R.C.M.

A journal documenting every creature I find during my adventures.

[rcm-etherela]

June 30

It has been a long journey and I'm quite honestly running out of steam, along with getting quite homesick. It took me a while to find the next creature. But I have!

Dream Demons. Also known as the "Boogyman" or the "Sandman."

It turns out that they are the same thing, though they’re often thought of as different entities all together. A “Sandman” is often thought of as a benevolent figure and a “Boogeyman” a malevolent figure, but as it turns out that’s not always the case it seems. There’s a lot more overlap than you’d think. 

While they're called "Dream Demons" it's not known if they actually are a demon or not. They’re more like spirits, but it can’t be proven that they are one either. They’re something in between, I believe. Having properties and abilities of both. Sometimes like Nightmares. 

They have the power to influence dreams, like their name would suggest. With sleeping sand or dust, they can give someone a good or bad dream. They then eat the dreams, which are their primary food source. 

There’s tales of these creatures all over the world, with various names. We’d be here forever if I went into all of them. There’s the Sack Man, El Coco, A Cuca, Babau, and Butzemann just to name a few. They all share the theme of being used to scare children into behaving, which does have some validity to the claim it seems. 

Most Dream Demons can be put into three categories; the ones that punish misbehaving children, the more violent ones, and the ones that protect the innocent regardless of their age. Though most do seem to focus more on children than adults. 

There’s a lot of rumors as to what Dream Demons do to misbehaving children. Some believe that the more vicious ones will steal children in the night and eat them. Some believe they do not eat or harm the kids they steal, but instead take them to a mysterious and frightening place. The ones of the “Sandman” variety are said to steal the eyeballs of children that won’t go to sleep to feed their children. There’s even lullabies in some cultures that warn kids of what will happen when they go to sleep.

They’re said to hide under beds or in closets to await their prey. Which seems to be true from what I’ve been able to dig up. 

There’s many depictions of what Dream Demons look like. The most common depiction has claws, talons, and sharp teeth, sometimes depicted as a masculine or androgynous figure. Some have more animal features, like horns, hooves, or even being bug-like. I have found they can really take any form they’d like though. 

In some lore, Dream Demons are believed to be a child that was the victim of violence and now they’re alive, but not. Something in between, I’d suppose. There’s also some that believe they were created by the Goddess of Sleep and Dreams, of course. They’re said to have sprouted from her dreams and now carry the dreams all over to share with others. No one can really say what their true origin is, and I’m sure there’s more out there. 

I don’t know if there’s really any way to avoid a Dream Demon, I wouldn’t think there is. Maybe a dream catcher or something like that really does work though? I’m not sure. But I believe they’re ambivalent enough that there’s really no need to try to avoid them. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

April 26

This could probably just go along with the Ghouls section, since they’re considered female spirits, but I’m pretty interested in the creatures known as Banshees. They’re sometimes believed to be a type of fairy too though, so their own section isn’t a bad idea. 

They’re believed to be heralds of death, usually seen with a crying or weeping face. They’re sometimes cloaked or veiled, mostly in the paintings done of them. They’re usually depicted with the same appearance, or very similar at least. One commonality is that they always have red eyes from crying. 

They’re usually depicted as beautiful young maidens or old crones in most paintings, some believing they can switch between both. These ideas came from people claiming to have been attacked by a Banshee though, so it’s unproven.  

The main thing Banshees are known for is their screams. It’s believed to be a warning of death approaching. Their screams can be loud enough to shatter blood vessels, which has attributed some deaths to them. There’s been sayings that seeing a group of them weeping together tells the death of someone important. 

While there have been claims of Banshees attacking or killing people, it’s never actually been proven. Most seem relatively harmless, or not very interested in attacking anyone at the very least. Maybe there’s some outliers, but who knows? From most sightings, they just seem like peaceful ghosts. Just wanting to mourn those who’ve passed. 

It’s not really known how they came into existence, or even when the first sighting of them was. The general idea around here is that the Goddess of Death created them to warn and mourn her favorite mortals. But that’s just speculation again, it’s a mystery. 

It’s generally a bad omen to see one, so I would suggest avoiding Banshees if you can. But there doesn’t seem to be much personal harm from an encounter. I’d suggest just leaving them alone though. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

March 30

I’ve been having a little bit of a pest problem in my electronics lately, but I’ve gotten that all sorted out. The worker said that Gremlins had gotten into the things, quite unfortunately. But they were removed and rehomed, so all is well. 

The tiny, rarely seen creatures can be quite the pests though. They’re known for being mischievous and disruptive, especially to electronics. But they can get into everything, electronic or not. It is theorized that they prefer technology though, since that’s where they’re found most of the time. 

They’re blamed for a lot of things going wrong, but have been “dissuaded” by shrine-like things. If you’ve ever been to a lab or something similar, you’ll know. They will come back if the shrine is messed with though, so be careful. 

It’s not known how they came into existence, and there’s no real one depiction of them. It’s believed they were only discovered with the rise in technology, specifically aircrafts. Which is what they’re commonly seen messing with in the first depictions of the creatures. But it’s not solid. Some believe they’re creations of the God of technology and electricity. 

With the claim of them being linked to the God of technology and electricity, there’s some belief that Gremlins came from the future. And they came to try and fix our tech, but it’s too unadvanced for them to do so. Interesting claims, but wholly unproven. 

Since hardly anyone actually sees them, there’s not much else known about Gremlins. Most of what is known is mostly speculation. Some believe the creatures simply don’t exist and it’s just faulty technology. That could be the case, but they also could be very real too. There are people who claim to have seen them after all. But who knows?

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

February 28

I came across another old text talking about creatures known as “Naratomnia.” Which apparently means “The Guard” according to the records. Which they are exactly what they sound like. 

Naratomnia can take any form or shape, looking like any human or creature in the world. They are known to have unsettling or scary appearances, often large and threatening looking. But there are exceptions to this rule. 

They have varying levels of intelligence, endurance, power, strength, and healing capabilities. They are known to have enhanced capabilities compared to other creatures though. Some were shown to have a high intelligence, others completely instinct driven. There’s never really been a way to test this though, as it’s apparently hard to track down a Naratomnia let alone get it to cooperate with any tests. 

Apparently Naratomnia have one goal and one goal only, to protect their charges. They don’t have any known moral compass to speak of and will get very aggressive if their charge is put in danger, only purposely protecting them. They only care for their charges and anyone else benefiting from this is a byproduct. It’s unknown how the charges are picked, or if there really is any rhyme or reasoning to it. 

It’s also unknown how they came into existence or even how many exist, especially considering they’re not always seen by anyone but their charge. There have been reports in the past of people having relationships and children with their Naratomnia, though not many in recent years. Though there’s not many reports about Naratomnia existing in general nowadays. 

Again, these are some curious creatures. I have to wonder if these were just stories made up by the people in the past or if they really existed at all. Going by the documents, they certainly seem real but I don’t know. I guess it’s to be seen. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

January 28

I’ve never encountered one of these creatures, but I’ve heard and found plenty about them. Especially from locals recommending to watch yourself and your food. The half human, half bird creatures called Harpies. From what I’ve heard, they’re not exactly rare but it’s not exactly common to come across one. 

They can take on the form of any bird, if just a bit larger than normal. There’s been pictures of Hummingbird harpies and even ostrich harpies, so the size and makeup of the bird doesn't matter. This can create some beautiful patterns of feathers too, or terrifying looking creatures that stare into your soul. Especially when they mix breeds, which doesn’t seem to have much of a negative effect on any offspring. Males tend to have the brighter and more colorful patterns, mirroring the birds they take after. 

Depending on the type of bird the harpy takes after, they could make nests in higher up places or on the ground. They tend to be fiercely protective of these nests though, since the nests are their homes and where they lay their eggs, and one parent may stay in the nest depending on the birds. 

Harpies are thought to be vicious, cruel, and violent, but there’s not really a whole lot behind that claim. There’s also claims that people who have disappeared were carried away by harpies. Again, there’s not much backing to these claims. They have been known to steal food and generally be nuisances, but they’re also quite known for avoiding other creatures entirely. 

They were once thought to be relatives of Gorgons, but that was proven to be fake. I’m not sure where the idea came from, perhaps a mythology? 

Due to their generally non compliant natures, there’s not a whole lot known about them. They have varying origins within different cultures and religions. The most prominent one around here is that the God/Goddess of Air had created them as their children. Thought to be born from the storm winds, or be personifications of them at the very least. 

The level of their intelligence is unknown. Most think they only have the intelligence level of the birds they take after, some believe they must have a higher intelligence due to their human half. Either way, they’re not telling anyone. So that will remain a mystery until they decide to let us know. 

Harpies are very pretty to look at most of the time, but it’s best to watch them from a distance. They could be aggressive, and if they’re not you’re likely to give the poor thing a fright at the very least. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

December 24

I found texts and documents of creatures that were named “Amasunoes.” Which apparently means “The Cloaked Ones.”  This is probably going to be a very short entry. 

Amasunoes are a very rare “species” and there’s really not much known about them other than there was a very small handful of them. They were said to be all powerful beings, though what exactly they were capable of or their limits are unknown. 

No one even knew what they really looked like, since they never removed their cloaks or let any part of their physical bodies be seen. They had a vaguely humanoid shape just from the way the cloaks draped around them. 

They were said to be very reclusive and generally avoided interacting with the people around them. Though they were worshiped by the villages that were around their homes. They typically outlived the people in the villages according to the texts, there for many generations of the village’s life. It was believed they’d watch over the village and help it prosper if they were happy with the people there. 

There were sacrifices given to the Amasunoes. What those sacrifices were generally varied from town to town, but often included the best of the livestock and harvests. Sometimes it included brides though, unfortunately. What happened to those young women was never known, they just disappeared and were never seen or heard from again. 

There are rumors that the Amasunoes are people that the gods have blessed with untold amounts of power and immortality or are even just the gods in disguise. No one really knows what these creatures are or what they want though. It’s even debatable if they even exist at all more recently. A lot of historians think they were just regular people that tricked others into believing they were god-like. 

All that is really known is that some people just disappear when entering the rumored home of an Amasunoes and others come out claiming it’s just an empty house. 

The worship of these creatures are sometimes still carried out to this day in some villages. Honestly, who really knows about these creatures. Just be careful if you decide to go exploring a house that’s rumored to be inhabited by an Amasunoes. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

November 21

This is a little different from my usual entries. Simply put, I was following a lead that went no where, but in my searchings I came upon a town. A very... strange town I will say, though I'm not sure how to really describe it.

It was very picturesque. Nicely manicured lawns and cute little houses in straight rows. There's was a single grocery store and gas station, along with a library and a few parks the children seem to frequent often to play together. The whole layout of the town was very straightforward and easy to navigate, I don't believe it was a very big place at all. The weather was absolutely beautiful everyday while I was there too.

The people were incredibly friendly, very welcoming and... great company. The women of the town seemed to bring me into their social group happily and seamlessly. Made it feel like I have always been their friend since the beginning. A few gave me tips on how to make the best pies and dinners you'd ever taste, others helping me to repair some clothing that got torn during my travels.

The men were very nice and chivalrous, offering their help if I were to ever need it. Though there was a distance that wasn't there with the women, and they almost seemed to treat me as if I'd break if they were too rough. If they spoke above a certain level or moved too quickly. It was strange to say the least.

But there was a few strange things about the town still. It seemed like all the women I met were either married or engaged, and if not those two then they were talking to a man. Even the teens that were around has a boyfriend their mothers were very sure they were going to marry eventually. No one I saw ever had a frown on their face, everyone seemed happy and content with what they were doing. No one even seemed interested in the world outside of the town, aside from a few younger children.

I don't know. I didn't stay for longer than a few days, despite some protests from the townspeople to stay longer. It was a very welcoming and pleasant little place, but something about it just seemed off. Perhaps it was just me.

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

October 31

This entry is honestly more like a tall tale, I will admit. Though there’s people that swear up and down that they’ve seen them, willing to bet their lives on it even. Most believe it’s just a story told to kids to keep them out of the woods though. 

What I’m talking about is The Children. Which is usually described as a mysterious group of upwards to six children and their caretaker only known as “Mama.” No one really can say what this group is or what they want, most depictions only showing the children sitting in a circle with their caretaker looming threateningly in the background. It’s said that the children are humming. 

While the children look like ten and under humans, just always having their faces covered by something, their caretaker is definitely not. Their caretaker is always depicted as slightly humanoid, though far larger than what is possible for humans. Their body is always distorted and twisted in gruesome ways too. Arms and legs longer than their bodies, bones showing through punctured and ripped skin, just all kinds of gruesome images. They’re said to be more animalistic as well. 

While it’s debatable if the children themselves are benevolent or malevolent, their caretaker is definitely malevolent. They’ll definitely attack if they see you or you approach their children, so it’s easy to avoid them if you just don’t go near them. 

There’s not a whole lot known about The Children or their caretaker, mainly because it’s debatable if they even exist or not. Most unsolved missing children cases are attributed to these groups if the kid had wandered into the forest, a lot of unsolved murders being the same way. No one knows why The Children or their caretaker is there or what happened to them, but they’re a story. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

September 24

Nightmares are said to be quite the fearsome creatures. Horse-like creatures with fiery manes and chilling shrieks, smelling of sulfur and fire. Believed to be the cause of bad dreams to feast on the fears of the mortals they’ve decided to torment. 

Though it’s debated whether these fearsome creatures even exist, since people only claim to see them for a split second after waking from their night terrors. Otherwise they only seem to exist in paintings. 

Nightmares are always depicted as black horses with red eyes. Their manes and tails are always made of fire as well. While the horse breeds the Nightmares take the shape of can differ, their coloring and attributes always remain the same. 

It should be mentioned that there have been reported sightings of Nightmares, though there’s been no proof that these sightings are the fabled creatures. The people that have reported the sights claim they saw the creatures digging into the ground or saw the earth swallowing them whole before it closes again. Not many people really believe these claims, though there’s still a lot that do. 

The only “real proof” of Nightmares existing is the scorched hoof prints where the alleged Nightmares stood. 

It’s said that anyone who tries to ride Nightmares will be dragged into the ground to be eaten, there’s even been tales about it written down in storybooks. Along with that tale, it’s said that you know when a Nightmare is near by the smell and intense feelings of dread and fear that consume you for seemingly no reason. 

No one knows where Nightmares come from, though there’s theories that, much like the Hellhounds, they come from the molten core of the earth. Because of this theory, there’s some theories that Nightmares are somehow related to Hellhounds, or possibly even a subspecies of them. There’s no way to test or confirm these theories at the moment, since there’s doubt that Nightmares even exist. 

It’s also been said that Nightmares were created by the bad dreams of the Goddess of Dreams and Sleep. With current theories floating around, it’s also wondered if the God of Fire and Volcanoes had something to do with their creation. Or if the Goddess of Dreams and Sleep just gave the God of Fire and Volcanoes the Nightmares to keep as pets. 

Overall, Nightmares are interesting creatures. It’ll be interesting if they’re even proven to exist. Though I wonder if they were invented to explain night terrors or panic attacks in the olden days and are nothing more than that.

[rcm-etherela]

August 23

I came across a woman on my travels. She had snakes for hair and wore sunglasses, even as the sky darken. We talked for a bit, though she had to leave soon because of her sons waiting at home. She was quite the friendly woman though. 

She was a Gorgon, which is a humanoid creature with snakes for hair. They sometimes have wings as well, though that’s less common now-a-days. Their gaze can turn anything to stone, hence the sunglasses. There’s specialty made sunglasses specifically for Gorgons that allow them to still be able to see while not turning anyone to stone, though these glasses are a mostly new invention. 

Some Gorgons, mostly depending on their age and training, are able to control how long their gaze will turn people to stone. Something they often use when a dangerous situation calls for it. Though the less trained and younger Gorgons often have trouble with controlling their gazes, and such training often takes many years to master. . 

Their gaze has been used as a symbol of protection in the past, mostly for women’s spaces. They’re still used for some of these spaces, along with various shelters now as well. Sometimes these places are even run by Gorgons themselves, and most seem more than happy with this depiction of them rather than the monsters of others. This symbol of protection could be the reason they’re often associated with lionesses in older texts and artwork. Both standing or fighting side by side. 

While Gorgons mostly lived solitary lives in the past, the recent advancements in technology allowed them to be more social and rejoin society. Which most were more than happy to do, though some have apparently decided to remain solitary save for visiting family. 

While the snakes are a part of their body, they take massive amounts of upkeep to keep them happy and healthy. Their snakes have their own brains and are not directly controlled by the Gorgon, even if they may listen to them sometimes. The upkeep and temperament of the snakes depend on what type of snake it is, as a Gorgon can have any species for their hair. The snakes often grow with the Gorgon as well and stop growing when they do, though there have been cases where the snakes either keep or stop growing despite the Gorgon’s growth rate. 

Some legends say that the snakes and gaze were a punishment from a god, while others say it was a gift from a god. Modern Gorgons don’t have much to say on the matter, but the general consensus is that neither are true and they were just born like that. The most they will say is that both the snakes and the gaze are a mixed blessing, both a curse and a gift. 

Overall, like many of the creatures I’ve talked to, Gorgons are like any other person. They would just like to be left alone to live in peace. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

July 20

I visited a sanctuary today to inform them about my companions’ discovery and I got to see a real life Phoenix! But I also got to see a real life Griffin too. The sanctuary actually had a family there, which is more than a little surprising. 

A Griffin is a creature with the head, wings, and talons of an eagle and the body, tail, and back legs of a lion. It was actually believed that the creatures didn’t exist, or at least they didn’t anymore, but here one was. 

There were plenty of records of the Griffin in the past, even depictions of them in both texts and paintings, but there haven't been any current records in years. It was believed that they’d been hunted into extinction if they existed at all in the first place. 

There’s a lot of rumors about the Griffin’s capabilities. It’s believed that their claws have medicinal properties and their feathers restore sight, it’s even rumored that they’re smarter than they seem. All of these rumors are currently unproven and likely false according to the sanctuary. They are able to fly though. 

They are thought to be especially powerful and majestic, and drawn to fierce monsters and people. Which is likely the reason they’re a popular symbol to use on crests, for both countries and families. Though that could be said about multiple magical animals, not just the Griffins. But they are the more popular one. They’re also known to guard treasures and priceless possessions, there’s multiple depictions in old artwork for this belief. Which could be another reason for their popularity. 

It’s also said that they mate for life, which is why they’re sometimes used as a symbol of marriage. Though this is a less used depiction of the Griffin. But it could explain why the Goddess of Commitment and Marriage is sometimes depicted with a Griffin by her side, though they’re more often associated with the God of War and Chaos. 

Interestingly enough, there is a subcategory of Griffins. Or kind of. It’s believed that a Hippogriff is the result of a Griffin and a Mare pairing, though these creatures are even rarer than the Griffin itself. So there’s not much known about them other than what’s been written and depicted in artwork. 

Overall, it was quite interesting to see this beast. They’re very intriguing creatures to say the least. 

R.C.M. 

[rcm-etherela]

June 18

I did not come across this creature myself, though my little Kitsune friend and Voodoo Doll companion somehow came back with one of its feathers. I have no idea how they got or came across a Phoenix’s feather, but it for sure is one. 

A Phoenix is a firebird, and a very rare one at that. They’ve nearly been hunted into extinction for their feathers and their demand as pets, mostly from the rich. Along with their coveted abilities, I’d suppose. Of course, it is illegal to hunt the birds, and you’d need both a license and have to take multiple pricey classes to keep one as a pet. But that’s never stopped people before. 

Phoenix are most known for their ability to die and be reborn from their ashes. It’s quite the show too, the birds bursting into flames before your very eyes. It’s probably why most sanctuaries televise the event. But it’s also said that their tears can heal anything they touch and their ashes can bring the dead back to life, which the latter has never been proven true. The former has, some hospitals even keeping some on hand for if they’re ever desperately needed. Though considering the rarity of the birds, the tears are used sparingly. Their feathers give off heat as well, excellent warmers in the colder months.

The birds can vary in physical appearances, some even appearing similarly to other non-magical birds. Though you can usually tell a Phoenix is a Phoenix by the color patterns, they’re always the color of fire after all. And while they’re basically immortal, most Phoenix only live to be 500 before they’re reborn again. 

Phoenix are used to symbolize many things: renewal, rebirth, immortality, healing, and eternal fire. But they’ve also been used to symbolize some of the gods too, or been believed to be their pets. They’ve been shown with the Goddess of Fire and Volcanoes, the Goddess of Healing and Remedies, and the God of the Sun and Day. Again, it doesn’t seem like anyone can agree which is the correct one, but they can agree on the symbolism at least. 

There is an attempt at reviving the, already small to begin with, Phoenix population and protecting the ones currently alive. As far as the sanctuaries are promoting, the effort is going well. There is a huge fine and jail time for anyone caught illegally holding a Phoenix, especially if it has not been treated well, but there’s still cases. Those cases usually include other magical animals as well though, but there’s hope!

[rcm-etherela]

May 28

I came across a young teen on my way to the library of the town I’m currently in. Quite the strange person they were, but they were quite the conversationalist. They had the same interest in finding out all the different creatures there are in the world as I do. They even said their family was full of different creatures (a werewolf, vampire, ghost, succubus, anglucium, and fairy to be precise) and they themselves were a rabbit demon. Or their family is half these creatures now. 

I asked what they meant by that, but they were a bit reluctant to share. Apparently they mostly hide the side of themselves to avoid the church, or not gain their attention and be bothered by them and the non-believers alike. But they did decide to explain a bit after some time thinking about it and some talks with their family. What they are is called Sperifita. 

I’ve never heard of such creatures before, and the young one explained that’s because they’re incredibly rare and the Sperifita title is always added afterwards. It’s a gift of sorts, apparently a gift from the Goddess of Death. 

You see, Sperifita are always made after they die. The Goddess of Death takes pity on the person who died, or just liked the person enough, and decided to give them a new life as spirits. They’re made to be the spirits of holidays specifically, like the young demon I talked to is the spirit of Easter as an example. They’re not sure why the Goddess had decided to make them the spirits of Holiday, but that’s hardly a surprise. They do theorize the reasoning might correspond with how they died, but it’s not always obvious and doesn’t always seem to line up perfectly. 

Each spirit always has their own story of how they died, and none seem keen on sharing those stories. Understandably so, of course. I’ve been told most of their stories are tragic though, unfortunately. All having died a premature death and are now stuck as immortal beings at the same age they died. The rabbit demon themselves looks 14, but was actually born in 1929. 

Each of these spirits have a source of their power that was used to revive them. All the sources are different, usually a type of accessory or something, which can not be removed without killing the spirit and has to always be touching their bodies. Or at least sending them back to the Goddess of Death. Understandably, none would tell me what their accessory is and I didn’t even think to ask, but I did learn they are thematically relevant to their assigned holiday. 

Funnily enough, they all do have at least one type of animal that they’re associated with and can call on for assistance if need be. Which tends to be a problem for them considering these animals will flock to them, which has caused them both multiple problems and annoyance in their daily lives. The rabbit demon’s is a rabbit. Baby chicks will flock to them too though, but I thought that the fact that the rabbit demon’s familiar is a rabbit funny. They thought so too, if their smile was any indication. 

Sperifita can be any type of creature too, but the Sperifita title is always secondary. They can be any type of creature, even a human or a unicorn apparently. There’s not really much rhyme or reason for it. This group hasn’t come across any others currently, but they think there’s more out there. They’re mostly just trying to live their new lives in peace though. Which is more than understandable. 

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

April 30

In my research, I’ve come across records of a species known as “Neclor,” which means “no color.” Most of the records where of the mutations known as “Rainbows,” but I’ve been able to find some information on regular Neclor as well.

Neclor are a humanoid species and are the closest human-related species of creature. They don’t have much for superhuman abilities, but their colors and emotions are the main thing for them. They possess incredibly high emotional intelligence, able to see emotions as a colored aura around people. Though this makes them completely colorblind, unable to see color in anything else. They can “take” or “give” emotions to others as well, using this ability to stabilize themselves since too much of one emotion can destabilize them. They do also have high regeneration abilities.

Neclor are monochrome in color themselves as well, having mostly paper white to completely black skin. They wear dark and desaturated colors too, maybe because they can’t see the colors? They usually look slightly depressed or sad, though that’s just how they look since they’re usually pretty friendly and chipper. Or as much as any human or other creature. Though apparently they can absorb colors as emotions, which is why their clothes are always monochrome. The most common trait to distinguish a Neclor, besides their monochrome colors, is their black eyes.

Neclor live everywhere in the world and live pretty much the same lives as humans, aside from their heightened emotional needs. They have similar dietary habits and familial structures to humans, the latter half depending on where they live and the culture. But they really aren’t that different to humans.

Some work as therapists, or with therapists, but don't usually put themselves in a situation that'll be high in emotions. At least, not if they don't have a separation from the emotions or an alternative outlet for those emotions to go into. If they'll have to touch someone that is, otherwise they won't be able to absorb the emotions.

As I mentioned in the beginning, there’s mutations known as Rainbows. Rainbows have more colors than Neclor, looking like.. well rainbows. It’s theorized this mutation occurs because their bodies can’t properly absorb the colors and emotions like a regular Neclor. But due to that, they’re not able to stabilize and regulate themselves properly, so they end up having shorter lifespans. No one has found a way to combat the mutation properly, but are working on it.

Neclor really are the closest species to humans in the wider scale of creatures. I’d love to see things the way they do, I’d imagine it’d be quite the sight to see.

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

April 2

For some reason, the Demon I saw fighting with the Angel came back to find me. He apparently only wanted to know what she said about Demons. Which turned into a rant after he was told. He then corrected everything the Angel said about Demons and gave me some more details about them.

Demons do come from Earth, unlike Angels. They take after animals found here, even being able to turn into said animal if needed; though most prefer to remain human. But do to this, they do tend to act and fight animalistically when agitated.

They have slightly different abilities depending on the species of demon, taking on more of the abilities of their animal. Some common abilities are enhanced strength, speed, endurance, and high-speed regeneration. They also have near immortality, but are able to be killed by unnatural means.

They can make contracts for another creature's soul, but they don't do this often. They can also be summoned for this purpose, but only make contracts with those they are interested in and who are willing to do so.

Often one of the reasons they make a contract is in the instance of finding a person they would like to be with. They would take the soul of this person and absorb it into their magic, in turn granting the soul's owner with the Demon's immortality. This doesn't have any real effect on the soul's owner, they still act like they did previously and are still able to feel and think for themselves. They can and will do this with any creature, becoming very protective of this person as well.

They are able to have children, though it's not a common occurrence. If one parent is not a Demon themselves, there is a 50/50 chance of the child being a Demon too. If they are not a Demon, they will be whatever the other parent was. There have been some cases where the children who were not Demons had inherited some Demon traits, but those were the exceptions not the rule. It should also be noted that Demons are very protective of their children, be cautious around a Demon with a child.

Demons do not have any real form of government. Most doing as they please separate from each other. There is a very loose hierarchy, the more powerful a Demon is the higher their status is. But this is rarely put into play, only when it's needed or important. Demons do not have much of a community and rarely interact with each other if it's not necessary to do so.

As stated in the previous entry, Demons do have an ongoing war with Angels. One of the only times Demons truly work together is when fighting with Angels. It seems fucking up an Angel is something every Demon can get behind. Apparently this is because the Angels had invaded Earth many years ago and Demons were the ones who had fought against it. Now they fight any Angel they see in an attempt to keep Angels off Earth, even if the Angels had just stopped trying to take over for some reason.

Besides the Angels, Demons also have a problem with a creature called Umdraem. It's because Umdraem are often called Demons, but they're not and Demons do not want to be associated with them.

Overall Demons are not an inherently malevolent species, mostly leaving others alone. They're not harmless, but they're not evil. They can be pleasant.

~~R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

March 23

I found some texts that talk about a subspecies of Demons called Archdemons. Apparently they’re the more malevolent and cruel members of the species, these are the Demons that make deals for souls and are summoned in rituals.

I didn’t find too much on these Archdemons, but I did find a few of the rituals. I’m not too keen on sharing or trying these out for myself, but I’ll share what else I found in my research.

Archdemons are typically more powerful than regular demons and used to roam the Earth like their brethren. But they were sealed away a long time ago by Witches, Fairies, and Angels for their crimes. Some accounts claim that the Goddess of Magic assisted as well. But there’s only eye witness testimonies claiming that, and there’s conflicting testimonies claiming otherwise.

There’s accounts of these demons being able to shapeshift into multiple different forms, including multiple animals and even the appearances of other species. Like Skeletons, Vampires, Sirens, etc. There’s even been claims they’ve taken on the appearances of the Gods and Goddesses. Their speed, strength, and endurance is superior as well, and there’s even claims that they can sometimes control the elements.

No one is really sure what’s true or not about these Archdemons, since they’re a tricky and manipulative bunch. Even regular Demons aren’t really sure what powers they possess, just that they are real and dangerous. It’s just best to stay clear of them.

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

February 19

I met a curious woman the other day in the park. She was certainly a sweet woman, though warned me she was a Succubus and… something else. I’ll have to look into that something else another day, as she didn’t want to talk about it, but she did agree to tell me about Succubus.

Succubus are a female species, though have male counterparts called Incubus. But there’s not much of a difference in the two other than gender. They have the same abilities and powers as each other.

While Succubus and Incubus are typically depicted as malevolent, that’s really not the case. Of course there are a few, just like with anything, but not the overwhelming majority. They mostly just want to live their lives like any other creature out there, though are given more of a bad reputation because of their natural abilities.

Their ability to induse sexual arousal and attraction is due to phermones they secrete naturally. They don’t have any control over these pheromones, likening it to sweat or the fragrance of flowers. These pheromones due increase the arousal and attraction, but do not create it or force it. If you have an attraction towards a Succubus or Incubus, you were already attracted to them regardless of the pheromones. Doctors have found medical uses for these pheromones though.

They do have many more abilities that coincide and work with the pheromones. Like their supernatural beauty and shapeshifting, which help them conform to that society and culture’s beauty standards. Due to the changing of said beauty standards, they look very different from what time period it is. I’ve seen paintings of Succubus and Incubus that look very different from what they look like today.

There’s other abilities that don’t exactly coincide with the others, and some that they’ve lost over the years. Older Succubus and Incubus used to be able to fly, but the newer generations have mostly lost that ability. They still have their supernatural strength, speed, and stamina though. Along with their psychic abilities like dream walking and their superior healing factor.

They have their sexual manipulative abilities due to the fact that their power grows the more sexual encounters they have, though no one really knows why. The reasoning for it has been lost to time, though there are theories still floating around. One of the theories is called “The Kiss Of Death” stating it’s because they’re able to steal the life force of whoever they’re sleeping with which powers their abilities. Though a few people have died in encounters with them, which is used to “prove” the theory, nothing has actually been proven.

Despite the sexual nature of Succubus and Incubus, not all of them are actually sexually active. Their sexuality is just as diverse as anyone else’s. There can be asexual Succubuss or Incubus or they can be promiscuous, or anywhere on the scale. It just depends on the individual.

There have been some claims that Succubus and Incubus are somehow linked to Sirens, though the connection isn’t really clear. The closest is their ability to reproduce naturally or be created like Sirens are able to. Though the created part doesn’t happen as often in their species as it does in Sirens, and no one really knows how it happens. Most Succubus and Incubus are born like any other creature.

Their family structures are very similar to other species as well, mixing just as much as others do. Most prefer to grow their relationships naturally as well, and try to teach their children to do the same and not abuse their abilities. The pheromones start being produced with puberty, along with some of their other abilities. Like their shapeshifting and beauty abilities. Though Succubus and Incubus children are still considered naturally beautiful.

There has been some speculation on their origins, of course. Some believe that they’re the creation of the Goddess of Desire and Envy and/or the Goddess of Sex and Fertility. Some claim the Goddess created them to increase their own powers. But there’s no proof of these legends and the Succubus and Incubus don’t claim to be related to the Goddesses in any way.

Succubus and Incubus are friendly people from what I’ve encountered. There’s really no reason to fear them any more than other species.

R.C.M.

[rcm-etherela]

January 18

I had an encounter with a dog that guarded a graveyard. I was lucky the owner was around to calm it down otherwise I could’ve been in a lot of trouble, considering it was a Hellhound.

Hellhounds are found a lot in graveyards, either guarding them or playing around with the ghosts still haunting the grounds. They mostly seem to guard them, though no one is really sure as to why.

Due to their typically violent and vicious natures, they make great guard dogs. Their supernatural strength and venomous bites just aid in their intimidation, though their mouths dripping with said venom is a warning before an attack. There’s no known antivenom at the moment, but there are people working on it.

They are known for their difficulty to train, often needing qualified trainers to handle it. But it takes years of schooling under already qualified trainers for beginners to be able to work with actual Hellhounds due to their volatility. Though it’s debated if they can really be trained or not, but they are very loyal to those that earn it.

Though Hellhounds can take the appearance and size of any regular dog breed, from Mastiffs to Pomerianians, they can be abnormally big for the breed. These larger Hellhounds are considered more powerful and wild, even harder to train than normal. They do have some common traits, that being their red eyes and always having some type of flame following them.

Despite the name, Hellhounds do not actually come from hell. Scientists, with the help of some unnamed creatures, have concluded that they’re actually born from the Earth’s core. Usually surfacing from volcanoes or digging their way out somehow. Due to this, their reproductive natures are unknown and no baby Hellhounds have ever been seen.

Hellhounds are usually depicted as malevolent creatures, but that’s not really true. They’re more benign than evil. They’ve been known to warn people of danger and even protect them when needed. Though due to that, they’ve become known as harbingers of great disasters or death omens in some places. Those legends claim that if you see one three times, you’re cursed to die very soon. But there’s no backing for those legends.

There are a few legends that claim they’re either the pets of the Goddess of Death or the Goddess of Fire and Volcanoes. There have been paintings of both Goddesses with Hellhounds at their feet or even riding on the backs of one. They’ve also been depicted guarding the entrances to the Underworld, where some cultures believe the Goddess of Death resides. Of course, none of these things have been proven but they are very interesting.

Overall, Hellhounds are dangerous creatures. It’s definitely not suggested to just walk up to one, since they’re usually guarding something or someone. And they are nothing if not dedicated protectors. If you feel you are being watched in a graveyard, you should move on quickly, considering the thing that may be watching you could be a Hellhound.

~ R.C.M.