Psychopomps
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Wraith
Wraiths have old Norse origins. Their name is derived from word “vörthr” which means “guardian” or “watcher.” They appear as living people, foretelling that person’s death. 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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Questing Beast/Beast Glatisant/Glatsaunt
The Questing Beast is a creature known from Arthurian legend. It had the body of a leopard, deer hooves, a serpent neck, and the back legs of a lion. It was named after its cry which sounded like forty dogs barking. It was thought to have been born through the incest of a brother and sister. It was also sometimes referred to as a psychopomp. Several knights attempted to kill the Questing Beast, but it was ultimately killed by the knight Percival. The body of this creature was tossed into a lake, and the water boiled as it sank. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend…
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Intulo
The Intulo is a creature from Zulu mythology in South Africa. It’s thought to be a cross between a human, and a lizard or alligator. Originally in the Zulu creation myth, everything was immortal before it was decided everything should die. Intulo became the messenger of death and has since become a bogeyman figure. It has also occasionally been sighted in rural areas. 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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Banshee/Bean Sídhe
The Banshee is a creature from Irish mythology. Once a singular ancestral spirit. Her wail announced the coming death among one of the five main families these being the O’Briens, the O’Connors, the O’Gradys, the O’Niells, and the Kavanaghs. Newer interpretations of the Banshee see them as Psychopomps that foretell death with their calls. Hearing the cry of the Banshee means that someone you know will die the following night. Some believe that groups of Banshee gather together and cry out together at the death of a great or holy person. They are rarely seen but often resemble naked women with long hanging boobs washing shrouds by the river. When…
