Vampires
-
Drakul
The Drakul is an undead form of vampire from Moldavia and Romania. The name relates to words for “devil” and “dragon” and is often used as an expletive. Drakul also served as a nickname to the father of Vlad Tepes who was associated with a group called the Order of the Dragon. This led to Vlad the Impaler to be referred to as Dracula. Along with being the name used by Bram Stokers character, there were several people in history referred to as Dracula. They’re corpses raised from the dead after being possessed by a demonic force. They have pale skin, hollow eyes, walk around naked, and carry their coffins…
-
Dila
The Dila is a bizarre creature from the folklore of the Philippines. They are described as sentient monstrous tongues. They move through the earth and emerge from the floorboards to lick exposed flesh. This causes the victim to become ill and they will die eventually if fed upon night after night. 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.
-
Dhampir/Dhampyr/Dhampressa(female)
The Dhampir are from Roma folklore. They are the children born from a human and a vampire. They are often the children of a human and a Mullo. They have psychic abilities, can detect and kill vampires, but have tragically short lives. The nature of their unnatural conception shields them from evil and assures that they will not become evil. Their life is shortened due to genetic flaws, which causes their skeleton to become cold and causes the Dhampir to die in their thirties or forties. Dhampir always seek to destroy their vampiric parent before their death. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt…
-
Devalpa
The Devalpa is from Arabic myth. They resemble decrepit looking old men who stand on the side of the road. They will ask for people to carry them and then they grow many snake tails to catch their victims with. They can only be stopped if you trick them into getting drunk on wine, then they can be removed when they pass out from the alcohol. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Giants and Humanoids in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
-
Dakhanavar/Dashnavar
The Dakhanavar is an evil mountain spirit from Armenian myth. They are believed to live in remote areas around Mount Ararat, where it lurks up trees or hides inside hollow trees. They lie in wait, watching for victims to walk by and then follows those victims until they go to sleep. They often target campers but in desperate situations may sneak into homes or remote inns to find prey. They are also known to attack any who attempt to map the region, even just counting the hills, due to the fear they may lose their hiding spots. They creep up to sleeping humans and drain their blood from their toes…
-
Craqueuhhe
The Craqueuhhe is an undead creature from France. They were thought to be incredibly strong, virtually unstoppable and utterly immune to pain. These creatures could be formed when a person died who was unbaptized. They had waxy white skin, sunken eyes, and greasy hair with clods of dirt and maggots stuck in it. Their fingers were commonly ripped and torn from digging themselves out of their graves. They were capable of moving no matter how mutilated or decayed they were. They sustain themselves by eating flesh and drinking blood, and they will keep eating until their entire stomach is full. It was thought you would need a mob with consecrated weapons,…
-
Chonchon
The Chonchon are mythical creatures from the Mapuche people of Chile. They’re a vampiric form of witches with vulture-like heads and some believe it is an undead creature. Sometimes they take the form of birds with the head of a Kalku and they can shapeshift to appear as people with large ears. They’re a form of Wekufe, summoned by a Kalku and hunted by the Machi. They swoop down and knock people to the ground, ripping out their throats to feed on their blood. They can be driven away by warriors using weapons enchanted by a Machi, but can only be killed by Familiars of the Machi turned into snakes…
-
Children of Judas
The Children of Judas are from Serbian, Bulgarian, and Romanian myth. They are a type of vampire who always have red hair and can drain victims of every drop of blood through a single bite. Their bite marks often resemble the way the Latin number thirty is written, XXX, symbolizing the amount of silver Judas took to betray Jesus. 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.
-
Cauchemar
The Cauchemar is a vampiric demon or witch from French myth whose name translates to “nightmare.” Sometimes they act as a succubus or incubus and enter the beds of evil people. Someone sleeping with a Cauchemar is enslaved to its will and drained of their life energy. Signs of an attack from a Cauchemar are waking up having drooled, having no energy, and having leg cramps. Attacks can be prevented by putting salt, stones, or beans under the pillow. A broom propped in the corner deters the Cauchemar as does having screens on the windows. Sleeping on one’s stomach can keep a Cauchemar away, and they cannot enter a house…
-
Bruxsa/Bruxa
The Bruxsa is a form of vampiric witch from Portuguese myth. These monsters consciously choose to be evil. They take the form of beautiful women during the day, and can fully pass as humans. At night they turn into birds and like leading travelers astray, attacking them when they have lost hope. They prefer to feed on children’s blood and sometimes they seek men to impregnate her so that she can have a child, and then consume it. They’re immortal and invulnerable using magic to bring drought, illness, destructive rain, and cause livestock to miscarry. Charms made of fresh garlic can be used to keep this creature away and mixing…
