Ghosts
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Mejenkwaad
The Mejenkwaad is a form of ghost or demon from the Marshall Islands. They are formed when the husbands of pregnant women leave, and do not return before the birth. After transforming, they devour their husbands as soon as they return. It was believed this was the fate of any lonely pregnant woman. There is a story of the island of Airok which had an incredibly high pregnancy death rate and was filled with Mejenkwaad. There were two women who never gave birth and lived to be old. They treated these Mejenkwaad as their daughters. They lived on the oceanside of Airok and none passed through that area because of…
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La Llorona
La Llorona is a well-known ghost from Latin America whose name means “the weeping woman.” It is believed she is the ghost of a woman who’s man left her after impregnating another woman. In an attempt to get revenge against him, she drowns their children in a pond. Due to her crime, she is bound to the area for eternity. She is thought to sing songs common to mothers to lure in children, often from under any body of water, and drags them to their deaths. Sometimes they would need to enter the water, but other times she would simply pounce on them as they get close to the waters…
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Knockers
The Knockers are a helpful form of Fae from Cornwall. They are believed to work alongside miners to help them find lost things and lead them to veins of ore. They tap against the walls to lead people to these veins. They are typically helpful but can be dangerous if annoyed. Knockers can be angered if someone whistles or swears, and they throw rocks until these offender apologizes. While most believe Knockers to be a form of Fae, there are other possible origins. – Some beliefs suggest that they are the spirits of Jewish people made to work in mines. – Some suggest they are the spirits of those who…
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Jerangkong
The Jerangkong are from Indonesian myth. They are ghosts in the form of human skeletons and are sometimes covered in blood or dirt. They make a chattering sound like hard wood hitting together. They create a gap in their graves and emerge in the form of smoke. They mean no harm. They burn on contact. They have various origins but are said to have been egg thieves in life. They will continue to steal eggs when in the form of the Jerangkong. They will not break the egg but will suck the egg out through the shells pores. Citations: A Book of Indonesian Ghosts. N.p., StoryTale Studios
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Hantu
Hantu is a term used when referring to creatures from Malaysian myths. Hantu is often translated as “ghost” “demon” or “spirit.” They live in a place called Pulau Hantu, roughly meaning “ghost island.” They can generally be split into three classifications these being minor, medium, and greater. They’re nocturnal spirits and typically represent smaller dangers, preying on mankind. It’s believed there is a Hantu for every evil. They can bring disease, and insanity, and may possess people or herald Iblis. They are often invisible and can only be heard rather than seen. Each Hantu has specific strengths and weaknesses, and what these are can vary from town to town or…
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Goryō/gGoryo/Goryo-Shin
The Goryō is a Yokai and a form of ghost from Japanese myth. They are commonly known from the Heian period of 794-857. They’re believed to be the vengeful spirits of people killed as the result of political intrigue, accidents, or unusual circumstances. Some believe anyone could choose to become a Goryo at the moment of their death. It’s thought they bring disease, natural disasters, and wars. They can be identified through necromancy and divination or can be appeased by making them into Goryo-Shin, or Goryo deities. Goryo can be warded off by reciting Buddhist nembutsu, which sends the spirit to the afterlife, or through the use of Inyo magic.…
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El Fantasma Malo
El Fantasma Malo is a form of ghost from El Salvador created when someone builds a house and later dies in it. It’s thought that the effort they put into the building is what ties them to it and leads them to refuse to give up the house to anyone else. They often pull down blankets, throws things, hides things, and move around furniture. It’s thought they may hover over sleeping children in the form of a thick mist and make it hard for them to breathe, making them ill. They may also inhale the breath of a child to steal its life force which causes them to become sick…
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Eretiku/Eretnik/Elatoamsk/Eretitsa/Eretnitsa
The Eretiku is a creature from Russian mythology. This creature is seen as the female version of Erestun. They are thought to be deliberate blasphemers who practice black magic or women who sold their souls to the devil and return from the grave. They take the form of old women and seek out others of their kind to form covens. It can induce a sickness that causes the life force and sanity to begin wasting away, simply by staring into someone’s eyes. If they’re not strong enough to physically manifest, they take the form of a ghost that can manipulate physical objects. In this form, they rise from the graves…
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Duppy
The Duppy is a form of ghost from the West Indies. They are believed to be all the evil that escapes the body after death. This evil takes a semi-corporeal form and can be summoned and bound to be used as servants or weapons. They can be summoned accidentally by playing cards near the grave of someone recently deceased. Pouring rum and some silver coins into a grave can cause the Duppy to take form. If the summoner loses control of the Duppy, it will destroy everything they love, and then brutally kill them. They cannot be stopped at night, but you can scatter tobacco seeds to distract the Duppy…
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Deogen/De Ogen
After much research, I have concluded that Deogen lacks any reliable sources, and is likely fabricated. Despite no clear documentation in an official capacity, Deogen is recounted in various locations with many of the same details being shared. I have compiled information from the various unreliable sources and presented them with the context that this is likely a situation akin to fakelore rather than genuine folklore. Deogen is a ghost and urban legend from Brussels, specifically the Sonian Forest in Belgium. They appear as green fog or shadow figures. Their name means “the eyes” as this is how they commonly appear. They were recounted in a book called De Kinderen…
