#etherela

They are another shape shifting species, able to change between a swan form and a human one. Like Selkies they have a skin that lets them shift between forms, theirs being a robe of feathers. Impressively, they can walk on water in their human forms. Most can also play the lyre as well, the group generally having a love for music of all kinds.

Swan Maidens are another all female group, no males ever born into it. They will mate with other creatures, but they mate for life. Despite being a generally calm and docile group, they are highly protective of their nests and will attack anything perceived as a threat to their children. But they can be calmed again by soft talking and non-threatening gestures, though it's better to slowly back away from an agitated Swan Maiden and leave her be.

Swan Maidens typically live in flocks called a bevy or a wedge when in flight. They do live near bodies of water, preferring warmer climates to colder ones. But they will settle wherever they like or where their chosen mate lives.

Swan Maidens are very community oriented, the entire bevy helping to raise children and take care of each other. When one member of their group is dying, they sing as they weep for the lost, mourning and celebrating their life. The mourning lasts for a full week, the entire community helping and consoling one another. Similarly they also celebrate the birth of a new member, happily singing and playing to welcome the newest member. This also happens when someone marries, a full night of celebration going on for the newly wedded couple full of various activities and games to play.

They are mainly vegetarians, not preferring to eat meat. They do occasionally eat small amounts of aquatic animals, but it's not often. They don't seem too bothered by others eating meat though. But they do enjoy the occasional baked good too, as I found out.

It's believed that they were created when a wizard cursed a group of young girls for refusing to marry him. Swan Maidens don't really like this tale, but they can't confirm either way if it's true or not. But they like to believe it's not the case and I will believe what they decide.

Swan Maidens are semi-animalistic, but can be reasoned with pretty easily. They're a pleasant group to be around, but be careful to make sure you aren't threatening. They can be very dangerous if they want to be.

They prefer and mostly live in colder regions with lots of snow and ice. Some make their homes in environments uninhabitable to humans. This makes them impervious to cold weather, but warmer weather weakens them to the point of possible death. 

They mostly appear human, but with lighter colors in their hair and skin. Though sometimes their skin tones lean more towards blue tones. Their eyes always lack a pupil and are shades of ice blue and white. They are also an all female group, men only brought in instead of born.

They have adopted human winter fashions, more out of preference than need. The clothes are lighter than human oriented articles, but keep the appearance. They also wear autumn fashions too. 

When finding a mate, they will freeze the person to better suit the frigid temperatures of their homes, turning them into a snow maiden themselves. Though they only do this to willing people, having talked about it beforehand. However, if someone is posing a threat to their family or self, they will freeze them too. But this freezing is always fatal. 

Their family units mirror human families well. However everyone in a group helps to raise the children. The children often stay home for an extended period of time and when they do leave, sisters often stay together. They often stay together even after finding their significant other and never actually go far from their parents. 

Despite some stories, Snow Maidens do not eat humans or other creatures. Their diets mainly consist of deer, elk, and other big game. Though they do trade with other groups in warmer climates for fruits, vegetables, and various sugary treats and junk food. 

Intriguingly they sometimes use sled dogs, but that tradition has mostly faded. They mostly only use sled dogs for fun and competitions, using bigger work animals made for hauling heavy loads for transportation anymore. Though they do make for excellent search and rescue teams, which the dogs are used to help with. 

Snow Maidens are mostly solitary people, but are very helpful and friendly. They have many warm blankets and clothes for people lost out in the mountains they aren't suited for. Though if you go looking for them, you better be prepared for how cold everything is.

A Unicorn is often a white horse-like creature with a long horn and cloven hooves. They can have many different sizes and coat patterns, just like normal horses. Most look like normal horses, just with a horn. The one I came across was a plain white with a long mane, but about the size of a Clydesdale. It had the general appearance of one as well.

They mostly live in the wild, sometimes in herds and sometimes alone just because of how rare they are. When living in herds, they work together in an impressive way. Though it’s not completely understandable to other creatures. They are very protective of their young when they have them and work together to protect them from outsiders. Some will temporarily leave the herd to forage for anything edible while everyone else will stay back to watch over everything. There are always one or two ahead of the herd whenever traveling, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious or dangerous. 

Unicorns are more intelligent than normal horses, though they are unable to speak in any known or understandable language. They are not completely animalistic, but they are not that friendly either. They can be very violent when provoked and may attack if they think it’s necessary or are defending something. They do like to be left alone. 

Though there isn’t any solid evidence, it is said that a unicorn’s horn is able to render poisoned water potable and to heal any sickness. Because of this, they are hunted for their horns. It is illegal to do so and almost impossible due to their elusive nature. 

They are also able to live for many years, some going over 100 years in age. They are very fast and agile as well. They are able to make plant life grow and run on water if they so wish. No one is sure how, but it’s their magic. 

Unicorns are sometimes known to pick specific people they like. They will let those people, and only those people, touch and/or ride them if they would like. It’s theorized they see these people like their young and are just as protective of them as well. It’s thought to be good luck if one picks you to be it’s specific person. 

Unicorns have been associated with the goddess of healing, the goddess of luck, and the god of life. Though there are many different accounts and legends based on where you look or who you talk to. There seems to be more accounts associating them with the goddess of healing, saying she uses the magic from a unicorn’s horn in her potions or created them for mortals to heal their sick. The reasoning behind unicorns being associated to the goddess of luck seems to have been lost, though is perhaps why being chosen by one is considered good luck. The only association found in regards to the god of life is a depiction of him riding one, his wife riding a white stag beside him. Though the goddess of healing and the goddess of luck have also been depicted do so as well.

Unicorns, while beautiful and regal, are tricky and potentially dangerous creatures. Rarer than Eastern Dragons and give more hell than they do. I would not recommend walking up to one, it’s better to let it decide whether it wants to approach you or not. 

Western dragons are often winged, horned, and four legged reptilian creatures. Most often they are lower in intelligence, but at times it can be high. They have ravenous appetites and tend to live in caves. 

Eastern dragons are wingless, four legged serpentines. They usually have an above average intelligence. They’re associated with good fortune and are arguably more powerful than their Western counterparts. They can move the earth and sky at their will, making them very dangerous. Luckily, they are very lazy. It’s believed they have this power because of their higher intelligence. 

Both Western and Eastern dragons have some things in common though. They both like to hoard treasure in their homes. Treasures can vary from Dragon to Dragon, but it’s often shiny gems and gold. They both are mostly a loner species, but do enjoy company at times. This company can also be designated as treasure as well, which leads to them being put into the piles for “safety” purposes. 

While they prefer caves, Dragons can live anywhere. They can also live in deep pools, wild mountain ranges, sea bottoms, and deep forests. Sometimes it depends on their sizes. They can be as big as a mountain or as small as a hummingbird. There is also a very rare subspecies that are able to turn human as well, so they may live amongst humans too. 

They can be benevolent or malevolent. Western dragons have more bloodlust and Eastern dragons tend to just want to be left alone. If you manage to befriend one, they may let you in on their hoards or let you store a valuable in their hoards, but it is very hard and very dangerous to track down a dragon in the first place. Eastern dragons are very rare and Western dragons are too, to an extent. Western dragons are definitely more common than Eastern. 

It’s even less common to find baby Dragons. Most babies are kept in the nest until ready to leave, or they stay with the parent, wherever they go. As a loner species, the mother usually stays with the children, but depending on intelligence levels, the father may be involved in rearing the young as well. They are fiercely protective of the young though, so it’s best to just stay away when young are present.

Due to varying shapes, sizes, intelligence, and power levels it’s very dangerous to just go looking for a dragon at all. The coloring of one can sometimes be helpful in determining powers, but it’s not a full-proof strategy, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Their very protective nature also just makes it dangerous to be around them. It’s best to stay away, especially from their hoards and children, unless they specifically invite you. This sometimes also extends to those they like to interact with. You’re not likely to survive an encounter with a dragon if you cross it. 

Talking with any of these creatures can be as tricky as they are to understand. Some are not able to be talked to at all due to being completely oblivious to the living world. Some just do not want to talk to us and some may just want to cause harm to the living. 

Most of these Ghouls have a range they fall on in terms of body. They can be an invisible presence to a translucent or barely visible wisp, or just a plain walking corpse. Sometimes, this is able to determine if the Ghoul will be aware of the living world as well. The ones with physical bodies are always aware of the living while the harder to see Ghouls are usually not aware of the living. There are exceptions to this, but that’s generally it. 

These creatures are almost always the souls of a dead person or animal that is unable to move on. Most of them dying by violent or tragic events, unsettled matters in life, or improper burials. Some are not, of course. Some were brought back by necromancy. It’s different for each one. However, they sometimes can be placated by a proper burial if that’s needed, help completing whatever it is keeping them held to the earth, or whatever else it is keeping them here. Some just weren’t ready to move on, some may have been cursed.

They sometimes haunt particular locations, objects, or people they associated with in life. Some just like to watch over loved ones, some just hover around cemeteries. Some ghost ships haunt the oceans and some ghost armies will still be fighting where they died. Some of these types will only appear on a specific date or a specific time, sometimes when their resting place is disturbed as well. 

Some can be benevolent or malevolent, just like anything else with high intelligence. Some are violent and vengeful towards the living. In such cases, it may be hard to deal with the Ghoul. I advise getting some help before they can do too much harm. Incorporials can’t touch the living and can only slightly move objects or cause general mischief or misfortune. But, depending on their determination and/or anger, they can possess objects, retake a corpse, or cause real harm. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

There are quite a few cases of Ghouls having amnesia and not even remembering they were once part of the living. In these cases, they often make new lives for themselves as they are now. This mostly happens with the Ghouls that have physical bodies, but some incorporials have had this happen as well. In these cases, they have been able to restart their lives again. They make new families, in which children are born as whatever their parents are, and join in the community once again. It’s really amazing. 

I did meet a community of skeletons even. It seems this happens with them a lot and they’ve basically become their own species at this point. But they’re still considered under the Ghouls umbrella to most supernaturals.

All in all, it’s always a toss up with Ghouls. You can never be sure what you’ll get if you run into one. I would exercise caution when dealing with one. Just to be on the safe side.

White Stags are beautiful creatures. Their fur is as white as snow and their hooves and antlers are gold. It’s been said that their blood is a shiny silver as well. They’re incredibly regal and majestic in appearance. 

They act like any other wild animals for the most part. They don’t like to get very close to other creatures or humans. They’re incredibly elusive and almost impossible to catch. There doesn’t seem to be many out in the world either, but that could be because they’re just so hard to find most of the time. They have a very long lifespan and can get back up after being killed, which is why it’s believed many people of the past have associated them with the goddess of death.

There’s a lot of pushing and pulling with their mythology. Many people throughout history have associated them with the goddess of death, Kirara, and thought of them as her pets. They’re often depicted pulling her chariot/sled/carriage or helping her guide souls to the afterlife in many paintings. Due to this, they are often thought to symbolize the existence of the otherworld or thought of as death omens. 

However, others have thought they could also be the pets of the goddess of healing or the goddess of luck. This is because of the myth that drinking their blood could heal all wounds or bring good luck. This bit could be people mixing up White Stags and Unicorns as there’s not a lot of accounts of this myth and there’s more covering their ties to the goddess of death than either of the other goddesses. 

I only got a glimpse of the White Stag, but it was a beautiful sight. I’m glad I got to see one in person and I greatly enjoyed researching the creature. If you ever see one, count yourself lucky. I wouldn’t suggest chasing after one though. 

While Kitsunes are very intelligent, they are quite the tricksters. They like to pull pranks and be generally mischievous. They can also be malevolent or very vengeful at perceived slights but some can be bribed to forgive. Despite this, they can be faithful guardians, friends, and/or lovers when their trust is gained. They always keep their promises, which is why they don’t make them very often, and return favors. They hate to be in debt. They expect to be treated the same. 

They generally dislike overly prideful, greedy, or boastful people because of that. Those people often being the receiver of their more mean spirited pranks. They also hate dogs. 

On the occasion they do find someone they really like, they may attach themselves to that person or the family. They will use the magic they possess to the benefit of that person, but don’t share human morality. Which means they may steal from the neighbors. True Kitsune gifts are usually intangible. Things like a long life, knowledge, or protection. Everything else is usually a payment or reward. 

A surprising fact, Kitsunes can be normal human sized or very, very tiny. They can be under six inches even. Their size doesn’t affect their magic at all, so they can still pull whatever they want on a person. 

A Kitsune can live for a very long time. They have a much longer lifespan than any other creature so far. Most are far too tricky to actually kill, much to some people’s grief I’m sure. Trying to will most likely gain you a wicked enemy as well. 

Along with their exceptional gift giving abilities, Kitsunes are able to create illusions. These illusions are incredibly realistic and make it hard to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not, even after the illusion wears off. 

Most are loners, but there are a few skulks. Skulks are generally just one family of Kitsunes, at times there may be two or three families, but it’s not often. Then once mated, they’re mated for life. This is a big thing for Kitsunes as well, so committing is not something taken lightly or done rashly. There is a rumor that Kitsunes only get married during a sunshower, or when rain falls from a blue sky. 

Kits are only born when the parents are sure they want them, which is why there aren’t that many to begin with. Even then, it’s only when they feel safe enough and have a stable home. The kits are fiercely protected by both parents. A good way to anger a Kitsune is to mess with their children. 

It’s generally a good rule to try and stay away from Kitsunes. But if one happens to like you or you come across one, it’s definitely not the end of the world. Just try not to anger it and treat it respectfully. It’ll most likely do the same for you. 

As for me, I apparently have a friend joining me on this journey for now.