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Land Creatures and Spirits
{Banshee | Blue Cap | Boggart | Bogies | Brag | Brownies | Buttery Sprites | Centaurs | Clap-cans | Coblynau | Dryad | Dobby | Duergar | Dunters | Dwarves | Elves | Gabriel Hounds | Gnomes | Goblins | Hamadryadnik | Henkies | Hobgoblins | Imps | Knockers | Leprachaun | Ogres | Orcs | Pixies | Pookas | Redcaps | Trolls | Trows | Urisks} BansheeOriginally spelled bean si by the Irish, a banshee is the spirit of a beautiful maiden who died before her time. Banshee's wail, not screech, just before the death of someone. Banshee's have gray or green cloaks, eyes reddened from the weeping that they do and long streaming hair. In the Highlands of Scotland the Banshee is called bean-nighe.To the top Blue CapThey are mine brownies who work in the northern coal mines of England as a putter (person who pushes the filled carts of coal). There is one characteristic of a blue cap that is un-brownie; they ask for money.To the top BoggartA boggart is a mischievous brownie. When a brownie is teased or misused it turns into the boggart. They are described as having long, sharp noses that have only two little nostrils. Said to haunt Yorkshire, some believe that a boggart is a memory of a haunting ancestor.To the top BogiesThe names bogies, bogles, bug-a-boos and bogey-beasts are names given to the whole class of mischievous, frightening and sometimes dangerous creatures. They are a part of the Unseelie Court. No matter the name, these creatures do one thing: frighten. Sometimes they frighten in whole groups but most of the time they scare humans by themselves, Dangerous as they are, it is very easy to trick them. One way is told in the story "The Bogies Field." In the tale, a bogie decided he owned a farmers land while the farmer could do all of the work. The farmer asked which the bogie would like tops or bottoms (for instance, corn or turnips). Each thing the bogie said, the farmer did the opposite of. Finally they agreed to have wheat planted and they would divide the field in half, then see who could harvest the most. Just before the corn was ripe the farmer has iron rods put in the bogies half of the field. When the day came to harvest the farmer did fine, but the bogie hit the iron so many times his scythe became dull and would not cut the wheat. Thus the farmer had won and the bogie, since he lost, left and never bothered the farmer again.To the top BragA brag is a shape-shifting goblin that tends to be mischievous. Brags usually takes on the form of a horse which throws people from it when they mount, but they sometimes appear as a calf with a hanker chief round its neck and sometimes a headless, naked man. When in his normal form, a horse, he tries to trick people into mounting and then throws them into ponds or streams.To the top BrownieBrownies are hob-goblins. They are hairy, rough, short, scruffy, and almost always male. Many have only nostrils, no noses. Found in the Lowlands of Scotland and in the north and east of England, Brownies are usually invisible. They will occasionally appear for their favorite family member. Brownies, like faeries, can use their powers to steal the essence of food and leave only the image of a meal. They come into mortal's houses where they help around the house at night. They do, however, ask for a small fee in return which is a small daily ration of good quality food. These hob-goblins hate being watched while they work and are very picky. Never criticize a brownies work or reward it directly (i.e. put food out for them to find accidentally).To the top Buttery SpritesAlthough no one has every seen one, a Buttery Sprite is believed to be around when food is missing or vengeance on humans has been taken. These sprites haunt inns that are owned by dishonest innkeepers. They also like to torment unscrupulous priests and abbots. Their name comes from their love of butter.To the top
DuntersDunters are borders spirits who haunt old peel towers and border keeps. They are not as wicked as red-caps but they are constantly making noise. It is said that the noise gets louder, sometimes, as an omen of death or misfortune.To the top DwavesA dwarf is common in Scandinavia. There are three types, Black, Brown and White. Black dwarves are solitary and gloomy. Brown dwarves are next. Mischievous and more likely to interact with humans, they have been accused of kidnapping human children. White dwarves are the ones most widely spread throughout Northern Europe. They are comfortable above ground, but tend to return underground at sunrise. White Dwarves like humans more than the previous two types. In Norse Mythology, dwarves resided in the realm of Svart-alfa-heim. Dwarves are very similar to gnomes. They both hoard precious stones, metals, and artifacts. To the top ElvesIn the olden days in Scandinavia faerie people were called elves. They were divided into light (liosalfar) and dark (svartalfar) elves. Dark elves have dark hair and black eyes while light elves have blonde hair and blue eyes. Generally tall and thin, these creatures have sharp delicate features (i.e. pointed ears). In legend the Scandinavian elves were said to fight on the side of the gods against the evil giants. In lowland Scotland the faerie people of human size were called elves. "Elf" was, however, as unpopular with the faeries themselves as the tactless name of "fairy." Tiny elves of Britain and Germany are often mistaken for faeries. Elves are often associated with archery and forests.To the top Gabriel HoundsIn old days people used to believe the cries between flocks of geese were actually made by ghostly hounds with human heads who flew high in the air, hunting souls of unrepentant sinners.To the top GnomesGnomes are very similar to dwarves. They too hoard precious items. Gnomes are excellent metal workers, completely knowledgeable in all aspects of the process. From mining to fine craftsmanship, gnomes and dwarves are unparalleled. However, Gnomes are slightly smaller than Dwarves and perfectly proportioned. It is sometimes said that gnomes move through the ground like fish do water. For more information on specific types of gnomes, check out GnomesTo the top GoblinsGoblins are evil and malicious spirits who love to frighten and hurt humans. These omnivores tend to be small, hideous, and avoid sunlight. These creatures live in gangs. Sometimes they are dressed in crude leather armor and carry with them primitive weapons such as spears. However they posses great strength and generally reside underground or in other uninhabited areas. Goblins do occasionally take up residence in human houses. The results are disastrous. They are very much like Orcs.To the top HamadryadnikThese creatures are a little more harmful than their "cousin" the Dryad. Looking like foliage, these creatures can easily disguise themselves from humans, whom they loathe. At night they are bound to the tops of their tree/home and can't leave because touching the earth at night will cause them to vanish forever.To the top HenkiesHenkies was a nickname given to a Shetland Trows. They are small, grotesque people who limp (or henked) when they walked. Their music is captivating but their dancing is odd. They clasp their hands around their knees. To the top HobgoblinsHobgoblins are friendly, domesticated spirits who work for men. They are quite fond of practical jokes however. They are sometimes called "hobmen" or "hobs." To the top ImpAn imp is basically a goblin or bogies. They are little black things full of malice. "Impets" is another name for them. To the top KnockersKnockers are Cornish spirits that dwell in mines. They blast, pick, shovel and wheel away tin-ore for themselves. They are said to knock in a place where richness is to be found. Other names given to them are: bockles, buccas, gathorns, nickers, nuggies and spriggans. They are usually only heard, not seen.To the top LeprachaunLeprechauns are shoemakers, but they only work on one, not a pair. They love music and fox hunting as well as dancing. If you catch a Leprechaun you can get what you wish, if you do not take your eyes from him. The pot of gold is associated with the cauldron of the Old Crone Goddess. These creatures are solitary.To the top OgresOgres have extreme deformities. These human-size creatures are incredibly stupid. In Norse mythology, Ogres are said to create storms by striking their iron clubs against the Earth. To the top OrcsOrcs are very similar to goblins. However, they look slightly less human than goblins do. With leather skin, a pig-like snout, and tusks, these creatures are a fright to look at. They also carry with them a rancid smell. Orcs, like goblins, live together and usually carry weapons and armor.To the top
PixiesPixies are merry, mischievous faeries of Somerset. They appear the size of ordinary humans thought they are generally about the size of a human's hand. No matter the size, however, they always have red hair and up-turned noses. Their eyes always squinting and mouths wide open. The clothes upon their bodies are green.To the top PookasAlso known as phookas, kornbockes, bookhas, or bwcas, these hob-goblins are very mischievous. They will go out of their way to hurt children and crops. They love babies especially and will take any chance to steal one. They have the heads of human men and bodies of horses.To the top RedcapsRedcaps are one of the most wicked and evil of all faeries/elves. They live on the Borders between England and Scotland where there used to be a lot of fighting. Usually only one redcap lives in a place at a time and is described as an old, broad-shouldered man with with very strong, long buck teeth and skinny arms and hands. They have long, claw like fingernails and wear rust red caps (hence their name), iron boots and carry pike-staffs in their left hands.To the top TrollsLarge and hairy, they are often very grotesque. They are sometimes known as guardians of byways (ex. The Three Billy Goats Gruff), but are also known for their meanness (ex. stealing land). Trolls have no loyalty to each other, although when they run away, it is usually together. They find humans uglier and more frightening they we do them. Nevertheless they have been known to steal both human mates and babies.To the top TrowsMisshapen faeries with no legs, these squat, round creatures are native to Shetland and Orkney Islands. These nocturnal creatures, having no legs, move around by rolling their bodies.To the top UrisksA urisk is kind of like a brownie, but a little rougher. They live in the Highlands of Scotland. They kind of look like Pan, at least for their goat legs. They do household jobs as well as work on the farm (herding sheep and cattle). They live alone but have meetings several times a year. To the top
Some of the information found on this website was extracted from:
Also check out these items for more creatures and spirits:
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