Difference between revisions of "Snallygaster"
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| − | '''Snallygaster''' | + | [[File:Snallygaster.png|200px|thumb|right|Snallygaster, as portrayed in an early 20th century Maryland Newspaper]] |
| + | '''Snallygaster''', AKA '''Snoligoster''', '''Schneller Geister''', '''Scnelle Geist''', etc. | ||
Origin: American Folklore | Origin: American Folklore | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | <!-- | + | <!--<blockquote> |
| − | <blockquote> | ||
Description | Description | ||
<br>— [[Manly Wade Wellman]]'s "[[The Desrick on Yandro (fiction)]]" | <br>— [[Manly Wade Wellman]]'s "[[The Desrick on Yandro (fiction)]]" | ||
</blockquote>--> | </blockquote>--> | ||
| − | In American folklore, the | + | In American folklore, the Snallygaster is a dragon-like beast described by hill communities of German immigrants in the forests of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, who knew it since the 1700s as a monster called a ''Schnelle Geist'', meaning "quick ghost" in German. The Snallygaster has been described as as one-eyed, serpentine creature, with slug-like skin, leathery bat-like wings, and octopus-like tentacles. It swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims into the distant and lonely cliffs of the Maryland hills. There, the Snallygaster will suck the blood from its victim through its tentacles, draining its victim dry and then digging a shallow burrow to toss the corpse into to decay, and after a few days the Snallygaster returns and grinds the last of its rotting victim into a pulp which the Snallygaster then slurps up like a soup. To this day, [[Elder Sign (symbol)|Star-shaped "hex signs"]], which reputedly kept the snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local Maryland barns. |
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<!-- Optional. Suggestions for using these creatures in the CoC RPG, and in fan-fiction. --> | <!-- Optional. Suggestions for using these creatures in the CoC RPG, and in fan-fiction. --> | ||
<!-- Optional. This is a good place to include non-canon and controversial aspects of the creature's mythos. Suggested Alternative Theories include: Derleth's elemental scheme; pseudo-science interpretation; "fanon" interpretations; unofficial humorous or eccentric versions; identification with "Real Life" mythological, religious, folklore, natural, and historical phenomena; rumor and speculation contribute some flexibility and ambiguity to the mythos. --> | <!-- Optional. This is a good place to include non-canon and controversial aspects of the creature's mythos. Suggested Alternative Theories include: Derleth's elemental scheme; pseudo-science interpretation; "fanon" interpretations; unofficial humorous or eccentric versions; identification with "Real Life" mythological, religious, folklore, natural, and historical phenomena; rumor and speculation contribute some flexibility and ambiguity to the mythos. --> | ||
| − | * | + | * The sinister, hybrid, winged Snallygaster (and the similar [[Jersey Devil]]) might be thought of as regional variations on the [[Byakhee]]. (fan theory) |
==Associated Mythos Elements== | ==Associated Mythos Elements== | ||
* setting: [[Folk Mythos]] | * setting: [[Folk Mythos]] | ||
| + | * similar creatures: | ||
| + | ** [[Hunting Horror]] of Leng | ||
| + | ** [[Shantak]] | ||
| + | ** [[Byakhee]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | ||
[[Category:Races]] | [[Category:Races]] | ||
[[Category:FolkMythos]] | [[Category:FolkMythos]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:34, 20 February 2020
Snallygaster, AKA Snoligoster, Schneller Geister, Scnelle Geist, etc.
Origin: American Folklore
Description
In American folklore, the Snallygaster is a dragon-like beast described by hill communities of German immigrants in the forests of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, who knew it since the 1700s as a monster called a Schnelle Geist, meaning "quick ghost" in German. The Snallygaster has been described as as one-eyed, serpentine creature, with slug-like skin, leathery bat-like wings, and octopus-like tentacles. It swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims into the distant and lonely cliffs of the Maryland hills. There, the Snallygaster will suck the blood from its victim through its tentacles, draining its victim dry and then digging a shallow burrow to toss the corpse into to decay, and after a few days the Snallygaster returns and grinds the last of its rotting victim into a pulp which the Snallygaster then slurps up like a soup. To this day, Star-shaped "hex signs", which reputedly kept the snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local Maryland barns.
Keeper Notes
- The sinister, hybrid, winged Snallygaster (and the similar Jersey Devil) might be thought of as regional variations on the Byakhee. (fan theory)
Associated Mythos Elements
- setting: Folk Mythos
- similar creatures:
- Hunting Horror of Leng
- Shantak
- Byakhee
