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Mythos:
When the first German settlers arrived in Appalachia, they discovered a terrible creature. They called it Schneller Geist, or Swift Phantom, and over time as the settlers abandoned their old language, the name morphed into Snallygaster. Some say the beast is a kind of dragon, but if so, it would be the only true dragon in the New World. More likely, it is a convergent dragon-mimic, perhaps a descendent of New World feathered serpents, though it may be some ancient Hyperborean fiend that followed the settlers across the ocean. The Snallygaster is said to express a combination of lizard, bird and squid-like bodily features. Its beak and talons are like iron, and its shriek has a metallic sound, like a steam whistle, but it flies silently, capable of snatching up victims and disappearing without a trace. The third eye gives it excellent vision in day or night, some say it even gives them a kind of extra vision, like ultra-violet spectrum, or seeing people's souls, or seeing into the future. Of course, you'd have to ask one to learn the truth, and they're not fond of conversation. Snallygasters do not feed on flesh, but on blood. They use their tentacles to crush victims without spilling blood, then drain them dry with their beaks like mosquitos. The only creatures fearsome enough to stand against Snallygasters were the New World wolfmen, Dewayo. Nonetheless, it is said that the legendary president, Theodore Roosevelt, went on a hunting expedition to take down a Snallygaster, but the results of this quest were kept private.
When the first German settlers arrived in Appalachia, they discovered a terrible creature. They called it Schneller Geist, or Swift Phantom, and over time as the settlers abandoned their old language, the name morphed into Snallygaster. Some say the beast is a kind of dragon, but if so, it would be the only true dragon in the New World. More likely, it is a convergent dragon-mimic, perhaps a descendent of New World feathered serpents, though it may be some ancient Hyperborean fiend that followed the settlers across the ocean. The Snallygaster is said to express a combination of lizard, bird and squid-like bodily features. Its beak and talons are like iron, and its shriek has a metallic sound, like a steam whistle, but it flies silently, capable of snatching up victims and disappearing without a trace. The third eye gives it excellent vision in day or night, some say it even gives them a kind of extra vision, like ultra-violet spectrum, or seeing people's souls, or seeing into the future. Of course, you'd have to ask one to learn the truth, and they're not fond of conversation. Snallygasters do not feed on flesh, but on blood. They use their tentacles to crush victims without spilling blood, then drain them dry with their beaks like mosquitos. The only creatures fearsome enough to stand against Snallygasters were the New World wolfmen, Dewayo. Nonetheless, it is said that the legendary president, Theodore Roosevelt, went on a hunting expedition to take down a Snallygaster, but the results of this quest were kept private.
Insight:
Snallygaster probably wins the trophy for absolute weirdest looking mythical creature of all time, (although check out the Boreyne and Gajah Mina, which probably won't make it into the Acheron Series). Though it looks made up, the Snallygaster doesn't come from the same attitude as America's goofy Fearsome Critters, it seems like the old Appalachians truly feared the Schneller Geist. There isn't a great deal of information about the Snallygaster left, so I couldn't help but dream up some head-canon to fill the gaps. It seems possible to me that the Snallygaster is a completely psychic entity. It has no physical form, only a psychic presence. Its victims see the muddle of beak, talons and tendrils in their minds eye as the Snallygaster rips apart their psyche, leaving them as braindead husks or raving lunatics. However, this version of the Snallygaster contradicts the stories that they can carry off livestock or suck blood. The Snallygaster's nemesis, the Dewayo, is a kind of wolfman, and since President Teddy felt compelled to track down and kill a Snallygaster, I wonder if he was somehow part wolfman himself and found himself drawn by ancient instinct to hunt his primordial foe.
Snallygaster probably wins the trophy for absolute weirdest looking mythical creature of all time, (although check out the Boreyne and Gajah Mina, which probably won't make it into the Acheron Series). Though it looks made up, the Snallygaster doesn't come from the same attitude as America's goofy Fearsome Critters, it seems like the old Appalachians truly feared the Schneller Geist. There isn't a great deal of information about the Snallygaster left, so I couldn't help but dream up some head-canon to fill the gaps. It seems possible to me that the Snallygaster is a completely psychic entity. It has no physical form, only a psychic presence. Its victims see the muddle of beak, talons and tendrils in their minds eye as the Snallygaster rips apart their psyche, leaving them as braindead husks or raving lunatics. However, this version of the Snallygaster contradicts the stories that they can carry off livestock or suck blood. The Snallygaster's nemesis, the Dewayo, is a kind of wolfman, and since President Teddy felt compelled to track down and kill a Snallygaster, I wonder if he was somehow part wolfman himself and found himself drawn by ancient instinct to hunt his primordial foe.