can-be-placated-by-specific-ritual-or-trick

Sedna · salience 0.9

“Because her hair cannot be tended in the tangled depths, it becomes matted with the grievances and misdeeds of the living, and it is said that a shaman must undertake a perilous spirit journey to the sea floor to comb and braid her hair, soothing her anger and persuading her to release the animals back to the hunters.”

Nurikabe · salience 0.85

“Those who acknowledge the spirit's presence and cleverly find ways to circumvent it – such as changing direction or demonstrating respect – may find the obstacle suddenly vanishes.”

Ab-ta · salience 0.85

“The guardians of these texts are not obstacles to be fought so much as tests of knowledge: the traveller who knows the name and the formula proceeds, and the one who does not is stopped.”

Preta · salience 0.8

“In East Asian Buddhist practice, particularly in China and Japan, the plight of hungry ghosts is addressed communally through dedicated ritual observance: the Ghost Festival, also known as the Ullambana or Yulanpen festival, involves making food offerings intended to reach Pretas and other suffering spirits, a practice tied to the story of the monk Mokuren (Maudgalyayana in Sanskrit sources) attempting to relieve his mother's suffering in the hungry ghost realm.”

Tikbalang · salience 0.7

“Legends speak of ways to outwit or placate the Tikbalang, such as wearing one's shirt inside out or offering it tobacco.”

Kobold · salience 0.7

“Their capricious nature means that humans must maintain a delicate balance in their interactions with Kobolds, offering respect and small gifts to keep them appeased, but not overstepping boundaries that might offend these proud and independent spirits.”

Oschaert · salience 0.7

“The burden then increases with every step, so that the victim staggers under a weight that has no proportion to the creature's apparent size, until some boundary is reached where it must let go. The boundary is often a crossroads, a bridge, a churchyard wall, or the edge of the being's own territory, and this limitation is as much a part of the tradition as the attack.”

Wanyūdō · salience 0.6

“Some tales suggest that the Wanyūdō can be appeased or warded off by offerings left at crossroads, though most agree that the safest course is to avoid traveling at night altogether when this vengeful spirit is on the prowl.”

Mo'o · salience 0.6

“Offerings and proper conduct near a mo'o's waters are described in some accounts as a way of maintaining a respectful relationship with the guardian rather than provoking it.”

Kappa

“having been defeated or having had a limb severed and returned, it may swear an oath of good behavior, teach a household the secret of bone-setting medicine, or help farmers by ensuring good irrigation, and in some tellings a captured Kappa's arm can be reattached with the right medicine as thanks for its release.”

Mullo

“Romani funerary custom includes specific protective measures against a Mullo's return, such as correctly washing and dressing the corpse, leaving grave goods and food offerings, avoiding speaking the deceased's name carelessly, and in some tellings driving a stake through the corpse or breaking its legs before burial to prevent it from walking.”

Taniwha

“Weaknesses attributed to taniwha in various tellings include vulnerability to ritual chants (karakia) and offerings performed by tohunga (priestly experts), who could appease, bind, or drive off a hostile taniwha.”