Schrat (Schratt) is a nature spirit, goblin, elf or domestic entity in Germanic lore. Waldschrat or Wood Schrat lives in the forest. Nightmare Schrat resembles the Mare of Germanic myth. It weighs upon a sleeper's chest and torments the person with bad dreams.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
Both Schrat and Mare are types of Alp, or Elf, from which the Alp Mountain Range gets its name. The Alps are home to mythical Elves, magic entities, monsters and Fae folk such as the gnomes of Paracelsus and female sprites. Schrat can be translated as goblin.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
The Schrat is one of several nightmare-bringers in German mythology. It can get into a person's bedroom through a crack or keyhole. The Schrat enjoys tormenting sleepers as it slips into their minds to twist and tangle dreams to nightmares.
See also:
The Mare sits on the chest of the sleeper, triggering a nightmare (Alptraum, pl. Albträume - Elf Dreams), waking dreams and panic attacks. The demonic Drude also brings nightmares and causes sleep disturbances such as insomnia and illness.
The Elves are a complex group of creatures who can be helpful, neutral or nasty. In the past, Elves are blamed for inflicting disease and tragedy. In Europe the Drudenfuss or pentagram is carved into doorways and window frames against evil Elf magic.
See also:
It's also called Schrattlesfuß, Schrat's foot. Appearance and function of the Schrat is variable with region. Elves, imps and other nature entities are thought to be minions of witches in the Middle Ages.
The forest Schrat or Waldschrat inhabits deep dark places. It doesn't enjoy human interaction and lives as a hermit among the trees. This type of Schrat keeps its entrance very tidy, which can give away its dwelling should someone happen to take a closer look.
See also:
If the forest is logged, the Schrat will leave, but not in a friendly way. Axes break and trees fall in the wrong direction. Today's Waldschrat causes glitches in machinery. The Schrat is a trickster or mischief-maker in whatever form it takes.
The nightmare-bringing Schrat lives up to its alternate name Schratte, or Scratch, a name for the Devil of Christian religion. The name Scratch refers to sounds it makes behind doors or walls, or scraping its claws on wood floors, or the scratchy whisper of its hoarse voice.
See also:
Nightmare Schrat is sometimes thought to be a real person. The Schrat is recognizable by its eyebrows, which seem to form a single knit brow. Safeguards against Schrat attack include rowan branches or wood, the pentagram and copper bells.
The term Schrat has too many diminutives to list. They include Schrätlein, Schrättlein, Schrättele, Schrätele, Schrätel, Schrattl, Schrattel, Schratel, Schrättlig, Schrättling and Schrattele, most meaning "little goblin" or "little devil".
See also:
Name diminutives and diminishment of physical size are typically ways to banish fear of wild nature entities, as in the suffix term "männchen", or little man, for Elf. Fear of elves and evil elf magic wanes when the perps are small, shallow and less intelligent than humans.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Schrat might try to move in as a domestic spirit although its nature is not conducive to domestic harmony. The Schrat is a mischief maker. Like the Mare it tangles manes, tails and forelocks of horses. It can suck dry the udders of cows.
See also:
If it's a woman, the Schrat is said to have a hereditary condition inherited from her mother, Only by killing the best horse in the stable, a reference to the past practice of blood sacrifice, will the Schrat be free of the curse, and the homeowner free of the Schrat.
True to its Elfin association the Schrat is a bringer of illness. It can let fly arrows of poison which strike from afar. In some cases it wants a pacification offering of millet gruel. It might also dwell in a cavern above a town and protect the region in return for gifts of food.
See also:
The Schrat can shape-shift into animals including butterfly (especially monarch), caterpillar, magpie, fox and cat. Red streaks on trees caused by pupal discharge of butterflies are said to be the blood of a Schrat being chased by the devil.
Methods of Schrat repulsion in the home, barns and outbuildings include the pentagram or five-point star; a gift of clothes; or a mirror, so the Schrat will be frightened by its own reflection, a technique also used for Mare attacks.
See also:
Mirrors also have the ability to act as portals, both ways. If the Schrat goes into a mirror it's caught. The erstwhile victim must cover the mirror immediately to trap the Schrat. It can be made to do a favor or good deed in return for its release. After that it won't come back.
See also: