SKIN WALKERS

Mystery of the Skin Walkers
In some Native American traditions (Navajo, Hopi, MIohawk..) the Skin Walker

or Yeenaaldlooshii is a human who is able to shape-shift into various animal forms through witch craft.
Skin Walkers age generally considered
frightening, evil, dangerous & difficult to
kill.
Yeenaeldooshi means literally "With it, he goes o all fours,"
in the Navajo language. The Mohawk Indian word "Limikkin" is
sometimes used to describe all skin-walkers.

Possibly the best documented skin walker beliefs are those
relating to the Navajo Yeenaaldlooshii (literally 'With it, he
goes on all fours' in the Navajo language). A yeenaaldlooshii
is one of several varieties of Navajo witch (specifically Practitioner
of the Witchery Way, as opposed to a user of curse-objects or a
practitioner of Frenzy Way. Technically, the term refers to who
is using his (rarely her) powers to travel in animal form. In some
versions men or women who have attained the highest level of
priesthood then commit the act of killing an immediate member of
their family, and then have thus gained the evil powers that are associated
with SKINWALKERS.

The Yeenaeldooshi are human beings who have
gained supernatural powers by breaking a cultural taboo.
Specifically, a person is said to gain the power to become a
yee naaldlooshii upon initiation into the Witchery Way.
Both men/women can become Yeenaeldooshi and therefore
possibly skin walkers, but men are far more numerous than
women. It is generally thought that only childless women can
become witches (but not always), because they have the power
to assume the form of any animal they choose, depending on what
kind of abilities they need. Witches use the form for expedient
travel, especially to the Navajo equivalent of the 'Black Mass' a
perverted song (the central rite of the Witchery Way) used
to curse instead of to heal. They also may transform to escape from Pursuers.

A skin walker is usually descri

bed as naked, except for a coyote skin,
or wolf skin. Some Navajos describe them as a mutated version of the animal
in question. The skin may just be a mask, like those which are the only
garment worn in the witches sing. The skin walkers are described as
being fast, agile and impossible to catch. Though some attempts have
been made to shoot or kill one, they are not usually successful.

POWERS/WEAKNESSES

* Like the werewolf, the skin walker is a shape-shier, human at times
and at other taking on the aspect of an animal, usually at night. In its animal
form, a skin walker may be virtually anything - including a wolf,
snow leopard, cougar, black panther,coyote, fox, bear, owl or crow.
Although skin walkers may have a favorite form that they customarily use,

they have the power to become anything they wish. In animal form, a
skin walker is very fast and impossible to catch.
*According to Navajo legend, Skin walkers can have can have the power to read
human thoughts. They also possess the ability to

make any human or animal
noise they choose. A skin-walker may use the voice of a relative or the
cry of an infant to lure victims our to the safety of their homes.
*Both humans animals can easily tell a skin walker from a real animal,
as the skin walker is unable to move completely natural in animal form. For
some unexplainable reason even a well seasoned skin walker cannot obtain
the perfect animal gait or leave the proportionally correct sized animal tracks.
*A skin walker can only be defeated if one can discover his/her human identity. This is possible if the skin walker is tracked back to his/her home or in some stories if a skin walker is wounded and the same injury is later noted on a human. It is also said that if a Navajo was to know the person behind the skin walker they had to pronounce the full
name by saying either NAME' or YOU ARE A SKINWALKER!' And about 3 days later
that person would either get sick or die for the wrong that they have committed.

Beliefs
Similar creatures can be found in numerous culture's all over the world. closely related to beliefs in werewolves also known as lycanthropes and others which can be
described a therianthropes. While the skin walkers are known mainly from Navajo
folklore analogies exist in the mythology of other tribes, including the Mohawk, Hopi, &
Aztecs. The Yaqui have a similar creature they called Morea-kame. This is a person who practices witchcraft or what we might call black magic. These creatures also change shape too. appearing as animals or even as ghosts. They kill using their thoughts or the evil eye.
In the lore of some Native American tribes, particularly the Navajo, the 'Skinwalker' if in a evil witch that uses the powers of darkcan shift into animal shape . Although generally believed to take the form of a wolf , coyote, crow, fox or owl, it is said that the skinwalkers can take any animal shape they desire. Those who report having seen a skinwalker say they are slightly deformed in their animal state with dull and unreflective eyes - the opposite of a real animal. In their human form, their eyes are said to shine with aninhuman animal glow. 
Once in animal form, the skinwalker possesses the attributes of the animal whos e shape it takes.

Skinwalkers are the most feared for the power they are said to have to place curses on their victims. Some Native Americans believe that a skinwalker can use a persons spit, hair, clothing or shoes to put a curse on that person or to inhabit the person's mind and control his or her behavior. It is also believed that by locking eyes with its victim, the evil skinwalker can  infiltrate the person'sbody, causing them to be sick and even to die. According to legend, skinwalkers are very fast and almost impossible to catch. However, when an injured skinwalker resumes human form,  his telltale wound will give him or her away.

This is from a true story:
This story took place near Iron Bog Lake in Idaho around July, 2001. My family and I went on a survival trip, which is a simulation of getting lost in the woods with minimal and limited gear. 
We arrived at the base at 6:30p.m.and we had a three-hour hike ahead of us. As we were walking up the trail, I noticed faint howling sound and I also heard rocks falling down the side of the trail but I couldn't see where they were coming from. The hike took longer than we thought, and we arrived at the site from 10:30pm. to 11:pm, so the sun had already gone down.
First, we got a fire going, made with a flint. Then we made a tent out of a tarp and a few sticks we found during the walk. At about 11:25, we got settled and then I noticed the howling again. I didn't think much of it, but five mins later, we heard the bushes moving; then we saw the wolf-like figures walking about 20 yards away from us. 
My dad pulled out his 22 pistol, loaded it and put it in his pocket. By this time, by brother and I were kind of freaked out. It was about 11:46pm., and we saw a Native American dressed in fur walking where the dog had just been walking. He stopped in his tracks, right as I saw him. He stared at me with these big glowing brown eyes, then continued walking and soon vanished into the woods. 
After that, my dad,brother and I talked it over and decided that he had probably lost his wolf and was searching for it, although I did think it was strange to have a huge and powerful animal like that, but I ignored the thought and we all went to sleep. I had these weird dreams about the wolf and the man living together forever in evil.
I woke up some time between 3am. and 4am to hear very deep breathing. At first, I thought it was my dad or brother snoring,but then it got louder and closer. I finally got enough guts to get up and investigate. But I wished I hadn't because the mere thought still scares me.
I saw the wolf 10 feet away from me eating the remains of a deer. When the wolf saw me, it sprinted into the bushes. I expected to see the wolf come out the other side, but instead the fur-covered Indian walked out! 
I stood there staring into his eyes for what felt like two hours. He then suddenly ran into the 
 forest. I quickly got back in the makeshift tent, grabbed the pistol and stayed as still as I could until the sun rose. I have had dreams about it since. I have only told my brother and my close Native American friend about that horrific night. 
My native friend told me it was a Skinwalker. .
Skinwalker in Idaho
By William Graham 

They have made many different movies on the Skinwalker too.

Silver Elves

Silver Elves
The reclusive lythari elf or silver elf is true lycanthropes. Also known among the wood elves, as the

Silver shadows.  These Elves are true lycanthropes; good aligned elves able to take lupine form (no hybrid forms). This is why the Silver Elves are called lycanthropes and
are so reclusive. While in their wolf form, the silver elves are quite beautiful. They have
 pale gray or silver fur and the most intelligent looking blue or brown eyes you will ever
see. A wolf-silver leaves no impression of danger or ferocity, but rather seems very friendly, kind and
companionable. An adult wolf-silver elf  is the size of a small  pony and can carry a man-human ally if the need is greatly needed.  
In the rare times the Silver Elves remain in their Elf form. Most times they would be in their wolf form, but in their Elf form-Lythari they are just as Beautiful and otherworldly, even for an Elf. They dress in furs, hides and other natural types of clothing. They decorate themselves with feathers, bone jewelry and other similar fashion of the ancient jewels than the oldest wood elf tribes.

They are very tall and pale skin in their Elfin form, and have light blue or green eyes. Their hair is flowing soft silver. The same color as their wolf-form.
In their wolf-form they speak in a manner that all wolves would understand, but when in their Silver Elfin form-Lythari they speak Elvish. Some can speak other races of their kin and human too. Like all elves the Silver Elves can pass through its natural surroundings, the woods or forest silently and nearly invisibly.
They dislike combat and prefer to flee rather than fighting. If they aid in Warfare at all, they

will only serve as a scout or messenger in war. But if cornered or if put in a situation to defend their own, they will fight with great skill and they do so in the wolf form. Which they prefer the most for combat. They usually only bite but if needed they will do more.
Unlike most lycanthropes, the Silver Elves -Wolf is a gentle, benevolent animal. Although they do hunt and kill in the manner as all wolves do. They neither inflict wanton violence nor attack intelligent species.
The Silver Elves-Wolfs typically are in community groups as large as 30 or more.
The typical encounter with a lythari is with a single hunter or the pack. The  larger the tribal community is 30 or more with up to a dozen of younger Lythari learning to hunt.

Most Lythari's live between worlds, not dwelling on the prime material plane, but living in the forested places that can be only reached through special gates known only to themselves.

The Silver Elf's are known to be a very shy race, and preferring to remain far from civilization and even form other elves. They are a communal society and have no real leaders, its complete equality for all members of the tribe.

Spellcaster

The Silver Elves Lythari's do not produce any metal of any kinda of sort. They build nothing more than elaborate brush shelter. An Spellcaster is quite rare among the Silver elves Lythari's, they are mostly
Specialty priests of the woodland deities.
Lythari reverse Rillifane Rallathil and other wilderness Seldarine deities.

The Silver Elves -Lythari' are interfertile and reproduce among themselves. They can also create new Lythari [Silver Elves] from being among other races in a special ritual of bonding that leaves a permanent scar resembling a wolf bite. The status of the Lythari can only be confirmed only if both silver elves that gave the wolf bite/scar and the elfin cousin agree to the transformation. And only if the secret initiation is performed.
Most all silver elves-Lythari live in groups of packs in the forest Ever meet. Some still linger in Faerun.Most still live in Magical fairylands that touch only the prime martial plane

One interesting note; If a Lythari runs with normal wolves, in their wolf form, they will be accepted in the pack as pack members, and treated with deference, while remaining outside the normal wolf pack
hierarchy.
But the Evil Creatures such as; worgs,werewolves and most antherions such as werewolves will sense their differences and will drive them away or just slay them .

I found the Lythari Silver Elves very interesting I hope that you my reader do too..
Wendy

Barrel of Brandy....

BARREL OF BRANDY...

There was a couple in Scotland who had just moved into an old castle. It wasn't long before the decided to empty out the the wine cellar and they found a large barrel of brandy. They tried moving it and even got a few friends to help, but they couldn't budge it. In the end, they decided to have a house warming party and give glasses of brandy out to empty the barrel. This would make it easier to move the barrel. A few days after the party, they went into the cellar and tried to move the barrel again. It still wouldn't move. The husband got his saw in order to cut it into smaller pieces and they cut off the top off the barrel. Inside the barrel was a dead body and they had drank the brandy that had preserved it..............

Cutsforth....

In the spirit of Halloween I thought I would start with this short short my friends and family.. hheheeh 30 more days.....
Wendy

The Chase of the Hard Gilly

The Chase of the Hard Gilly
The Chase of the Gilla Dacar is another Fian tale. The Fianna, as the story goes, were going hunting one day on the hills and through the woods of Munster. Finn and his captains stood on a hillside listening to the baying of the hounds & the notes of the Fian hunting-horn from the dark woods below, they saw coming towards them a huge, ugly, misshapen churl dragging along towards by a halter a great raw-bone mare. He announced himself as 'Wishful'; to take services with Finn. The name he was called by he said was that of the Gilla Dacar (the Hard Gilly), because he was the hardest servant ever a lord would get great service of obedience from. In spite of this unpromising beginning, Finn whose principles were to never refuse any suitor , took him into service; and the Fianna now began to make their uncouth comrade the butt of all sorts of rough jokes which ended in thirteen of them, including Conan the Bald, all mounting up on the Gilla Dacar's steed. On this the newcomer complained that he was being mocked and he shambled away in great discontent, till he was over the ridge of the hill when he tucked up his skirts and ran westwards, faster than any March wind, toward the sea-shore . Thereupon at once the steed, which had stood still with drooping ears while the thirteen riders in vain belaboured it to make it move, suddenly threw up its head and started off in a furious gallop after its master. The Fianna ran alongside, as well as they could for laughter while Conan, in terror and rage, reviled them for not rescuing him and his comrades. At last the thing became serious. The Gilla Dacar plunged into the sea and the mare followed him with her thirteen riders. One more who managed to cling to her tail just as she left the shore; and all of them soon disappeared towards the fabled region of the West.
Dermot at the Well
Finn and the remaining Fianna now took counsel together as to what should be done, and finally decided to fit out a ship and go in search of their comrades. After many days of voyaging they reached an island guarded by precipitous cliffs. Dermot O'Dyna, as the most agile of the party was sent to climb them and to discover if he could find some way of helping the rest of the party of the high cliffs. When he did arrived at the top of the cliff , he found himself in a delightful land, full of song birds and hummingbirds, bees buzzing about and the murmur of streams, but there was no signs of any human life. Going into a dark forest that was a bit farther on the cliff, he soon came to a well, by which hung a curiously wrought drinking horn. As he filled the drinking horn to get a drink of the water, a low but threatening murmur came from the well, but Dermot O' Dyna thirst was too keen to let this new threat scare him off. So he bend down and drank his fill. In no long time there came through the wood an armed warrior, who violently upbraided him for drinking from his Well..... The Knight of the Well and Dermot then fought all that afternoon without either of them prevailing over the other, when as evening drew on the Knight suddenly leaped into the Well and disappeared. The next day the same thing happened; on the third, however, Dermot, as the Knight was about to take his leap, flung his arms around him, and both went down together, into the Well...
The Rescue of Fairyland
Dermot, after a moment of darkness and trance now found himself in Fairyland. A man of noble appearance roused him and led him away to the castle of a great king, where he was hospitably and entertained, It was explained to Dermot that the services of a champion like that of himself were very much needed to do combat against a rival monarch within the Kingdom of Faery. It is the same motive which we find in the adventures of Cuchulain with Fand, and which so frequently turns up in Celtic Fairy Lore. Finn and his companions, finding their way to the high cliffs that they had sent him, were worried that he had not return . They too found their way to the forest to the back of the cliffs and entered a great cavern which ultimately led them out to the same land of the Faery as that in which Dermot had arrived. Too .
There too, they are informed , are the fourteen Finna who had been carried off on the mare of the Hard Gilly. He , of course was the King who needed their services, and who had taken this method of decoying some thirty of the flower of Irish fighting men to his side. Finn and his men go into the battle with the best of goodwill, and scatter the enemy like chaff; Oscar slays the son of the rival king who is called the King of Greece. Finn wins the love of his daughter, Tasha of the white Arms, and the story closes with a delightful mixture of gaiety and mystery.

“What reward wilt thou have for thou services?” asks the fairy King of Finn. “Thou wert once in service with me,” replies Finn, “ and I mind not that I gave thee any recompense. Let one service stand against the other.” “Never shall I agree to that,” cries Conan the Bald. “Shall I have nought for being carried off on thy wild mare and haled oversea?” “What wilt thou have ?” asks the Fairy King. “None of thy gold or goods,” replies Conan, “but mine honour hath suffered, and let mine honour be appeased. Set thirteen of thy fairest womenfolk on the wild mare, O King and thine own wife clinging to her tail, and let them be transported to Erin in like manner as we were dragged here, and I shall deem the indignity we have suffered fitly atoned for.” On this the King smiled and turned to the Finn and said,” O Finn, behold thy men.” Finn turned to look at them, but when he looked round again the scene had changed – the fairy King and his host and all the world of Faery had disappeared, and he found himself with his companions and the fair -armed Tasha standing on the beach whence the Hard Gilly and the mare had taken the water and carried off his men. And then all started with cheerful hearts for the great standing camp of the Fianna on the Hill of Allen to celebrate the wedding feast of Finn and Tasha. Tis that of thy Irish.. Enjoy ...

An Old Tale in Wales

An Old Tale in Wales

In Carmarthenshire Wale it tells of the origins of the healing arts of the physicians of Myddfai. It concerns the lady who dwelled in Lyn-y-fan-Fach, the lake nestling below the peak of the Black Mountain in carmarthenshire Wales. This beautiful lady rose out of the lake and appeared three times to a young shepherd lad, who wooed her with loaves of bread baked by his mother. The first loaf was too hard, the second too soft, but the third was just right. The lady agreed to marry him on condition that he promised never to give her "three causeless blows." He had no trouble accepting this, and so they were wed, the lady bringing much wealth in the form of cattle, sheep and horses all of which arose from the waters. Years passed and the couple had three fine sons. Then , one day, the lady found herself too tired to attend a christening, whereupon her husband struck her with a pair of gloves. This, she told him, was the first causeless blow. The second was for weeping at a wedding and the third for laughing at a funeral. Sadly, she left her family and returned to the lake, and her husband never saw her again. She did, however, show herself to her sons and taught them the healing properties of herbs. Through her instruction, the tree sons of the Lady of the Lake grew up to become the famous physicians of Myddfai.

The physicians of Myddfai were, in fact, historical characters who passed their knowledge down the generations, to their children and they too became the physicians of Rhys Gryg, Lord of Llandovery. The last of the physicians of Myddfai died in 1842. They left their books of their herbal remedies that had been handed down from medieval times.