Folk Creatures and Cryptids
How stories like the Scumpling or Molly-in-the-wall even start in a world where the undead, wyverns and living machines actually exist, is something I simple cannot wrap my head around
- Metthos
Imaginary Foes
So long as there are people living in the world, they will gather around fires, drink in hand, and tell stories to delight and scare their audience. Stories are part of people, and if a story is told often enough they become truth, in a way, and that is where the superstition starts. After all, it won't hurt to knock here, leave out this, or burn these herbs, especially if it keeps the monsters away. Here are three common not-quite-real creature stories told along The Half Way:
Scumpling
The Scumpling is one of the oldest superstitions on record, dating back at least 1200 years. According to legend, the Scumpling has bird-like features but no feathers, and wraps its pocked grey skin in dirty rags. It is said to feed exclusively on infants under two weeks old. Luckily the ritual to trick the Scumpling into not taking your child, is to leave fresh washed cotton clothing outside the infant's bedroom window. At night, the Scumpling will take those instead. It is unclear if the creature mistakes the clothes for the child and eats them, or wears them instead. Suffice to say, no evidence of Scumplings has ever been documented, though there are many who claim to have seen one. Usually while on their way home from the pub.
Molly-in-the-walls
Molly-in-the-walls is one of the more uncommon urban legends which started being told in towns and cities, rather than in a rural setting. The story goes that if a person dies, but their body is not discovered for at least three days, their soul -such as it is- 'seeps' into the walls of the house. Any further resident of the house will allegedly hear knocking, scuffling and breathing in the walls, and will be plagued by impure thoughts and loose morals. What is most definitely true however, is that in most larger communities, one can pay a 'Mollyknocker' to perform a variety of rituals to purge the spirit from your house. There are some who insist this is done as a precaution before buying any premises.
Deceiver Cow
This story is particularly rife among cattle farmers, for obvious reasons. Rumour has it that there are creatures who live in the woods which, at night, find cows which graze too close to the trees. They are said to kill the cow and take their place in the herd, in order to have a steady supply of food in future. When a farmer suspects a cow of being a Deceiver, the cow is to be killed immediately and its heart to be burned to ash on a fire. Very superstitious farmers have been known to 'lose' multiple cows to Deceivers every year. Luckily, the younger generation of cattle breeders is not quite so paranoid.