Vampires
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Ghaddar
The Ghaddar are mythical creatures from the deserts of Yemen, Tihamah, and Egypt. They’re described as female demons appearing as women so attractive almost none can resist her seduction. They lure men away, beat them half to death, torture them for hours or days, and then eat their genitals. The victim is often alive when she feeds but is certainly not afterward. Only those who are devoutly Muslim are thought to be able to resist their seduction. 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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Gashadokuro
Gashadokuro are Japanese Yōkai. They are giant skeletons that walk around at night. After hundreds of people die and rot without funeral rites, the many bones gathered in their restless anger to turn into this. They are recognizable by the sound of chattering teeth, but don’t always make noise. They sneak up on people traveling alone at night, catch their victims, crush them in their hands and bite off their heads. They cannot be killed but eventually wear out over time. Citations: Meyer, Matthew. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons: A Field Guide to Japanese Yōkai. United States, Matthew Meyer, 2015.
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Féar Gortagh/Fair Gortha/Fear Gortach/Fod Gortach/Fairy Grass/Hungry Grass
The Féar Gortagh is from Irish myth. It’s thought to be a patch of grass where someone died a violent or unnatural death, though it is indistinguishable from any other grass. It drains the life force of its victims, with them sometimes dying if they don’t immediately eat or drink something. Some believe that any who step on Fèar Gortagh becomes so hungry they eat themselves. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Mythological Objects. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2020. 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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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…
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Estrie
The Estrie is a dangerous monster from Hebrew belief. They are thought to be shapeshifters who have been known to take the form of dogs, cats, insects, or snakes. Along with these animal forms, it could take the form of a human, or even specific individuals if it helped them to lure in its prey. They specifically feed on the blood of children and lure them to isolated locations. Once alone, the Estrie reveals their true face and consume their victims. It is believed none have ever seen the face of an Estrie and lived to tell of it. The Estrie may unintentionally lead to the execution of an innocent…
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Empusa/Empusae/Mormolykiai
The Empusa is a bizarre creature that comes from Ancient Greece. They have human bodies, a bronze leg, and a donkey leg and face. They were seen as demonic creatures that served the goddess Hecate.They would lie in wait, hiding in dark spots by the side of the road. Their strange appearance is sometimes believed to be used to hide their true faces which are too terrifying for people to handle. They have the power to disguise themselves as attractive women, or vanish into thin air. They would consume the flesh of their victims. In one specific account, one was kept away when someone used harsh language towards it. Citations:…
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Uber
The Uber is from Turkish legend. They are related to witches and vampires. They are formed when someone rises from the dead that died a violent death or when a foreigner died in Turkey but was not Muslim. These creatures are related to Vlad of Wallachia (Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Dracula) and used as a bogeyman figure. The Uber legend is closely tied to the intimidating nature of Vlad the Impaler. 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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Rabisu/Rōbēs
The Rabisu are vampiric spirits from ancient Akkadian myth. Their name means “evil fiend” or “evil croucher.” They’re ambush predators that stalk from the shadows and lunge at unsuspecting humans to drain their life force. They are known to cooperate amongst each other and even with other creatures like Labartu. They often appear in nightmares and hide out in rarely visited places. Rabisu would often be a term placed before various forms of demons, and at one time a Rabisu was a high official just under a judge much like a magistrate, with the name changing context due to the fear of the power these people held. People who can…
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Obayifo
The Obayifo is a form of witch-like living vampire from the Ashanti people. They are thought to remove their skin at night and fly through the sky in the form of a ball of fire. Rather than being created through some form of curse or other transformation, Obayifo are simply born. They are seen as malicious creatures that feed on blood, as well as the suffering of their victims who they spread disease to through their bite. They largely target children and leave small imperceivable bites and take small amounts of blood after entering through open windows. If they are without prey, they can feed on fruits and vegetables. The…
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Draugr
The Draugr are undead creatures from Norse myth. They are thought to be evil spirits possessing the corpse of deceased Vikings. They protect the treasure they’re buried with and collect more treasure by robbing other graves. They are capable of controlling weather, most often causing storms and thick fog. They can also take the form of predatory birds or wolves and possess supernatural strength with an invulnerability to weapons. They rise in the middle of the night to attack sleeping people, consume their flesh and blood, and bring back their bones to gnaw on in the grave. To kill a Draugr, someone who is pure of heart and in good…
