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Bugbear
The Bugbear is a form of creature from English Folklore. They’re malevolent creatures often used as bogeyman figures. They frequently take the form of bears or other large beasts and eat bad children. Bugbear is also often a word used to refer to a scarecrow. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013. Rose, Carol. Giants Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia Of Folklore Legend And Myth. United Kingdom, WW Norton, 2001.
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Bucca
Bucca is a sea monster from England. It was once believed to be a god of the sea, but is now known as a lesser mythical creature. It is thought to resemble a dark brown conger eel with hair made from tangled seaweed, and it is thought that it can change form or become invisible. If sacrifices of fish and bread are given to Bucca, then it leads fishermen to fish and pushes their boats away from rocks. If any fish are caught with the assistance of Bucca though, one must be thrown back as thanks. It is thought to be more aggressive near the Orkney Islands where it was…
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Buata
The Buata is a creature from Melanesian folklore. It is a massive boar with incredible strength and speed. It has tusks the size of swords. It hunts people and eats them whole. It has moderate intelligence, enough to speak in small sentences. It can sometimes be tricked into sparing its prey. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Bruxsa/Bruxa
The Bruxsa is a form of vampiric witch from Portuguese myth. These monsters consciously choose to be evil. They take the form of beautiful women during the day, and can fully pass as humans. At night they turn into birds and like leading travelers astray, attacking them when they have lost hope. They prefer to feed on children’s blood and sometimes they seek men to impregnate her so that she can have a child, and then consume it. They’re immortal and invulnerable using magic to bring drought, illness, destructive rain, and cause livestock to miscarry. Charms made of fresh garlic can be used to keep this creature away and mixing…
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Brunnmigi/Brunmîgi/Þurs
The Brunnmigi is a creature from Norse myth. They’re sometimes seen as Trolls, serve the role of tricksters, and are commonly related to foxes, possibly being seen as a transformed version of them. They live near springs and infest them, and are know to urinate in wells. There is a story from Halv’s Saga where a Brunnmigi was attacked with a spear on fire. Citations: Norges land og folk: Finmarkens amt, udg. ved A. T. Helland. 1905-06. 3 pts. Norway, Aschehoug, 1906. Northern Mythology: Comprising the Principal Popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and the Netherlands. United Kingdom, E. Lumley, 1851. Saga Book of the Viking Society for…
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Brukulaco/Bruculaco/Burculacas
The Brukulaco are undead creatures from Greek myth. They are thought to be the corpses of excommunicated people returning from the dead due to being locked out of heaven. They resemble hunched men with sharp teeth, harsh eyes, and sharp claws. They have bodies constructed of mud, slime, and feces found in the ground as they rise, and large chests that sound like drums when hit. They are known to have strong muscular arms and legs. To lure in prey, the Brukulaco make sounds like the crying of a lost child, an injured woman, or a whimpering dog. They lure human victims to isolated locations and consume any who get…
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Bouda
The Bouda is a creature from the folklore of Morocco, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. It is a creature classified as a living vampire that can also return as an undead vampire. They are often thought to be blacksmiths who forge metal amulets to control their ability to shapeshift. With this magic they take the physical form of a hyena but maintain their human intelligence. Without the amulet, they can’t transform back into a human and their minds become that of a hyena as well. In hyena form they consume flesh and blood, but they have no supernatural strength and can be killed with normal weapons. Citations: Vampire Universe: The Dark World…
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Bori
The Bori is a creature from the myths of the Hausa people. They resemble headless men with goat legs and cloven hooves. They can shapeshift into any animal, often turning into snakes, but may also turn into monkeys, birds, or swarms of insects. They live in forests, and make cries for help and turns into a lost child to lure victims in. They drain some blood out of their victims leaving them without energy. Can be appeased with offerings of freshly killed fowl or bowls of fruit and then become helpful. They can also be controlled if someone learns their true name, but this control is broken if the Bori…
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Boobrie
The Boobrie is a shapeshifting creature from Scotland. They live in lakes and saltwater wells and are known to be able to “fly” through water. They can also take the form of a horse and run on top of water, but it will still sound like they are running on the ground. They may also change into a giant insect with tentacles to feed off horse blood. A Boobrie footprint looks like an imprint of an antler. They are known to attack sheep and cattle and will steal them off of ships. They are capable of imitating these animals as well to lure them to the sides of ships. They…
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Bonaconn
The Bonaconn is a creature from Medieval bestiaries. They resemble a bull or an ox with horns curving inward, and a horse-like mane. Their dung is acidic, and can be fired like a weapon. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
