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Supernatural Being

Supernatural Being encompasses creatures with mystical traits and roles in myth, often representing forces beyond human comprehension.

Relevant Beasts

Achaemenid Empire
Demonic Form
Aeshma - the Zoroastrian demon
Achaemenid Empire

Aeshma

Aeshma - a Zoroastrian demon of wrath and violence who disrupts ritual, drives humans to rage and bloodshed, and...

  • Skills
Disease ManipulationFear Inducement
  • Weaknesses
Blessed WeaponDivine Restrictions
Celtic
Celestial Being
Morrigan - Celtic mythology
Celtic

Mórrígan

Morrigan is a prominent figure in Irish mythology, often depicted as a complex and multifaceted deity associated with war,...

  • Skills
Death & NecromancyDeath Inducement
  • Weaknesses
Blessed WeaponDivine Restrictions
Asia
Cursed Being
Taotie - Chinese Folklore
China

Taotie

The Taotie is a monstrous entity known for its insatiable hunger, symbolizing greed and excess in Chinese culture.

  • Skills
Energy AbsorptionFear Inducement
  • Weaknesses
Hunger WeakIron Cut
North America
Abyssal Guardian
Beholder - dungeons & dragons
USA

Beholder

Beholders are otherworldly creatures with a central eye and many smaller eye stalks, each capable of casting powerful magical...

  • Skills
Life DrainMind Control
  • Weaknesses
Anti-MagicLight
Chile
Death Messenger
Chonchon - Chilian folklore
Chile

Chonchon

A Chilean creature with human ears that acts as wings, the Chonchon is known to steal life force.

  • Skills
Life DrainSilent Flight
  • Weaknesses
Salt BurnSun Harm
Europe
Death Messenger
Dullahan - Irish folklore
Ireland

Dullahan

The Dullahan is a headless rider from Irish folklore, known for foretelling death and appearing at night.

  • Skills
Death InducementFear Inducement
  • Weaknesses
Holy WaterSilver Weak

Sub Categories

Abyssal Guardian

Abyssal Guardian is a mythological beast type often associated with the protection and control of deep, inaccessible realms. These creatures typically embody darkness, mystery, and formidable power.Symbolically, Abyssal Guardian represents the unknown and the boundary between worlds. In narratives, they serve as formidable obstacles or allies, guarding secrets and maintaining cosmic balance.

Astral Keeper

The Astral Keeper is a celestial being that watches over the astral plane, ensuring that travelers do not disturb the delicate balance of this ethereal realm. It can navigate the astral sea, guiding souls and warding off intruders. The keeper has a form that shifts like the stars, appearing as a constellation that changes with the seasons. It is revered as a protector of dreams and astral projections.

Celestial Being

Celestial Beings are mythological entities often associated with the heavens, embodying divine or cosmic aspects. They typically possess ethereal qualities, symbolizing purity, light, and transcendence beyond the mortal realm.Narratively, Celestial Beings serve as messengers, protectors, or judges, influencing human fate and destiny. Their presence signifies divine intervention, guidance, or cosmic order within mythological frameworks, reinforcing moral and spiritual themes.

Celestial Warden

The Celestial Warden is a radiant being that oversees the celestial realms, ensuring harmony among the stars. It wields control over cosmic forces, using light and energy to protect the heavens. This warden is often depicted with wings of stardust and a crown of constellations. It guards the boundaries of the celestial sphere, preventing any dark forces from corrupting the stars and planets.

Cosmic Wanderer

The Cosmic Wanderer is a traveler of the stars, moving between planets and realms with ease. It is said to be an ancient being that has witnessed the birth and death of countless worlds. This wanderer navigates the cosmos, carrying with it knowledge of distant galaxies and forgotten civilizations. Its presence is marked by a trail of stardust, illuminating the dark void as it passes through. It is a seeker of cosmic mysteries.

Cursed Being

Cursed Being typically embodies a transformation resulting from a curse, often reflecting themes of punishment or moral transgression. These transformations can alter physical appearance and behavior, emphasizing their outcast status.Symbolically, Cursed Being often represents the consequences of breaking societal or divine laws. Narratively, they serve as cautionary tales, illustrating the repercussions of hubris or misdeeds, ultimately offering lessons in humility.

Death Messenger

Death Messenger typically signifies a link between the mortal realm and the afterlife, often depicted as heralds of death. They are commonly associated with omens, guiding souls or announcing impending demise.Symbolically, Death Messenger embodies transition and inevitability, often invoking fear or reverence. In narratives, they serve as reminders of mortality, facilitating journeys or delivering messages from the beyond.

Demonic Form

Demonic Form typically exhibits features like horns, wings, or claws, embodying chaos and malevolence. These forms often symbolize moral corruption, embodying humanity's fears and darker instincts.In mythological narratives, Demonic Form usually serves as an antagonist, challenging heroes or divine forces. These entities highlight themes of temptation, power struggles, and the battle between good and evil.

Divine Messenger

Divine messengers are beings tasked with delivering the will of the gods to mortals. These supernatural entities act as intermediaries between heaven and earth, often appearing in times of great need or prophecy. They are benevolent and wise, offering guidance, protection, or warnings to those they encounter.In myths, divine messengers like angels or Hermes serve as conduits for divine intervention, helping mortals in their quests or battles.

Doom Walker

The Doom Walker is a spectral entity that brings despair and ruin wherever it treads. It is a harbinger of death, known to appear before great catastrophes or battles. This walker moves with a slow, deliberate gait, exuding an aura of impending doom. It is feared by all who see it, as its presence signals the approach of misfortune and loss. Its form is often shrouded in darkness and mist.

Dream Harbinger

The Dream Harbinger is a supernatural being that influences dreams and visions. It can grant prophetic dreams or send nightmares, depending on its intentions. This harbinger is often depicted as a misty figure with eyes that glow softly, able to navigate the world of dreams with ease. It is sought by those who seek guidance in their sleep, as it can reveal hidden truths and future events.

Eldritch Fiend

Eldritch Fiend typically embodies chaos and the unknown, featuring grotesque and otherworldly characteristics. These creatures often defy natural laws, evoking fear and awe in mythological narratives.Symbolically, Eldritch Fiend represents the boundaries between reality and the supernatural. They frequently serve as antagonists, challenging heroes, and reflecting humanity's fear of the cosmic and unknowable.

Eternal Watcher

The Eternal Watcher is a timeless entity that observes the passage of ages from hidden realms. It possesses knowledge of ancient secrets and forgotten histories, sharing them only with those it deems worthy. This being is said to exist beyond time, able to appear in multiple places simultaneously. The Eternal Watcher guards the flow of knowledge, ensuring that the past remains undisturbed.

Ethereal Being

Ethereal Being is often characterized by its intangible and otherworldly nature, frequently depicted as translucent or ghostly. These beings typically transcend physical form, embodying elements like air or spirit.Symbolically, Ethereal Being represents concepts such as transition, mystery, and the boundary between worlds. In narratives, they serve as guides or messengers, bridging the mortal and divine realms with their ethereal presence.

Guardian Spirit

Guardian Spirit typically embodies protective qualities and serves as a guide or overseer. Often associated with specific locations or individuals, these entities provide safety and wisdom within mythological narratives.Symbolically, Guardian Spirit represents vigilance and benevolence, often acting as intermediaries between the divine and mortal realms. Their presence underscores themes of loyalty and guardianship in various cultural traditions.

Infernal Seeker

The Infernal Seeker is a demonic entity that hunts for lost souls and forbidden knowledge. It moves through realms of fire and brimstone, driven by an insatiable hunger for secrets. This seeker can traverse hellish landscapes with ease, using its fiery gaze to reveal hidden paths. It is a creature of chaos, often employed by dark forces to retrieve ancient artifacts or information lost to time.

Inferno Keeper

The Inferno Keeper is a fiery guardian of volcanic realms and fiery pits. It controls flames and magma, using these elements to defend its domain. This keeper is often depicted as a figure wreathed in fire, with molten eyes that can ignite anything they gaze upon. It is a being of intense heat and power, feared for its ability to incinerate any intruders who dare enter its domain.

Malevolent Spirit

Malevolent spirits are dark, dangerous beings driven by anger, vengeance, or chaos. These spirits often haunt places, people, or objects, bringing misfortune or harm to those they encounter. They thrive on fear and suffering, using their supernatural powers to torment or destroy their victims.In myth and legend, malevolent spirits like poltergeists or vengeful ghosts are feared for their relentless pursuit of vengeance, often requiring exorcism or rituals to be banished.

Nightmare Stalker

Nightmare Stalker is often depicted as a shadowy entity associated with fear and the subconscious. These beings are known for their ability to invade dreams, causing distress and unease.Symbolically, Nightmare Stalker represents the unknown and unexplored areas of the psyche. In mythological narratives, they often serve as catalysts for self-discovery or transformation, challenging individuals to confront inner fears.

Phantom Sentinel

The Phantom Sentinel is a spectral guardian known to protect ancient relics and forgotten tombs. This being is invisible to the naked eye but can be sensed as a chilling presence in the air. It appears only to those who threaten its charge, using illusions and whispers to drive them away. Legends suggest that it was once a mortal soul bound to protect its resting place for eternity.

Shadow Wraith

Shadow Wraiths are typically depicted as ethereal beings, often shrouded in darkness or mist. They are characterized by their elusive forms and ability to move silently through shadows.Symbolically, Shadow Wraiths often represent death, fear, or the unknown. In narratives, they serve as harbingers of doom or guardians of hidden secrets, adding tension and mystery.

Spirit Bringer

Spirit Bringer is a mythological beast type often associated with guiding souls or conveying spiritual messages across realms. These entities typically embody transitional phases in life and death.Symbolically, Spirit Bringer represents transformation, passage, and connection between worlds. They often play crucial roles in narratives involving journeys, providing protection or insight during pivotal moments.

Summoned Entity

Summoned entities are supernatural beings that are called forth through rituals or magic to serve a specific purpose. These beings can be controlled by the summoner, carrying out tasks or fighting battles on their behalf. However, summoned entities can also be unpredictable, turning on their masters if the ritual is not properly completed or if they are released from control.In myths, summoning rituals are often used by sorcerers or priests to call forth powerful entities like demons, spirits, or elemental forces.

Void Dweller

The Void Dweller is an entity that exists in the empty spaces between worlds. It draws strength from the void, able to manipulate darkness and shadows. This dweller can vanish into nothingness, reappearing at will in places of absolute darkness. It is often associated with cosmic emptiness, bringing with it a sense of isolation and fear. The Void Dweller is both a guardian of hidden realms and a guide to the unknown.

Supernatural Being – an Overview

The term “Supernatural Being” serves as a classification for a wide range of mythological entities found across various cultural traditions. These beings are not bound by the natural order and often transcend the ordinary physical world, embodying aspects of the divine, cosmic, or spiritual realms. By existing outside typical reality, they highlight the limits of human understanding and demonstrate the vastness of mythological imagination.

Defining Characteristics

Physical Form and Morphology

Supernatural Beings often exhibit forms that defy conventional physical norms. They can possess hybrid features, combining elements from different animals or human and animal traits. Some may appear as purely spiritual manifestations without a stable physical form, emphasizing their otherworldly nature.

Ontological Nature

Typically, Supernatural Beings are regarded as entities that inhabit realms beyond human perception. They may originate from divine, spiritual, or cosmic sources, embodying principles or forces beyond the material world. This ontological complexity underscores their mythological significance and enigmatic presence.

Mythological Role and Function

Place in Mythological Systems

In mythological systems, Supernatural Beings often play crucial roles as intermediaries between gods and humans, protectors of sacred spaces, or enforcers of cosmic law. Their presence maintains a connection between the mortal and divine realms, ensuring balance within the mythological cosmology.

Perception and Meaning

Cultures typically perceive Supernatural Beings as powerful, enigmatic figures that can be either benevolent or malevolent. They might act as guardians or guides, heralding change or marking transitions. Their presence often signifies a shift in the natural order or a deeper cosmic significance.

Distinction from Related Beast Types

Classification Boundaries

Unlike elemental or spirit entities, Supernatural Beings are not bound to singular natural domains. They differ from humanoid classifications by existing beyond human limitations. While they may share traits with other beast types, their overarching transcendence marks them as unique.

Common Sources of Confusion

Supernatural Beings are often conflated with spirits or deities due to their shared spiritual attributes. However, scholars distinguish them by their unique mythological roles and their ability to manifest in both physical and spiritual forms, bridging different realms.

Canonical Beasts Associated with This Beast Type

Jinn

Originating in Arabian mythology, jinn are supernatural beings capable of shape-shifting and possessing great power. Their dual nature as both benevolent and malevolent spirits exemplifies the diverse roles of Supernatural Beings in cultural folklore.

Yokai

In Japanese mythology, yokai are supernatural entities that range from mischievous spirits to malevolent monsters. Their ability to influence the human world and embody natural phenomena highlights the complexity and versatility of Supernatural Beings.

Asuras

From Hindu mythology, Asuras are a class of divine beings often depicted as antagonists to the gods. Their complex roles in cosmic battles highlight their integral position in mythological narratives as both adversaries and cosmic forces.

Historical Distribution and Cultural Context

Supernatural Beings appear in diverse cultural contexts, from ancient Mesopotamian myths to contemporary folklore across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Their widespread presence illustrates universal themes of power, mystery, and the human desire to explain the unexplainable through these extraordinary figures.

Scholarly Interpretation and Uncertainty

Variation in Definitions

Definitions of Supernatural Beings vary significantly among cultures, reflecting diverse mythological landscapes. Scholars may interpret them differently based on their roles, appearances, or spiritual significance, leading to a rich tapestry of interpretations across traditions.

Limits of Available Evidence

While many cultures document Supernatural Beings, gaps and debates persist in the historical record. Some myths lack detailed descriptions, challenging scholars to reconstruct interpretations without imposing modern biases. No verified sources describe every aspect comprehensively.

Taxonomic Relevance

As a taxonomic category, Supernatural Beings provide a critical framework for understanding cross-cultural mythologies. They enable the classification and comparison of mythological entities, facilitating insights into cultural exchange and the shared human experience of the mysterious and the divine. The category helps organize diverse mythological entities, offering scholars a tool to explore the complexities of belief systems worldwide.