Androgeos, son of King Minos. Aegeus, King of Athens, averted the plague by sending 7 youths and 7 maidens, drawn by lots, every 7 or 9 years to be devoured by the Minotaur. Aegeus's son, Theseus, volunteered to slay the monster, promising his father that, if he was successful, he would put up white sails and if he wasn't, he would make his crew put up black sails. Both Mino's daughters, Ariadne and Phaedra, fell in love with Theseus. Ariadne helped him find his way through the labyrinth by giving him a ball of thread. He killed the Minotaur and rescued the remaining Athenians. He abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos and continued home with Phaedra, his future wife. He forgot to change his sails however and when his father saw the black sails, he presumed his son was dead and threw himself into the sea. Theseus then became king.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There isn't any evidence of him so to speak but that doesn't stop rumours of sightings or encounters with him. Everything that I have seen on the internet so far is not to be trusted but I am sure something will come along one day that will prove me wrong,

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Apis, Shedu, Sarangay

　

Angel Lailah

 

 

ORIGIN

She is found in Talmund/Jewish mythology.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

Although she is not mentioned in the Hebrew bible, there were tales about her around the same time, so it is possible that she is older than the bible itself.

 

APPEARANCE

There do not seem to be any clear depictions of her, but from the few that are available, she is seen with long, dark flowing hair and adorned in gold (or heavy jewellery). She is also sometimes depicted as having wings.

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Laylah (Hebrew for "night") Angel Of The Night (In some Talmund interpretations and in later Jewish mythology)

 

REPELLED BY

N/A

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

N/A

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

Although she is popular in myth, she is actually not mentioned in the Hebrew bible. She is said to be in charge of conception and pregnancy, serving as a guardian angel throughout their life and leading them to the afterlife in their death. Apparently, she is the only Angel that has a feminine name and feminine characteristics. Her name is shared with the Hebrew noun Liliyt, which means "night creature". Because of this, she is often compared to Lilith, although the 2 are in actual fact, polar opposites. She is also ranked as a Dominion

 

CAN BE FOUND

She is said to be found in the presence of mothers who are about to give birth.

 

TALES

In the tale of her role as a guardian, she takes a drop of semen, places it before God and says "Sovereign of the universe, what shall be the fate of this drop? Shall it produce a strong man or a weak man, a wise man or a fool, a rich man or a poor man?". She then chooses a soul from the garden of Eden and commands it to enter the embryo. She then watches over the womb, showing its future rewards and punishments available to them. Right before the baby is born, she strikes them above their lip, creating the philtrum, making them forget what they have learned. In another tale, it is said that she fought for Abraham when he battled kings.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

She is known for watching over her children until the day they die. When their time comes, she askes them "Do you recognise me? The time of your departure has come, I have come to take you from this world". There has been reports for many of years about people on their death bed, looking to someone as though looking for salvation. This could be interpreted as many things. This is not to say that this is her in particular, it could be another angel or a long deceased loved one. No one knows but the person dying, and that usually goes to their grave with them.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Other angels and some fertility Goddesses.

 

Imp

 

 

ORIGIN

They are found in Germanic folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

There have been tales about them as long as time has been recorded. This could be argued, but as most people believe them to be connected to either gods or demons, then evidence of them is undisputed as that of Gods or Demons would be.

 

APPEARANCE

They are very small and not very attractive. They have a similar appearance to a Goblin, almost scaly skin, with possible scars, a slight hunch back and large eyes, either red or black in colour. The colour of their skin and eyes can vary however. They may also have little horns.

 

GENDER

They are genderless but are usually portrayed as male.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

N/A

 

REPELLED BY

It is said that, although they are believed to be immortal, they can be damaged or even harmed by certain weapons or enchantments. They can also be kept out of peoples homes by using wards. If they can't be killed then they can be captured as servants. This can be done by containing or binding them to a specific object such as a crystal ball or a sword.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

When you have captured one (or in some tales, come across one), they will grant you a wish. However, if the owner does not sell the bottle before they die then their soul will be sent straight to hell.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are a mythical being that is quite similar to a Fairy or a Demon, a small lesser Demon to be precise. Although they are well known as being a Demon that does not make them necessarily evil. They are in fact, quite mischievous. They can however be quite wild and uncontrollable, with their jokes sometimes getting out of hand or even backfiring. In some extreme cases, they can be upsetting and harmful, such as swapping babies or leading travellers astray. In their defence, they are lonely little creatures who long for human attention. In some regions, they actually believe that they are attendants of the Gods, although, in most cases, they were more than likely familiar spirit servants of Witches and Warlocks. In this role they served as spies or informants.

 

CAN BE FOUND

They can usually be found in homes, in either those of their victims or those of their masters. They can also be found around cross roads or near places of religious origin.

 

TALES

They appear in a tale called "Silvia". This is a tale about a girl who is followed by a black Imp.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

If you go online there is always going to be someone who has captured footage of the creature. Some of this evidence goes as far to say that an Imp is currently living with them (with footage to "back" it up). It is also a common occurrence to hear about Imps being seen in religious places, mainly shrines. There is evidence of this online but to be honest, most of it is fake.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Goblin, Gremlin, Brownie, Boggart

 

Busaw

 

 

ORIGIN

They are found in Philippine folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

The tales of this creature have been around in this region for a few hundred years. The Philippines is quite a superstitious place, so their belief systems where sure to carry on throughout time.

 

APPEARANCE

They can appear as human as anyone of us. A few things that may give them away however are their pointed teeth, long tongues and hooked nails. In their nightly form, they are a cross between a Ghoul and an Ogre. A grotesque looking creature with a slight hump back.

 

GENDER

They can appear as both male and female.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

N/A

 

REPELLED BY

To stop them from stealing corpses, the bodies are to be washed completely with vinegar and some very strong smelling herbs. They can also be repelled by salt.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

N/A

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are corpse eaters and thieves, often regarded as Ghouls but with some attributes of an Ogre. They are considered legendary creatures who resemble both the appearance and behaviours of a human, although, they are more popularised as evil spirits. Their favourite food is human. This usually results in scattered bones around their dwellings. They find their food by listening out for the sounds of death in the evening. They will also steal corpses from their coffins, replacing the bodies with banana tree trunks. Once they have the corpse, they will turn it into a pig so as to spirit it away.

 

CAN BE FOUND

In their human form, they will live in a house like normal humans do. In their more ghoulish form however, they will dwell in large trees found near cemeteries.

 

TALES

It is said that they will go around neighbours or their village and offer them some cooked meat (which happens to be that of another human), so as to turn them into one of them.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There have been a few photos and some video footage, whether or not this is real is wholly dependant on the person watching it. As they appear as practically human, it is quite possible that they could in fact be real unbeknown to those in their community. Again, this depends on the opinion of others.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Aswang, Amalanhig, Bal-Bal

 

Soucouyant

 

 

ORIGIN

They are found in Dominican, Trinidadian and Guadeloupean folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

They where first recorded a couple of hundred years ago during the times of harsh slavery in the islands. Some believe that they were tales that were made up by the slaves to scare their captors, others swear by their life that the creature, as well as the tales, are true.

 

APPEARANCE

By day, they appear as a normal old woman, but by night, when they take off their skin, they are the shape of a woman but completely engulfed in flames. They have bright red eyes and very long nails. They may also have wings, sharp teeth and a long tongue.

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

The name is also spelt as Soucriant. They are also known as Ole-Higue and Loogaroo (elsewhere in the Caribbean). They were also sometimes referred to as Loup-Garou (a type of Werewolf). This was a common term used to describe it, more common in the culture of Mauritius.

 

REPELLED BY

You can be rid of them by throwing a heap of rice either around the house or at a village crossroads. They will have to pick up all of the grains, which will be almost impossible to do before dawn, hence them perishing. You can also place some course salt in the mortar along with their skin which will prevent her from putting it back on.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They practise Witchcraft, Voodoo and Black Magic. They will sometimes trade in the blood of their victims in exchange for evil powers which they will gain from a demon called Bazil, who resides in the silk cotton tree.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are a cross between a Witch and a Vampire. By day, they live as an old woman who would usually live at the end of a village, and by night, she strips off her old skin, places it in a mortar and flies off as a fireball. She will enter her victims homes either through their keyhole or through a crack or crevice. When she seeks out her victim, she will suck out their blood through their arms, legs and any other soft part whilst they sleep. If she sucks all of their blood then the victim will either die and become like her or they will perish completely and leave their skin behind, which she will have to use. They are part of a class of spirit called Jumbees (Spirits or Demons). Some believe that the creatures herself was brought over from European countries as she had a lot in common with the French Vampire myths. Some beliefs are also intermingled with those of enslaved Africans.

 

CAN BE FOUND

In their human form, they are usually found on the outskirts of a village, usually in seclusion. In their Vampiric form they are easy to locate as they are covered in flames. You are more likely to see them when they are in the sky.

 

TALES

In the French Indies, especially the island of Guadeloupe, it was believed that the creature could actually be anybody and not just an older female (much to the protests of some of the more superstitious community). They were often called Soukougnan or Soukounian.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

Some Caribbean islands, such as St Lucia, Haiti, Dominica and Trinidad, still have some belief in the creature. It is even believed that her skin is valuable as it is used for black magic. As for sightings, there are no recorded ones as such but that could be because she is quite a taboo subject in these countries. It may even be led to believe that some old women are often accused of being one of these creatures due to strong superstition.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Aswang, Langsuir

 

Tarasque

 

 

ORIGIN

Technically from Galatia, but associated with Provence, Southern France.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

I can't seem to find an actual date as to when the tale came around but if a saint is involved then the tale is likely to be about 600-700 years ago.

 

APPEARANCE

The beast is a sort of dragon with 6 short legs like a bears, an ox like body covered with a turtle shell, a scaly tail ending with a scorpion sting and the head of a lion.

 

GENDER

Appears to be genderless although, there is a possibility that it has been referred to as a male.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

N/A

 

REPELLED BY

The creature seems to be affected more by charm, but not your average gentlemanly kind! It took the charm of a Saint to tame it.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

It doesn't necessarily have any powers but it is obviously quite destructive so superhuman strength may be one of its skills so to speak.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

The beast was said to have come from Galatia (highlands in modern Turkey). It is the offspring of Onachus and Leviathan (or possibly another water monster). The beast was said to have inhabited the area of Nerluc, devastating the landscape far and wide. On the last Sunday of June, every year, a festival is held in honour of the beast.

 

CAN BE FOUND

The creature was found all over the region, it didn't seem to be attracted to one particular spot. Maybe places where the population was higher was a likely place to find it.

 

TALES

There is a tale that the King of Nerluc tried to attack the creature with all the knights and catapults that he could provide yet to no avail. Then Saint Martha found the creature and charmed it with hymns and prayers. She managed to tame the creature and led him back to the city. The people in the city however, were still petrified of the beast so attacked it. The beast did not resist and died on the spot. Saint Martha converted everyone to Christianity and when they realised what they had done, they renamed their town Tarascon. The creature even features on their coat of arms.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

It is said that in Halong Bay, Vietnam, a monster was spotted along the bay. The French who ruled at that time said that it was the Tarasque.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

The beast from Beauty and the Beast, King Kong (the anti-hero in tales)

 

Langsuir

 

 

ORIGIN

She is from Malaysian folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

N/A

 

APPEARANCE

She is typically perceived as being very hideous with red eyes and long sharp nails. Her face is also decayed and she has long, sharp fangs. Their clothing tends to be of either green or white. In some places however, she is regarded as beautiful. Her hair is black and so long that it reaches down to her ankles. Her hair is long so that it covers the hole on the back of her neck.

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Langsuyar

 

REPELLED BY

After death, glass beads can be placed in their mouths to stop them coming back from the dead. If you put one of their hairs in their hole or cut their claws, then they will become human again. You can also prevent the transformation by placing needles in the palms of her hands and a hen’s egg under each arm pit. Only a particularly powerful magician could drive her away or tame her. This was usually done with specific incantations.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They suck blood through a hole which is allocated behind her neck. They are also able to fly and can transform into an owl to do so. She also has the ability to possess her victim so that she can suck their blood. This causes a slow and painful death for the victim.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are very closely related to the Pontianak, but considered to be more dangerous. They are sometimes confused but they are actually very different. They are the spirits of women who suffered from labouring sickness which resulted in both the death of them and their child. She could turn into a Langsuir up to 40 days after her death. In Chinese, her name means "bad luck people". Her victims tend to be pregnant women, who she will either kill or cause to have a miscarriage. She is also said to fly into trees and attack children at night. She lets out terrible screams (known as an ngilat). If they have been domesticated then they are able to marry and have children. If they dance at a village merry making however, they will be reverted back into their old ways.

 

CAN BE FOUND

You are said to be able to encounter them near the shore of a river or sea.

 

TALES

There is a popular tale in Malaysia about a woman of exquisite beauty who, upon hearing the news of her child’s stillbirth, died of shock and became a demon.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There appear to be many pictures and video footage found on the internet (whether this is a hoax or not is debatable). There are also plenty of local tales from people who have either seen or been in contact with her in some way. A lot of people say that they have seen her face on that of a black crow.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Pontianak, Vampire, Manananggal, Lamia

 

Kuchisake Onna

 

 

ORIGIN

She can be found in Japanese culture.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

There have been rumours of sightings since 1979 around the Nagasaki Prefecture. Although this is probably when the Ghost became well known, the legend is said to have originated in the Heion period (794 - 1185)

 

APPEARANCE

Her main feature has to be her mouth that has been slit from ear to ear. Depending on the region where you hear the legend from, she can either be horribly disfigured or an extremely beautiful woman with a scar on her face. Either way, she is always seen to be wearing a surgical mask, concealing her mouth.

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Slit Mouthed Woman

 

REPELLED BY

She isn't necessarily repelled by anything as such and there doesn't seem to be a way to kill her, but there are ways in which you can escape her. When she asks you her question, reply with "You are average". This will confuse her and cause her to be lost in though, giving you a chance to escape. You can also reply with "Is the child pretty?" which will again confuse her and cause her to leave. If you tell her that you have a previous engagement, she will pardon her manners and excuse herself. Throwing fruit or candies on the floor will distract her as she will pick them up.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

She has no magical powers but is filled with a rage that enables her to kill at will. She will kill her victims with a pair of scissors.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

She is said to have been the wife of a Samurai who lived hundreds of years ago. She was said to have been extremely vain and her husband, who was a very jealous man, began to accuse her of cheating on him. He flew into a rage one day and slit her mouth from ear to ear then said to her "Who will think you're beautiful now?". She died not long after. This led her to become a Yokai (vengeful spirit).

 

CAN BE FOUND

In many regions within Japan. She can especially be found on a foggy night.

 

TALES

It is said that if a child is walking alone at night, they may encounter a woman in a surgical mask. If she says "Watashi kirei?" (Am I beautiful?), and the child answers NO, then she will kill them with a pair of scissors that she carries. If the child replies with YES, then she will reveal her face and ask "How about now?". If the child says NO, she will cut them in half. If they say YES, then she will cut their mouth in the same way as hers. Some believe this to be a tale that was told to children so that they wouldn't stay out late at night. When the tale became popular, there was so much panic that the police actually increased their patrols. Wearing surgical masks in Japan is not uncommon, when they have a cold or illness, they will cover their mouths out of respect for others.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There have been numerous sightings of her since 1979. Some of these have been caught on both camera and video. Whether or not they are real is really up to you to decide.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Bloody Mary, La Llorona, Teke Teke, Onryo

 

Hobgoblin

 

 

ORIGIN

They are found all over Europe.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

There is no particular date into which they are thought to have come along. Folklore is as old as time so it is very likely that they are too.

 

APPEARANCE

They are very small, hairy little men. When they turn into a Boggart, they are said to have longer, darker hair and long yellow teeth.

 

GENDER

Male

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Lutin (French), Bugbear, Bugaboo, Bogie, Hobthrust,

 

REPELLED BY

It is said that if you present them with an item of clothing, it would banish them forever. It is not known whether they have actually taken offence to the item or if they are just too proud to work in new clothes. It differs from tale to tale.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They have thought to be able to shape shift

.

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are described in folktales as a friendly but troublesome creature of the Seelie court. They are a close relative of the Brownies. They are often found to be doing odd jobs around the house whilst the family, who's house they are occupying, are asleep. Their chores are often small ones such as dusting and ironing. Sometimes they would do these in return for food. They are very fond of practical jokes. They can be very mischievous but often they can be very frightening and even dangerous. This is usually because they have been teased or misused excessively. When this happens, they turn into "Boggarts".

 

CAN BE FOUND

They can often be found within human dwellings. They can also be found in farms, especially dairies.

 

TALES

There was said to have been one living in Sturfit Hall in Yorkshire. He was said to have done many a little chores until one day, the Mistress of the house gave him clothes as she felt bad for him. He was never seen again. Another one was said to work at Carlow Hill. A similar thing happened here, the inn keeper forgot to leave him out bread and butter one night. The Hobgoblin was no seen after that. There was said to have been a particularly nasty Boggart, found in the windy lanes around the town of Longridge in Lancashire. He was said to play very nasty tricks on travellers.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There are numerous tales of sightings, including from the tales above. Some people are also believed to have caught video and photo footage of them. This may be hard to believe considering as they don't like to be seen, especially by humans.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Brownies, Sprite,