The people of Skógdalr have names for many beings said to inhabit the forests, mountains, waters, farms and lonely places of the land. These names are part of common folklore, and most people will have heard at least some of them.
The descriptions below represent general knowledge and common stories, not objective truth. Accounts vary between regions, and NPCs may disagree about appearance, behavior or even whether a creature exists at all.
Knowing a name does not mean understanding the being behind it.
@Askefru
A female spirit associated with ash trees. Stories portray her as beautiful but easily angered when her tree is damaged or treated without respect. Some traditions say people should ask permission before cutting branches from an old ash. What happens when she is offended varies greatly between stories.
@Bergsrå
A mysterious female being associated with mountains, caves and the riches beneath the earth. Miners tell stories of Bergsrå appearing as a woman and warning people of collapses, danger or places that should not be disturbed. She may help respectful people but is said to fiercely protect what belongs to the mountain.
@Bäckahästen
A supernatural horse associated with rivers, streams and lakes. It is usually described as unusually beautiful and tempting to ride. Stories warn that once someone climbs onto its back, they may be unable to dismount as the horse carries them toward deep water. Children are commonly warned about unfamiliar horses near water.
@Draugr
A dead person believed to remain within its physical body rather than resting peacefully. Old stories describe Draugr rising from graves, guarding burial places or attacking those who disturb them. They are particularly associated with ancient graves, burial mounds and the restless dead.
@Vittra
A hidden people believed to live alongside humans, often beneath the ground or in places invisible to ordinary sight. They are said to have homes, families, roads and livestock of their own. Stories frequently warn against building upon their paths, pouring boiling water onto the ground without warning or interfering with places belonging to them.
@Gast
A restless dead presence associated with violent death, tragedy or places where something remains unresolved. Stories describe apparitions, voices, footsteps and figures appearing repeatedly near the place connected to their death. The word may also be used loosely for frightening ghosts whose exact nature is unknown.
@Gloson
A terrifying supernatural sow appearing in old stories, especially during dark winter nights. She is commonly described as enormous, vicious and unnatural, sometimes with bristles sharp enough to cut. Tales often involve travelers being chased or confronted while walking alone at night.
@Kyrkogrim
A supernatural guardian associated with churches and graveyards, most commonly appearing as a large black dog. It is said to watch over consecrated ground and protect the dead from disturbance. Stories generally portray the Kyrkogrim as dangerous to grave robbers and intruders rather than ordinary visitors.
@Gårdstomte
A small being associated with farms and households. The Gårdstomte is believed to quietly protect animals, buildings and the prosperity of the farm when treated properly. It is also notoriously proud and easily offended. Leaving porridge during Midwinter is one of the most widespread traditions associated with it.
@Havsrå
A mysterious female being associated with the sea and coastal waters. Sailors and fishermen tell stories of beautiful women appearing near the shore, on rocks or beside boats. The Havsrå may warn of storms, influence fishing or lure people toward danger depending upon the tale.
@Irrbloss
Strange wandering lights seen at night, particularly over marshes, wetlands and lonely fields. Some believe they are spirits or supernatural beings, while others consider them unexplained natural lights. Following one is widely considered foolish, as travelers may be led away from safe ground.
@Giant
Enormous humanlike beings belonging to some of Skógdalr's oldest stories. Giants are said to be intelligent, capable of speech and to possess their own traditions and settlements. Legends credit them with moving enormous stones and shaping parts of the landscape. They are strongly associated with the Isle of Giants and its immense fortress.
@Lindorm
A great serpent-like creature associated with remote forests, mountains and wilderness. Accounts vary enormously, describing anything from an immense snake to a long reptilian beast with powerful jaws and sometimes small limbs. Lindorms are generally portrayed as ancient, territorial and best left undisturbed.
@Mara
A supernatural being associated with sleep, nightmares and the terrifying sensation of being unable to move. The Mara is said to visit sleepers during the night, sitting upon their chest and causing dreadful dreams, pressure and breathlessness. Stories disagree on whether the Mara is a spirit, a curse or something capable of taking physical form.
@Myling
The restless spirit of a child who died without receiving proper burial. Mylings are associated with crying heard in lonely places and stories of children asking travelers to carry them to consecrated ground. They are considered tragic and unsettling rather than simply malicious.
@Nattramn
A large, unnatural raven associated with death, graveyards and lonely nighttime roads. It resembles an enormous black bird, though stories give it a far more unsettling presence than an ordinary raven. Seeing or hearing one at night is commonly regarded as a bad omen, particularly near places associated with death.
@Näcken
A mysterious male water being associated with rivers, streams and lakes. He is famous for beautiful music, particularly violin playing, which may draw listeners toward the water. Some stories portray him as dangerous, others lonely or willing to teach exceptional musicians. People are commonly warned against following unexplained music near water.
@Skogsrå
A female being associated with the forest and its animals. She is often described as beautiful and human from the front but possessing some unnatural feature, though descriptions vary greatly. Stories portray her as seductive, helpful, dangerous or protective depending upon how people behave within her forest.
@Troll
Ancient beings associated with mountains, forests and remote wilderness. Stories disagree wildly about them. Troll may be enormous or nearly human-sized, intelligent or brutish, solitary or living in families. Some possess wealth or ancient knowledge, while others are dangerous predators. “Troll” is one of the least consistent terms in Skógdalr's folklore.
@Vätte
A small supernatural being associated with the land around human settlements, particularly farms, gardens, stones and places beneath the ground. Vättar are usually believed to live hidden from humans and prefer to be left undisturbed. Stories warn against damaging their homes, blocking their paths or carelessly pouring hot water onto the ground. They may retaliate when offended but are not considered inherently evil.
@Älvor
Mysterious beings associated with meadows, forests, mist and places where circles appear in the grass. They are often described as beautiful, graceful and otherworldly, particularly when seen dancing at night or near dawn. Stories warn against entering their circles or becoming drawn into their dances, as encounters may leave people confused, sick or changed.
@Sjöodjur
A mysterious lake creature described in Nordic folklore as an enormous unknown animal living beneath deep waters. Stories often describe strange wakes, large serpent-like bodies or dark shapes briefly appearing at the surface. Different lakes may have their own Sjöodjur, and descriptions vary greatly between sightings and local legends.
These descriptions represent what someone in Skógdalr might recognize from stories. They do not grant NPCs knowledge of statistics, weaknesses, abilities or hidden lore.
A person hearing beautiful violin music beside a river may think of Näcken. Someone seeing lights across a bog may call them Irrbloss. A miner hearing unexplained sounds underground may mention Bergsrå or Vittra.
Another person may offer an entirely different explanation.
The names give people a language for the strange things in their world.
They do not give them certainty.