Merlin's Mansion

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Welcome To ''Merlin's Mansion''.....A Collection of Tales and Legends that span The World of The Unknown - known only to The Great ''Merlin The Magician''. After Many years of ''entertaining'' King Arthur and His Court, Merlin had ''opened His Books'' to Us. All The Legends, Myths and ''Dark Understandings'' of Our World (and Perhaps Others as well). So Sit back, dim the lights and prepare to be astounded and perhaps even ''terrified'' by Stories of Ghosts, Mysteries and The Truly.......Bizarre! 

 

 

    

 

                               

                                                    

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''KELPIE''

A popular Scottish Beastie, The ''Kelpie'' legend goes back many centuries. Seen mostly as horses (and sometimes in their humanoid form of a shabby looking man), they are known to live near water. If a victims comes close enough o try and mount the Kelpie (to ride), they will jump into the water and drown them. Often, they will also lay in wait. Jumping on their victim's, they will tear them to pieces and devour them. They will avoid eating the Liver. Often they have a warning cry that sounds like thunder. In some Countries, the seeing of The Kelpie is a portent of death.

 

                                                                      

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''THE LEGEND OF HERNE THE HUNTER''

''Herne'' is a spectral Huntsman who haunts the Royal forests in and around Windsor Castle in England. He is seen wearing chains and has deer antlers growing from his head. Often, he is seen with two spectral hounds (or sometimes riding a ghostly horse). As to the legend, Herne was a Royal Huntsman for King Henry VIII. While escorting The King on a hunt, Hernes saved Henry from being killed by a large Stag (by throwing himself in the beast's way). As he lay dying from impalement, a Healer appeared and told The King to cut off the Stag's antlers and tie them to his head. This would save Hernes. King Henry did and Herne was saved. Honored for his feat, Herne grew in fame and fortune (to the dislike of the other Royal Huntsman). Providing false information that Hernes was poaching The King's animals Hernes was fired. Distraught, he hung himself in the forest. From that point (until now), Herne haunts the Royal forest. To see him, invites not only a poor hunt  - but possibly falling prey to a wild animal in the forest.

 

                                                                                       

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''GRAY LADIES''

These spectral beings have been seen and recorded since well before the 14th Century. Called ''Gray Ladies'', because they are always seen wearing gray or dark colors - they are phantoms. Said to be the spiritual remains of a woman who had lost her love (a man) too early, they wander the earth in search of him. Often associated with houses (often the one's owned by their lost love), they have been known to haunt these locations for centuries. England seems to have a large amount of Gray Ladies sightings. Gray Ladies do not communicate other than their crying and moaning (often heard). They are also not known to harm the living.

 

                                                                                  

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''AFRIT''

From Ancient Arabia and The Middle East comes The ''Afrit''. These are dangerous spirit-demons. They are created when a person is murdered. Their spirit's need for justice causes them to be reborn as smoke (dark and violent). This smoke then searches the World for their murderer. When found, The Afrit surrounds the murderer in a violent and swirling whirlwind. As the wind speed picks up, the murderer is torn to bits. One way to stop The Afit, is to drive a nail into a puddle of the victim's blood (which will trap The Afrit).

 

                                                                                    

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''ANKOU''

An Ancient Celtic legend tells of The ''Ankou''. As the story goes, the last person to pass away in a Parish  is elected by the Spirits to spend the next year gathering the soul's of that year. They are then replaced by the next last dead person of that year (and so forth). The Ankou is shown wearing a large hooded cloak. It's face is not seen. The Ankou drives a large spectral carriage with matching horses. If a member of the living is unfortunate enough to see The Ankou, he (or she) will let out a horrible scream. This legend can be traced back to the 14th Century.

 

                                                                                    

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''BANSHEE''

Known throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, these spectral beings are always female. Contrary to popular belief, ''Banshees'' do not scream - they cry and wail. The legends of Banshees go back to at least the 10th Century. Normally benevolent, some Banshee's are known to be evil. Normally, Banshee's are a signal to the living of a living person's impending death (some myths have her washing the bloody clothes of the person in a nearby stream). Described as a gaunt and frail woman -  she is also known to be a Hag (in some Region). Some Banshee's are said to be the ghosts of women who died during childbirth. An expectant mother hearing the wail of The Banshee was cursed to lose either her (or her child's life). More modern storytellers and writers (19th Century forward)  -  have turned The Banshee into more of a crazed evil spirit intent on spilling the blood of the living.

 

                                                                       

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''ZOMBIE''

The term ''Zombie'' has many different origins. In it's original context, the term appears in heavy cultural usage on the Island of Haiti. Most of the island's population was descended from the slaves that were brought to live and work on the Spanish and later French Plantations. Some African influences appears to had been incorporated (meaning a belief in them probably started in Africa), The word first appears around 1818. The legend states that a person need not be necessarily dead to become a zombie. The use of black magic better known as Voodoo is the prime source of creating zombies. The goal of creating an undead was to make a servant to do all bidding without question. No will power existed. Almost catatonic in action, the appearance of being dead (or heavily sedated), may have been the first real description of a Zombie. Many myths involve a person becoming sick and appearing to die. Buried, they would resurrect (as a result of powerful mind controlling drugs and potions). As time progressed, Zombies would be given a more modern make over. With the advent of science-fiction, Zombies could be given a more realistic (and terrifying) storyline. In 1968, American Director George Romero made his cult-classic Night of The Living Dead. In this film, the recently deceased are re-animated via a crashed space probe. A space virus is let loose in the atmosphere with the end result of creating human flesh eating, undead monsters. This one film launched a new dimension to the word Zombie. Time, better storylines and advances in makeup have turned Zombies into an apocalyptic main stream horror genre. Often involving some unknown virus, often the World is decimated and populated by these bloodthirsty creatures who have but one goal....to eat the living (those few survivors which always seem to be in the stories and movies). Further, the only way to kill a Zombie is by separating the head and or brain from the infected person. Also, if one is bitten by a Zombie in today's genre, he or she will soon turn into the Living Dead. Most Countries have some form of Zombie creature (either controlled by magic or some other form of supernatural force). Zombies have become so main stream now, they are even featured in their own Television show The Walking Dead based on a graphic novel of the same name.

 

                              

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''INCUBUS AND SUCCUBUS''

Stories of ''Incubus'' and ''Succubus'' can be traced back to Ancient Mesopotamia. The myths carried well into The Middle Ages (and even into The Victorian Era). What is known of these demons is that they take the form of a seductive man or woman. They will drain a victim of their energy or youth until they are dead or well old for their age. Said to be from Hell, a person can become a Incubus (male) or Succubus (female), if one led an over sexualized lifestyle or gave into perversions. Upon death, their damnation was be to be reborn as one of these demons. Some tales link them to offspring of Lilith, Mother of All Monsters. Other legends have Incubus and Succubus turning themselves into old men or women, as a way of hiding their true appearance from the real World. They are only able to be stopped by abstaining from carnal and improper practices . Exorcism is not always effective.

 

                                                               

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''KLUDDE''

The ''Kludde'' is from Belgium. It's legend goes back to the 12th Century. Part Evil Spirit and part Goblin, they are often seen as a winged wolf-life creature as well. In some Regions, Kludde can assume the appearance of a normal dog, cat or bird. They are thought to escaped demons from Hell. Kludde can speak the language of the Region they live in. They are deceptive and malicious creatures. Some Kludde try to lead their victims to an untimely death, while other just play pranks. It is said that the shaking of iron chains can scare or keep a Kludde at bay.

 

                                                                               

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''CENOBITES''

Fictional creatures created by British horror Writer Clive Barker, The ''Cenobites'' inhabit the world of the Hellraiser film series. Their origins are extremely varied (but do feature a common bond in their mythos). Cenobites are viewed as either angels or demons (depending on your preference). Residing in Hell, they are religious Order members of a Hedonistic Cult. They explore man's depravity and sin (very similar to the Marquis de Sade). Brought into out world via a small puzzle box (upon which, when activated -  opens a doorway between Hell and our world). Each Cenobite appearance is based on their own depravity. By opening  The Box , one signals one's intention to be an explorer of pain, as The Cenobites are. They are unrelenting and will not stop until their victim is in Hell. Only very special transgressors can be advanced to the position of Cenobite. The Order is overseen by a particularly nasty demon named Pinhead (so named for the driven spikes that cover his head and face). The 1986 film was a very successful film franchise that spawned 6 sequels and numerous books and graphic novels.

 

                                        

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''INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS''

 Possibly no film of The mid-1950s has created more fans (and thought provoking ideas), than the 1956 American film ''Invasion of The Body Snatchers''. Made at a time when Science-Fiction was King and the skies were  full of UFO sightings - this movie advanced the terrifying prospect of an alien invasion of Earth (one that made somewhat sense). Set in a small California town, our hero is the local Physician. He starts to notice that seemingly normal people in Town are slowing beginning to change. They are completely devoid of all human emotion and appear to possess a singular hive-like mentality. Other than his small group of friends (one a love interest, of course) - it appears that alien parasites have invaded Earth. Developing in large seed-like pods, they are placed and grow near their victims. While asleep, they duplicate the entirety of their Host. The aliens feel that human emotions are Man's undoing (so they remove all traces). Devoid of this handicap, they assume their role as worker-bee type of robots. Our hero is able to escape this fate (everybody else is taken over with large scale plans by the aliens to take over the planet -  one pod at a time). Authorities thinking him insane, they listen to his fantastic tale as trucks filled with pods make their way across the Country! The film was remade in 1978 (in color), with a far more terrifying (and classic film ending), that is easily a candidate for top scariest moments in Film History.

 

                                          

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''THE FLY''

Another classic of Screen monsters, ''The Fly'', involves Man vs Science (with horrifying result). Made in 1958 (in color), our Scientist is trying to perfect molecular teleportation (ala Star Trek). Creating a machine that breaks downs a subjects into sub-atomic particles, these are them sent at the speed of light (it's Science-Fiction, of course), the molecules are then reassembled into their original form and shape. After a successful test of first an inanimate object and then a small lifeform, he is ready to try it on himself! Unknown to him, a small housefly is trapped inside the teleportation chamber with him. Upon being resembled, (to his and the audiences horror), his atoms have merged with some portions of the fly (and visa versa). He now had the enormous head and forearm of a fly (while the fly takes his arm and head). Slowly reverting to the fly's instincts, he was find the fly with his components and try to re-merge them. Unfortunately, he is unable to locate the bug, and has his wife assist him in crushing his head and arm in a mechanical press (to destroy all evidence of the experiment. Later, the Scientist's young Son find a small fly trapped in a spider's web (soon to be eaten by a hungry spider. The small human head screams in a tiny voice ''Help Me!'' The boy's Uncle (nearby) see's the horrible truth -  and quickly crushes the fly (and poor spider!). The movie was a cult classic that was eventually remade into several movies and sequels.

 

                                                                        

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''DRACULA''

The Screen version of The King of The Vampires rose from the grave in 1931, when Hungarian Actor Bela Lugosi resurrected Dracula from a successful London stage play. Base loosely on the Bram Stoker novel, Lugosi immortalized The Count (giving him many of the now iconic views when have come to expect of Dracula). The cape, ring and hypnotic stare (to control the weak minded) -  all have been incorporated into the Dracula mythos. This was a far cry from the German Silent film of 1922 called Nosferatu. Enter a little known (then), British independent film Studio named Hammer Films. Having experimented with the horror genre with Frankenstein (and then unknown British Actor Christopher Lee), the Studio naturally tried The Count (again with Lee). In 1958, the Studio gambled with The Horror of Dracula. In color and featuring foreboding sets and vast amounts of stage blood, Lee completely revamped The Count. Tall, handsome and very scary, Lee was an immediate hit as Dracula. Lee reprised his role no less than 8 times as The Count. The character propelled Hammer Studios into a powerful monster making machine (on par with Universal Studios in the 1930s and 40s). Since the Count's decline in 1974 on film  other successful attempts were made to film Dracula. Dan Curtis (of Dark Shadows TV fame), made a version with Jack Palace for TV. It was a rating hit that explored Dracula's  back story and established The Count's pathos. Another block buster attempt was made by Francis Ford Coppola in 1992. Bram Stoker's Dracula. Keeping more in track with Stoker's novel, the big budget film with British Actor Gary Oldman was an excellent take. Dracula has yet again been brought back to life in 2014 with Dracula Untold . This version incorporates a more supernatural (and a tad implausible form into the Dracula mythos). Regardless of which you prefer, after 80 years of Dracula menacing the small and big Screen, he will no doubt continue on for eternity (as The Count would no doubt appreciate!).

 

                                           

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''THE BLOB''

 A classic piece of 1958 Sci-Fi/Horror, (with remakes, of course!) - ''The Blob'' was a space amoeba (attached to a meteor), that crashes into Earth (near a small mid-western American Town, of course). A homeless man finds the rock and touches the gooey slime. The muck attaches itself to his hand and slowly engulfs him entirely!. The more The Blob eats , the larger it gets. Eventually this proto-plasmic Monster is almost as large as a City Block!. Nothing can stop it or harm it (bombs, bullets, etc). Our lead hero finds out that cold is The Blobs nemesis. Eventually enlisting the help of The US Military, The Blob is frozen solid (after it consumes half the Town and it's population). Taken to Antartica, it remain frozen forever. Subsequent remakes make The Blob more terrifying and menacing, but still this Monster still deserves a place in The Pathenon of Monsterology.

 

                                                

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''RAWHEAD REX''

A 1986 Horror Film from Britain, ''Rawhead Rex'' dealt with a Medieval curse brought back to life with horrible results. Created by Middle Ages black magic, Rawhead Rex was made to fight Anglo-Saxon invaders in the 10th Century. 8 feet tall, the creature was part human and part demon (it's head was 2 times as large as normal and somewhat  boar like. Possessed of superhuman strength, Rawhead could cleave 2 warriors with a single blow. Literally unstoppable, Rawhead was tricked and sealed in a cave (for hundreds upon hundreds of years). A freak storm releases the ancient terror. Rawhead also has the power to control others with his mind. Rawhead is eventually trapped again in a rock slide and buried again (he is immortal, after all). Originally, the story was a chapter of horror Writer Clive Barker's Books of Blood (published in 1984).

 

                                           

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''KACHINA''

The Kachina legend is from the Native American Hopi Tribe. Being many centuries old, The Hopi state that The Kachina's are the spirits of their ancestors. They spirits live for thousands of years. Without form, The Hopi construct elaborate wooden dolls for these spirits to live in. All houses are supposed to possess one. Not having one may invoke an evil spirit to inhabit one's home instead. They will cause disharmony (and even death). Kachina Dolls are often made brightly painted and in various dancing poses. Hopi also construct special Kachina costumes with which they dance to attract said spirits to come and live with them. Kachinas MUST be cared for (food and water offered). Failure to care for your Kachina will cause the spirit to become upset. Destruction of a doll will bring untold disaster to the one who damaged it.

 

                                                                                 

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''BOOGEYMAN''

This demonic figure from myth is truly unique. Just about every culture on Earth has ''him''. Regardless of where in the World you live - chances are (when young), you heard the legend (or where terrorized by an older sibling with it!). The Boogeyman is an evil spirit with various origin stories. Some have him as being as old as biblical times (perhaps even a fallen Angel). Others place the demon several hundred years past. What is said, is that it prefers to hunt children. Living in the dark in places that are naturally scary for the very young (a dark closet, under one's bed, in an attic or down a basement). All these places can illicit fear in some small children. The Boogeyman feeds off this energy generated. Often seen as a terrifying demon-beast (again to generate fear), Boogeymen will become whatever one is afraid of. Their appearances change from place to place (and their appears to be different species of Boogeymen as well. Light (seems to scare them away). The best weapons to defend one against this creature is to simply  Grow up!

                                                                                        

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''CRAQUEHHE''

These truly evil monsters may be one of the original legends that would lead to the ever popular Zombie myths. Documented by legend around 15th Century France, The Craquehhe is basically the re-animated body of a dead human. Devoid of logic, The Craquehhe is a Hades Spirit (tasked to roam the Earth tormenting people). They are formless, and may be part of the Fallen Angel mythos. The creature prefers to inhabit the most decomposed of corpses. Perhaps his enhances it's shock effect. They sustain themselves by eating their victims (flesh and bone). Being bit (and surviving), does not mean that the victim will contract a zombie virus and become one. Being bitten by The Craquehhe means being infected by a terrible plague virus. Infected humans spread this to each other (they do not resurrect). The Black Death was thought to have been started by The Craquehhe. They can only be stopped when their host body completely breaks down and cannot be further used. Sometimes burning or chopping them to bits can stop The Craquehhe.

 

                                                                              

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''ADACHIGAHARA''

A legend from 10th Century Japan, The Adachigahara is an evil goblin-like female creature. Human before she was cursed - she was a high-ranking woman who served a Prince. This Prince suffered from an unknown and unusual disease that required him to bath and consume the blood of children. Adachigahara would go out into the countryside and find unattended children, butcher them and take their blood back to her Lord. Eventually, she was caught. The Prince disavowed any knowledge of her actions. She was put to death.  Reborn to her her new state, she still prowls the countryside in search of unattended children (to drain their blood).

 

                                                                                      

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''POLEVIK''

The Polevik legend is told in many Slavic Countries. This creature is seen as a tall (6 foot female) apparition that wears white. Her hair is that of stalks of wheat of corn. Her two large eyes glow different colors. She is often considered a Guardian of Corn and Wheat Fields. IF she finds workers who have gotten drink and passed out in her fields -  she will strangled them to death. Many farm worker try to appease her sometime anger by offering her two infertile chicken eggs.

 

                                                                                

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''YARA-MA-YHA-WHO''

Centuries old, this creature is a legend from The Aboriginal Tribes of Australia. The creature is a vampire-like beast around 4-feet tall and all red. It lives among the treetops. It has an enormous head and a giant (unhinged mouth). It's fingers have octopus-like suckers on them. The Yara-Ma-Yha-Who is known to swallow it's prey whole. Used to frighten children, it was said if the creature swallowed you closer to daybreak, he would regurgitate you with the first rays of The Sun!

 

                                                                                            

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''THE FACELESS MAN OF PAWLEYS ISLAND''

This is the legend of a spectral figure of the ''Man Without A Face''. Going back to Charleston, South Carolina (US) lore as far back as 1822. The story tells of a beautiful young girl from a well-off Southern Family. She had her pick of the finest of young gentlemen. She chose her Cousin (who was a known scoundrel). Both families parents stopped the possible marriage (by sending the young man overseas to France), While there, he was killed in a duel (problem solved). Grief stricken, our young lass is forced to marry another man. He owned a Plantation on Pawley's Island (and they spent much time there). He was called to fight in The American Revolution (so she spent 1778 alone on the Island). One night, while walking the beach he saw wreckage of a ship on the sand nearby. As she went closer, a gray figure approached her, falling to her feet. As the girl bent down to help, she saw it was her first love -  The Cousin! Apparently, he had not died in a duel after all. Our girl had no choice but to tell him than she had married someone else. The story says that he ran off, dying later. After the War, our girl and her hero husband lived a normal life (she never told him the story). It is said on certain cold and damp nights the Man Without A Face (The Cousin), is seen wandering the beach, moaning and crying for the life he was robbed of.

 

                                                                                              

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''GREMLINS''

A more modern spirit-demon, Gremlins were first spotted by British Royal Air Corps. Pilots in World War I. Seen as the cause of aircraft malfunctions and poor bomb runs, they were first thought to have been conjured by The Imperial German Air Corps. - as a way to harass their enemies (in the air). Seldom seen  (when they are), they are described as being small, hairless (or furry) little creatures  with great teeth and claws. The will try to brake cables, interfere with radio communications -  just about anything to damage or cause the aircraft to crash. The Gremlins carried onward into World War II (with American Pilots experiencing them as well). Aircraft ground crews also reported these strange goblin-like creatures. Soon, civilian Pilots began to report strange and unexplained attacks or sightings. One well documented case came from Charles Lindberg. During is cross Atlantic flight from New York to Paris, Lindberg reported hearing strange growls and voices throughout his plane. His instruments also acted oddly at times (he never reported it and only wrote about it many years later in his auto-biography). Hollywood and several modern writers have given The Gremlin a more evil and supernatural method of attack. Normally, Gremlins have no known way of being done away with.

 

                                                                                        

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THE ''SLENDER MAN''

A more modern type of creature, Slender Man has as many origin stories as can be possible! Originally a figure created on an Internet site, Slender Man has been linked to stories of UFOs and Extraterrestrials, to secretive Governmental Agencies bent of keeping Alien contact secrets  to actual crimes based on his commands, Slender Man has become a phenomena. Described as a very tall humanoid, Slender Man is seen in a black (or dark) business suit. His face is not seen (or simply does not exist!). He has unnaturally long arms and legs. He prefers to lurk in forests (by some accounts). Hearing him is one thing, SEEING him imparts death. He can cause paranoia and fear (even suicide)  all in an attempt to avoid being his prey. Slender Man is also said to kill his victims by slashing them to pieces (with claw-like hands), draining their blood into bags (which he keeps  it is assumed for food). He can distort electronic media and can even transfer sickness via The Internet. Slender Man can teleport to any place in The World. It is said that he is the first true Monster of The Internet.