Shapeshifters
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Buggane
The Buggane is a variation of the Boggart from the Isle of Man. They have bestial bodies, taloned hands, sharp teeth, and large heads. They’re thought to be shapeshifters that take the form of large calves, horses, or dogs. They live primarily in the water, near waterfalls and ponds, and only go on land to hunt. 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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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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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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Aughisky
The Aughisky are from Scotland. They do not gallop along the shore unlike some other water horses. They cannot be permanently tamed but can be tamed temporarily if a halter is placed on them without them seeing their lake. If they see their lake, they will charge into the water and rip up their former owner. They eat cattle and are sighted most in November when they come ashore to graze. Although they are mostly benign you shouldn’t go in their lake after dark. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013.
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Aufhocker
The Aufhocker is from German folklore, and its name means “leap upon.” It looks like a black dog that occasionally walks on its back legs. It targets people traveling alone at night. It attacks at crossroads and rips out their victims’ throats. It can shapeshift into other animals, or even a human. It cannot be killed but will leave at the sound of church bells or when the sun rises. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Asiman
The Asiman is from the Dahomey people. They are creatures who are shapeshifting witches created by someone casting some specific spell and losing their humanity. They can remove their skin and turn into a glowing light. They fly through the air to find prey and after feeding, they turn into an animal to leave. They can only be killed when in animal form. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017. 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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Asemann
The Asemann is from Suriname. They can shapeshift into animals at night. They hunts for humans in animal form and drains them of their blood. Their name is based on the word “azen” meaning “carrion” or “cadaver.” Placing a broom across a door prevents an Asemann from entering a house uninvited. Throwing a quantity of small objects like seeds or pebbles can stop an Asemann until they count them all. They return to human form at sunrise and can be killed by anything that would kill the average human. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
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Alp/Alpen(plural)
The Alpen are demonic creatures from Germany. They are typically male, though they can be female, and they very commonly are seen wearing white hats which are the source of their power, and stealing this hat can cause them serious trouble. Sometimes they are thought to be the spirits of dead newborns, spirits of children who died immediately after a difficult birth, or the souls of returning family members. They are powerful shapeshifters that lack a true form. They can take the form of any animal but commonly appear as birds, cats, dogs, pigs, and snakes. They may also take the form of a Black Dog, or a cloud of mist.…
