Mythology & Folklore

( Leshen from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) I watch as she wanders through the wood. It is obvious that she is lost and I so wish that I could help! But what can I do? I am the spirit of the wood I know every stone, tree, and creature. I could tell her she is wandering too far from her village. I could tell her the wood is a dangerous place after sunset. I could tell her what monsters lurk in the dark. But alas, in her eyes I am the monster that lurks in the dark. Her people tell stories of my monstrous nature. I am their Leshen. To the humans of the village on the outskirts of my wood, I am a demon creature that feeds on children and kidnaps maidens. If only they knew I am the only thing stopping the real demons from invading their precious home. I am the protector spirit of this forest. I am flesh and bone, wood and earth. My monstrous size is daunting but I am, at my center, a gentle creature. I serve the natural world around me and protect both the wood and village from harm....

(Laidly Worm Illustration by Amanda Sartor ) Far away in Bamborough Castle lived a beautiful young maiden. Princess Margaret lived happily with her mother and father, the King and Queen, and her adventuring brother, Childe Wynd. While Childe Wynd was off adventuring their mother tragically died. Princess Margaret and her father mourned her deeply but word never reached Childe Wynd. After her mother’s death, Princess Margaret took over her mother’s queenly duties as her father was still mourning. He was so distraught that he left the castle on a long hunting trip. It was too full of memories. While the King was away, Princess Margaret grew into an even more beautiful young woman and a great leader. She ruled over the castle and surrounding areas with strength, beauty, and grace. But soon, this would change. One evening, in a small clearing in the woods in which he hunted, the King stumbled upon a beautiful maiden. She was all alone in the clearing - her hair shining silve...

(Blackfoot Moccasins from crazycrow.com ) There once was a man who had two wives. The man thought his wives were lazy and wicked because his dinner was never cooked when he arrived home from the hunt. He did not recognize all that women had done for the Blackfoot people. The man took his complaint to the village elders in hopes that they would punish his wives. Instead, the chief woman sat him down and instructed him to listen to a story. She began… In the beginning, there were men and there were women, but the men and women did not yet know of each other. He who made us all created women and men separately. The men lived in one village and the women in another. The women and men were made differently. The men were strong and fast while the women were intelligent and cunning. The women were also strong and fast but the men more so. The women were the first to use the piskun - a pen at the foot of a cliff over which the buffalo were induced to jump - they were also knowle...

(Anansi in Spider form from American Gods  GIF made with giphy.com ) I am Ra the ancient. I am the sun. I am the giver of life. A king among men and I am in a damn wheelchair. How did I get this way? Where have I gone wrong? Ra thought to himself as the nurse wheeled him down the hall to the cafeteria. Breakfast was about to be served.   Probably porridge again . He sighed. He hated porridge.   Ra was a god, but he had aged like a man. He was all-powerful - the father of men and gods. His father, Nu had bestowed upon him a great gift. His true name. Ra had many names that men did not know and some that they did; but his true name resided in his heart and no one, mortal nor immortal knew it. Ra was an aged man whose body had been worn by years in the desert sands. He had seen kingdoms rise and fall. He had conquered. He had ruled. Now the only time he was king was during a game of chess at the nursing home’s weekly game night. None of his children visited. ...

(Clockwork Girl & Boy by Milo ) “They call me a magician,” he grumbled to himself as he stared down into the Jewish ghetto below. Beyond the ghetto stood the towering heights of the city-proper. He sat in his leather chair in his dimly lit study twirling the end of his bushy mustache around the tip of his finger.  The Sabbath was approaching and he had no one to assist him. The people feared him - so much that none would work for him.   They were afraid not because he was an evil man but because he was a learned man, a man of science. Drawings of fantastical flying machines on yellowed parchment littered his desk. The people feared Rabbi Lion and his experiments. His genius was not yet understood. Bright flashes of light sometimes shone from his windows. The lay people attributed these flashes of light to demons so none were willing to enter his service.   “Pfft, if I were able to wield magic why would I not just command someone to serve me,” he thought. ...

(Deucalion and Pyrrha from ClipArt ETC ) “The humans have grown selfish and wicked,” said Jupiter as he peered to earth from his throne on Mount Olympus. “I have grown weary of their wicked deeds and ungrateful ways. We must teach them a lesson, will you help me, brother?”   “I will,” returns Neptune and with that Jupiter calls his storms and water falls from the skies. Neptune summons his waves and calls the rivers for aid. Together they drown the world. “Break the reins that hold your waters!” Neptune slams his trident to the earth and with a thunderous clap cracks open upon the earth allowing his oceans to stretch across the land. The roaring waters of the streams and the lakes rush across the lands and cover everything in sight. Where there once were buildings and pastures stood nothing but open sea. The buildings that were built sturdy enough to withstand the waves could still not be seen. Their pillars and roofs were lost amongst the waves. No longer was there ...

(Night Owl by Lee Romao ) As I gathered my meager belongings   I wondered what hardships I would face on my journey. I rocked back on my heels and stared into the crackling fire. The flames flickered and threatened to die. The dying fire caused ghostly apparitions to dance in the shadows. I sat staring at these shadowy figures for a moment longer then returned to my work. I gathered some dried buffalo meat mixed it with wild berries and rendered fat for this would be my only nourishment along my path. I sharpened my knife against a stone and affixed it to my belt. I then packed my pouch with tobacco and emptied my pipe. I tied my pouch to my belt as well. After I had gathered my few belongings I wandered to the stream and filled my skins with the cool water. The moon shone overhead and its beams danced in the ripples on the surface of the water. I stood and regarded the beauty for a while before returning to camp. The fire I had abandoned had all but died when I returned...