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« on: April 06, 2005, 10:56:52 AM »
Types of the Undead.
AFRIT, Found in Arabia:
A Smokey spirit that rises from the blood of a murder victim. The afrit sets about to avenge his death, a terror that his killer can easily evade by driving a nail into the ground where the blood spilled.
The Banshee, Celtic Death Messenger:
The banshee tradition occurs throughout Ireland and nearby islands. The gaelic terms used most frequently to describe the banshee are the "bean-si" (a female dweller of a sidhe, or fairy mound), the "bean chaointe" (a female keener, a term found in east Munster and Connaught) and the "badhb" (referring to a more dangerous, frightening bogey). Although "bean-si" implies an Otherworld or fairy being, the banshee is a solitary creature without male counterpart who never partakes in communal human or fairie social enterprise. Speculation also links the banshee with the mystical race Tuatha De'Dannan, from whence the fairy folk are descended. There is little folk evidence to support Christian explanations that the banshee is a devil who wails for the souls that are lost to her as they ascend to heaven, or that they are familial guardian angels or souls of unbaptized children or even the souls of women who committed the sin of pride in life.
More likely the banshee should be thought of as the "spirit of the family", a spirit who attends to the family in a time of transition. The banshee is described as a wee woman with long white, blond or even auburn hair who appears in the vicinity of the birthplace of the soon to be deceased. When seen, she is wearing the clothes of a country woman, usually white, but sometimes grey, brown or red. The former hues represent the colors of mourning while red is associated with magic, fairies and the supernatural. In some accounts she is seen combing her hair as she laments. She is heard more often than seen, wailing as she approaches the abode in the late evening or early morning, sometimes perching on the windowsill two to three hours or even days before a death. As she moves off into the darkness witnesses describe a fluttering sound, such as the sound made by birds flying at night. Hence, the mistaken belief that banshees manifest as birds such as the crow. The inaccurate association with crows is probably due to confusion of the banshee with the primitive Celtic goddess Badb, the goddess of war who appeared frequently in the form of a crow.
Banshees also wail around natural forms such as trees, rivers, and stones. Wedge shaped rocks known as "banshee's chairs" are found in Waterford, Monaghan and Carlow. Although there have been reports of banshees accompanying Irish families who emigrated to the Americas, it appears the banshee more often grieves for an emigrant at the ancestral family seat in Ireland. Stories are told of the misfortune visited upon men who interfered with the banshee by taking her comb or challenging her. These tales point up the value of courteousness towards women, the avoidance of drink, violence and late hours.
Boggart:
A type of BOGEY hobgoblin in English folklore that had poltergeist habits. Although, it can be helpful and sociable with some people, the Boggart most often is mischievous, annoying and frightening. Without making a visual appearance, it makes itself known by playing tricks on people, such as pulling off their bedclothes. Sometimes Boggart acts are accompanied by terrible noises or laughter. Boggarts can also be nasty and mean, and have been known to scratch, punch and pinch people, and even snatch and carry them away. They inhabit a house, churchyard or field, or live in another body, such as that of a cat or dog. In some cases, exorcism successfully puts an end to their activities.
Bogie:
A bogie is a mischievous but harmless spirit that lives in darkness. They can be found livings inside anything as long as there are areas of darkness. Bogies favor places where people store goods which they no longer use, so a dusty attic can harbor a number of bogies. Bogies try to be stealthful but by nature they are clumsy. They amuse themselves by hovering behind a persons back creating a feeling of uneasiness, and removing the blankets on the bed during a cold night.
Bogeyman:
The Bogeymen are malevolent ethereal creatures from children's folklore. Bogeymen can be either really evil or trouble makers that in truth are harmless. Bogeymen are a type of shape changer, they can move objects and cause disruptions. Bogeymen tend to haunt a family much like a ghost, in some cases they become friends with the family and play with the children. The Bogeymen tend to harm those that are liars or someone that commits evil acts. The Bogeymen are vague in appearance this is due to their ethereal state and that they are shape changers, in a general appearance they resemble a puff off dust. It is though that the story of the bogeymen comes from Indonesia where "bugis" which were pirates in these parts. Sailors from England and France brought stories back anglicizing them telling their children "If you're bad, the bugisman will come and get you!" and over time the word was changed to Bogey.
Doppelgangers (Doubles)
Doppelgangers (i.e. Doubles) are apparitions of living people seen by the self or are seen in close proximity by others. They are seen as often as or even more often than apparitions of the dead.
The appearance of a double is sometimes considered to be a bad omen and a foretelling of death. These people after they saw their own doubles sometimes died shortly afterwards. However not all such sightings follow this pattern. Some continue to live on after the sighting.
Doppelgangers are not really harmful although the fear generated by the belief in them as an omen of death may play some part in deteriorating the health or state of mind of those who see them. These doubles are usually non-interactive.
However sometimes there are occasions where they suggest some evil or a split in the personality of self. The doubles are seen by the person earlier and followed by some form of attack by the same doubles at the later time. Such cases seem to suggest that doppelganger might be the embodiment of some particular part of the self; the Mr. Hyde released from the otherwise balanced Jekyll and Hyde combination. If so, then the entity, or perhaps thought-form, that was the doppelganger took on a dangerous life of its own. The `evil' doppelganger might be a hallucination that `allowed' the person to do something foolish on oneself.
Occasionally, the doppelganger does not appear as a warning or omen, but does seem to show future event. It acts as a vision of future event or perhaps a version of precognition. The person who saw the doubles might experience seeing a vision of himself or herself approximately a few years ahead or older.
Another explanation for doppelganger suggests that the doubles are projections from the sighter's own mind for a purpose. Like Crisis Apparitions, those who are in danger may `create' an image that guides them from their very own subconscious, so doubles may serve a similar function. It might be a complex way of talking to or communicating with oneself - perhaps the subconscious talking to the conscious. Under such circumstances, the person might be in problem or trouble, and experience seeing one's doubles coming into rescue one way or another to solve the problem and trouble.
One interesting case had showed that sometimes a person is capable of deliberately set out to produce an apparition of oneself. It took a while to learn how to do it. However, the process is tiring and it requires the person to take some rest after the event.
Ghosts:
Ghosts are spirits of the dead who are trapped in our world because they cannot go and rest. Normally these creatures cannot be controlled but powerful liches vampires and necromancers are able to control some of these spirits. Ghosts are ethereal creatures this means that they can move through solid objects, ghosts can not be harm in fighting only by laying the spirit to rest by exorcism or using blessed weapons have a effect on these creatures. There are many categories of ghosts.
Ghouls:
Ghouls were once men but they are cannibals, and over the years they have developed into pack hunters they still look human but they have sharper teeth and nails. They also apparently have a green tinge to there skin. They like to overpower their victims with sheer numbers.
Incubus/Succubus
...demon in male form that seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit in female form is called a succubus. In medieval Europe, union with an incubus was supposed by some to result in the birth of witches, demons, and deformed human offspring. The legendary magician Merlin was said to have been fathered by an incubus. Parallels exist in many cultures. The word incubus is derived from the Latin incubus ("nightmare") and incubare ("to lie upon, weigh upon, brood"). In modern psychological usage, the term has been applied to the type of nightmare that gives one the feeling of a heavy weight or oppression on the chest and stomach.
Knocker:
A knocker is a type of Kobold. They live deep in mines and are good-natured spirits, which point out to miners where the rich veins are by using knocking sound, thus this is where they get the name. Although they are friendly spirits they like to play strange tricks on them. They change their faces to scare them or perform strange dances. The miners must leave part of their food for the knockers or they become mad and that would be bad luck. The Knockers originate from Cornwall but they are also known as Coblynau or Buccas in Wales.
Jack O'Lantern:
Jack was a farmer who was lazy but also quick-witted. One day while jack was sitting under a tree in at the side of a field the Devil came to Jack to tempt him, but jack tricked the Devil into climbing the tree. The Devil soon realized he was stuck up the tree, the Devil had to ask Jack for help. Jack agreed to help the devil on one condition that Jack would not be allowed into Hell. The Devil could not refuse as he was stuck, he agreed reluctantly. Jack Helped the Devil down. Eventually Jack died, and went straight to hell, but the devil kept his word and would not let him in. So Jack traveled to Heaven, Jack had not been a good man during his life and they would not let him into Heaven either. Jack was sent back to earth where Jack hollowed out one of his gourds and made a lantern out of it. Jack was forced to wander the world trying to find somewhere he can stay. This is where the pumpkins carved into faces come from for Halloween. They are supposed to hold souls. Though many people think they are there to ward off evil spirits. Jack O'Lantern has been featured in films such as Tim Burtons "A nightmare before Christmas".
Liches:
Liches are once living powerful necromancers and have become powerful enough to live on after death as a Undead necromancer or Liche. Liches tend to be powerful evil creatures who are stronger now they are Undead than they were when they were alive.
Mummies:
Mummies are long dead pharaohs and nobles from the Egypt or the three Niles area, they are bound up in a process called mummification in preparation for the afterlife. There tombs were often cursed, and are said that if the tomb is disturbed the mummy will come back to life to seek out the person who disturbed the tomb. In later descriptions of mummies from descriptions that are not placed in our realm they are again ancient kings that have been raised from beyond by evil necromantic powers, to help the Undead wage there wars.
Necromancers:
A Necromancer is an evil wizard who practices in the necromancy. Necromancy is the power over the world of the dead. Their powers enable them to raise corpses from the ground to create armies of Skeletons and Zombies. Necromancers steal the life-force from other living creatures to extent there own and to increase there strength and toughness. Often necromancers are from human stock but this does not rule out other races from practicing necromancy. Sometimes this power is also known as voodoo.
Nightmares:
Nightmares are undead horses they are one of the greatest aids to the undead. These are the bodies of great war-horses that are brought back to the unlife by necromantic powers. Nightmares unlike mortal horses have the ability to move through terrain that might be blocking there path they can move though walls and dense vegetation with ease.
Poltergeists:
The word "poltergeists" means "noisy ghosts" in German. From the German polter = noisy, and geist = ghost. It is the disturbances that differentiate the poltergeist from other ghost reports. According to studies, there are several forms of traces. The most common type is in the form of noises. They could be rapping and spontaneous noises. Another form would be apparitions such as black shapes or ghostly appearances. Sometimes apports had been reported in cases. The spontaneous manifestation of objects (e.g., small stones falling on house roofs) without apparent source. There are also documented cases that reported levitations. People had been lifted into the air without any aid. Reports had also shown moving objects in cases when items moved by themselves and spontaneously. Occasionally, people had been attacked by the poltergeist. Scratches and bites are common skin markings. Others phenomena include both small fires and leaking of water.
Poltergeist activities tend to strengthen and then diminish. It usually started with some noises first and consequently come in with some of the characteristics listed above. Sometimes the activities could be extremely disturbing to both the individuals affected and the family.
There is no consensus as to the origins of poltergeists. The researchers are divided between those who believe poltergeists are a form of PK energy released and those who believe they are entities. Last but not least, there are researchers who believe that they are a combination of two - entities that were "allowed in" by certain states of mind.
Skeletons:
Skeletons are fallen creatures that have been summoned from beyond the grave normally of fallen warriors on battles of long past. All the skeletons can remember of there past are faint memories. They are reanimated by dark magic powers. Skeletons follow their master's orders without question Necromancers, Liches or Vampires usually command them. Skeletons have also risen from, the teeth of a Hydra to do they're bidding for their mistress. As seen in Jason and the Argonauts.
Vampires:
Different people have described vampires in many ways. The classic vampires are human in appearance, but some supernatural force taints their blood. They to feed upon the blood of living creatures to sustain themselves. Some vampire descriptions describe them, as humans possessed by demons. Vampires are also known for superior strength and dexterity, and often have the ability to control wild animals such as wolves and bats. In some descriptions of vampires they have the ability to change into a bat. Vampires have also shown to possess powers to be able to transfix their victims, with their glowing red eyes. Vampires are creatures of darkness due to their weakness against the light. There is a classic how to tell if someone if they are a vampire they will have no reflection. In certain Vampire descriptions they have the ability to perform necromancy and other dark magic's. Vampires are only killed in the following ways
1) A Stake through the heart
2) Decapitation of the Vampire 3)
Exposure to Sunlight
There are other ways to harm vampires it is seen that the cross is a powerful symbol and can be used to injure the vampire, Holy or blessed water can also harm vampires its burns there skin. Vampires also seem to have a bizarre weakness against garlic in a few descriptions. It has been noted recently that vampires can't drink the blood of someone whose blood is tainted with drugs such as steroids. Vampires also seem to be highly flammable in some descriptions and try to avoid fire at all costs.
Wights:
Wights are not unlike skeleton warriors but they are fallen lords, dukes and such nobles who have been placed in a barrow and which there battle gear and wealth was stored with them, these barrows are protected by powerful enchantments. These nobles are more powerful than there skeleton kin and are normally found leading groups of skeletons or zombies for there masters.
Winged Nightmares:
Winged nightmares are monsters that had wings brought back to life such as Griffons, Hippogrifs and Manticores. These creatures are much harder to raise from beyond the grave compared with the normal nightmares.
Wraiths/Shadows:
Wraith or shadows were once people who practiced dark magic's. These people tried to extend there life for many hundreds of years but the result was not what they expected all that is left of them is a soul that is deprived of substance and which the persons mind has been driven mad by its most hideous fears. Wraiths are ethereal creatures so they can move through solid objects, there faces are tortured souls and the presence of a wraith brings terror and they are noted for and area of extreme coldness around them. Holy or blessed weapons can only harm Wraiths. The creatures of the Undead are made up of creatures, which have once been alive and have been raised from the grave, or are creatures or men that ally themselves with these foulest of monsters.
Were creatures:
Were creatures are cursed people, that change on a full moon to the Were creature that they are. The most commonly known of were creatures are Werewolves, there are also Werebears and Werefoxes and many other were creatures. You can become a Were creature if you are bitten by a Were creature and survive the attack. There is no know cure for been a Were creature. They fit into the undead category as people who are were creatures do sort of become immortal, they can only be killed by a silver bullet to the heart, though a silver arrow or sword will work as well.
Zombies:
Zombies are corpses brought back to unlife by various ways depending on the text. Zombies fall under two groups those caused by a virus of bacteria that causes the infected person to die then come back as an animated person with a craving for flesh. These type of Zombies are seen in computer games like Resident Evil, and in most zombie films. The other type of zombies are those that are raised by evil magic. This usually involves a necromancer or some other spell caster. Voodoo magic is also associated with zombies. There have been reported cases of zombies wandering around on the streets due to voodoo
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