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Sea Monk
The Sea Monk is a Medieval fish with a human head and a monk’s tonsure haircut. They’re thought to have a scarlet-colored and speckled body. With the upper body covered by a cape, and two long tentacles rather than arms. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Sabbatarian
A Sabbatarian is a mystical form of person born on a Saturday from the belief of the Balkans. It’s thought that they can cure illnesses, detect supernatural creatures, and destroy them since they have special powers over vampires, ghosts, and spirits. Often they are accompanied by creatures called Fetch Dogs. Twins are thought to become especially powerful Sabbatarians. There is a report of a Sabbatarian luring a Vrykolakas into a barn, forcing it to count seeds, and then nailing it to a wall. It was thought vampires were confined to coffins all Saturday and Sabbatarians hunted them then, and they would sometimes wear their underwear inside out to help oppose…
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Rusalka/Rusalki
The Rusalka is a form of Slavic myths of Russia. They’re amphibious creatures thought to be the tortured souls of unbaptized children, babies downed by unmarried mothers, drowned virgins, and those who committed suicide out of heartbreak. They live at the bottom of lakes and can come to the surface and turn into humans by taking human clothes. They have legs on land, but only a fishtail in water. Some stories say the Rusalka lure in human men to bring them to an underwater palace but the men usually drown. Some stories have the Rusalka carry off men to a magical location to seduce and keep young forever with magic,…
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Pontianak
The Pontianak is a form of ghost from Indonesia and Malaysia. They’re believed to be stillborn children who’ve risen from the grave. They take the form of grown women but make a cry like a lost child to lure in victims. After luring people in, they cut them open and consume their entrails. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Obake/Bakemono
The Obake is a ghostly form of yokai from Japan. Their name means “changed thing,” and they have many evil powers.They can change visibility and solidity at will. They may utilize deception, and while they are not always evil, female Obake are considered more evil. Female Obake may use seduction to enhance terror. Most Obake are humans who transform after death into physical manifestations of their nature in life and sometimes eat flesh. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Kobold
The Kobold is a form of household spirit from Germany and Switzerland. They test the house and its occupants early on. It carries a pouch containing dust and dirt and will sprinkle some in the family’s milk. If this goes unnoticed, then the Kobold decides it is welcome in the home. They settle in the house, often under the stove. They assist when cleaning if not being watched and keep other spirits from the house. They move on only after the last of the family dies. If any servants were employed at the house, they would have to be taught how to not anger the Kobold, or suffer bad luck…
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Kindermorderinn
The Kindermorderinn is a form of ghost from Germany. It’s thought to be the angry spirit of children who were murdered by their mothers. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Spirits and Ghosts in World Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006. Ogden, Tom. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings. United States, DK Publishing, 1999.
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Hōsōgami
The Hosōgami is a form of Yokai or Kami from Japanese myth. He was considered the god of smallpox and he was offered food in exchange for protection. The color red was often used to ward off Hosōgami, so patients were given red caps, socks, and sheets. People would also consume a dish called Sekihan made from red beans and rice. Rituals involving the Hosōgami would involve Gohei staff decorated with red strips of paper and some districts made straw dolls with sekihan balls and Waraji straw sandals and put them into the road, to give the Hosōgami an easy trip home. Small coins may be added to make the…
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Grisi Siknis
The Grisi Siknis is a supernatural creature or event from Nicaragua. Its name translates to “plague of madness” and has been reported as recently as 2003. It has caused some to roam around naked holding knives or machetes. Victims of the Grisi Siknis have wild eyes and rarely recognize even their own family. It often affects women most, and those afflicted rarely have a memory of their actions after being cured. Sometimes it is described as an evil creature having settled upon a location and supposedly feeds off the negative energy of those who have gone mad. It is thought that this can be stopped by shamans from the Miskito…
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Gregorio Murillo Incident
The Gregorio Murillo Incident occurred in Soria, Spain, in 1815. The witness of these creatures was a young shepherd during the Napoleonic wars, named Gregorio Murillo. He followed a stray sheep to a cave covered by greenery. He found a glowing phosphorescent cave with giant boulders and other formations of quartz crystal. The walls had streaks of color like marble, and they had thin veins of silver and gold. Encrusted in these walls were various precious gemstones. Outside sounds were sealed off, but subterranean fires and running water from inside the cave were audible. He wandered through the environment until he found a spring spewing out foamy water. There were…
