Undead
-
Kathakano
The Kathakano is an undead monster from Crete. They cause people to distrust smiling strangers since they pose as a happy stranger or happy drunk person. When someone approaches the smile gets larger and larger and reveals massive sharp teeth. They spit acidic blood at victims like a snake which causes immediate pain and blindness. It uses this opportunity to attack their victim and drain them of blood. They return to their graves during the day and can be killed during this time by digging up the body and performing an exorcism. They can also be stopped by driving thick stakes through the shoulders and thighs to pin the body…
-
Jiangshi/Chiang-Shih/Kiang-Shi/Kuang-Shi
The Jiangshi are a form of undead creature from Chinese myth. They’re most often formed when someone dies from murder, hanging, drowning, suicide, or dying during the committing of a crime. It is believed they are the lesser of the two souls, called the p’o, that remains in the body after death. They have incredibly stiff bodies due to rigor mortis and have to hop around because of this. They’re believed to become stronger the longer they exist, with rigor mortis wearing off, and they would become smarter and more malicious. They can leap from massive distances and even learn how to fly. They have been known to appear as…
-
Jerangkong
The Jerangkong are from Indonesian myth. They are ghosts in the form of human skeletons and are sometimes covered in blood or dirt. They make a chattering sound like hard wood hitting together. They create a gap in their graves and emerge in the form of smoke. They mean no harm. They burn on contact. They have various origins but are said to have been egg thieves in life. They will continue to steal eggs when in the form of the Jerangkong. They will not break the egg but will suck the egg out through the shells pores. Citations: A Book of Indonesian Ghosts. N.p., StoryTale Studios
-
Isithfuntela
The Isithfuntela is from West Africa. They are created when witches enter the bodies of those who have committed suicide. The witch will cut out the corpse’s tongue and drive a wooden peg into its skull to bind it. They can also control them separately to themselves. They lack physical strength and cannot fight a healthy person one on one, but can shapeshift, often turning into bats and rats, and can hypnotize people. They can also raise the dead which turn to dust once the sun rises. They must feed on human blood to survive. They hypnotize their victims and drive wooden pegs into their brains to kill them, then…
-
Hone-Onna
The Hone-Onna is an undead Yokai from Japanese myth. The name translates to “bone woman.” They often linger in dark streets, down alleyways, and graveyards. They are believed to be women who die and return from death due to love, rather than anger. They return to their partner in life to continue living a life with them, appearing at night and leaving during the day. They appear as they did in life, though their true form is that of a rotting skeletal woman. The strength of their illusion grows stronger as they continue to further rot. The only ones who could see this form are those unaffected by love and…
-
Haugbui
The Haugbui is an undead creature from Scandinavian mythology. Its name means “mound dweller.” They are thought to be corpses who rise from the dead and collect treasure. When angered, Haugbui bring disease and misfortune that lasts through generations. They are believed to use a specific form of black magic called Trollskap. They can be appeased if offered the first bit of milk from a cow who just birthed a calf, or the first glass of ale brewed in a household. In desperate times, people would sacrifice cows to this creature. In other situations, they can be killed with fire or a large group of armed warriors. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan.…
-
Fyglia
The Fyglia is a form of undead from Iceland. They’re flesh eating creatures whose name means “following spirit.” They climb roofs and kick off shingles when searching for prey. To kill a Fyglia, it must be captured, decapitated, and reburied with the head placed under the body. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2017.
-
Fext/Kostlivec
Fext are a form of undead from Eastern Bohemia and Western Moravia. Their other name, Kostlivec, simply means “skeleton” which is a less specific term. It is believed that babies with their amniotic sac still around them at birth are likely to become Fext. Their corpses do not decompose after death. Their skin is like a hardened shell, and they cannot be killed with normal bullets but can be killed with a glass ball or peg. Many of them are connected to the thirty years war. Citations: Marenčin, Albert, and Stejskal, Martin. Labyrintem tajemna, aneb, Průvodce po magických místech Československa. Czechia, Paseka, 1991.
You May Also Like
Ogolijen
-
Farkaskoldus
The Farkaskoldus is a vampiric form of werewolf from Hungary. Its name translates to “wolf beggar.” Oftentimes they are undead creatures that in life, were abused shepherds. Sometimes a person could become a Farkaskoldus if they consumed the flesh of someone who was executed. They return from the dead to right some serious wrong and are known to be incredibly dangerous and easy to anger. Sometimes the spirit that brings them back will fade quickly after getting revenge. They can take the form of a cat, dog or goat, and they use these forms to discreetly seek out prey. After finding prey, typically sleeping people, they sit on the person’s…
-
Eloko/Biloko(pl.)
The Eloko is a strange creature that comes from the Nkundo people of Zaire. They are small humanoids that consume human flesh. They often look very ugly, with grass growing from them instead of hair, sharp claws, snouts like a dog, sharp teeth, and eyes that glow like fire. They often wears clothes made of leaves. They can unhinge their jaws to open wide enough to eat a human whole. They are believed to be formed from the spirit of a person who died under unfortunate circumstances, who cannot move on without resolving whatever caused their death. They often carry around enchanted bells which they use to put people into…
