The International Guide to the Mythological

Origin: Czech Mythology Habitat: Riverbanks, Cornfields Behavior: Aggressive  Description:  A tall being with that resembles a scarecrow. It is seen with a large sack.  Facts:  Basically the Czech Boogeyman Carries a sack to steal bad people (Namely children)  It lures its victims to their death by  mimicking the cry of an innocent, unprotected baby .  On the night of the full moon, the Bubak weaves clothes from the souls of those it kills and drives a cart pulled by black carts . 

Origin: Slavic Mythology Habitat: Water (Rivers and Lakes) Behavior: Aggressive Description: A beautiful woman with long wild green hair like seaweed and pale (Slightly greenish) skin.  Facts: In Slavic mythology, a rusalka is something similar to the Celtic mermaids or the Greek sirens . They are beautiful young water nymphs who live in bodies of water and entice men into following them to a watery grave.  Known for living in rivers and lakes (Not seas like mermaids and sirens), they come out many times during the year, especially during the summer, and dance around the nearby woods. They can often be seen combing their hair or crafting flower garlands.  While lore often says that the rusalki could not completely stand out of water , some fiction works tell of rusalki that could climb trees and sing songs, sit on docks with only submerged feet and comb their hair, or even join other rusalki in  circle dances  in the field.  It is also bel...

Origin: Philippine Mythology Habitat: Mountains, Forests Behavior: Moderate Description:  It is a tall, bony humanoid creature with the head and hooves of a horse and disproportionately long limbs, to the point that its knees reach above its head when it squats down. Facts:  The form of the Tikbalang traces back 4000 years, with roots in Hinduism.  Tikbalangs scare travelers, lead them astray and play tricks on them such that the travelers keep on returning to an arbitrary path no matter how far they go or turn. This is counteracted by wearing one's shirt inside out. Another countermeasure is to ask permission out loud to pass by or, not to produce too much noise while in the woods in order not to offend or disturb the tikbalang.  A superstition popular with the Tagalog of Rizal Province is that Tikbalangs are benevolent guardians of elemental kingdoms. They are usually found standing at the foot of large trees looking arou...

Origin: South American Mythology Habitat: Mountains, Jungles, Woods, Forests Behavior: Aggressive Description:  They can take on the appearance of a beautiful woman but when changing into their true form, the most notable feature is their one leg terminating into a bovine-like hoof . They is described as possessing one breast, bulging eyes, catlike fangs, a hooked nose, big lips, and tangled hair.  Facts: Deriving from vampire mythology, the Parasola or "One foot" is a female monster from the jungle who lures men away from their companions and sucks the blood from her victims .  They can transform into other animals,  materializing as a large black dog or cow.  They often interferes with work by blocking shortcuts through jungles, disorienting hunters, and throwing hunting dogs off the scent of their game.  They is  usually regarded as protective of nature and the forest animals and unforgiving when humans enter their doma...