| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dennis |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 02:02:13
I consider submitting a story or two to True Philippine Ghost Stories. Subject: Manananggal. I've been to a lot of remote places in the Philippines and I've spoken to at least a score of people who firmly believe in the existence of manananggal.
Upon writing, I wonder, do these creatures exist in the Realms? Or something a bit similar to them? A demon/devil who prefers to eat fetus more than anything else? An undead which favors the life essence or blood of fetus more any other sustenance? |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dennis |
Posted - 14 Apr 2011 : 06:30:09
Thanks, guys, for the input. I finished two short stories. I made some references to penanggalan, though it's the Malay version [which I think where Ed or whoever made its FR version based it from]. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 14 Apr 2011 : 03:32:05
Hmm, I think it might have been written up differently in the original version- the vargouille, that is. I've never even looked at the 3ed MM write-up, so if it's the same thing, they must have combined the two, because I think the one I saw had a different description.
Okay, I just looked up the vargouille in the MM you mentioned, and it is NOT undead, OR a vampire- it is a fiend from Carceri, which can bite (no blood-drinking mentioned) shriek, or kiss someone to turn them into another vargouille, which is basically a flying head (the ears turn into bat-like wings). This is different from the pennangalan's levitating flight. I am now further convinced that the older version I remember was not a vampire, either. Still can't remember what book it was in though- might have been the "old" Fiend Folio or one of the Planescape manuals. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 06:27:56
Thanks, MT! I actually have that book, but I only read Red Ambition, which was actually the only reason I bought it. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 06:20:50
The Realms short-story (in both Realms of Magic and The Best of the Realms, book 1) entitled The Common Spell features a pennangallan as the main villain (although it is a story-within-a-story). Written by Kate Novak-grubb..
quote:
Originally posted by Alystra Illianniis
MT, are you sure the vargouille isn't something else? I think I've seen it in a 2nd ed source, also- but separate from the pennangallan.
If it's not, then I think we need to ask, "just how many 'flying vampire-heads' does one RPG need?"  |
| Dennis |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 05:07:24
I see. So it's the same pennangalan of Malaysia. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 13 Apr 2011 : 03:45:47
@ Dennis- the pennangalan is indiscriminate, although it often attempts to seduce or otherwise lure males by pretending to be lost or in some other sort of distress. And yes, I had forgotten the bit about the dangling organs and entrails when the head detaches. Gross, and creepy!
MT, are you sure the vargouille isn't something else? I think I've seen it in a 2nd ed source, also- but separate from the pennangallan. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 08:26:57
The newer (less-cool IMHO) version in 3e had a different name, but I don't feel like looking it up ATM*. The original was more disgusting, because it more 'human'. The new one looks reptilian, and doesn't have all the entrails and organs dragging behind it (+1000 on the horror factor alone).
* It's the Vargouille, and it's in the 3e MM1. Not nearly as cool as the earlier version, but I have to say the name is better (easier to spell, anyways).
I have to say, this thread has given me some fodder for my own setting - undead which are actually just single body-parts re-animated on their own (crawling claws would be another). |
| Quale |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 08:10:45
Probably in Malatra. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 02:28:16
Interesting. Never heard of it. Is it indiscriminate on its preys? Or does it prefer fetus as well?
I see that the name is Malay. No wonder it has -nanggal, too. Tanggal literally means remove or detach. |
| Alystra Illianniis |
Posted - 12 Apr 2011 : 02:19:16
There is a creature called the pennangalan(sp?) in the Realms that is similar- a human female "vampire" who feeds by detaching her head at night, which then flies about on its own to attack victims. The body lies dormant in its crypt during this time. During the day, they appear normal, and will look, act, and talk like anyone else. Sunlight has no effect, unlike most vampires, but destroying the body while the head is separate will kill it, since the head has nowhere to go to regenerate its strength. |
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