Wiedergänger are Undead who cannot rest. They're hideous vampires who curse their families from beyond the grave; ravaging werewolves, deadly Aufhöcker, headless horsemen and gruesome ghouls of the night.
READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction - German Mythology Adventures
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Nachzehrer - German Vampire
Aufhocker - Deadly Burden
Werewolves - Nature of the Beast
White Women - Warriors & Revenants
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Nachzehrer - German Vampire
Nachzehrer is the Germanic vampire, far different from the romantic Dracula of legend. This is an angry and vindictive creature, created after a suicide, murder, violent or terrible death.
READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction - German Mythology Adventures
When Nachzehrer awakes, its first thought is to devour its family. Sometimes it lies in its coffin chewing on its funeral shroud, and may be found by vampire hunters due to the gruesome gnawing sound it makes.
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Identifying traits of Nachzehrer may include holding the thumb of one finger in the opposite hand. One eye may be closed and one open.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
It can curse people from a distance, lying in its coffin full of anger and torment. Like most other Wiedergänger, Nachzehrer are most active at night, when eldritch powers of darkness are strongest.
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Aufhocker - Deadly Burden
Another of the walking Undead is Aufhocker (pl Aufhöcker), an ambush spirit who jumps on the back of a passerby. Its weight gradually increases until the victim is crushed to death, dies of exhaustion or gets rid of Aufhocker with a magic spell.
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Sometimes, bringing Aufhocker to a certain destination is required. If the person makes it before dying of the crushing weight, Aufhocker departs and the person is free of the burden.
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These shape-shifting spirits appear in various forms, human or animal, or a combination of both. The werewolf can be an Aufhocker too, especially in the Rhineland. Pig demons are also known as Aufhöcker. In some regions, Aufhöcker attack thieves or wrongdoers.
READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction - German Mythology Adventures
Others prey on people who seem weak, such as little old ladies. They ambush their victims almost anywhere but tend to frequent graveyards. They're most active at night, on gloomy days, in fog and rain. Sunlight can scare them away.
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Werewolves - Nature of the Beast
The German werewolf differs from the American version in that the bite or scratch of the creature can't convey the sickness. German werewolves can't be killed with silver bullets, or any bullets.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Like the life-sucking Nachzehrer, the werewolf may be created after a murder, suicide or other death by violence. Often mentioned as members of the Wild Hunt, werewolves have abundant aggressive energy and are ten times stronger than were their human selves.
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Another form of werewolf is the fusion of human and wolf, or full shape-shifting from human to wolf. These feats can be done only by a powerful magic worker as the animal nature can easily take over the personality.
READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries
Headless Horsemen & Fire Men
The Headless Horseman appears in legend and folklore throughout the world. Like Fire Men (Feuermänner), he seeks redemption as a revenant. The horseman also manifests as a justice seeker out for revenge on the one(s) who wronged him in life.
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In Germany stories of headless horsemen center on the Rhineland. Undead horsemen are revenants doomed to wander until they atone for their evil deeds, often by doing good ones. This fate is similar to that of Fire Men.
READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction - German Mythology Adventures
Both can kill with a mere touch. After doing a good deed or atonement the Horseman or Fire Man holds out a branch to the beneficiary instead of shaking hands. The person takes the other end, so the branch "dies" or catches fire, rather than the human.
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Headless Horsemen are usually male. Headless horsewomen do appear, such as "Fenyw heb un pen", a headless woman who rides a headless horse ("Ceffyl heb un pen") in Welsh folklore.
White Ladies - Warriors and Revenants
Another of the revenant figures is the White Lady, Weisse Frau or Woman in White. She can appear in numerous aspects. As a warrior she is a justice seeker looking for the one(s) who murdered or harmed her or loved ones.
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She might join the legendary Wild Hunt, to travel throughout the lands. She can also be a revenant seeking to atone for evil deeds done while alive, a common theme involving the Undead.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Among the Undead, the White Woman is the one of the least dangerous to humans. As a warrior she has certain goals in mind and woe to those who oppose her. As a revenant, she can help a person succeed in a quest or venture.
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Werewolves, Nachzehrer, Headless Horsemen, Fire Men, Aufhöcker and vengeful White Women are tormented spirits, and all can be lethal. Best to stay out of their way, and walk on the sunny side of the street.
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