I had an idea for a horror story about a monster attacking people in public restrooms as a metaphor for bathroom rights where some people are afraid to use restrooms. I was wondering if you could come up with some malicious supernatural characters associated with defecation or the like. I'd prefer a European/U.S.-centric character. The only things coming to my mind are hungry ghosts, which aren't really malicious, and a yokai associated with bathhouses but not bathrooms as Americans mean it.
Hello!
So, as far as any of us know, there really isn’t anything that fits what you’re after. Lots of cultures have gods/spirits associated with toilets and defecation, but they’re not really malicious. Mostly, they’re fertility gods, reflecting the ancient practice of using the contents of toilets (nightsoil) as fertiliser. I suppose you could pick one and have it attack because somebody has offended it; this is fairly normal for gods and spirits the world over.
I’d suggest maybe an enraged genius loci, a Roman god of a place (I see no reason why a public loo couldn’t have one, and it fits your criteria re: Western) or Cloacina, the Roman goddess of sewers. But, keep in mind that gods do not tend to die easily, being immortal, so it’s going to seem weird if you have your protagonist kill it. Try giving it something it wants instead, like vengeance or justice.
Silim,
Utuabzu














