Zimbabwean Legends

Zimbabwean Legends

You can write your unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. Researching myths and legends in other cultures will help you to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique and old mythical creatures is Zimbabwe. This is a landlocked country located in southern Africa and is well known for its diverse wildlife and its dramatic landscapes.
Nyaminyami the River God
Nyaminyami the River God is believed to live in Lake Kariba. It is thought that Nyaminyami has the body of a giant snake and the head of a fish. Most believe that Nyaminyami is more than three meters wide and there is no current guess on the length of his massive body as it is too massive for anyone to see all of it at once. Legend states that Nyaminyami the River God leaves a trail of red stained water in his wake when he swims. Nyaminyami used to be seen more often, but according to Chief Sampakaruma, the River God has been in hiding since white men entered the country. During Nyaminyami's more active period, the creature was known for sucking unwary people in canoes down into deep whirlpools. These victims were never seen again and some theorize that they were either sustenance for the River God or that they had angered the creature in some manner.
Ambuya Nehanda
Ambuya Nehanda is believed to be a spirit of freedom, due to the fact that she had escaped death numerous times. It was believed that she had a small packet that allowed her to escape from death as long as it remained clutched tight in her hands. When trickery stole the packet away from her, she was hanged and died. There are others, however, that believe that Ambuya Nehanda was not in fact killed, but instead that the woman that Ambuya Nehanda was possessing was killed and that the spirit of freedom still lives on.
The Master of Deception
The Master of Deception is a figure in myth believed to be the spirit of Gwasela, who was known for never accepting the election that gave Zanu PF the leadership of the country. In life, Gwasela was seen as something of a Rambo with how he would terrorize those he opposed while still being able to blend seamlessly with crowds in order to never miss a soccer match. In death, Gwasela was said to become The Master of Deception and that he could aid those with a righteous aim in being able to escape the notice of those hunting them.
Mysterious Mount Nyanga
Mysterious Mount Nyanga is, in fact, the highest known mountain in Zimbabwe. However, the myth surrounding Mount Nyanga is that it is alive or possessed by a spirit that can cause people who walk on it to vanish without a single trace. Some believe that Mount Nyanga kills those who speak against it or its people. Others believe that Mount Nyanga devours the life force of those who speak ill of it in order to sustain the spirit of Mount Nyanga. Many believe that Mount Nyanga has a particular taste for children as many have vanished on Mount Nyanga.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

The Republic of Yemen Myth Monsters

The Republic of Yemen Myth Monsters

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique myths is the Republic of Yemen, an Arab country in Western Asia located on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula; Yemen is the second largest country in the peninsula.
Nesnas
The Nesnas is a monster that roamed the Hadramaut region of Yemen. The Nesnas takes the form of a half-dead male human that is divided down the middle with the tail of a lamb. Only one half of the Nesnas is visible to the human eye at the time. It is unknown if the Nesnas chooses which half to show, but it is believed the one half of the Nesnas is skeletal while the other half still has flesh. The Nesnas knows no peace as it is only half-dead, yet it is also half-alive. This lack of peace often drives the Nesnas to act against those it believes are not grateful for the full life that they possess. The Nesnas often makes these poor people its victims and once the Nesnas has chosen them, they are never seen again. Some believe that the Nesnas hope they will return to full life by taking the lives of others.
Falak
Falak is a massive snake that is believed to be so massive that no human eyes can see all of Falak at once. Falak is a creature of the underworld that bides its time until the world ends and it can emerge to punish and torture all the sinners that inhabit Earth.
Al Anqa’a
Al Anqa’a translates to “the one with the long neck” in English. The Al Anqa’a is a massive bird that is so big it can carry any living creature on its back while maintaining flight and it is believed to be fire proof. Its wings and head crown are fire red, its body is the color of sand, and its feet are black. The creature is believed to be neutral in nature, being neither good nor evil, but rather interested mainly in itself. However, Al Anqa’a is believed to have occasionally rescued children and animals from fire.
Al Ghol
The Al Ghol, also known as ghouls, are zombie-like djinns who are known for haunting graveyards and feasting upon human flesh. They feast upon the flesh of the dead to sustain themselves until they have the opportunity to eat human flesh. These creatures are simply incapable of being good and will do anything to taste fresh human flesh taken from a still living human. These creatures do not care about age, beliefs, or gender, merely the flesh that they can strip from the bone to satiate their huge appetites.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

Spooky Monsters, Creatures, and Horrors from German Myth and Legend

Spooky Monsters, Creatures, and Horrors from German Myth and Legend

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that has some unique and old monsters is Germany. According to Honor the Roots, “Germanic creatures are some of the oldest and monstrous figures that humans encountered in the past.” Here are six such creatures, monsters, and horrors found in German legend.
Weisse Frauen
 Weisse Frauen translated loosely means white woman. A Weisse Frauen is a white creature that takes the form that is a cross between a ghostly woman and an elf. These creatures were believed to be creatures of enchanting light that would guard castles or treasures from humans.
Drude
A Drude was believed to be a malevolent nocturnal spirit that would haunt humans while asleep, turning their peaceful dreams into horrifying nightmares. A Drude was thought to be a type of demon that often participated in the Wild Hunt.
Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprecht is an old German word that translates to Servant Rupert or Farmhand Rupert, depending on the use of the word. The Knecht Ruprecht was the companion of Santa Claus and was known for abducting and punishing disobedient children for their lack of obedience. Knecht Ruprecht had the body of an ox with long devil horns, sharp claws, a horse's tail, and a huge tongue.
Alps
Alps are creatures that induce nightmares in adults during the night. These horrifying creatures were in fact demons that would cause night terrors, sleep apnea and sleep paralysis in their chosen victims by remaining either on or above the victim as he or she slept. They could conceal themselves in shadows and transform into butterflies, pigs, cats, snakes, and dogs at will to hide themselves from discovery.
Erdhenne
The Erdhenne is a spirit that inhabited the houses of those who lived in the Alpine regions and would only appear when someone was going to die within a year or less. The Erdhenne could choose to remain invisible or take physical form to communicate with those that will soon die. Its physical appearance when it chooses to manifest itself is that of a hen-like figure that has a short neck and shaggy features. Some might have thought these creatures benevolent, but those that they warned about coming death would also die and some wondered if they were merely warning or were they also killing?
Nachzehrer
The Nachzehrer is a vampire-like creature that returns to life after having committed suicide. A Nachzehrer returns from their self-inflicted deaths in order to haunt those among the living. Yet, unlike most vampires, the Nachzehrer does not feast upon blood, but on the flesh of the dead. The only way to truly kill a Nachzehrer is to put a coin in its mouth and then cut off its head; any other killing method will result in the Nachzehrer coming back to life with a vengeance for the one that attempted to kill it.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

French Horrors of Myth, Legend, and History

French Horrors of Myth, Legend, and History

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to discover something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique and old monsters is France.
Tarasque
The Tarasque was believed to have originated in Nerluc in Provence, France; this creature has the head of a lion, the back of a turtle, the legs of a bear, the chest of an ox, and a scorpion’s tail. The Tarasque was a killing machine that not only killed all that came across it in battle, but also destroyed the very land it walked on. According to legend, Saint Martha managed to tame the beast, only for the people of Nerluc to kill it in fear when it was brought to their town. In remorse, they named their town Tarasque.
Nain Rouge
The Nain Rouge is literally a red dwarf, the size of a child, has red skin, blood red eyes, rotting teeth, and wears fur boots that are either black or red. This creature might not be large, but it is a nasty harbinger of doom and a trickster. The Nain Rouge is believed to be seen prior to some of the most horrid tragedies that have ever occurred. Did the Nain Rouge cause these events or was its presence merely a warning of the horror to come?
Lou Carcolh
Lou Carcolh is a massive monster with long slimy tentacles that are miles long, the body of a serpent, and the shell of a snail. The Lou Carcolh lives underground until it is ready to snap up and paralyze its human prey before eating it whole, alive and conscious. The last thing its human victims see is its gaping mouth before they are swallowed up.
Loup-Garou
The Loup-Garou is a sub type of werewolf that can transform at will, no matter if there is a full moon in the sky or not. Once these Loups-Garous have assumed the form of a wolf, they achieve superhuman strength and speed while also retaining their human intellect. The monsters are much harder to kill than the traditional werewolf as they can become a wolf in the blink of an eye and, with their human intellect, they are able to both hunt and evade with startling accuracy.
Cheval Mallet
Cheval Mallet translates to mallet horse or evil horse and this creatures looks like a beautiful horse with an elegant set of tack. The Cheval Mallet appears on lonely roads and lures weary travelers onto its back only to ride away with them. Such travelers are never seen again. What does the Cheval Mallet do with its victims; are they eaten, absorbed, killed, or sent to a different dimension?
Beast of Gévaudan
The Beast of Gévaudan is one of the scariest monsters from French legend, not only because of its ferocious appearance, but because of the fact that it was documented in history as a man-eating wolf dog. It lived from1764 to 1767 and was described as having massive teeth and multiple huge tails. Hundreds of people were left with their throats ripped out and organs missing because of this beast. Its reign of terror across the country was only halted when King Louis XV sent professional hunters after it.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

Japanese Folk Monsters

Japanese Folk Monsters

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to discover something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique and old monsters is Japan.
Ushi-Oni
The Ushi-Oni is commonly referred to as a cow demon or an ox demon due to the fact that its appearance is not always the same. Sometimes it will have a crab body and an ox head, the body of a spider with giant tusks in addition to flying squirrel wings, and other times it will appear as a very unfriendly cow. The Ushi-Oni will typically conceal itself close to the shore in order to terrorize local fishermen with its ghastly appearance.
Shuten Doji
The Shuten Doji lived in Kyoto and would feed its appetite for human flesh by luring women into its castle. Once the women were inside the castle, they would find themselves imprisoned until the Shuten Doji was hungry enough to eat them. The Shuten Doji was near impossible to slay, as a hero looking to feed it drugged sake to lull it to sleep would quickly find that creature would transform into a red demon when it ingested sake. If beheaded, the head of the Shuten Doji would remain alive to seek vengeance on those that had sought to kill it.
Teke Teke
Teke Teke was once a young schoolgirl by the name of Kashima Reiko who fell on to the Meishin Railway where her legs were cut off by a train. After her death from blood loss, she became the vengeful spirit known as Teke Teke. She often haunts railways where she will kill those she comes across that do not flee fast enough by cutting off their legs and watching them bleed out. Other times she is known to haunt bathroom stalls where she will ask three questions and a wrong answer will see her victim lose their legs and their life. Her questions are:
1. Where are my legs? Answer: Meishin Railway
2. Who told you this? Answer: Kashima Reiko
2. What is my name? Answer: Mask Death Demon
Gashadokuro
Gashadokuro are spirits that are fifteen time taller than the average person and look like giant skeletons. The bones in their bodies were collected by the spirits from people that died of starvation. They hunt for unwary travelers only after midnight in order to satisfying their craving for fresh blood. They decapitate their victims and then drink the blood that comes spraying out of the body. They have powers of invisibility and are indestructible. The only way to stay safe from these spirts is to have a Shinto charm.
Aka Manto
Aka Manto is a spirit that takes the appearance of a handsome man with a mask covering his face that haunts public and school bathrooms. Aka Manto can choose to be visible or invisible to his chosen victims as he asks his victim a question that will determine their fate. The questions and the results of the different answers are:
1. Do you want red paper or blue paper?
Red: Aka Manto slices them apart until the victim's clothes are covered in red blood.
Blue: Aka Manto strangles the victim until they turn blue.
Requests for different color paper means the victim is dragged by Aka Manto to the Netherworld.
Silence: Aka Manto will depart if no answer is given.
2. Do you want a red cape or blue cape?
Red: Aka Manto will rip the skin off his victim's back.
Blue: Aka Manto will drain all the blood from the victim’s body.
Yellow: Aka Manto will drown the victim multiple times, but eventually leave the victim alive.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

Monsters and Creatures of Afghanistan

Monsters and Creatures of Afghanistan

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to discover something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique and old monsters is Afghanistan. Afghanistan has a unique view that is different from most countries in regards to monsters as many in the country still hold true belief in the existence of such monsters. Yet, they are also known for not having the plethora of monster legends and myths that some countries do. Is this because Afghanistan monsters really did used to exist and do exist or does their culture just keep the myths to a minimum?
Giants
While most people view giants as a mythological tale, Afghan culture actually believes in the existence of such creatures. There is a grave marker that is 20 meters (65 feet long), that is supposedly the grave of a real giant. An article from Marking Time Living War had a police officer talking about giants that had died out about eighty years ago that were twenty to thirty meters tall. Many of the current residents of Afghanistan were told of giants by their grandparents or great-grandparents, who saw giants with their own eyes (Marking Time Living War, 2013). The fact that so many people do, in fact, believe that giants were real has created a large pool of legends about the creatures for a writer to draw from. However, if the story is going to be written with the intent of being read by an Afghan audience, then be careful to either clearly label the story as fiction or take care not to give offense.
Djinn
There are multiple sub types of the mythical species known as Djinn, which range from malevolent to benevolent. There have been myths surrounding Djinn in Afghanistan that paint the creatures as having monstrous red eyes, the body of a man, but with the edges of its figure being smoky in nature. The creatures often take delight in scaring those that trespass into its territory, but the encounters often remain non violent unless the creature is provoked by violence. If provoked, these creatures will kill their intended victim in horrible, painful ways. The method and type of the kill can vary from Djinn to Djinn as each creature has its own preferred kill method for those who provoke its ire. Unlike most Djinn legends which occurred hundreds if not thousands of years ago, there are supposed sightings of Djinn in present day Afghanistan.
Ghosts and Spirits
Afghanistan has many legends and myths that refer to spirits and ghosts and yet most of these stories involve simple hauntings that were caused by a dead person having unfinished business or wanting vengeance on those that caused their death. Afghanistan’s myths are rather lacking when it comes to famous or well-known ghosts.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke                   

Creatures from Bahamas Myth and Legend

Creatures from Bahamas Myth and Legend

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique creatures is the Bahamas. Each of islands in the Bahamas has their own unique legends filled with  creatures from different myths.
Andros Bahamas: Lusca
Lusca is a monsterous creature that is believed to live in the blue holes of Andros Bahamas. Lusca is a Bahamas legend that is akin to the Loch Ness Monster; it is believed that Lusca is a half octopus with its other half being either a dragon or shark, depending on the legend that Lusca is featured in. Lusca has long strong metallic tentacles that gleam in the sun when they are raised out of the water to drag sailors and ships down into Lusca’s underwater lair when they trespass on the territory that belongs to Lusca. However, no matter the legend, Lusca is always referred to as a female monster that lives underwater. It is believed that she is responsible for drowning those that sail into the blue holes that she calls home. Many of the residents of the Bahamas still steer clear of the blue holes to this day out of fear of Lusca dragging them to an underwater grave.
Exuma Bahamas: Pretty Molly
Pretty Molly is a legend unique to Little Exuma, as she was so named due to her believing to reside in Pretty Molly Bay. Pretty Molly is a legend with two different tellings. The first legend is that Pretty Molly is a mermaid with a beautiful tail with three fins that look like underwater wings. In this version she is a beautiful and somewhat harmless creature that lives in Pretty Molly Bay and the only time she shows any hint of violence is against those that would try to harm her and even then, those that try are often left half drowned, but alive. The second legend  is that Pretty Molly is in fact a ghost that was once a slave, one that committed suicide in Pretty Molly Bay to escape her masters by walking into the bay and drowning herself to escape her life of pain. In this legend, Pretty Molly can take on the form of a mermaid if she so chooses and she haunts the shore of the beach where she once committed suicide. Her ghost has been known to terrify those that destroy her solitude at night with horrible screams and the feeling of the pain that she once endured.
Andros Bahamas: The Chickcharnies
The Chickcharnies are believed to reside in the tallest pine trees and they make their nests in the spot where the two tallest pine trees are joined together. The Chickcharnies are bird-like creatures that look like an owl with three fingers, three toes, and the ability to rotate their heads a complete 360 degrees. It is believed that the Chickcharnies can grant good fortune for a lifetime to those that  show them respect. Those who fail to show the proper amount of respect can find themselves cursed with a lifetime of ill fortune and, in extreme cases, the Chickcharnies have been known to leave those they dislike with their heads turned around backwards.

Written by Readers’ Favorite Reviewer Sefina Hawke