Shapeshifters
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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.…
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Akhlut
The Akhlut is from Inuit/Yup’ik Mythology. It is a killer whale who can turn into a wolf and hunt prey on land. It can be identified by wolf tracks that head into the sea. Citations: Sullivan, Irene F., and Gill, Sam D.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
