The Alp is the German equivalent of the nightmare spirit (cognate with the Old English 'elf' in its original malefic sense). Medieval German belief held that an Alp was often a living person — especially a child born with a caul — whose spirit left its body at night. The Alp wore a hat (Tarnkappe) that gave it invisibility and power; if this hat could be stolen, the Alp could be identified and confronted.
Invisible in its attacks, but when seen it appears as a small figure, sometimes with red eyes. It might appear as a cat, butterfly, pig, or dog. Its defining attribute is a small hat. Predominantly appears as a crushing weight on the chest.
Could enter through any opening and sit on sleepers. Caused erotic dreams or terrifying nightmares. Could also attack cattle, sucking milk from cows. Long-term attacks caused wasting illness. If its hat was stolen, it could be seen and named.
Weaknesses
- substanceSteel placed under pillow
- ritualLemon wedge placed in mouth before sleeping
Wards
- symbolHorseshoe nailed above bedroom door
- substanceSalt sprinkled across threshold
Baldr
Baldr (Old Norse Baldr; Old English Bældæġ; Old High German Balder/Palter) is a god in Germanic mythology. In the Norse branch he is named as a son of Odin and Frigg and as a member of the Aesir, attested alongside brothers such as Thor and Váli in the supplied sources.
Deutsche Mythology
A collection of mythological narratives representing the collective myths, legends, and beliefs of ancient Germanic cultures. (Note: 1. Power tier: Primordial (Deutsche Mythology as a collective mythological narratives does not have supernatural abilities and behaviors attributed to it; rather, it contains those of individual Germa)
Erlking
A sinister Germanic spirit of forest and mist who takes children — appearing to them as a welcoming figure while adults see nothing, the child dying in its parent's arms.
Fairy
A class of anthropomorphic supernatural beings found across multiple European folk traditions, fairies are magical, liminal entities variously described as spirits, an older race, or enchanted people; their depiction ranges from human-sized to diminutive and their attributes and moral alignment vary by region and period.
Fulla
Fulla (Old Norse Fulla; Old High German Volla/Folla) is a named goddess (ásynja) in the Germanic tradition, attested as Frigg's trusted attendant and confidante in Old Norse sources and as a named singer in the Old High German Merseburg horse-healing charm.
Germanic Dragon
A large, serpentine creature from Germanic mythology that hoards gold and shares characteristics with cosmic beings. (Note: 1. Power tier should be Ancient instead of Primordial, as the source describes them sharing characteristics with "other dragons in European mythology", implying a level below cosmic. 2. Remove "venomo)
Household deity
A household deity is a deity or spirit that protects the home and its members, cared for inside domestic spaces and integrated into everyday household ritual. The category spans distinct cultural instantiations — hearth goddesses, ancestral family kami, and animistic house-spirits — and is characterized by reciprocal relations of offering and protection rather than cosmic sovereignty.
Jötunn (Jotun / Giant)
A jötunn (Old Norse jǫtunn; plural jötnar) is a class of powerful non-human beings in Norse/Germanic myth that exist alongside gods, dwarfs, elves, and humans. They commonly dwell across boundaries (e.g., Jötunheimr) and appear ambivalently as adversaries, kin, spouses, and participants in cosmological narratives.
Kobold
The German household and mine spirit — a mischievous but potentially helpful small being who attaches to a household, bringing luck or disaster depending on how it is treated.
Lindworm
The lindworm is a European serpent/dragon‑like monster attested across Northern, Western and Central Europe. Varieties range from limbless giant forest serpents in Scandinavian lore to two‑limbed or winged dragonic forms in Central European art and legend; it appears in both treasure‑guardian and cursed‑bridegroom narrative cycles.
Little people
A cross-cultural folkloric category of diminutive supernatural or semi-supernatural beings found worldwide. They occupy liminal places near humans (woods, mounds, anthills, mines, shorelines) and range from helpful household spirits to mischievous tricksters or dangerous guardians of places and resources.
Lorsch Bee Blessing
A Christian prayer invoking a benevolent entity to bring good health to honey bees and their hives, reflecting Germanic folklore's appreciation for nature and balance. (Note: 1. Power tier should be reassessed, as the entity's influence on bee health and guidance may indicate a Greater power level. 2. The source material does not support the claim that the Lorsch Bee Bless)
Community Record
- [1]Deutsche Mythologie. Grimm, Jacob. 1835. Deutsche Mythologie, Vol. 2. Frankfurt.folk
- [2]Terror That Comes in the Night. Hufford, David J. 1982. The Terror That Comes in the Night. University of Pennsylvania Press.academic