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Troll/Hill Men/Hill-People/Jutul/Orcs/Rise/Trolds/Trows/Trulli
Trolls are creatures from Scandinavian folklore. Some count them as one of four kinds of fae seen as enemies to mankind. They are larger than humans, initially by a major degree but over time the difference was lessened, though they are always significantly stronger than humans. They are thought to be cannibalistic creatures that eat humans. They have hunched backs, long crooked noses, grey clothes, and red hats. They can become invisible through the use of their magic hats and are thought to be capable of giving immense strength to someone, see the future, and shapeshift into any form. In ballads they are said to have a king, but this…
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Troglodyte/Trocodite
The Troglodyte is a primitive humanoid creature from Medieval myth. They were recorded in unclear areas of maps, and were thought to be from deserts in Ethiopia. Their name means “hole creepers” due to their tendency to dwell in caves. They lack the ability to speak and are thought to communicate through clicking sounds. They’re thought to climb trees to jump on prey or lie in wait near paths to lunge at them. They’re also thought to be incredibly fast and capable of running down most wild game. Sometimes they had three faces and were often shown eating snakes. They’re known to eat the flesh of elephants they chase down,…
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Trempulcuehuecuve
The Trempulcuehuecuve is a creature from Araucanian myth. They are controlled by witches and were often placed under the authority of Invunche. Most often they capture young girls approaching the water to feed them to Chivito. They resemble massive octopi with ears covered in eyes and with clawed tentacles. They can expand and open their bodies. Only a hero is capable of killing the Trempulcuehuecuve. They are easiest to approach and attack when they sun themselves on the beach. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Trapspringer
The Trapspringer is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore with the scientific name Inconcinnuscasus wymani. They’re small creatures with spring-like legs. They only come out at night and use their weird legs to trigger traps and still avoid being caught. They live in the dens of fur-bearing animals who give them food in return for keeping them safe from the traps intended for them. Citations: Yarns of the Big Woods, Written and Illustrated by Art Childs
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Tizheruk
The Tizheruk is an ocean-dwelling monster from Inuit mythology. They are similar to Pal-Rai-Yuk and sometimes seen as a variation of it from King Island. They have 7-foot-long heads on 15-foot-long serpentine bodies with flippers on both ends. They are known to grab people from docks and piers. Citations: Eberhart, George M.. Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. United Kingdom, ABC-CLIO, 2002. Gerhard, Ken. A Menagerie of Mysterious Beasts: Encounters with Cryptid Creatures. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2016. McElroy, D.R.. Superstitions: A Handbook of Folklore, Myths, and Legends from Around the World. United States, Wellfleet Press, 2020.
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Tirisuk/Tirichuk
The Tirisuk is a monster from Inuit myth. They are creatures similar to dragons but often combine the features of reptiles and either centipedes or caterpillars. They have large leathery feelers or antennae which they use to grab prey. Sometimes they have four legs, and jaws like snapping turtles that could tear through anything. They typically eat humans and even whole hunting parties. They are sometimes thought to live in a giant hole, or in the Buckland and Noatak rivers. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Francis, Scott. Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America. United States, Adams…
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Tiamat
Tiamat is a primordial goddess from Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, and Mesopotamian mythology. She is a creator goddess who is thought to embody the water of the ocean. She is thought to have combined with Apsu, who embodies freshwater, and birthed eleven monstrous creatures. She became incredibly angry at Enki and Marduk for leading the deities who later killed Apsu. She created and then married the god Kingu to fight Marduk. Marduk eventually split her in half, using half of her body to make the vault of heaven, and using her eyes as the water sources for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Citations: Jordan, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities…
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Rabisu/Rōbēs
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Thunder Horse/Thunder Beasts
The Thunder Horse is a mythical creature from the Oglala Sioux people of Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota. They are huge terrifying creatures that leap from the sky to the ground during storms. It’s thought the hoofbeats were the origin of thunder. They drove buffalo towards the Sioux and vanished into the earth when the storm ended. They were also thought to belong to the deity Wakan Tanka. In 1875 bones were produced and studied. They were classified as Brontotherium by Dr. Othniel C. Marsh, this name meaning “Thunder Beasts.” These are the most famous members of the extinct class of animals Titanotheres. Citations: D’Aoust, Gerald, and Breese, Daryl. God’s…
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Three Tailed Bavalorous
The Three Tailed Bavalorous is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. It has the scientific name “Theriornis tricauda unicornus.” It’s described as half animal and half bird. Its front half was covered in feathers and the back half was covered in hair. It had legs like a cow or a buffalo, a horn like a corkscrew coming from its forehead, and three tails. The end of one tail was a barb as sharp as a spear, which it used for fighting. The end of the second tail was broad and flat and was used as a chair. The end of the third tail was fanned out like a peacock tail and…
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Thaman-Chah/θamá̃ ʤá
The Thaman-Chah is a mythical creature from Burma depicted in a watercolor painting from a Christian missionary. They are known to live in caves in the deepest forests. The story of their origin is that there were medicine men searching for a poisonous plant that could be used to create medicine. They found the plants but failed to say the proper mantras before collecting them, and were turned into tigers as punishment. Similar to this origin, it is sometimes believed that attempting to make a specific rejuvenating medicine (likely the same as the original) would cause a person to become a Thaman-Chah. Citations: Tantra, Magic, and Vernacular Religions in Monsoon…
