Therianthrope
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Irimu/Rimu/Izimu
The Irimu is from Wachaga myth. A man would become an Irimu by breaking some taboo. Descriptions of what it looks like varies. Sometimes it is a man who has brambles growing out of his body until he’s just a walking bush, and then he eats everyone. This form is cured by burning the bushes growing out of him. One story tells of one that got swept away in a river and got turned into a banana tree on the shore. A child took a banana and lost a finger in a type of sympathetic magic thing. Sometimes it is seen as an ogre-like creature. It is also sometimes in…
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Büxenwolf/Boxenwolf/Böchsenwolf
This is a Werewolf from the Schaumberg region of Germany. A Büxenwolf is formed when a person makes a pact with the devil for knowledge, wealth, and power. They use a magic girdle to fully change from a human to a wolf. In wolf form they have enhanced speed, strength, and intelligence on top of their animal instincts and senses. They are known to be incredibly sadistic and will attack people from behind aiming for the neck to drag victims away. Despite their supernatural power, they can still be killed by normal weapons. Putting a piece of iron or steel above the creature’s head will break its connection with Hell.…
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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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Anjing Ajak
The Anjing Ajak is a therianthropic creature from the myths of Java, Indonesia. They appear human by day but turn into humanoid wolf creatures at night. Unlike some similar creatures, the Anjing Ajak transforms intentionally and remains smart and crafty in their inhuman form. They are known for being incredibly vicious and kill people with sharp teeth and claws. It’s thought they can be killed with a bullet to the heart or brain. 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.
