Spirits
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Yuki-Onna/Yuki-Ona/Yuki-Joro/Yuk-Musume/Yuki-Onba/Yukionna/Yuki-Onne/Yukinko
The Yuki-Onna is a ghostly Yokai from Japanese myth. Its name translates to “snow woman.” They are typically described as beautiful and tall women with long hair and unnaturally pale skin. They hover above the ground, wearing a pure white kimono or appearing totally naked. Sometimes they may be seen cradling a child. They aggressively hunt human victims, but are only active in the winter months. They are perfectly camouflaged in the snow, especially with their ability to shapeshift into a cloud of mist or falling snow. They lead travelers astray, either leaving them to die of hypothermia or speeding up the process with their icy breath. They are known…
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Nadubi
The Nadubi are creatures from Australian myth of the Aboriginal people. This creature isn’t thought to have any associated myths. All information comes from prehistoric paintings and oral tradition. They’re described as evil spirits and are extra intimidating to locals. A Nadubi woman is depicted in a bark painting from the Oenpelli territory. Depictions suggest that they are similar to creatures called the Mimi, and the term “Mamandi” is sometimes used to describe them. They have stingray-like barbs coming from the joints. Specifically, spikes come from the elbows, knees, wrists, head, and from the vulva in the case of women. The barbs are magical and can be shot invisibly at…
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Mimi/Mini
The Mimi are spirits from Aboriginal Australian myth. They can be seen on bark and rock paintings, often in Arnhem Land. They have bodies filled in with geometric shapes, and these shapes may be associated with specific clans. Traditional colors of the Mimi are red, yellow, and white. They are described as mischievous and so thin that one can see right through them. They have small heads, gaping mouths, long necks, exceptionally long arms, and hair made of many parallel lines. Some depictions have feathers growing from their knees and ankles. It’s believed they are thin so that they don’t blow around in the wind, which could break their necks…
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Anjilik
The Anjilik is a form of evil spirit from the myths of the Marshall Island native people, especially from the Rongelap Atoll. There are various forms of these spirits that cause migraines, vertigo, sinusitis, and sneezing. They were known to follow the commands of the deity Wulleb and other higher spirits. Special charms could be made and worn to deter these creatures. They can seen sailing to someone as they enter their bodies. In response, a medicine man makes a fire, shapes a parandus leaf into a canoe shape, and sends it away into the sea. They command the Anjilik to leave and go to a mythical island called Eb.…
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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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Walriderske
The Walriderske is a creature from German folklore. They are spirits of nightmares much like the Mara or Alpen. They are most often female and appear as rough haired animals that are black, brown, or white. Sometimes they may appear as a girl who simply likes night walking. They are sometimes apparitions that haunt people and may even be in league with the devil. They may stick with someone for their entire life and could be kind figures as they aren’t inherently evil. They travel in a spirit form rather than physically, blending the corporeal and incorporeal. When the spirit leaves the body, they are left asleep and appear lifeless.…
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Shinigami
The Shinigami are Yokai of death from Japanese myth. They are sometimes seen as spirits of the dead that possess the living and seek to harm them. They typically resemble humans with pale grey skin and inhuman features. They are drawn to death and linger around areas where people have just died. They thrive in areas where particularly gruesome deaths have occurred, as they haunt areas tainted by evil and look for people to possess. They haunt people and alter their behavior causing them to become obsessed with death and their own sins, eventually leading to suicide. They particularly like targeting bad people but will target anyone. Anyone who sees…
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Milosnice/Merciful
The Milosnice is a creature of Slavic belief specifically from Serbia. They are thought to be invisible beings that bring disease. Though often invisible, they sometimes take the form of women dressed all in black. They may work alone but have also been known to work in groups to cause even worse disease. In some places it was believed they possessed people to cause illness while other times they spread disease by poisoning food or the air. It was often believed that every Milosnice carried one specific disease that they spread. If an outbreak began, the Milosnice responsible could be stopped by lighting fires at crossroads and the entrances to…
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Maneden
The Maneden is a mythical creature from the Chewong people of Malaysia. They are arboreal and aren’t dangerous if left alone. They don’t attack if someone approaches but will attack if they try to settle in the area. They are seen as spirits that live in pandan trees and violently attack anyone who would hurt the tree they reside in. They’re small creatures that attach themselves to the victims and drain their blood. With men, they attach to the forehead or elbow, and with women, they may attach to the nipple. They can be appeased with offerings of tubers and nuts and they are known to attack proboscis monkeys. After…
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Loup Garou
The Loup Garou is a French form of werewolf that traveled to the US with colonialism. They are known to feed on blood and the flesh of humans. There are various distinct forms of Loup Garou. The oldest form starts out human and changes fully into a wolf with human intelligence. Often this version of transformation is induced by wearing a magic belt made of wolf skin. The next form, these stories starting in the eighteenth century, only partially transform, turning into human-wolf hybrids. This form had incredible strength, speed, and was very difficult to kill. The next form, these stories starting in the nineteenth century, were people who did…
