Invunche

The Invunche is a creature from Chilean myth. Its name means “master of the hide,” and they are considered pitiable among supernatural monsters. They are created when a witch kidnaps a firstborn son while he’s an infant. They take this child back to their cave, accessible only through an underground lake. They proceed to break the child’s legs and bend them back over the spine. The other limbs are twisted and broken into unnatural shapes. A hole is cut under the right shoulder blade, and the right arm is pushed through the opening so it looks like the arm is growing from the back. Their head are bent and misshapen over time, and their whole bodies are coated in a magic ointment, causing hair to grow all over the body. The tongue is cut down the middle to look like a snake tongue, and the transformation is completed by feeding the child human flesh. They are physically unable to leave the cave unless the witch allows them to and transports them due to their deformities. They act as guards and kill anyone who enters the cave. The secret to avoiding being attacked is to kiss the Invunche on the butt. They’re known to emit a blood-curdling scream instead of talking, the sound of which can freeze someone in fear. They are thought to command creatures called the Trempulcuehuecuve, which they use to capture young girls. These victims are brought to the Invunche and drained of blood. It’s believed only a hero is capable of killing the Trempulcuehuecuve or Invunche.

Citations:

Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.