Lesser-Used Versions of Popular Mythical Creatures (A List)
I like talking about fantasy creatures. I've had a fetish for diverse mythology since I was really little, and I keep so many different bits of information inside my brain about fantasy, so I must! Share! Here's a list of lesser-known versions of some really cool fantasy creatures.
Dark Faye.
These are my favorite thing to talk about. Dark Faye are essentially full-size, super scary fairies that don't like anybody, sometimes not even themselves. They are divided into two courts: the Seelie and the Unseelie. The two courts always have conflicting goals, and they fight many wars over their differences. Once captured by them, you might as well give up. And we're not even going to talk about the money they pay with that turns into dry leaves once they've left.
Sirens.
You know mermaids, but how much do you know about sirens? They're commonly known as just beautiful women who sing romantic songs to sailors until they drive themselves to a shipwreck, but that's not even the full mythology surrounding these creatures. Did you know that sirens are not actually singing about love? They sing about whatever you want the most, whether that's money or a hot meal or just free wifi. The promise of whatever it is will drive you to distraction until you follow them back to the dangerous rocks.
And nobody really thinks about what sirens are doing when they're not singing. What kind of culture do these girls have? Do they have pets that sing too? Are there boy sirens? I need to know this stuff!
Brownies/Boggarts.
The Spiderwick fans already know what I'm talking about. A brownie is a cute little creature that lives in your house, snacking occasionally on the sweet stuff and collecting shiny things but otherwise leaving everyone alone. But once angered, your cute little brownie will turn into a spiteful being of pure wrath called a boggart. The boggart will then proceed to race around your house, causing injuries, accidents, spoiled food, and other bad luck until it's calmed back into a brownie, possibly by some gift of peace. A good creature to use for those who really like house elves or gnomes.
Wingless wyrms.
Dragons are common, wyrms are common-ish, but what about wingless wyrms? A little like Chinese dragons, these flightless lizards are slightly more terrifying than your average wyrm because instead of flying, they slither/crawl toward you at top speeds. If this thing comes racing at you from over their piles of gold, wet your pants and run.
Ghosts.
Ghosts are a basic thing, but there are many different kinds of ghosts. If you've ever read the Lockwood and Co. series, you know what I'm talking about. Just to get you started, here's a couple:
- Poltergeists(a bodiless spirit of ill will. They throw things, violently and very hard. Watch your back).
- Fetch(a ghost that impersonates loved ones to make you think they've died and plunge you into horrible despair).
- Stone knockers(these aren't so much dangerous as just creepy. A lesser ghost that knocks on the walls ominously).
Kelpies.
Kelpies are from Norse mythology, and they are literal sea horses. Steeds of the ocean. If you just look up pictures of these things, they are truly beautiful. Some come in many different colors. They're just freaking cool. And if you want something to add to your mermaid culture or even replace it, this is for you.
Golems.
Golems are commonly known to be animated beings made out of inanimate matter. They come into shows like Trollhunters in multiple places, and since they don't really have their own minds, they're creatures of brute force and therefore near impossible to overcome, let alone reason with. So, your basic mindless cronies, but with a much better explanation. Not to mention you have to have some pretty formidable magic to be able to summon one of these.
Yes, salamanders are an actual thing, but they have legends around them, too. Some fairytales say that they can start or put out fires, and some even say that a salamander is made of fire itself. Either way, the idea of making a small colony of fire lizards sounds like fun to me!
The Wendigo.
From Native American mythology, a Wendigo is a spirit of lonely places and an eater of men. Some legends say that a person will turn into a Wendigo if they take on cannibalistic ways, and others say that a Wendigo can possess a human with their will. How they come to be is unknown. A fun and gloomy twist to your classic zombie.
Hope you liked the list! Whether you were looking to replace some of your more conventional creatures or were just looking for some cool ideas for fantasy creatures, hopefully talk of creepy swamp zombies and happy house creatures that turn into angry goblins have given you all the right kind of ideas. I know I got some ideas from writing it! If you want more like this, here's a couple suggestions:
What's your favorite unconventional mythical creature? What was a creature from this list that you hadn't heard of before? Let's talk in the comments!
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