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MONSTERS
Because
I use folklore,
myth and legend in
my Immortal
Warriors series, I
thought some of
you might be
interested in
these
“monsters”.
RETURN
OF THE HIGHLANDER
Fiosaiche
The gaelic
word for a
sorceress or
witch,
pronounced
-
FISS-ich-uh
Each-uisge
Gaelic for
a water-horse, a
Scottish monster.
The
water-horse or
water-kelpie is
able to turn
itself from a wild
horse or pony into
a handsome man or
beautiful woman.
The
creature lures its
prey into rivers
or lochs and
drowns them, then
feasts upon their
bodies.
pronounced
-
Yach-oosh-ka
Loch-monster
The most
famous
loch-monster is
Nessie, the Loch
Ness Monster, but
there are other
similar creatures
all over Scotland,
and beyond.
Whether
they are
prehistoric
creatures from
another age or
mythical monsters
who appear and
disappear at will,
nobody knows.
Old Woman or
Hag
A
creature that is
often linked to
water and appears
to passersby,
sometimes offering
them advice or a
warning, sometimes
threatening them.
The hag
wears a green
shawl or cloak,
and is impossibly
old.
SECRETS OF THE
HIGHWAYMAN
Faeries
Known
in some cultures
as “little
people” and in
Cornwall called
“piskies” for
pixies.
Faeries are
not always little
and certainly not
harmless.
They have
the ability to
hide behind
“glamour”,
dazzling and
ensnaring their
victims.
Faeries are
thought to live
within hills and
mounds of earth
and come out at
night, stealing
the babies of
mortals and
replacing them
with their own.
They live
far longer than
human beings.
Black Hound
Black
Hounds are larger
than normal dogs,
often with glowing
red eyes, and they
are seen at night,
running in the
lonely lanes and
fields.
They can be
a portent of
death.
They have
been known to
follow travelers
for miles,
eventually
vanishing.
Tors
These
strange manmade
features of the
landscape are
thought to be
ancient hillforts
or religious
sites.
Glastonbury
Tor was a pagan
site.
They are
often built on
leylines and have
mystical power.
PASSIONS OF THE
GHOST
Dragon
The dragon
was believed to
dwell in the
countryside long
before man
appeared.
It was
known originally
as a Worm, but
gradually grew
into the creature
we recognize
today, with wings
and talons,
breathing fire.
During
Early Medieval
times there were
many tales of
knights fighting
dragons, and it
may have something
to do with the
fight between
Christianity and
paganism.
Will o’ the
Wisp or Ghostly
lights
There have
been many tales of
ghostly lights
that appear and
lure innocent
travelers from
their paths and
sometimes to their
deaths.
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