#caointeach

[lpbestiary]

The caoineag is a female spirit in Scottish folklore. Known as "the weeper," she is sometimes said to be a type of banshee. She is usually invisible, but sometimes appears by water, in glens or on the sides of mountains to foretell death.

A similar spirit, the caointeach, appears outside the homes on the isle of Islay in which someone is about to die.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.

[sxoirse]

The Origin

There is strong evidence that the origin of the banshee was in the early 8th century. An Irish tradition of the time saw women lament the passing of a warrior or soldier with a mournful song. These women were reputedly given alcohol as a method of payment. At this time the Irish Church considered this bartering system as sinful in the eyes of God. These women were subsequently punished for their activities by forever becoming banshees.

A popular modern and non-occult explanation for the origins of the superstitious cry is the notion that the humble barn owl was responsible.

Visits from a Banshee

There were reports of infrequent sightings of a death messenger. Part of the legend claims that a banshee will vanish inside a cloud of smoke or mist if she believes anyone saw her. The only evidence that she was ever there is the sound of the flapping of wings. No matter how scary the cry of the banshee is, the Irish do not strictly believe that she is ever actually responsible for a death that would follow shortly afterward. There are reports from the Middle Ages that this Celtic creature would actually serve to protect pure and noble individuals if death were to claim them.

One of the best-known cases occurred on February 21, 1437. An Irish seer who predicted the monarch’s assassination by the Duke of Atholl approached King James I of Scotland. Not long after this approach, the king found himself trapped inside a sewer tunnel where he was fatally injured. There were rumors that this seer was an Irish banshee, although she gave no cry.

The keening of the banshee varied between places. In Leinster, the banshee’s wail could supposedly shatter glass. By contrast, in County Kerry, the banshee sings a pleasant song and is not as frightening in appearance. In County Tyrone, the sounds of the banshee were like the wooden planks striking each other. And on Rathlin Island, there were reports that a sound like the combination of a woman crying and the call of an owl occurs before a notable death.

Over several generations, many high-ranking families blended. So, many believed that the banshee ‘evolved’ to become an actual member of the majority of noble and royal Irish families. Tactics like emigrating did little to offset the spirit, as she would often travel the world to be with them.

Banshees In Other Celtic Countries

Other Celtic lands also have tales of spirits that announced the impending death of a notable person. In Scotland, for example, the “caoineag” (or “caointeach”) is similar to the banshee. In Perthshire, a woman dressed in green, lay out a winding sheet for a funeral of a royal or noble person at night. The caoineag can be stopped in her tracks. However, if you stand between her and the river where she is attempting to wash the shroud.

Banshees Today

There are still reports of sightings to this day. One occurred in June of 2014. What began as an apparent catcall in the middle of the night quickly developed into an apparent terrifying sighting of a banshee. The sound metamorphosed into a shrill scream that seemed to be getting closer and closer. The witness involved investigated from within the relative safety of indoors and reported seeing a woman standing out in the open, head back, screaming loudly enough to cause irritation to the ears of the witness. After several more minutes, a single police patrol car arrived on the scene. But there was not anyone outside. The attending police officers actually suggested the possibility of a banshee sighting. On the same night, there was a death in the family of the sole witness.

But over time, banshees were relegated to the past – a being in folklore. But ancient stories are still told around the hearth about keening women appearing just before a notable death that occurred in Ireland and other Celtic lands.

The banshee was a harbinger of death in Irish folklore. Although the alleged physical appearance of these spirits varied widely, their purpose was the same throughout Ireland. Originally spelled bean sidhe, the fairy-like creature often manifests itself in the body of a female with either flowing red hair and pale skin or as an old woman with gray hair, rotting teeth, and fiery eyes. According to popular belief, the scream of the banshee, known specifically as “caoine” or “keening,” was a harbinger of the impending death of royalty, nobles, and clan chiefs.

[clansoftor]

Scottish Creature Lore

The Grey Man

Lives on Ben'macdui (second tallest mountain in Scotland)

Giant

Covered in thick black fur

Only seen on stormy days

Gray man stalks Mountaineers Very quiet in the snow Victims don't notice him until he's too close

Highland Hag

Shapeshifter, takes on appearence of hag

Asks people three questions If you can answer correct you get to leave If you answer wrong/don't answer then the hag gouges out you eyes Victim left to wander aimlessly

Cu Sith

Monsterous Hell Hound

Looks like a Wolf but... Dark Green fur Size and strength of a bull Eyes glow like fire

Roam the moorlands

If a person see one then they are drawn to the Cu Sith Person won't be able to stop themselves following the beast Cu Sith will lead the person to the Underworld

Linton Worm

Giant Serpent

Scales invulnerable to weapons

Worm always kept its mouth open while standing still Burning peat jammed into its open mouth slew it

Swallowed Cows/Livestock from local farms

Lived inside hollow spot in a hill just outside town Known as the Worms Den

Came out at dusk to hunt/roam until dawn

Worm would swallow any human that tried to stop it

Possibly a dragon?

Caoineag

Banshee

Name means 'Weeper'

Normally unseen

Her cries can be heard at rivers, waterfalls, streams and lochs

Her lamenting means there will be death within the Clan

There is no way to stop what is coming

Caointeach

Banshee

Appears in Green Shawl outside homes of the sick

Laments their death

Has been gifted clothing to cover herself Then banished from that persons home in a bid to ward off their death

Bean Nighe

Banshee or Hag

Old Woman Has one eye One nostril Webbed hands Long sagging breasts that she throws over her shoulders

Seen at the edges of streams washing bloody clothes

Omen of death

Seeing her means you or someone you know will die It's their bloodied clothes she's washing

One can overcome the curse by grappling with the Old woman and suckling from her teets.

[ace-of-games]

UK Mythology Hypotheses on Gen 8 Starter Evolutions

By now, you've probably heard the idea that the Generation 8 starters have a sports or entertainment theme. I like those, and I see where they're coming from; in fact, I came to the music/band/entertainment conclusion on my own before I heard it floating around. However, I would like to add my thoughts on that to the mix as well as another factor: specific UK-area mythological figures, and NOT the ones I've seen mentioned (Loch Ness monster, etc.). Buckle in, nerds!

Desperately wanting Scorbunny to do literally anything other than become another Fire/Fighting type later, I started searching for what else it could possibly be. Some in the “entertainment theme” camp have said that they expect Scorbunny to be the dancer based on how it's quick, energetic, and always hopping around. To that, I say “Yes!” Because…do you know what mythological critter fits that description?

The Salisbury Hare

This benevolent fictional rabbit dances in the full moon with “ever increasing speed”, parallel to Scorbunny's exaggerated swiftness and positive mood. I don't have much to say here; it's a simple connection, but it fits well enough. While I still think Fighting is a strong possibility for this bun, Electric (or even Flying, the average fastest type, or maybe Fairy) is still in the running and better suited to some theories like this one.

Inspired to find more, I dug through the rest of the Wikipedia lists for English and Irish mythological creatures. (I didn't have time to cover Scottish or Welsh, but there's a good bit of overlap. So many black dogs.) Despite being what started me off in a different direction thanks to its name in other languages, Grookey was surprisingly more difficult to find ideas for in the lists I checked. I finally stumbled upon something decent, but I'll admit that I'm least confident in this one.

The fachan

If you go in the foggy mountains alone, beware the fachan. It carries a thick iron flail-club with 20 chains and 50 poisonous apples on each. I don't claim to understand that, but it sounds pretty intense. Imagine this lil Curious George monkey growing larger and more sinister (with a more threatening stick to match) until it's this menacing, death flail-carrying monster of a primate in its final form. How does this fit in with the tempo/beat/rhythm theme Grookey seems to have? Great question! Beats me. (Ba dum tiss) Among other creepy features like too few limbs, the fachan also has a single tuft of hair that's harder to bend than pulling up a mountain from its roots; I feel like Grookey's cute little leaves could turn into such a tough tuft with evolution. On that note, with Grookey's grass-growing ability, I figured it could be more druid-, fairy-, or shaman-like, leading to a future Fairy or Psychic typing, although something that speaks sings? walks? softly and carries a big stick lends itself to more of another type. I could see Dark for the creepy angle, Rock for the pun on being hard rock and if it starts using boulders to attack or something, or Fighting for clubbing/flailing/otherwise smashing foes.

And then…I found answers for Sobble.

Most water-related cryptids for that area seem to be inspired by horses, which I didn't think would be the match for Sobble's chameleon-like base form. However, there were a few to break the mold, and they seem to fit beautifully with most of what we know of Sobble.

The caoineag, caointeach, and Teran or the Sea Mither

First, the caoineag: she is a (1) weeper, who is (2) normally invisible, and foretells death in her clan by lamenting in the night (3) near water! This triply matching being gives the Sobble line more of an Absol spin with the foretelling of something ill, so I could see this leading to a similar Dark typing as Absol or perhaps Psychic like other seers, or even Ghost for its death theming. (Or Fairy, as I can see an argument for each of these three starters, with the mythology ties I'm making.) The caointeach is related, but more violent: she also cries, but this time at the doorstep of a dying person; she wears a (wet, I guess?) green shawl that she'll use to strike someone into paralysis if they interrupt her. This retaliation-for-interrupting reminds me of Jigglypuff, but it also works with the trend of having evolutions be more dark or aggressive than their base forms, so I could see perhaps the first evolution gaining a shawl or at least an ability to paralyze foes. Finally, I considered Teran and the Sea Mither. Both are invisible to humans (again, like Sobble can be), and they are arch enemies who fight over control of weather and the sea, causing storms and “howling gales”. Consider that while sometimes when Pokemon evolve, they become more exaggerated forms of what they already are—which fits if Sobble becomes some kind of weepy lizard inspired by lead singers—sometimes they instead transform into something else. Imagine this crybaby chameleon turning into a rebellious teen newt and then becoming a ferocious, angry pseudodragon reptile beast with the power of storms. Its invisibility is used no longer for cowering but for stalking. As it grows, its cries become roars. Woe be to those who provoke its wrathful tempests. …I got a little carried away, but you've gotta admit it's good.

Do I think I'm right? Eh, maybe. Like I said, there are several ideas out there that have decent arguments behind them. Besides, to me, this makes it so the trio is Grass/Fighting or Dark, Fire/Electric, and Water/Dark or Psychic or Ghost, and none of those combos is all that nicely balanced. If they do go for balance again, I can see it being Grass/Dark (becomes the fachan or a power rogue), Fire/Fighting (yeah, I know), and Water/Psychic (still works for caoineag & co. as a seer figure). There's a lot of possibility out there; I just had to share my hot take. (Side note: here’s a link if you want to see my take on the starter evolutions' names as well.)

What do you think?

[bigmountaintransportalponder]

"The only intimacy that separates the proud horse owner from the perverse horse fucker is the act of sex." –Charles Mudede

[bigmountaintransportalponder]

how dare you threaten my horse you can threaten me all you want but not my horse

a licky boom boom down

[bigmountaintransportalponder]

off anon cuz im not afraid of u nerd

damn now i’m scared help me mother

[bigmountaintransportalponder]

dont type me a response you motherfuvker

oooooooooh big tough guy forgot to click anon i’m gonna type all i want fuck you and the horse you rode in on ~~~~~