According to Serbian lore, when a child dies before he is baptized he becomes a type of vam- pire known as a nekr§tenici, which brings harm to young mothers and their newborn children.
Source: McClelland, Slayers and Their Vampires, 55;
StanojeviW, Narodna Enciklopedija, 45
Nelapsi
(NELL- ep- see)Variations: OPER
A vampiric REVENANT from Slovakia, the nelapsi is known to be able to destroy an entire village in a single night. With two hearts and two souls, the nelapsi is very fast, very strong. It can kill a person with a single blow and is also a plague carrier.
To prevent a person from becoming this type of vampire, place money, a religious icon, or per-
sonal items in the COFFINwith the body at the
time of burial. There is also a very complex rit- ual that can be performed, which involves running a stake through its heart, carrying the body head- first to its grave, and tossing a few handfuls of poppy seeds in the grave with it, just in case the ceremony did not work. Should the person rise from the dead as a nelapsi, it must be staked through its twin hearts with a stake made of
HAWTHORN, iron, or oak.
Source: Belanger, Sacred Hunger, 127; Bryant, Hand- book of Death, 99; Perkowski, The Darkling, 102–3
Neuntöter
(New- un-TOTE- er) Variations: NeutoterThe neuntöter is a vampiric REVENANTfrom
German vampire lore (see GERMANVAMPIRES).
Its name, neuntöter, means “nine killer,” as it takes nine days for the vampire to fully transform once it has been placed in its grave. When it does rise, it is covered with open sores and smells like excrement. It is also a plague carrier. People who were born with teeth or an actual spoon in their mouths are heavily predisposed to becoming ne- untöters upon their deaths. To ensure that a per- son lies in rest for all time, the spoon that was in his mouth at birth must be burned to ash and then fed to the child. If this is not done, then after death, the head must be removed from the body between the hours of 11P.M. and midnight;
additionally a lemon must be placed in the mouth before the body is interred.
Source: Bunson, Vampire Encyclopedia, 188; Haining, Dictionary of Vampires, 180; Ronay, Truth about Drac- ula, 23
Nobusuma
In Japan if a bat can manage to live for a very long time it will become a vampiric creature called a nobusuma (“most ancient”). This EN-
ERGY VAMPIREflies through the night sky look-
ing for a sleeping person to assault. When it finds suitable prey, the nobusuma lands on his chest and begins to tap on the sleeping person’s chest, making him cough. When this happens, the nobusuma will take in the escaping breath, leach- ing off some of the person’s life. Over the course of the next three days, unless the nobusuma is stopped, the victim will die, his life energy drained away. To prevent this from happening, all that has to happen is for someone to witness an attack taking place. This will drive the vam- pire off, never to return. The victim will instantly recover fully and go on to live a long and healthy life.
Source: Iinkai, Japan, 794; Japan Society of London,
Transactions and Proceedings, vol. 9, 27–28; Poulton, Spirits of Another Sort, 64
Nocticula
(Noct- TIC- oo- la)Variations: Herodiade, “The Diana of the An- cient Gauls,” “The Moon”
Nocticula is a vampiric, demonic goddess from France, a singular entity; her followers were most active during the twelfth and thirteenth cen- turies. Nocticula, a consort to both Asmodeus and Beelzebub, demanded human sacrifices be made in her name to the goddess Lamiae. These sacrifices, usually children, were cut into little pieces and fed to Lamiae, who devoured them but would quickly regurgitate them back up. Then Nocticula, in a show of mercy, would re- store the children’s bodies and place their souls back in, returning them to life. Then her follow- ers would take the babies back to where they had been stolen from.
Nocticula followers were usually women, and while completely naked, they rode horses to their meeting place to pay homage to their goddess. Her followers wrote their names in a Book of Shadows and thereafter no longer considered themselves to be human women, but rather fay. Only one book of Nocticula has ever been found, and it was discovered in the ruins of one of her temples in the eighteenth century. Apart from the names of her followers, the book also con- tained the names of sorcerers and other magic users.
Some scholars have speculated that she may be a reinterpretation of a much older deity called Bensozia.
Source: Alford, Folklore, vol. 46; Clifton, Paganism Reader, 171; Gardner, Meaning of Witchcraft, 101;
Grimm, Teutonic Mythology, 1057
Nora
(NOR- ah)Variations: Nore
From Hungarian vampiric lore comes a species of vampiric creature known as a nora. Humanoid, bald, and invisible, it moves about on all fours, at- tacking amoral and disrespectful women, drink- ing blood and breast milk from them. Smearing
GARLICpaste over one’s breasts will offer some protection from a nora attack, but the surest way to ensure one’s safety is never to become a pros- titute. It has been speculated that the nora was an attempt to explain sexually transmitted diseases and other such ailments.
Source: Dömötör, Hungarian Folk Beliefs, 116; Key-
worth, Troublesome Corpses, 60, 111; Rihtman- Augu§tin,
Folklore and Historical Process, 207
Nosferat
(Nos- FUR- rat)Variations: Necuratul (“unclean one”) Across central and eastern Europe, the nosferat (“plague carrier”) is perhaps the best- known species of all the vampires, considered by many to be the quintessential traditional vampire. There are several ways a person can become a nosferat, such as being born the seventh son of a seventh son, being born with a caul, the mother not eat- ing any SALTduring her pregnancy or having the misfortune of looking upon a vampire while preg- nant, being born an illegitimate stillborn child to parents who are also of illegitimate birth, or hav- ing died the victim of a nosferat attack. The nos- ferat who was created because it died an illegiti- mate child has a deep hatred for married people, as its own parents were never married.
Nosferatu, as they are collectively called, can be either male or female, and are seen as an ob- ject of sexual desire to their victims. Shortly after nightfall, these REVENANTSrise from their graves
and seek out their prey. A successful nosferat es- tablishes itself as the sexual partner of at least one individual whom it returns to in order to feed. Over an extended period of time, the constant blood and life energy drain becomes too much and the victim dies (see ENERGY VAMPIRE). Nos- ferat has a veracious sex drive and there are nu- merous stories of it hosting orgies and having sex with a person until its victim literally dies of ex- haustion (see INCUBUSand SUCCUBUS).
Usually, nosferatu cause infertility in their prey, but on occasion a male of the species can impregnate a human female. The child, called a moroi, will be born with a full head of HAIRand for all its life will continue to have a full head of wild, unkempt HAIR. Eventually, it will develop
magical abilities and realize its full potential by becoming a witch.
Source: Cramer, Devil Within, 106; Jones, On the Nightmare, 117; Leatherdale, Dracula, 20; Riccardo, Liquid Dreams, 47
Nosophoros
(Nos- OFF- froze)Nosophoros (“plague carrier”) is the Greek word
for the Slavic word nosferatu.
Source: Klinger, New Annotated Dracula, 310; Mor-
row, Halloween Handbook, 154; Riccardo, Liquid
Dreams, 174
Nuckelavee
(NUCK- ul- leave)In Scotland, on the Orkney Islands, there is a vampiric fay known as nuckelavee. Described as looking like a skinless centaur, it has a piglike nose that snorts steam, an overly wide mouth,
and one large bloodshot eye in the middle of its forehead, which is about three feet wide. Its body is covered in thick yellow veins that pump its black blood; its overly long arms almost drag the ground as it walks.
Nuckelavee are the bane to all animals, hu- mans, and plants; they even cause their own par- ticular disease, mortasheen. Should it breathe upon a person, he will begin to wither up and die. Nuckelavee cause droughts, epidemics, and have been known to drive herds of animals off cliffs and into the sea, where they live. In fact, any area of unexplained ruin or destruction is said to be their handiwork.
Nuckelavee are repelled by the smell of burn- ing seaweed; oftentimes it was gathered and burnt as a precaution. Like all fay, they are re- pelled by iron, but nuckelavee are also repelled by fresh water and falling rain, and they cannot cross running water. During the summer months, they are locked away by Mither o’ the Sea, the Orcadian concept of Mother Nature.
Source: Cavendish, Powers of Evil, 230; Mack, Field Guide to Demons, 37–38; Marwick, Folklore of Orkney and Shetland, 22
Nutshnyk
(Nut- SHIN- ski) Variations: OpyrIn Russia there is a vampiric spirit known as a nutshnyk. It looks rather ghostlike and attacks humans at night, draining them of their blood.
Source: Summers, Vampire: His Kith and Kin, 18;
Summers, Werewolf in Lore and Legend, 15; Whitney,
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia, 6693
Nyam Nyam
(Nam NAMor Yum YUM)Variations: Niam- Niam
Vampiric creatures from African lore, the nyam nyam are members of a mythical tribe of dwarflike people with short tails. During the pe- riod of slavery, the word came to be used as a racial slur to describe the Azande people and their allied tribes. It could have been a mispro- nunciation of the word nimyam, which means “cannibal.”
Source: Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, 379;
Hasluck, Letters on Religion and Folklore, 38; Petri- novich, Cannibal Within, 121; Volta, The Vampire, 116
Obayifo
(Oh- BAY- if- oh)Variation: Abayifo, ASEMA, ASIMAN, Obey- ifo, Obayifu
The Ashanti people of the Gold Coast of Africa have in their vampiric lore a witch who uses his powers to drain the life and energy from children and crops. He is called an obayifo (“sor-
cery”). The Ashanti believe that people are born with the predisposition to become an obayifo, that it is not something that can be taught or passed on to another. In all respects the obayifo is human. Unless he is in a physical confrontation in front of witnesses, his secret may never be known, for when confronted with violence, his skin emits phosphorescence. This witch will of- tentimes have a vampiric creature known as a
SASABONSAMas a servant or familiar.
At night the obayifo, who has something of an obsession with food, leaves his body and flies off in search of prey (children and crops), but he is especially fond of the cacao bean tree, whose seeds are the primary ingredient in chocolate. When draining the life- energy from a person, it is a long, drawn- out, painful process, and it may take days or even weeks for the victim to finally die. Obayifo also has the ability, after drinking a magical elixir made of fruit and vegetable juices, to shape- shift into various animal forms in which it will adopt to kill people as well.
The Ashanti’s neighboring tribe, the Da- homean, calls its version of the OBAYIFOan ASI-
MAN.
Source: Bryant, Handbook of Death, 99; Field, Search for Security, 35, 234–36; Stefoff, Vampires, Zombies, and Shape- Shifters, 17; Williams, Voodoos and Obeahs, 120–
33
Obour
(Oh- BOUR)Variations: Opiri, Opyri, Oupir
In Bulgaria, there is a vampire called an obour that starts its reign of terror as a vampiric spirit and then develops into a vampiric REVENANT. It is created when a person is murdered and his spirit leaves the body suddenly and then tries to return, but the body is already deceased. Nine days after the body is buried, the spirit leaves the grave looking like a CORPSE CANDLE(a ball of
light) and roams the community using its teleki- netic ability to cause mischief. For 40 days it will harass whomever it can by biting into the udders of cows to drink blood and milk, causing shad- ows to move independently and look as if they are doing lewd things, making loud noises, smearing feces on holy artifacts and walls, or any number of minor acts of vandalism. If the obour becomes too troublesome or dangerous, a
DJADADJIIcan be hired to bottle (see BOTTLING) and destroy it.
After 40 days have passed, the body of the obour rises up from its grave, looking exactly as it did in life except that it has only one nostril. Once it has risen, it will usually leave the area and try to reestablish itself in another location.
Source: Bryant, Handbook of Death, 99; Garnett, Women of Turkey, 336 –37; Wolf, Dracula: Connoisseur’s Guide, 24
Ogoljen
(OG- ol- gen)Variation: Ogalijen, Olgolgen, Mura In the vampire lore of the Czech Republic there is a vampiric REVENANTcalled an ogoljen (“stripped bare”). When it is out hunting for hu- mans to attack for their blood, it keeps dirt from its gravesite in its navel. An ogoljen cannot be destroyed, but it can be captured and buried at a crossroads to keep it from ever rising again.
Source: Grimm, Teutonic Mythology, 1266; Haining, Dictionary of Vampires, 191; Kessler, Demons of the Night, 13–21; Volta, The Vampire, 144
Ohyn
(OH- wen)Variations: Oupire (“bloodsucker”)
In Poland any child who is born with a caul and teeth but dies soon after birth will rise up as a vampiric REVENANTcalled an ohyn. While in its grave it will chew upon its own body until it is able to escape. Described as looking like a red in- fant, the ohyn will set out initially to attack all of its family members before seeking out other prey. It hunts at night from dark places, utilizing sur- prise. Although very strong, an ohyn’s legs are un- derdeveloped and therefore it cannot walk or run. However, it can levitate three or four feet off the ground and can also fly just a little bit faster than a person can run. An ohyn can be destroyed only by direct exposure to the sun for a prolonged pe- riod of time or by pulling out all of its teeth.
Source: Bunson, Encyclopedia of Vampires, 241; Point
Park College, Keystone Folklore Quarterly, vol. 17, 125; Senn, Werewolf and Vampire in Romania, 66
Onoscèles
(Oh- NOS- ah- clees)The onoscèles is a vampiric creature from the Greek islands that is described as looking like a beautiful woman with one leg ending in a mule- like hoof (see GREEK VAMPIRES). It lures men
into secluded places so that it can attack them and consume their blood, flesh, and sperm. It lives near the water and has the ability to shape- shift into water. The onoscèles is repelled by the root of a plant whose name has been lost to his- tory.
Source: Cunningham, Synagoge, 355
Opachina
(Oh- pa- CHEE- na)In the Rhodope Mountains, opachina is the re- gional word that is used to describe a vampire.
Source: Georgieva, Bulgarian Mythology, 95
Oper
(OO- pur)Variations: Opir, Opyr, Oupire (“bloodsucker”), Oupyr, Upar, Vupar
In Belarus, eastern Poland, eastern Slovakia, Russia, and Ukraine, the word that is used to de- scribe a vampire is oper.
Source: Auerbach, Our Vampires, Ourselves, 113; Day, Vampire Myths, 125; Dundes, Vampire Casebook, 14;
Summers, Vampire in Europe, 307
Opi
(OH- pa)Variations: Opji, Oupire (“bloodsucker”) In Kashubia, Poland, opi is the Polish word that is used to describe a vampire.
Source: Indiana University, Journal, vol. 14, 225;
Perkowski, Vampires of the Slavs, 196
Ornias
(Oar- NEE- ahs)In ancient Hebrew lore, there is a vampiric demon known as Ornias. It was one of many demons mentioned in the Testament of Solomon. It would appear to people in the form of fire, a lion, or a horrid winged creature. It would shape- shift into a beautiful woman and trick men into having sex with it, draining their sexual energy and potency much like an INCUBUS(see ENERGY VAMPIRE). Ornias would seek out men whose zo- diac sign was Aquarius and strangle them to death, leaching off their life- energy as it did so. It did this because it resided in the constellation of Aquarius. Further the only way to save one of its victims before he died was to press the Seal of Solomon against the demon’s chest.
During the construction of King Solomon’s temple, Ornias appeared to one of the laborers, stealing half of his wages as well as draining the life- energy from one of his sons. The laborer sought the king for help and Solomon prayed to God for insight or intervention. His prayers were answered. The archangel Michael delivered to Solomon a ring with the seal of God upon it, giv- ing the bearer power over demons. Solomon used the ring not only to stop Ornias from its daily muggings and assaults but also to bind other demons and use them as part of his labor force to build his temple.
Occasionally Ornias was summoned by magi- cians and witches who sought to divine the future, as this demon could be persuaded to fly up into the heavens and glean the future as it is written in the stars. As it would descend back to earth, Ornias looked like a shooting star. However, continued use of its abilities would cause his sum- moner to waste away.
Source: Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, 151–53; Han-
son, Secrets from the Lost Bible, 114 –17; Rappoport,
Myth and Legend of Ancient Israel, 88–90; Wedeck, A Treasury of Witchcraft, 172
Otgiruru
(Ot- GOO- roo) Variations: OwengaThe Herero people of Namibia, Africa, say that when an evil sorcerer dies, he will rise up as a vampiric REVENANT known as an otgiruru.
Looking like a common dog, the otgiruru walks harmlessly about, and when no one is looking, calls out. Whoever answers the call, the otgiruru will kill, drinking his blood and consuming his soft tissue organs.
Source: Masters, Natural History of the Vampire, 48;
Silver, Vampire Film, 18; Volta, The Vampire, 152
Ovengua
(Ov- in- GUAY)Variations: Owang, Oweng, OWENGA
The vampiric spirit of the ovengua comes from Guinea, Africa. When an evil sorcerer dies, his bones will begin to escape from the grave one at a time and gather in a secret location. Eventu- ally, when they have all come together, the bones will reassemble themselves and become an oven- gua, a skeletal spirit being that has large hooks for hands. Hiding in caves by day and wandering the forests at night, the ovengua will attack any lone traveler it sees and try to possess the person. Should the ovengua win, it will kill the person and animate the corpse to use as its own. The only way to destroy it is, unfortunately, to wait until it has claimed a body—then capture it and burn it to ash.
Source: Du Chaillu, King Mombo, 79–83; Wood, Natural History of Man, 572; Wood, Uncivilized Races of Men, 513
Ovengwa
(Ov- in- WAY)Variations: Owang
In Africa, ovengwa is a word used to describe a vampiric spirit, a “terrible catcher and eater of the dead.” An ovengwa is the returned soul of a deceased man. It is described to be as tall as a tree and winking all the time. It preys on hu- mans, draining their blood and energy (see EN-