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Piast/Biast/Bestia
The Piast is a monstrous creature from Irish myth. They are described as giant lake monsters, being part salmon and part serpent. They are also thought to be capable of breathing fire. It is believed Piast are one of the kinds of monsters banished by St. Patrick until judgment day. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Phantom Clowns/Killer Clowns
The Phantom Clowns are an odd phenomenon encountered in New England, 1981. Many others were seen in various locations during the spring of 1981. Witnesses described various clowns attempting to lure away children, often into vans. They were noted to have targeted elementary school children, often trying to lure children in with candy. Some brandished weapons. They evaded capture and detection by any, other than potential victims. Despite their name, they are believed to be flesh and blood. They do however add a layer of validity to a larger Urban Legend of killer clowns. Citations: American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore [3 Volumes]: An Encyclopedia…
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Pesanta
The Peasant is a strange creature from Catalonian myth. They act similar to the Alp or Mara, sitting on peoples chest at night. This action causes nightmares and breathing troubles. They appear as giant black dogs or cats. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Peng/P’eng
Peng is gigantic bird from Chinese myth. It is thought to have started its life as a fish named K’un. Its back measures thousands of leagues across, and the ocean moves in conjunction with its wing flaps. It flies so high that it can’t tell if the sky is blue. It lives in a place known as North Gloom and migrates to a place known as South Gloom. This migration causes whirlwinds and tsunamis. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Peluda/La Velue/Shaggy Beast/The Shaggy Beast Of La Ferte-Bernard/Peallaidh/Pehuda
The Peluda is a large dragon thought to have lived near the Huisine River in the village of La Ferte-Bernard, France. This creature was spoken of in Medieval times, and it was thought that it refused a ride on Noah’s ark but still survived the great flood. It was thought to have had four stubby legs, quills covering its back, a scaly tail, shaggy green fur, turtle claws, and the ability to breath fire. It was so large that it flooded nearby farms when it entered the river. One day, it ate a young maiden, whose fiancé sought out a wise woman to find the creature’s weakness. He was told…
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Pau-Walu
Pau-Walu lived by the Wailua river in Maui, Hawaii. His name translates to “eight dead”. He warned people going fishing that a shark would kill eight of them, and then he turned into a shark and killed eight of them. People quickly figured out what’s going on, and he was confronted, captured, and bound by a hero known as Hau-Ola the Strong then thrown into a fire. Citations: Beckwith, Martha Warren. Hawaiian Mythology. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 1976.
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Pastinaca
The Pastinaca was a creature from medieval belief. They look like weasels but are the size of elephants. They smell so terrible that they kill trees just by being near them. Citations: Cawson, Frank. The Monsters in the Mind: The Face of Evil in Myth, Literature and Contemporary Life. United Kingdom, Book Guild, 1995. Gilmore, David D.. Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors. United States, University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated, 2012.
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Mu Pitz/Piamupits
Mu Pitz is a cannibalistic monster, possibly fitting the category of Cannibal Giant. It comes from the Comanche people, largely from Texas. Sometimes it is seen as a cave dwelling ogre, but other times it is believed to be a giant owl person. It liked to prey on humans and mostly children, and was often seen as an evil spirit who served as a bogeyman figure. It stood twelve feet tall, and was covered in hair and wasn’t actually fully an evil force but rather a big dangerous creature that in a way represented the balance of nature. Citations: Eberhart, George M.. Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. United Kingdom,…
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Polar Worms
The Polar Worms are mythical creatures from Inuit myth. They’re described as long serpentine creatures. They have dragon-like heads and are considered to be extremely vicious. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and DeKirk, Ashley. Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry. United States, Red Wheel Weiser, 2006.
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Faery Dragon/Fey Dragon/Fairy Dragon/Penny Dragon
The Faery Dragon is a creature commonly from South American folklore. They resemble the typical European Dragon but range from the size of a mouse to a foot long. They also have two sets of wings resembling a dragonfly or butterfly, long tapered snouts, large iridescent eyes, and coloration matching their surroundings. Their scales are thought to reflect rainbows in the correct light. Citations: Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and DeKirk, Ashley. Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry. United States, Red Wheel Weiser, 2006.
