A Writer’s Guide to Underappreciated Mythical Creatures

There is a limited variety of mythical creatures in our stories these days.

Ever find yourself reading fantasy stories about dragons and wonder what other fantastical beasts could be out there? Not that there’s anything wrong with dragons- there’s a reason they’ve become the poster child for fantasy creatures. They are fascinating, dangerous, and magical. But there’s a whole fantasy world out there filled with monsters and beasts and creepy crawlies! Dragons are just the tip of the mythical creature iceberg and we’re missing out if we don’t look further.

Every culture throughout the world has their own stories, creatures, and magics. There are creatures that send nightmares, aggressive unicorns, mind reading monkeys, and magical umbrellas. (Really! Look it up 🙂 )

Today we’ll look at 7 lesser-known mythical creatures. These creatures are each interesting in their own right and can inspire our writing, whether we include them outright in our stories or not. Following each mythical creature bio are a few writing prompts just for fun- enjoy!

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Note: As with most myths and folklore, the information about these creatures is varied and hard to pin down. Most of what I’ve gathered and condensed here is information from Wikipedia, MythOrTruth.com, Mythology.net, and Brittanica.com. 

Beyond my notes, I’d encourage you to research further! There is a wealth of material to be found.

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1. Banshee

Banshees have their roots in Irish mythology though similar creatures appear around the world. They are depicted as female spirits that cry and wail loudly before someone dies. Because of this, banshees are often seen and feared as bringers of death. Banshees are described as wearing a gray cloak or dress with their eyes red from weeping, though sometimes they are said to stay out of sight with only their crying being heard. They can also be shapechangers, changing their shape to be a beautiful maiden or a withered hag.

 

Writing prompt: What if a Banshee wanted to integrate into the “normal” world? What of a non-Banshee girl who was raised among the Banshee community? What happens if a Banshee falls in love with a human? Could there be a male Banshee?

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2. Hydra

The Hydra is a many headed serpent found in Greek mythology. Its breath and blood are poisonous and it is sometimes described as having regenerative abilities for both its heads and its tail. It has been described as having between 2-100 heads. One of its heads is immortal and must be destroyed in order to kill the Hydra. The Hydra is said to live in a lake and swamp, terrorizing and eating creatures around it, including humans.

 

Writing prompt: What if the Hydra was simply misunderstood and not really that bad after all? What if there were baby Hydras? How would life in the village terrorized by the Hydra be like? What if there was an ordinary villager who would fight it?

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3. Chinese Dragon

In contrast to the European Dragon commonly portrayed in popular fantasy today, the Chinese Dragon has a serpent like body, four legs, and no wings (though it sometimes has the power of flight). It is often seen to have power over elements, water and air in particular. The Chinese Dragon is seen as a benevolent and good creature and is often associated with strength, power, and with those in leadership.

 

Writing prompt: What if a Chinese Dragon became friends with a commoner instead of those in the royal family? What if a Chinese Dragon was born with an affinity for fire or earth instead of air or water? What would happen if European Dragons and Chinese Dragons came into contact with each other?

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4. Centaur

A Centaur is a creature from Greek and Roman mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. Some Centaurs are  depicted as being wild, lawless, and fierce fighters, using branches from trees as weapons and at times having war-like horns on their heads. In contrast, some Centaurs are described as being wise teachers who are calm and peaceful.

 

Writing prompt: What if Centaurs from the wild tribes and the peaceful tribes met? What if a peaceful Centaur was born among the wild tribes? What if a Centaur wanted to meet and befriend humans? Can Centaurs communicate with animals or with humans?

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5. Shojo

The Shojo is a sea spirit with roots in Japanese and Chinese folklore. It is portrayed as being particularly fond of alcohol (frequently sake). The Shojo is depicted as having a red face and hair and likened to an orangutan, though it is also sometimes said to be invisible and only “seen” by those who have been drinking. It can have magical powers or give special gifts, most commonly related to alcohol. 

 

Writing prompt: What about a Shojo who is trying to come clean and is attending AA meetings? What would a Shojo family reunion look like? What if someone was friends with a Shojo but wanted to stop drinking alcohol?

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6. Black Shuck

A Black Shuck is a ghostly black dog from the folklore of Europe with similar stories found throughout the world. Its name comes from the root word “devil” or “fiend” and they are seen as sinister creatures that can be as large as a horse. Black Shucks are sometimes seen as ghosts that make appearances and haunt an area, though they are also described as physical creatures that attack people and may leave scorch marks behind them.

 

Writing prompt: What if a Black Shuck was just doing its job as it was trained and it wasn’t evil after all? What if someone was hunting a Black Shuck only to find out it was a ghost and they couldn’t kill it? What if a child raised a Black Shuck as a pet?

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7. Kelpie

A Kelpie is a water creature from Scottish folklore and may be related to the famous Loch Ness Monster. It is a shape changing spirit that is often described as a horse but can also take other forms including appearing as a human. Kelpie are often depicted as trying to lure people into the water to drown them. In some cases, humans may try to tame a Kelpie (often by controlling it through a bridle) in order to gain its powers or speed.

 

Writing prompt: What would a Kelpie’s first attempts at shape changing into a human look like? What if the Kelpies were bringing humans into the water to save them from something else? What if a human and a Kelpie needed to work together for a common goal?

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And there you have it! 7 underappreciated mythical creatures and some story prompts to think about. These are just a few of the many interesting creatures from folklore and myth out there, so stay tuned! I’ll hopefully compile another list on the subject soon.

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What is your favorite mythological creature, either listed here or otherwise?