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Kappa
The Kappa is a water-dwelling yokai from Japanese myth. Its name can be translated as “river child.” Sometimes, the Kappa are revered as a form of water gods. They are often depicted with scaly skin that is red, green, or blue. Their faces consist of bulging eyes and turtle beaks. Commonly they have a bowl-like dip in the top of their skull meant to hold water. They’re amphibious or reptilian and move effectively in water, but are clumsy on land. They have webbed hands and feet that lack thumbs, and a turtle shell on their backs. Oddly they have an elastic-like waterproof skin that smells like fish and can be…
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Jorōgumo
The Jorōgumo is a form of yokai from Japan. They appear as beautiful women to lure in men, and when they approach they turn into monstrous spiders and consume their prey. They can be found in forests and cities. Some believed they were created by the gods to punish evildoers by turning them into immortal monsters. It was believed only someone wise and courageous could defeat a Jorōgumo. They represent transformation, rebirth, female strength, seduction, and beauty. There are stories of Jorogumo falling in love and abandoning their evil ways. A notable example is a story where a woodcutter saw a beautiful woman by a lake others knew to be…
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Hanehwa
The Hanehwa are mythical creatures from the myths of the Seneca. They are human skin removed in a whole piece. Sorcerers use them as guardians because they do not sleep and shout three times to warn of an approaching stranger. Citations: Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. N.p., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1918. Sullivan, Irene F., and Gill, Sam D.. Dictionary of Native American Mythology. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 1994.
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Gwyllion
Gwyllion are female hag-like beings from Welsh myth. They have dark eyes that reflect red and their name is derived from the word “gwyll” meaning darkness or gloom. They haunt remote mountain areas and wear clothing the color of wood ash, aprons the color of bone, and four-pointed oblong hats. They’re often known to carry iron pots for mixing potions. Walk along mountain and forest roads and call out to humans though they can’t speak like a person, instead sounding like a crow trying to speak. Lures kind people in and then runs off into the darkness, leaving them lost and alone, often leading travelers into deadfalls or off of…
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Goblin
Goblins are mythical creatures originiating in French myth. They’re thought to be wandering spirits resembling small humanoid creatures that invade homes. They’re thought to live in deserted grottos or swamps and are attracted to shiny objects. They’re often drawn to families with beautiful children and wine, both of these being things the Goblins like to steal. Mischievous by nature, they often cause trouble by banging pots and pans together at night preventing sleep. They may also hide things and move furniture, or bite members of the family in their sleep. Sometimes families would allow Goblins into the home if they promised to do chores. The Goblin in these situations most…
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Garden of Eden/Eden/Field of Souls/Gan Eden
The Garden of Eden is a location from Judeo-Christian myth, named in the book of Genesis. A river runs through the garden that branches out into the rivers of the Euphrates, Tigris, Gihon, and Pison. This place is seen as the site of the creation of mankind and a place where there is no suffering, disease, or death, but knowledge is freely given to all. It had ample food and fertile lands, overall being totally idyllic. For a time, the first humans, Adam and Eve, tended to this place. It also held the Tree of Knowledge, which no one was supposed to eat from. After being tempted by the serpent…
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Fafnir/Frænir
Fafnir is a mythological figure from Norse mythology. He was a Dwarf or Jotunn and one of the sons of Hreidmar the magician. He desired his father’s magic ring Advarinaut, which could magically produce treasure. Eventually, he became so corrupted by his desire that he killed his father for the ring. He gained a great pile of treasure and turned into a dragon to protect it, though the corruption of his greed forced him to remain in that form. Fafnirs brother Regin also desired the ring but waited too long to act on his greed. To get the ring from his brother, he sent his foster son, the hero Sigurd,…
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Dopplesaugr
The Dopplesaugr is an undead creature from Hanover, Germany. They’re formed when a child is allowed to breastfeed after already having been weaned off of it, this causes them to return from the grave as a Dopplesaugr. Because of this origin, their name translates to “double sucker” and they eat woman’s breasts. They attack family members to feed on the flesh of the breasts, blood, and breast milk when available. However, they may feed on anyone if they become desperate enough. They may feed on their own breasts to get the energy to rise and can be preemptively dealt with by using thick wooden blocks to keep the jaw from…
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Doan
Doan is a spirit in animal form from aboriginal Australian myth. He existed in the form of a glider possum and had remarkable strength for his size. He was a swift hunter, possibly due to the gliding possum’s speed going through the air, and flew effortlessly. He is known from the myth Bram-Bram-Bult where he chased a kangaroo named Purra, only to be attacked and consumed by an echidna named Wembulin. His uncles Yuree and Wanjel found pieces of his remains being carried away by ants and swore vengeance on Wembulin. Citations: Allan, Tony, et al. Journeys Through Dreamtime: Oceanian Myth. Netherlands, Time-Life Books, 1999. Wilkinson, Philip. Myths & Legends:…
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Cougar Fish
The Cougar Fish is a creature from Lumberjack folklore. They have the “scientific name” Pterygium unguis acutis. They’re described as violent and savage fish with claws at the ends of their fins. They’re found only in the Big Onion River and rest in shallow rough sections of water, clawing any lumberjacks that pass. A reward was placed on them, and after which the fish seemed to disappear, and none were ever found. Citations: Wyman, Walker D. Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada.(River Falls, WI: Univ of Wisconsin Riverfalls Press,1978.)
