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''Ghosts'' in Aivintian folklore are the spirits of the restless dead, when proper burial rights are not observed. In the north they appear as either barely visible wispy shapes or completely invisible presences, howling in the dark winter nights and roaming their home towns, or else returning to a place they loved in life to try and grasp what they had in life. In the south, they are much more malicious, punishing those who wronged them in life and haunting old houses and buildings. Here, they are more often the spirits of the murdered, and appear more tangible, sometimes even appearing almost indistinguishable from the living. In the south they are depicted as having some limited form of telekinesis and telepathy, which they use to terrorize their victims, and in very rare cases limited pyrokinesis. Throughout Aivintis, legend says ghosts can be kept at bay by lighting candles in front of one's house, usually on the porch.
''Ghosts'' are the spirits of the unhonored, restless dead are fabled to roam the darkest nights of winter, kept at bay by the lighting of a candle on your front porch.
''Griffins''The Griffinsare nestmajestic hybrids that reside in the mountainsSpine ofmountain Aivintisrange, majesticwith the body, tail, and back legs of a lion-; the head and wings of an eagle; hybridseagle thattalons as their front feet. huntThey are animalistic, but smarter than most animals. They are carnivores, hunters, in every old legend, and are sometimes said to be the guardian spirits of the mountains. Some tales speak of heroes befriending griffins as their mounts on epic quests, others speak of foolish mortals hunting them, and ending up as food. They are not as common as other legendary creatures, due to their secluded position, but aren't unknown by most Aivintians knowledgeable in folklore.
''Little Spirits''Mostly are creatures found in the north of Aivintis, andno taller than a human child, with the southheads of Serdemiafoxes, folklorehares, speaksand owls, and the bodies of littlenormal spiritshumans, inwith thelong forestfingernails and keen eyes. Small and nimble, nothe tallerLittle thanSpirits amove humanthrough childthe forest quickly and quietly, living with the facesanimals. ofThey foxesare andusually hares,depicted wearing assorted rags and gatheringfurs, berriesand flee upon being sighted. TheAivintian legend paints the Little Spirits areas omens of good luck and fortune, favoring kind travelers and lost children, which they bring home in some tales. The feeling of being watched is said to beindicate good omensfavor from the Little Spirits. Although they don't often appear directly in most stories, andthey sometimes leave offerings of berries and flowers toat campsites.
''WerebeastsWerewolves''Werewolves and, in some cases, werebears, are said to stalk the forests and mountains of Aivintis and Serdemia, hunting deer and swallowing rabbits in one bite. They transform under the full moon, but maintain heightened reflexes and senses even in their human form.
''Zzor Vampires''Appearing appearing as pale humans, the Zzor appear much more feral and animalistic under candlelight. They have a weakness to wooden stakes and sunlight, but at night are known to have heightened speed, reflexes, senses, and regeneration. Unless killed by a wooden stake, sunlight, or a consecrated weapon, they are said to be immortal.
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