Myths and Legends

The spies are coming. Governor Sim has gone too far and earned the attention of the king, who's sending people to see what's going on in Sim's district. The only thing? Sim is four steps ahead of the king and those spies don't know what they're walking into. The creature is Western Europe's first vampire! And why you want to avoid mixing sorcery with your home improvement projects! -- Links! Say h...

A home improvement project 800 years in the making that includes way too many wolves, rat parts, and beards. It's the story of the Tomten of Åbo Castle, from Finnish folklore. The creatures are women with varying degrees of faces from British folklore. The one thing they have in common? Drunk, possibly concussed guys are the only people that have seen them. -- Åbo/Turku Castle tour Youtube video:...

We're back in the story of the Monkey King as he and the crew continues their journey to the west. Xanzang, the monk, of course gets captured again, but this time, it's by the son of an old friend of Monkey's from back in his pillaging days! He figures things should go well. Because, of course, there is nothing children love more than being bossed around. The creature is the L'esak, and it's why y...

Lucius has been turned into a donkey after using the wrong body lotion. Then, he was kidnapped by bandits. Things are about to get a whole lot worse for Lucius. The creature is the Korori (虎狼狸), who offers a new way to feel better after you get sick. -- Links! Shop: https://shop.bardic.fm Disclaimer: https://myths.link/296b Source one for creature of the week: https://yokai.com/korouri/ Source...

Lucius’s lifelong dream, as of ten minutes ago, is learning how to do sorcery. Luckily, he’s not only in a city crawling with witches who are slicing bits off people’s faces to do their magic and bringing wineskins to life, but his hostess is a sorceress herself, and all he has to do is catch her in the act. The creature is the Lizard Man, lover of sinking his claws into cars…and his teeth into so...

The story of a merchant gets lost ducking out early from a funeral and who ends up sleeping in a graveyard…and that’s somehow the least scary thing that happens to him that year. The creature is the Sirin, and they’ll only sing for you if you’re super happy and harmonious. So, kind of never. — Disclaimer: https://myths.link/295 Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership Come say hi on Mast...

The story of Moremi Ajasoro from modern-day Nigeria has love, loss, and, of course, evil forest monsters. The creature is the Van Meter Visitor, a dinosaur that was apparently stinking up the Old West. -- The newspaper article for the creature and the disclaimer: https://myths.link/294

Two stories, two small things making enormous problems. We have "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Red Shoes". For two stories about young women learning and growing, they contain kind of a lot of dismemberment. The creature is Striga! And she's the reason to put on that extra loaf of garlic bread and leave pig bones all over church. -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/293 Fictional! https://www.fi...

Magic swords, Viking legends, dwarves, ice queens, and enchanted rose gardens, this story of Dietrich of Bern and the Dwarf King Laurin has a bit of everything. The creature this week is the Samodivi, the reason why you should be going out to the club each night. -- Scoundrel! New episode of Scoundrel out about Black Bart, the Gentleman Outlaw. Check it out at https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Music...

Three stories of monsters from Japan. We have a tanuki, the monsters that lurk in the civilized places, and monsters that might be under your home right now. The creature is a decapitated man who loves hugs. -- Scoundrel! https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Indeed: Start hiring now at http://Indeed.com/LEGENDS SimpliSafe: Get a free indoor security camera plus 20% off with Interactive Monito...

A story from Kashmir folklore about love, marriage, and murder. Kind of a lot of all those things, actually. The creature is a Jaculus, the snake that will kill you with kindness. And its sharp javelin head. -- New Scoundrel out today! https://myths.link/scoundrel Pickle Bath Salt: https://myths.link/picklebathsalt -- Sponsors:  Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase at http://Bombas.com/legends...

The story of Half's Heroes, from the Icelandic Sagas. If you don't like being burned alive...and also do absolutely nothing to avoid the completely avoidable fate of being burned alive...can you even call yourself a man? The creature this week is the Ubigabi (姥ヶ火), the flaming head that's barreling toward you in the night. -- Sponsors: Best Fiends: Connect with us on Best Fiends with Friend Cod...

The Saga of Half and His Heroes from Icelandic folklore starts with Odin spitting in a family's ale and only gets stranger from there. The creatures are the Ellyllon, the flower glove wearing, grocery-store-visting, fungus eaters. -- Links! Scoundrel! https://myths.link/scoundrel That comic book villain podcast we have: https://www.nextpod.com/botw The shocking potato thing: https://myths.link/pot...

This week, it's the story of Stupid Ondal and the Princess Pyeonggang, where we see that it's Pyeonggang's birthday, and she can cry if she wants to. Oh, it's the next birthday, and she's still crying? Wait, three years down the road, and she hasn't stopped. Should someone find out what's wrong? The king just wants to threaten her with marriage to a guy he sees as terrible? Yeah, this should end w...

Tokutarō is not going to be tricked by fox monsters. He's just not. Also, a dad has a big problem with the new pet cat. Two stories from Japan about things not being what they seem (or things being exactly what they seem). -- New Scoundrel out this week! Some of the most famous paintings in the world are now publicly visible only because a woman tried to have her own son murdered! https://myths.li...

The story of Harap Alb ( Povestea lui Harap Alb ) from Romanian folklore has it all. Like, it really does try to jam as many fairy tale tropes in as possible, but it actually works. It's a fun story with a little bit of everything. Oh, and talking lettuce. The creature is the Iwana bōzu (岩魚坊主) a priest who loves fish and has a seeeeecrettttt. -- Sponsors: Indeed: Visit http://indeed.com/legend...

I mean, if you style your beard to a point so that it looks like an enormous bird's beak, you can't really fault an insult comedy pro princess for taking some shots at it. It's "King Thrushbeard" by the Grimm brothers. The creature is a giant whose career path involves working for kings, hermits, and, oh yeah, the devil. -- Get your links. Hot and fresh. Scoundrel. Learn how two sisters in the 180...

We see if Victor can come out on top using the power of stories…for murder? The creature is a tiny fish with fingers and teeth! — Disclaimer/mermaid: https://myths.link/283b Membership: https://www.mythpodcast.com/membership — Sponsors Shipstation: Free 60-day trial at http://ShipStation.com , click on the microphone at the top of the page and type in MYTHS Indeed: $75 sponsored job credit to upgr...

What happens when a lion and his prey become best friends? Or when a monkey starts messing around on a worksite? Or a weaver pretends to be a god to woo a princess? The Panchatantra happens. An eclectic, free-flowing anthology of short, funny, sometimes brutal stories that are meant to teach people wisdom...but might all be part of a long-con to gain control of a kingdom. The creature is the Nasna...

King Arthur and his best knight, Sir Gawain, have to answer the age-old question: what do women want? Oh, and if King Arthur doesn't find the definitive answer within a year, he'll be executed. Hijinks ensue. The creature is Nalusa Falaya, an evil porcupine who will turn you into an unwitting sleeper agent against your own family. -- The Salt Shooter: https://myths.link/saltshooter The membership:...

Two stories from the Grimm brothers with people going beyond death. On the first, it's a prince and princess who find love...after they swear a terrible and toxic oath to one another. On the second, if your guest sees ghost children in your house, maybe you should listen to them? The creature is the Leyak, a witch who likes munching on some human entrails and turning into a monkey with golden teet...

Three stories from Korean folklore about family with terrible frog sons, angry imps beating guys with sticks until their arms get tired, and a mayor who just doesn't know when to quit. The creature is the Leanhaum-Shee, and if someone wants to set you up on a date with an invisible person...maybe pass. And also run away as quickly as possible. -- Links! Disclaimer: https://myths.link/280 Scoundrel...

The story of Spotted Ali, from the Icelandic sagas, has werewolves, ogre battles, and witch curses. It also has parents doing the right thing (and then the wrong thing for way too much cash), enemies becoming friends if they can keep on doing enemy stuff, and why you should always be polite to people who help you out: you don't know which ones might be actual trolls. The creature this week is the...

Two literary fairy tales from Irish writer Oscar Wilde. On the first, we'll see that even fireworks need spa days. Is that what wallowing in the mud with animals is? Probably, right? On the second, it's a story of love. Cynical, brutal love. The creature is the Joseung Saja (저승 사자), a dapper grim reaper who's all business. -- Disclaimer: https://myths.link/278 -- Sponsors: June's Journey: down...

The story of the cook and the warlock, from 1001 Nights, where you see how a hot tub can change your entire life's course. The creature is the Murghi-i-adami, a buff peacock with a lot to say. -- Disclaimer & vizier bit: https://myths.link/277 Scoundrel! Check out the worst (as in least talented) counterfeiter in US history: https://myths.link/scoundrel -- Sponsors: Check out June's Journey on...