Mythical Creatures of Africa
If you’re looking for some new monster inspiration, CNN has a new story (slideshow, sorry) up today that details several new creatures from African myth. Most seem to not have made their way into many RPGs yet. Here is the quick list:
- Abada: Unicorn-like creature with two horns. The horns’ points cure disease & poison.
- Ammit/Ammut: Lion/hippopotamus/crocodile female demon. It devours the souls of the recently dead if they lived a life of abuse or if their hearts are found wanting.
- Grootslang: Mix of an elephant and a snake, legend says it was one of the first creatures. It has great strength and some stories say intelligence. It may also hoard precious stones.
- Impundulu: Large (6′-ish) black & white blood-sucking vampire bird. Its dropping are filled with lighting and thunder emanates from its wings.
- Inkanyamba: Serpent with a horse or zebra head that dwells in pools. Its anger can cause violent storms such as tornadoes, heavy rains and floods.
- Jengu: Mermaid with wooly hair and a gap-toothed smile, they are rumored to cure illness, bring good fortune to those who worship them, and even act as intermediaries to communicate with spirits.
- Mokele-mbembe: Lost plesiosaur or something similar to the rumored Loch Ness Monster, but it may be more of a spirit than a physical creature.
- Ninki Nanka: Swamp-living crocodile/dragon. It has reflective scales and perhaps the ability to breathe fire.
- Popo Bawa: One-eyed batwing creature with a sulfurous smell. It can shapeshift into the form of other animals or humans and is said to sexually abuse males or females.
- Rompo: Mythical mash-up with the hare’s head, badger arms, bear legs, a skeletal torso and human ears. It eats human flesh while singing to amuse itself.