Werewolf

 

 

ORIGIN

They are generally placed in European folklore, but they can also be found spread throughout the world, especially amongst the Native Indian tribes.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

They are dated as far back as the 10th century. Folklore can also be traced back to as far as Ancient Greece.

 

APPEARANCE

They generally appear as normal humans during the day. Sometimes there are tell-tale signs such as mono-brows, curved fingernails and low set ears. It is larger than an average wolf yet retains its eyes and voice. 

 

GENDER

Generally male but there can be female versions too.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Lycanthrope (From Greek Lykos & Anthropos meaning "wolf man"), Wer & Wulf (Old English), Wair (Gothic), Wer (Old High German), Verr (Old Norse)

 

REPELLED BY

According to modern folklore, they are vulnerable against silver bullets. Other silver weapons are also thought to be effective. Religious artefacts' do not seem to have any power over them.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

Not only do they have the power to shape shift but they also have superhuman strength. They also have speed that is not natural to any humans.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are a mythological/folkloric human that has the ability to shape shift into a wolf form. This is either because they have a curse placed on them, have been bitten by another werewolf or they can do it on purpose. There transformation often takes place when the moon is full, although in some instances, they can transform at will. Some people believed that if you cut their skin then you could find the fur underneath. When they transform back into human form they can appear as very weak. Recently buried corpses were in danger of being devoured by them. In Italy, France and Germany, it is said that if a person sleeps outside on a summer night during the full moon, then they will turn into one as the rays are shining on their face (on a Wednesday or Friday only). There is a thing called voluntary Werewolves, in which a pact is usually made with the Devil.

 

CAN BE FOUND

They are found more in the vast areas of Europe. They tend to live like normal humans so may have a normal home.

 

TALES

According to Ovid’s "Metamorphoses", in classic mythology, Lycaon, King of Arcadia, turned into a ravenous wolf in retribution for attempting to serve his own son to visiting Zeus in an attempt to disprove the Gods divinity.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There have been many sightings of them over the years, even documented attacks but these usually get discredited as delusions or just a normal wolf attack.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Shape Shifters, Wulver, Skin Walker, Chupacabra

 

Draugr

 

 

ORIGIN

From Norse mythology and a subset of Germanic mythology.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

Said to be first recorded in the 8^{th century.}

 

APPEARANCE

They have an unbearable stench of decay. They tend to be a blue or maroon hue. Are dressed in clothes of the Viking era. Tend to have long beards and hair (both usually white). They are large in size and quite heavy. They are extremely ugly and very decayed. Usually full of scars (these were probably battle wounds).

 

GENDER

Male

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Draug, Draugur (Icelandic), Draugen (Norwegian, Swedish & Danish meaning "The Draug"), Aptrganga ("Afturgongur" in Modern Icelandic), Dreag (Gaelic)

 

REPELLED BY

In some tales, they can only be wrestled back into the grave. Iron can injure them but it is not enough to stop them. A pair of iron scissors would be placed on the chest of the recently deceased. The preferred way is to cut off their head, burn the body and dump the ashes into the sea. Their big toes would be tied together or have a needle through each of the soles, this stopped them from walking. A corpse door can also be used to keep them at rest. Fire is said to be quite effective as well.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They possess superhuman strength, being able to increase their size and weight at will. They can also shape shift (usually into seals, cats grey bulls and horses), control the weather and see into the future. They are also able to enter the dreams of the living. Curses are also their favourite thing to do, causing sickness and disease.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

Their name originally meant "ghost" but they are now seen more as animated corpses of the dead. The graves of important men were known to contain a good amount of wealth so they would guard their graves vehemently. They are undead Vikings who have retained some amount of intelligence. They delight in the suffering that they cause. They can rise from their graves as wisps of smoke, even being able to go through solid rock. Animals feeding near their grave may be driven mad by their influence. They slay their victims through various methods, such as crushing them, devouring them, drinking their blood or even driving them insane. They are more active at night time but they are not immune to the sunlight. They also haunt their families. They are immune to weapons, unless wielded by a man considered a hero. They are motivated by jealousy and greed. This is what causes them to viciously attack people. There are said to be 2 types, a sea Draugr and a land one.

 

CAN BE FOUND

They are believed to live in the graves of the dead. In a tomb that is more like a home to them.

 

TALES

Glamr is one of the best known in the whole world. He is found in the Grettis Saga. Thorolf of the Eyrbygga Saga was considered a Draugr. A shepherd is also killed by a Draugr and becomes one after in this saga. Thrain was a shape shifter in the Hromundar Saga "Griepssonar". The tale of Aran and Asmund is one about 2 sword brothers, one of whom dies and the other watches over him for 3 days. There is a legend in the Trondelag that tells the tale of a quarrel between 2 types of Draugr over a corpse on the beach.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

In 1911, a farmer disturbed a grave mound and a Draugr appeared and warned the farmer that if he took another shovelful, then there would be 6 cattle deaths and 6 deaths in his household. The Draugr was never seen again but the proclamation came true.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Zombies, Haugbui,

 

Yuki Onna

 

 

ORIGIN

From Japanese folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

There are tales from as early as the 18th century at least.

 

APPEARANCE

She is tall and very beautiful. She also has long black hair and blue lips. Their faces and skin is unnaturally pale, even appearing almost transparent. This helps her blend into the snowy landscape. She is sometimes seen wearing a white kimono, but at other times she is in the nude (with only her face, hair and pubic region standing out). Her eyes alone can strike terror into mortals. She floats across the snow, leaving no footprints. Some say that she has no feet (this is a common feature amongst Japanese ghosts).

 

GENDER

Female

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

"Lady of the snow", "Snow Queen" or "Snow ghost".

 

REPELLED BY

There doesn’t appear to be anything that she is repelled by but seeing as she displays some vampire characteristics, she may be repelled by some of the things used against them.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

She has the ability to turn people into ice. She also drains the life force of people.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are associated with snow storms and winter in general. She is considered the spirit of snow itself. If she is threatened then she can transform herself into a cloud or some mist. She is said to be the spirit of someone who had perished in the snow. She is ruthless in the way she kills unsuspecting mortals. She can also invade homes by blowing down the doors and killing everyone inside (in some tales, she has to be invited in first). They are also seen as a Succubus like creature. They lure in young men to remote areas and either freeze them or drink their blood/life force. This can be done through either a kiss or sexual intercourse.

 

CAN BE FOUND

She is more likely to be found in places where the snow has settled or during a snowstorm.

 

TALES

In some legends, she appears to travellers who are trapped in the snow storms. She then uses her icy breath to turn them into frost coated corpses. In other tales, she leads them astray during the storm and leaves them to die of exposure. There is another tale in which she is seen holding a child. When a person then offers to "take" the child, she freezes them where they stand. There is a tale of how she was once a moon princess, who one day grew tired of the heavens. She came down to earth to explore and found that she could not return. She is featured in Lafcadio Hearn’s classic "Kwaidan" in 1901.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

There is always tales and footage from people who believe they saw something. I believe that it will always be one of those things that you won’t believe until you experience it.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Succubus, Vampire,

 

Trolls

 

 

ORIGIN

They are from Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore.

 

FIRST SIGHTED/RECORDED

There is no clear date as to when the tales of Trolls first came around. They seem to be as old as time.

 

APPEARANCE

They are extremely ugly and old. They are also very slow witted but very strong. They can also look and behave just like humans. Sometimes their appearance can depend on their region. They can have tusks or cyclopic eyes. The males have poor intellect whereas the women are quite cunning.

 

GENDER

They can be either male or female.

 

ALSO KNOWN AS

Jotunn (this is a negative name for a Troll that is also used for Witches and Berserkers), Trow (Shetland and Orkney folklore), Troldfolk "Troll folk", Bjergtrolde "Mountain Trolls" and Bjergfolk "Mountain folk" (all from Denmark), Tusser (Norway).

 

REPELLED BY

In most tales they are repelled by sunlight. If they are exposed then they turn to rock. The same may go for false UV rays. They are also said to be frightened by lightening. The ringing of church bells causes them to leave for other lands, but before they leave, they will try and destroy the churches. In Scandinavia, they are known to fear iron.

 

MAGICAL POWERS/SKILLS

They are supernatural beings which gives them supernatural strength. They also apparently have the power of invisibility and are able to shape shift.

 

HISTORY/ABOUT

They are best known not only for their horrible appearance but their unhelpfulness to humans. They are considered to be very dangerous and are often referred to as man-eaters. They are known to live together in small family units (this is usually as father and daughter or mother and son). Even though they are quite recluse, they do have some form of social organization. They have a habit of BERGTAGNING (this is kidnapping or "mountain taking"), if they are not doing that then they are over running a farm or an estate. If they have not eaten the humans, then they may take them as their slaves. They are sometimes associated with particular landmarks; these can be explained as being formed from a Troll that was exposed to sunlight. They are not Christian.

 

CAN BE FOUND

They usually dwell in isolated places such as rocks, mountains or caves. Smaller Trolls can be found in burial mounds.

 

TALES

They are mentioned throughout the Old Norse Corpus. An unnamed Troll woman is mentioned in the PROSE EDDA book "SKALDSKAPARMAL". Numerous tales are recorded in Scandinavian folklore. Grendel, from the tale of Beowulf, is described as a Troll.

 

ANY SIGHTINGS?

A "Peg legged road Troll" was spotted in 1981 along the Tyson Mountain in Arkansas. There are numerous photos and video footage on the internet of people who have believed they have caught trolls, or troll like creatures, on film.

 

SIMILAR CREATURES

Changelings