Figures Traditions Kinds Traits Constellation About

Traits

623 motifs and 185 powers. The number is how many figures carry each.

Motifs

Form

Hybrid of multiple animals 117
Serpentine elongated body 95
Shapeshifts human animal 58
Giant wingspan 32
Multi headed body 26
Armor like hide 21
Cursed into monstrous form 21
Hairy giant wildman 15
Body of cosmic immeasurable size 13
Impervious hide resists conventional weapons 13
Corrosive venom secretion 12
Animated household object 11
Colossal terrain shaping giant 11
Front half back half different species hybrid 11
Bovine features on monstrous body 11
Deadly gaze 10
Featureless face 10
Expandable swallowing mouth 9
Unnaturally wide jaw swallows large prey 9
Skeletal ghostly form 8
Turquoise or jeweled scales 8
Phoenix like firebird 8
Body spans multiple valleys or hills 8
Made of smokeless fire 8
Single large eye 8
Spines or quills on back 6
Single lethal horn 6
Lion eagle composite 6
Iron hard armored scales 6
Algae or flora growing on body 6
Hops on single leg 6
Bronze metallic hide 6
Human headed bird hybrid 6
Primordial progenitor of life 6
Octopus like sea monster form 5
Backward facing feet confuse trackers 5
Oversized head disproportionate to body 5
Single spiraling horn 5
Born from inanimate object 5
Headless body 4
Bullet resistant skin 4
Shell or back mistaken for island 4
Emaciated skeletal hunger spirit 4
Woman headed bird hybrid 4
Disguised as harmless livestock 4
Bears the world on its back 4
Born from rooster egg incubated by toad 4
Sentient inanimate household object comes alive 4
Extending tongue attack 4
Scorpion tail on mammalian body 4
Lethal breath alongside gaze 4
One armed one legged body 4
Feathered serpent hybrid 4
Wild unkempt hair and burning eyes 4
Single horn discerns truth from falsehood 4
Reattaches severed body parts 4
Woman transformed into half fish sea being 4
Snake hair 4
Translucent hollow body 3
Six legged body 3
Segmented centipede like body 3
Horse head bat wings hybrid 3
Owl like oversized eyes 3
Tonsured monk like appearance 3
Healing tears or fluids 3
Single horn heals or detects poison 3
Iron teeth 3
Stout bulbous serpentine body 3
Shrinks and grows to deceive 3
False luminous lure object 3
Self forming wheel locomotion tail in mouth 3
Created by a smith god 3
Sauropod like long necked body 3
Dragon deer hybrid 3
Pale skin blends with snow 3
Hooves beneath skirts 3
Forehead crystal or jewel grants power to taker 3
Face on torso 2
Crest or crown marking royalty 2
Tusked dog like face 2
Antlers on rabbit hybrid 2
Nine tails marking age and power 2
Born from slain monsters blood 2
Shadow mismatches true form 2
Grows larger with each victim consumed 2
Two horned variant unicorn 2
Feeds exclusively on precious metal 2
Scorpion human hybrid 2
Hook shaped feet hangs from trees 2
Gigantic sea turtle mistaken for island 2
Mouthless being subsists on scent 2
Scales large as shields 2
Oversized fur covered feet 2
Passes through solid walls 2
Flies and swims equally 2
Torso detaches to hunt at night 2
Faceless organless primordial being 2
Hidden people dwelling within rocks and hills 2
Fish tailed horse headed steed of a sea god 2
Encircles the entire earth 2
Sickle like claws slice through anything 2
Walks without bending grass or blades 2
Moss bark textured forest body 2
Hair made of living vegetation 2
Internally conflicting multiple heads with own wills 2
Thrives in underwater cave systems 2
Flayed skinless body exposing muscle 2
Sagging gelatinous flesh 2
Single vulnerable vein or nail as life source 2
Sculpted from clay or mud 2
Half body vertical split 2
Firefly form infiltration 2
Cannot close eyes 2
Distended belly narrow throat 2
Wife or husband counterpart with inverse power 2
Seal like head 1
Born from yolkless egg 1
Heads representing time past present future 1
Eyes detached floating above body 1
Spade shaped head 1
Elephant snake hybrid 1
Stag body with wings 1
Elemental heads each with distinct power 1
Hundred eyes never sleep in unison 1
Eyes transferred to peacock feathers 1
Hut on chicken legs 1
Fence of bones and skulls 1
Venom combusts on contact with air 1
Crest erects when agitated 1
Knotted tail anchors dimensional travel 1
Hybrid endurance of desert pack animals 1
Crocodile lion hippo composite 1
Rotating head sees all directions 1
Ink secretion causes skin irritation 1
Inflatable drum like belly 1
Self playing musical instrument 1
Single eye marks monstrous hag 1
Ghostly bandits ride flying mounts 1
Axe wielding costumed stalker 1
Three toed bird like feet 1
Living magma or molten body 1
Simultaneous dual venom delivery 1
Trumpet like mouth 1
Drips nourish a world tree 1
Two birds as embodiments of thought and memory 1
Sheep body with human hands 1
Goat stag hybrid symbolizing balance of traits 1
Hawk head lion body guardian of sacred sites 1
Rooster tail horse body comic hybrid 1
One eyed object with lolling tongue 1
Fluffy drifting ball brings luck 1
Wingless griffin form 1
Miniature fox familiar in a pipe or tube 1
Mane and tail of living flame 1
Lion rhino dragon bear fish ox composite 1
Second mouth on belly 1
Parrot head serpent body hybrid 1
Dwells visibly on the moon 1
Tanuki spirit animates a kettle 1
Vulnerable lower half hidden separately 1
Second tail marks transformation into yokai 1
Nine heads each a distinct perspective 1
Chimeric bird moose composite 1
Toucan like giant bird form 1
Gentle despite fearsome tiger like form 1
Rigid limbed hopping gait 1
Missing finger or body part marks the undead 1
Born paired with every human 1
Shadow self inner double 1
Malformed single buttock body 1
Conceals blowhole under hat 1
Good twin evil twin spirits 1
Grown in sealed vessel 1
Internal elixir or pearl 1
Chicken legs 1
Floating detached head with organs 1
Disgorges vegetation from mouth 1
Pouch used to snatch children 1
Detachable neck or head wanders at night 1
Paired opposite siren sisters 1
Living and dead forms of same affliction 1
Fused or stunted legs requires being carried 1
Paired legend of false virtue vs hidden goodness 1
Independently swiveling twin horns 1
Eyes and ears emit hail or lightning 1

Behaviour

Shy elusive avoids humans 43
Treasure guardian 30
Senses moral intent of intruders 26
Causes storms or tsunamis 26
Confuses travelers into losing their way 19
Emerges at night to attack 17
Forest guardian punishes poachers 15
Appears and vanishes at will 15
Messenger between mortal and divine realms 15
Trickster outwits larger foes 14
Messenger of a deity 14
Domestic spirit helps or harms based on treatment 13
Can be placated by specific ritual or trick 12
Underworld gatekeeper 11
Aggressive territorial charges 10
Bound to a specific household location 10
Weakness to specific animal or object 9
Symbolizes the impossible 9
Swallows boats whole 9
Solitary and territorial by nature 9
Defeated by a god or hero restoring order 8
Invoked to frighten children into obedience 8
Controls drought and flood 8
Bound to specific body of water 8
Drowns riders 7
Whirlpool maelstrom creation 7
Shapeshifts animal to human and back 7
Knows past present and future 7
Antagonist in a hero epic quest to slay it 7
Culture bringer teaches crafts 7
Disrupts technology 6
Paralyzing stare 6
Mimics human voice to mislead 6
Master of illusion 6
Healing purifying song 6
Lies in wait in stagnant water 6
Demands periodic village sacrifice 6
Punishes those who pollute or overharvest water 6
Passes as ordinary human 6
Floats hovers above ground 5
Only pure of heart may approach 5
Selectively visible based on moral intent 5
Eternal vigilant watcher 5
Respect for habitat determines fortune or misfortune 5
Tunnels through earth creating rivers and valleys 5
Spectral black dog either guides or misleads travelers 5
Aids household or construction tasks for the respectful 5
Preys on pregnant women 5
Launches body parts as weapons 4
Unerring aim 4
Shapeshifts into horse to lure riders 4
Resurrection by self immolation 4
Leaping locomotion 4
Rewards kindness punishes cruelty 4
Petrifying gaze turns victims to stone 4
Consumes victims soul or life force 4
Drops from trees onto passersby 4
Outwitted by a clever trickster rather than force 4
Causes nightmares and sleep paralysis 4
Controls wind rain and thunder 4
Reluctant servitude through magical binding 4
Transforms human to seduce 4
Drags victims underwater 4
Offended by disrespect to dwelling 4
Echolocation navigation 3
Sudden ambush from above 3
Rain bringing serpent 3
Burrows through earth 3
Sailors unknowingly land and camp on creature 3
Waking dive drags down ships 3
Escorts souls of the dead 3
Loyal only to worthy rider 3
Befriended becomes powerful ally 3
Corn or agriculture gift to humanity 3
Vision granting song 3
Vanishes into thin air when threatened 3
Withholds aid from the disrespectful 3
Exposure of secret nature breaks power 3
Bound to a specific family lineage 3
Deceived or repelled by mirror reflection 3
Divine agent sent to punish a region 3
Master forger of divine weapons 3
Wingbeats generate wind or storms 3
Speaks only in riddles and prophecy 3
Transformation driven by womans rage and vengeance 3
Symbiotic bond with a human master 3
Song mesmerizes swimmers to their doom 3
Ordinary object by day animate spirit by night 3
Mute servant no independent will 3
Haunts liminal crossroads 3
Delivers message then vanishes 3
Guards remote monstrous domain 3
Mimics animal calls to lure prey 2
Peers into windows 2
Hoofprints create springs 2
Transformation requires eating victims heart 2
Chooses who dies in battle 2
Possession causes cannibalistic madness 2
Underworld demon causes illness in living 2
Song induces euphoric amnesia 2
Leads seekers to treasure or peril 2
Gallops across water 2
Speaks and sings like human 2
Vanishes like a falling star 2
Sets impossible tasks for visitors 2
Devours hearts of the unworthy dead 2
Mimics infant or woman cry to lure victims 2
Pact with dark forces for power 2
Captured and paraded in annual festival 2
Transformation triggered by creature age or size 2
Pursues and tries to swallow the moon 2
Trance inducing ritual dance performance 2
Embodied through masked ceremonial performer 2
Hypnotic gaze lures prey willingly 2
Periodic reappearance on fixed cycle 2
Drunken chaotic behavior after intoxication 2
Discerns who will live or die 2
Draws band of heroes to hunt it 2
Impossible to catch without divine aid 2
Eats everything including itself 2
Whirlpool swallows ships whole 2
Docile relative masks predatory divergence 2
Nocturnal blood sucking from above sleepers 2
Curse broken by removing bridle or harness 2
Parallel hidden society with own laws and customs 2
Lurks in strong river currents 2
Venom withers vegetation on contact 2
Gentle giant creature of immense size 2
Breath purifies the air 2
Swallows prey whole then regurgitates to re eat 2
Gluttony personified as cautionary cryptid 2
Enters larger predators mouth to kill from within 2
Coats body in mud as armor 2
Vegetarian refuses to harm living things 2
Spirit born from neglected objects over time 2
Drains life force of seduced men 2
Camouflages with octopus like abilities 2
Island disguise collapses when weight accumulates 2
Leads spectral wild hunt across the sky 2
Mediates conflicts between species 2
Repelled by fresh water crossing 2
Emerges seasonally from the sea 2
Eating creatures flesh grants eternal youth 2
Dissolves into tears when captured 2
Animated by sacred inscription 2
Lesser rank among spirit hierarchy 2
Returns nightly to grave by dawn 2
Resistible through piety and prayer 2
Summoned and directed by sorcerer 2
Vulnerable to heat or fire 2
Mother of monsters 2
Image as protective ward 2
Endlessly reconstitutes after defeat 2
Vanishes by dawn 2
Devoted supernatural wife 2
Hospitality then entrapment 2
Conceals affliction behind ordinary daytime self 2
Buried beneath foundation as ward 2
Site bound until substitute claimed 2
Vahana mount of a deity 2
Annual seasonal attack 2
Grants boons when bound or bested 2
Captured by stealing wings veil or hair 2
Circular night dance lures or exhausts mortals 2
Changeling substitution 2
Protective coil shelters a sacred figure 2
Keeper of all stories 1
Web as information network 1
Blood drinking livestock attacks 1
Mechanical slow movement 1
Lust for gems lures treasure hunters to doom 1
Thunder from coiling in clouds 1
Coils around victims legs 1
Riddling contest devours losers 1
Mistaken for human swimmer 1
Feeds on dreams of sleepers 1
Enters sleepers mouth 1
Steals tablets of destiny 1
Alters fate with wingbeat 1
Sting induces visionary insight 1
Drains life essence by touch 1
Mythical she wolf ancestor of a people 1
Dives when fire lit on its back 1
Flies in mortar wielding pestle 1
Materializes where reality is thin 1
Needs minimal sustenance 1
Bite freezes prey instantly 1
Most active during polar darkness 1
Weighs heart against a feather 1
Corrupts objects into cursed artifacts 1
Last to die inherits death role 1
Spectral carriage collects souls 1
Guides lost travelers with light 1
Skeletal figure animates water by dancing 1
Consumes only eyes teeth and nails of victim 1
Transfers stolen value to human form 1
Delivers satirical public speech 1
Reveals communal secrets for catharsis 1
Drumming sound entrances or frightens 1
Devours nightmares 1
Overuse of power turns harmful 1
Summoned by speaking its name 1
Vanishes with seasonal thaw 1
Selectively preys on the wise or elderly 1
Invisible arrows cause paralysis 1
Requires silver or blessed weapon to kill 1
Strategic ruthless hunting pattern 1
Tail swipe reshapes landscape 1
Self immolation and rebirth cycle 1
Flays victims and displays their skins 1
Takes form of observers deepest fear 1
Disorienting howl causes victims to lose way 1
Steals from rich to aid poor 1
Haunts tunnels or overpasses 1
Song cures disease or neutralizes poison 1
Absorbs illness through eye contact 1
Flies toward sun to burn away sickness 1
Adhesive skin traps victims 1
Reveals true monstrous scale before devouring 1
Coordinated hunting pair 1
One guards lair while other hunts 1
Fetches any object on command 1
Self consuming hunger 1
Strengthens with every victim consumed 1
Three daily feeding cycle 1
Strips flesh from bone 1
Soul theft by passing over a corpse 1
Easily fooled despite strength 1
Covers vast distance in single night rampage 1
Leaping bounding locomotion terrorizes multiple villages 1
Pan flute lures travelers into wilderness 1
Imposing order on chaos causes its death 1
Feeds on suffering to grant merciful death 1
Curse transforms adulterer into beast on fixed weekday 1
Attracted to religious objects or relics 1
Perches at the edge of the world 1
Daily flight to gather and report information to a deity 1
Construction altered to avoid disturbing its dwelling 1
Forest guardian giant with earth shaking roar 1
Rolls downhill to ambush from elevated position 1
Crows at dawn 1
Pulls a deitys chariot across waves 1
Light guides worthy but misleads the wicked 1
Reveals hidden treasure or portals in the wild 1
Milk or blood grants rejuvenation or immortality 1
Aquatic serpent impales prey by leaping from water 1
Harpoon like body strike 1
Used as a weapon by shamans or spirit beings 1
Snatches food or victims and carries them off 1
Constructs elaborate nests or shelters 1
Leaves arranged sticks or stones as communication attempt 1
Rudimentary tool use evidenced by worn stones 1
Communicates via chirps and coordinated gestures 1
Leaves taunting calling cards for victims 1
Jumps between host machines to prolong existence 1
Occasionally fixes what it broke in unconventional ways 1
Regeneration doubles when wounded 1
Flammable weakness halts regeneration 1
Song both heals and curses 1
Wraps around ships exudes oily substance 1
Sudden cutting wind attack 1
Scissor hands cuts victims hair 1
Psychopomp claims corpses of the sinful 1
Shapeshifting prankster otter 1
Caught only by the pure of heart 1
Emerges from caves or storm clouds 1
Grants clairvoyance to its keeper 1
Haunts waterways where she drowned her victims 1
Mistakes other children for her own and abducts them 1
Cursed to wander eternally in penance 1
Haunts old books and forgotten texts 1
Twin uncatchable paradox pursuit 1
Venom doubles as medicine if properly prepared 1
Hoofbeats cause instant blooming vegetation 1
Compels truthfulness in its presence 1
Cursed into monstrous form for hubris 1
Pierces roofs to reach victims within 1
Startled into releasing swallowed moon by human clamor 1
Appears more when habitat is threatened 1
Pounds elixir of immortality with mortar and pestle 1
Animates corpses to dance 1
Holds grudges across lifetimes 1
Restrained by a god to prevent earthquakes 1
Thrashing causes earthquakes 1
Invisible impassable barrier 1
Walking in circles disorientation 1
Aimless wandering with no purpose 1
River god controls fishing fortune 1
Devours swallows to herald season change 1
Shed skin to transform 1
Counting compulsion as protective ward 1
Judges souls at threshold of underworld 1
Manipulates ground to create sinkholes or tremors 1
Constructs underground lair as trap 1
Protects flocks from predators 1
Wrestling or game challenge with travelers 1
Deactivated by altering inscription 1
Creation outgrows creators control 1
Animal senses unseen spirit 1
Enforces unfinished debts and grievances 1
Resumes domestic or marital relations with the living 1
Seductive charm lures victims 1
Selkie skin theft forces marriage 1
Visible only to children 1
Raised bed wards off nighttime spirit 1
Possesses host to drive violence 1
Attacks sun barque nightly 1
Corpse eating ghoul 1
Corrosive dung defense 1
Escalating uncontrollable hunger 1
Shelter before omen completes 1
Punishes unfaithful men 1
Tramples victims underfoot 1
Blinds with sorcerous darkness 1
Heart and blood as cure 1
Fed on blood to mature 1
Lured out by feast 1
Steals body part as trophy 1
Silk binding of prey 1
Tangles unfinished needlework 1
Thorny barrier ward 1
Devours own children 1
Pulls legs of waders 1
Strangled bare handed 1
Skinned with its own claw 1
Repelled by noise fire and color 1
Shot down guided by cry 1
Demands victims spread word 1
Food turns to ash in mouth 1
Bound to haunted site of violence 1
Curse transmitted by drawing blood 1
Secrecy oath or become cursed yourself 1
Cap or object stolen grants power over owner 1
Trapped by object thrown into whirlwind 1
Staked decapitated or burned to destroy 1
Retribution for trespass on dancing ground 1
Reserve horn guards against surprise attack 1
Slow clumsy on open ground 1
Salt restores memory and breaks servitude 1
Metamorphosis into plant or tree 1

Sight and sound

Glowing red eyes 38
Iridescent feathers shift color with angle 27
Body wreathed in flames 22
Haunting music entrances or terrifies listeners 15
Vibration sense detects distant prey 14
Blood curdling scream 13
Sees through illusions to hidden truth 12
Bioluminescent body markings 11
Deep resonant calls for long distance communication 11
Booming cry precedes sighting 10
Large footprints left behind 10
Silent flight 9
Materializes suddenly out of mist or shadow 8
Footsteps shake the earth 8
Roar audible for miles 8
Musky odor 7
Trail of scorched earth left behind 7
Sulfur smell 6
Howl freezes blood of listeners 6
Undulating humps break water surface 6
Absorbs light appearing pitch black 6
Rattling sound precedes supernatural approach 6
Chirping or squeaking cry 5
Chains dragging sound heralds approach 5
Disproportionately large hypnotic eyes 5
Combs golden hair by water 5
Venomous breath or bite poisons pastures 5
No visible means of propulsion 4
Single glowing eye 4
Silver luminous fur 4
Blue or azure coloration signals celestial origin 4
Deceptive lure light over water 4
Eyes blaze like twin suns 4
Faceless stranger reveals true form at startling moment 4
Cry drives victims insane 3
Glowing blue fire eyes 2
Glowing plumage illuminates forest at night 2
Tail or shadow betrays true form 2
Voice mimics loved one 2
Whispered voice carries far 1
Infant like cry 1
Antlers with cold flame 1
Eyes large as moon 1
Vast body turns sea red 1
Nonsense chant while moving 1
Giant tractor tire sized footprints 1
Gem light can blind onlookers 1
Steel or silver hooves ring on stone 1
Name means corpse swallower 1
Luminescence intensifies with moon phase 1
Cries out for lost children 1
Scorched hoofprints left behind 1
Wingbeats blot out stars 1
Melodic whistle lures prey 1
Exhaled vapor rings seed rainclouds 1
Low melodious hum precedes rain 1
Upside down reflection tell 1
Cigar smoke announces presence 1
Hums to lure curious children 1
Exhumation reveals undecayed ruddy corpse 1

Omens

Harbinger precedes disaster 22
Portent of disaster 15
Guardian spirit omen 10
Harbinger of peace and prosperity 9
Duality of sky and earth embodiment 7
Appears only to herald peace or a sage 7
Sighting brings good luck 5
Portent sound precedes death 5
Appearance heralds great change 5
Symbol of longevity 4
Associated with winter and cold 4
Mournful wail predicts death of kin 4
Petrified into constellation 4
Progenitor of a royal dynasty 4
Bound monster breaks free at worlds end 4
Danger in mere glimpse 4
Most active at liminal thin veil times 3
Linked to megalithic monuments 3
Eternal return cycle 3
Causes lunar or solar eclipse 2
Washes bloodstained clothes of the doomed 2
Prophesied mutual destruction with a god 2
Will be served as eschatological feast 2
Personifies cosmic chaos 2
Emerges on stormy nights 1
Unnatural silence precedes attack 1
Heralds dawn or cosmic beginning with cry 1
Eruption triggered by creature wrath 1
Shadow cast upon person grants destiny or fortune 1
Curse persists for nine generations 1
Sighting heralds era of prosperity 1
Mistaken for onset of disease 1
Prophesies plague or harvest 1
Domestic disturbance omen 1
Eerie cry as illness omen 1
Caul or seventh child marks the cursed 1
Two dragons buried fight yearly plague 1

Powers

Offensive

Defensive

Guardianship 28
Camouflage 21
Invulnerability 20
Danger sensing 16
Regeneration 10
Threshold guardianship 9
Water guardianship 6
Superhuman endurance 5
Guardian intervention 5
Warding malevolent spirits 5
Poison neutralization 3
Fire immunity 2
Barrier manifestation 1
Elemental resistance 1
Oil secretion 1
Weapon dissolving hide 1
Venom immunity 1
Apotropaic image ward 1

Utility

Curses

Curse infliction 24
Seductive charm 18
Causes natural disasters 17
Death omen 17
Mischief pranks 12
Drowning lure 10
Child stealing 9
Soul judgment 7
Blighting venom 6
Fate manipulation 5
Confuses travelers 5
Ward susceptibility 4
Hypnotic enchanting song 4
Dream manipulation 3
Insatiable hunger 3
Knowledge theft 2
Judges visitors 2
Lures fishermen 2
Supernatural dominion over victim 2
Curse transmission 2
Death like paralytic induction 2
Telepathic dread 1
Scent feeding 1
Cold presence 1
Redemption vulnerability 1
Precision hair cutting 1
Dark magic affinity 1
Nocturnal paralysis 1

646 figures · 95 traditions · about this bestiary