Horrors from mythologies

[wyrdhamster]

As I prepare NPCs for my Edinburgh game, here is Scottish myths problematic creature...

Finfolk ( Scottish )
They are sorcerous shapeshifters of the sea, the dark mysterious race from Finfolkaheem who regularly make an amphibious journey from the depths of the Finfolk ocean home to the Orkney Islands. They wade, swim or sometimes row upon the Orkney shores in the spring and summer months, searching for human captives. The Finfolk (both Finman and Finwife) kidnap unsuspecting fishermen, or frolicking youth, near the shore and force them into lifelong servitude as a spouse.

Unlike the "Selkie", the Finfolk are neither romantic nor friendly. Instead of courting the prospective spouse, Finfolk simply abduct them. Regarded as territorial and greedy, the Finfolk, in addition to their lust for humans, have a weakness for silver and things made of silver metal, such as coins and jewelry. According to legend a possible way to escape abduction is to exploit this Finfolk weakness by tossing silver coins away from oneself. The motivation for the amphibious abductions are inspired, in part, because marriage to a human is preferred over other Finfolk.

To capture the unsuspecting human bride or groom, the Orkney Finfolk cunningly disguise themselves and their fins as other sea animals, plants or even as floating clothes. The Finfolk kidnapping attempt begins by approaching the prospective mate cautiously, floating ever closer, until it is possible to leap up and grab the victim. The Finmen often use another tactic, appearing in human form disguised as fishermen in a row boat, or a fishing boat propelled by oars. The Finwife prefers a more natural form, and often appears as a mermaid with long, flowing golden hair, snow white skin, incredible beauty, and, sometimes, a long fish tail. In some stories, she has a beautiful voice like that of the Greek Sirens.

Now the problem I got with them...

Family: Makara or Talassii?
Hunger: Power or Secrets?

Gents, maybe you can help me on deciding on those? Mr. Wormwood , 21C Hermit , The Third King and Demigod Beast?

[wyrdhamster]

Baba Yaga ( Russian )
In Russian folklore there are many stories of Baba Yaga, the fearsome witch with iron teeth. She is also known as Baba Yaga Boney Legs, because, in spite of a ferocious appetite, she is as thin as a skeleton. In Russian that's: 'Baba Yaga Kostianaya Noga'. She lives in the hut on the chicken legs. When a visitor enters her hut, (not too often) Baba Yaga asks them whether they came of their own free will, or whether they were sent. (One answer is the right one!)

Thankfully, she appears to have no power over the pure of heart, such as Vasilisa and those of us who are 'blessed' (protected by the power of love, virtue, or a mother's blessing.) Baba Yaga rules over the elements. Her faithful servants are the White Horseman, the Red Horseman and the Black Horseman. When Vasilissa asks her who these mysterious horsemen are, she replies: 'My Bright Dawn, my Red Sun and my Dark Midnight.'

Amongst her other servants, are three bodiless and somewhat menacing pairs of hands, which appear out of thin air to do her bidding. She calls them "my soul friends" or "friends of my bosom" and she is more than a little reticent about discussing them with Vasilisa.
Although she is mostly portrayed as a terrifying old crone, Baba Yaga can also play the role of a helper and wise woman. The Earth Mother, like all forces of nature, though often wild and untamed, can also be kind.

In her guise as wise hag, she sometimes gives advice and magical gifts to heroes and the pure of heart. The hero or heroine of the story often enters the crone's domain searching for wisdom, knowledge and truth. She is all-knowing, all seeing and all-revealing to those who would dare to ask.

She is said to be a guardian spirit of the fountain of the Waters of Life and of Death. Baba Yaga is the Arch-Crone, the Goddess of Wisdom and Death, the Bone Mother. Wild and untamable, she is a nature spirit bringing wisdom and death of ego, and through death, rebirth. Many Begotten wonder if she is not the Dark Mother herself – or at least one of her avatars.

• Horror: Baba Yaga - She has the form of old hag. Her nose is so long that it rattles against the ceiling of her hut when she snores, stretched out in all directions upon her ancient brick oven. She travels perched in a large mortar with her knees almost touching her chin, and pushes herself across the forest floor with a pestle. Whenever she appears on the scene, a wild wind begins to blow, the trees around creak and groan and leaves whirl through the air. Shrieking and wailing, a host of spirits often accompany her on her way.

• Family: Anakim
• Hunger: Secrets – Yaga teach others about price of wisdom.
• Atavisms: Eye of Heaven, Mimir’s Wisdom, Needs Must, Wings of the Raptor ( Mortar ), Shadow Stalker, Terror’s Friend, Vengeful Earth
• Nightmares: All Your Teeth Are Falling Out, Bugs Everywhere!, Everything You Do Is Worthless, Fear Is Contagious, Flying and Falling, Soldier's Heart, They Are All Around You, You Deserve This, You Were Never Right
• Lair: Legged Hut – Deep in the forest, there is hut that have a personality of its own and can move about on its extra-large chicken legs. Usually the hut is either spinning around as it moves through the forest or stands at rest with its back to the visitor. The windows of the hut seem to serve as eyes. All the while it is spinning round, it emits blood-curdling screeches and will only come to a halt, amid much creaking and groaning, when a secret incantation is said. When it stops, it turns to face the visitor and lowers itself down on its chicken legs, throwing open the door with a loud crash. The hut is sometimes surrounded by a fence made of bones, which helps to keep out intruders! The fence is topped with skulls whose blazing eye sockets illuminate the darkness.
• Traits: Crosswinds, Echoing, Minions, Murmurs, Thralls, Undergrowth

[wyrdhamster]

Added Hoard and Hunting Ground Traits to the Dragon ( Western ) and Wendigo write-ups. Looks in to Slavic Horrors, probably star from Baba Yaga, as I know her best.

[Wormwood]

Some Slavic Vibes here. Pick your poison.

Zmei.
Baba Yaga.
A Lesovyk is always cool.
I feel one could make good work out of the Rusalka myths.
Vodnici are fun.

And for a really fun challenge for an Incarnate: Koschtschei the Deathless.

[IceBen]

New Atavisms is needed for turning people in to stone on seeing face of monster for Namtaru – I called it in work Face to Stone – but you may have better idea.

The Incarnate (through Myth) can have this petrifying gaze, that is a good starting point, since the Myths are close to atavisms in power. (but much simpler)

[wyrdhamster]

The Wendigo from Native American folklore would seem like a very good Horror.

Wendigo ( American )

This woods spirit was, and is, very real to many in the northern woods and prairies of the States. Many legends and stories have circulated over the years about a mysterious creature who was encountered by hunters and campers in the shadowy forests. In one variation of the story, the creature could only be seen if it faced the witness head-on, because it was so thin that it could not be seen from the side. The spirit was said to have a voracious appetite for human flesh and the many forest dwellers who disappeared over the years were said to be victims of the monster.

The American Indians had their own tales of the Wendigo, dating back so many years that most who were interviewed could not remember when the story had not been told. The Inuit Indians of the region called the creature by various names, including Wendigo, Witigo, Witiko and Wee-Tee-Go but each of them was roughly translated to mean "the evil spirit that devours mankind". Around 1860, a German explorer translated Wendigo to mean "cannibal" among the tribes along the Great Lakes.
Native American versions of the creature spoke of a gigantic spirit, over fifteen feet tall, that had once been human but had been transformed into a creature by the use of magic. They are tall and lanky and are driven by a horrible hunger.

According to the lore, the Wendigo is created whenever a human resorts to cannibalism to survive. In years past, such a practice was possible, although still rare, as many of the tribes and settlers in the region were cut off by the bitter snows and ice of the north woods. Unfortunately, eating another person to survive was sometimes resorted to and thus, the legend of the Wendigo was created.

• Horror: Wendigo - animalistic large, thin being that have glowing eyes, long yellowed fangs and overly long tongues. Most have a sallow, yellowish skin but others are said to be matted with hair.
• Family: Eshmaki
• Hunger: Prey – Wendigo is hunting humans for their sweet meat.
• Atavisms: From the Shadows, Limb from Limb, Lightning Strike, Looming Presence, Needs Must, Relentless Hunter, Skin Deep ( Shaped for Speed, Talons, Maw )
• Nightmares: Run Away, You Are Not Alone, You Cannot Run, You Will Never Rest
• Lair: Snowed forest – Deep, dense forest, entrenched in heavy snow and ice. From time to time are hanging half-eaten bodies of humans.
• Traits: Blizzard, Echoing. Exposed, Extreme Cold, Hunting Ground, Viscous, Undergrowth

[wyrdhamster]

I’ve been trying to do the bulgasari, a creature from Korean lore, as a Beast. Probably an Anakim Ravager.

Bulgasari ( Korean )

In Goryeo (Korean Dynasty) era, there was Ki Jong-Lang, a Buddhist monk. Accidentally, he received divination with 'You can take 100 sons’ from fortune-teller. After that, to take 100 sons, he forms a connection with women who came to pray at Buddhist temple. So, he gained 99 sons. Then, he tries to rape a wife of minister. But he was caught and put on the wanted list. So, he visited a younger sister's house to ask help. But the younger sister want to accuse brother to get for a reward. Husband of the sister who knows this fact killed his wife because husband thought that his wife betrayed moral laws. then Husband helps with his wife's brother.

In return, monk gives a monster which was made by rubbing rice paste. This monster looked like a small bug start eating small needles. then ate chopsticks, spoon, scissiors, hoe and etc. Eventually, this monster is getting bigger as more eating iron in Goryeo. Then, Goryeo tries to kill this monster but not died. So, this monster was called as 'Can't killied’ (不可殺 - Chinese pronunciation : Bul Ga Sal).' Goryeo used last means that burn the monster.

However, Bulgasari have not died. With body that had burned, this monster wander on Goryeo's territory. As a result, all territory ran into danger with fire. Goryeo's King has declared that a men who kill this monster can received government position and treasure. So, he attached a amulet which was given from monk (Wife's brother) at the Bulgasari's body. Then, Bulgasari vomited all iron and vanished. As a result, He received not only a government position but also treasure and lived happily.

• Horror: Bulgasari - body is like bear, head and nose is like elephant
• Family: Anakim
• Hunger: Ruin – In tale, Bulgasari is only destroying things or terrifying people.
• Atavisms: Cyclopean Strength, Relentless Hunter, Storm-Lashed, Terror’s Friend, Titanic Blow
• Nightmares: Run Away, You Cannot Run, You Cannot Kill It
• Lair: Inferno of Iron – dark land of melted iron that is blazing inside fire infero – and Bulgasari with it.
• Traits: Extreme Heat, Flooded, Thin Air, Burning

[Demigod Beast]

Nothing says a Horror cannot, to some extent, be mistaken for another splat. Someone here once wrote up Strahd von Zarovich as a bat-themed Anakim. Sure, a Kindred would immediately note the differences and call bullshit, but how many non-Kindred could do the same?

[The Third King]

The Wendigo from Native American folklore would seem like a very good Horror.

[Master Aquatosic]

This is my True Form Nightmare already says that those killed by it may have weird death, up to and explicitly including being turnied to stone or salt

[Ladegard]

Give this a try: http://01072687117.blogspot.com/2013/04/bulgasari.html

[21C Hermit]

I need a written source of the story in English to help you - as I'm not versed in Korean myths. But would work gladly for it.

Mmm... I don’t think I’ve seen one, but I probably failed my Intelligence + Computer roll.

Never mind then. On to other critters - how about the Sphinx?

[wyrdhamster]

I’ve been trying to do the bulgasari, a creature from Korean lore, as a Beast. Probably an Anakim Ravager.

I need a written source of the story in English to help you - as I'm not versed in Korean myths. But would work gladly for it.

[wyrdhamster]

It would be interesting to see a cockatrice Horror. The roosters who can turn people to stone.

Cockatrice ( Christian? )

The first description of a cockatrice appeared in the late twelfth century and was written by Alexander Neckam. A cockatrice is born when a rooster lays an egg that is hatched by a toad or serpent. Tales say that the rooster has to be seven years old and lay it under a full moon and the toad or serpent has to hatch it for nine years.
The cockatrice has many formidable abilities. It kills people by turning them into stone with even the slightest glance of the creature’s eyes. It can also kill by touching them or, in some cases, breathing on them. It is believed that its saliva is so potently venomous that it can kill an elephant. Due to the fact that it looked like a small dragon, it was gradually added that it was capable of breathing fire and could kill with the sound of its voice.
The cockatrice shares other characteristics with the basilisk. By mere touch or breath, the cockatrice can scorch grass, shatter rock, and kill bushes. It is supposed to be so poisonous that if a human tries to kill the creature with a weapon the venom will travel up, through the weapon and kill whoever held it. If the person were on horseback when it attacked the creature, it would not only kill the man, but the horse as well.
Like the basilisk, the weasel is immune to the cockatrice’s glare and can be used to kill the beast. A cockatrice can also be killed instantly by hearing the crow of a rooster. The sound of the crow will give the cockatrice violent fits and it will thrash itself to death. It is also thought that if a cockatrice looks upon itself in a mirror it will die. Even after a cockatrice dies its ability to petrify are still effective.

• Horror: Cockatrice - a dangerous creature with a lizard body, snake tail, dragon wings and the head and legs of a rooster.
• Family: Namtaru
• Hunger: Ruin – In tales, Cockatrice is only doing means and destroying or terrifying people.
• Atavisms: Basilisk's Touch, Face to Stone*, Dragonfire, Siren's Treacherous Song, Skin Deep ( Wings, Hide, Talons, Beak ), Wings of the Raptor
• Nightmares: Behold, My True Form!, Fear Is Contagious, Flying and Falling, This Isn't My Skin!
• Lair: Fog bound marshes, like in the image above
• Traits: Flooded, Fog, Slick, Stench

New Atavisms is needed for turning people in to stone on seeing face of monster for Namtaru – I called it in work Face to Stone – but you may have better idea.

[21C Hermit]

I’ve been trying to do the bulgasari, a creature from Korean lore, as a Beast. Probably an Anakim Ravager.