#bäckahäst

[filurig]

i decided to change a little bit about the bäckahäst humanoid form, and realised that they have some superficial similarities to skogsrå, so heres a thing ironing out their differences a little

#fantasy #huldra #bäckahäst #skogsrå #speculative biology #spec bio #pareidolia tag #bestiary #creature lore #lore #(huldras are referred to as skogsrå as well in pareidolia btw. or irl i guess LOL) #(skogsrå is just the regional term.... the huldra and skogsrå are very similar myths irl so its likely its the case there too) #in case ur ootl bäckahästar in pareidolia can turn into a humanoid... it has to do with the myth of näcken #(basically ppl think they are two different “creatures” but theyre actually the same just in different forms) #worldbuilding

[dharmaart]

A bäckahäst is made

My first attempt at making a short comic. The plot is a bit vague but hopefully it sort of makes sense. I took a lot of inspiration from Lena Furberg when making this but went with a more painterly style.

#art #artist #artists on tumblr #animal art #horse #horses #equineart #horseart #watercolour art #watercolour #watercolor painting #watercolor #comics #comic art #bäckahäst #water horse #kelpie #illustration #watercolour illustration #short story #fantasy art #fantasy #comic #short comic #horse comic

[julevanwilde]

Bäckahäst 2022

#Horse #Horse art #artists on tumblr #kelpie #bäckahäst #nykur #Fenfaxi #Julearts

[bestiarium]

The Bäckahäst [Swedish folklore]

Evil aquatic horse spirits are a common trope in Germanic, Nordic and British folktales. The Scottish Kelpie, the Icelandic Nykur, the Norwegian Nøkk etc are all variations of (and derived from) the same story. In Sweden, this role is given to the Näck: an evil supernatural horse creature that convinces people to mount it and ends up drowning the victim.

In southern Sweden however, the Näck is replaced by the Bäckahäst, a similar monster. Originating in Skåne, this creature appears as a pale white horse (although this isn’t set in stone and some artists portray it as black) but otherwise resembles the Näck in most aspects, sometimes the two terms are even used as synonyms. But there are some regional differences. Interestingly, the Bäckahäst seems less dangerous than the more traditional Kelpie-like creatures. There are stories of these beings being tamed simply by putting a bridle on them, although they could also be forced into submission by using iron and steel. Once tamed, the creature could be used for ploughing or other agricultural activities which it excelled at because it needed neither rest nor food.

The name ‘Bäckahäst’ translate roughly to ‘stream horse’ or ‘brook horse’. The creature is also related to the Sjörå from northern Sweden.

Egerkrans’ popular modern book ‘Nordiska Väsen’ describes the Bäckahäst as having a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and claims that it has a particular fondness for human children, preferring them over other prey.

Interestingly, according to Höök, an old Swedish tradition claims that Bäckahäst is only able to hurt unwashed people. Clean people who have recently bathed cannot be harmed by the monster. Supposedly, this is because supernatural monsters were traditionally associated with filth and a lack of hygiene. Being clean and hygienic would hold evil at bay, and you can’t really blame people for believing in that superstition because many stories of evil spirits at the time were associated with real diseases. If illnesses were the work of evil monsters and personal hygiene was an effective tool against illness, it only makes sense that proper hygiene was thought to also keep evil spirits at bay.

Sources: Egerkrans, J., 2013, Nordiska Väsen, B.Wahlströms, 126 pp. Lindow, J., 1978, Swedish Legends and Folktales, University of California Press, 219 pp. Höök, L. K., 2004, Vattnets renande och läkande kraft: Om hälsobrunnar, offerkällor och volontären Johan Lundin, Tio tvättar sig, Nordiska Museets Förlag, 47 pp. (image source 1: Jessica Hardarson on Artstation) (image source 2: Johan Egerkrans)

#Swedish mythology #Nordic mythology #creatures #monsters #aquatic creatures #mythical creatures #mythology #Kelpie

[only-horse-polls]

Mythological Tournament

Round 1 - Group 1

#myth tour #myth tour G1

[kscribbs]

Official Melusine Post

Has repressed much of her early childhood.

Extraordinarily loyal — would do literally anything for her loved ones, especially Lucy. Would die for Lucy. Would kill for Lucy. Would even befriend a swan for Lucy. Seb too. Feels it her responsibility to look after Seb, given that he’s somehow even more hopeless than she is. 

Was estranged from her surrogate sisters and aunt for awhile, post *Marthinus’ death. The manner of her grieving was very self-destructive and they didn’t approach the issue well AT ALL, even though they all care about her a lot. Tintin smothered her/was very overbearing, Pressyne was overly critical, and Melior somewhat kept her distance, unsure of how to broach the subject. Seb was the only one who at least tried to understand/help, albeit in his own Sebastian Way.

Genuinely likes/cares about Jack (both frozen and thawed) but pretends not to, just for the lols. Jokes about murdering him every now and then, but would never actually do it, and in fact would lay down her life for him, too, if the need ever arose. In part because of how Lucy feels about him, and also because he a) saved her life once and she owes him a huge debt and b) finds him grudgingly entertaining.

Rather clever! But only when she can be bothered to take her brain out of whatever obscure location she left it in last, dust it off and put it in the vague vicinity of her head. Can deffo be a bit of a ditz at times. Depends on the day/circumstances/how much hinges on her actually using her mental faculties for once.

Agent of Chaos. I’m convinced that the day she formally meets Fiera is the day the universe implodes.

Also known by the epithets: Jenny Greenteeth, the Shellycoat, the river-hag Peg Power, the Bäckahäst-like Brag, the Lady of the Lake.

Unusual sense of style. Posh but also mismatched? Dark/watery tones. Varying eras, but has a particular fondness for Victorian and Edwardian styles (the full 73 year spectrum). Uses actual water in some instances (shawls/skirts). 

Likes/is good with kids, but in a strict, no nonsense, Mary Poppins-esque manner, whereas Lucy’s much more lenient.

British/English heritage, but has lived all over Europe, Scandinavia and (more recently) North America. (Speaks Oxford/the Queen’s English).

Uses traditionally English vocab. E.g.: Chaps, spiffing, smashing, cheerio, pip-pip, blimey, jiggery-pockery, knackered (and insults) knob, wanker, tosser, prat, pillock, etc..

2826 years old, or there abouts.

Likely bumped into Jacquie and the Twins during the Great Fire of London and just didn’t realise it. She used her magic to douse the flames, to... little effect, clearly.

Ongoing vendetta against Central Park’s water fowl. Menaces them/takes them prisoner in her dungeon (she has a dungeon), but never actually harms them, as far as I’m aware.

Was married. To a human man, no less. For several years. Guy of Lusignan -- Poitevin French knight, Count of Poitou. Dude was deeply religious, and didn’t know about Mel being magical until after they were married/had had a son together. …He didn’t take it well.

Has incurred the wrath of the church on multiple occasions (but then, who hasn’t?)

Once used her powers to wring a guy of every drop of water in his body, thereby killing him. Her reasons were valid.

Is much more powerful/capable than she looks (see above).

Has a good heart, deep down.

Finds the whole “she popped out a million kids, sprouted wings and fucked off” part of her official lore hilarious and will not dispute the fact if/when asked about it.

Doesn’t really like Christmas? Finds it a bit too schmaltzy. But will celebrate for Lucy’s sake. Will do anything for Lucy’s sake. Have I mentioned that she loves Lucy? She loves Lucy. A lot. 

Doesn’t really like Valentine’s Day either. (Sorry Dite! Not at all a reflection on Dite; she thinks Dite is cool/hot af, Just. Y'know. Bad memories). 

Quite likes Halloween though.

Was cursed for awhile (vengeful ex gf. Succubus) to have tails in place of legs, but only on Saturdays. Lower legs still get a bit scaly when wet. Think H2O, Just Add Water. Cue her “Flop Era”, as she puts it, going down in The Annals. Cue Starbucks stealing her image and paying her absolutely ZERO (0) royalties! Twats. 

“Loz” un-cursed her. How about that!?

LOVES the PotC movies. Laughs a little too hard at the part in the fourth(?) movie where everyone gets attacked by mermaids.

LOVES — and knows a lot of — sea shanties. As, I’m sure, does Jacquie!(?)

Listens to the Shipping Forecast for relaxation.

Sits in muddy puddles for relaxation.

Antagonises Jack for relaxation.

Has/rides a broomstick. Although it’s… really more of a mop, tbh. Jack approves.

Possesses The Sight/scrying powers. Hydromancy predominantly. Is preternaturally drawn to the ill-fated/can sense when someone is marked by Death. Has tried multiple times to remove said mark/s, with zero success. Is haunted by this. Blames herself, etc., etc..

Has vaguely defined banshee heritage(?) (see above). And also siren? Maybe? Sprite/nymph/witch/other(?). Even I’m not too sure. Has a very nice voice though, re: siren. 

I refer to her as a witch, mainly, as a kind of all-inclusive, blanket term, even though her water sprite/nymph heritage is very prominent. I’m considering changing this to either “nymph” or “sorceress”.

Has watched the entirety of Downton Abbey a concerning number of times.

Can communicate with most fish/amphibians.

Reasonably good cook. When she can be bothered. And makes a MEAN cupperty. 

If you pop over to the treehouse you’re getting tea. There is no way around this. Even if you despise the stuff. 

Is legitimately addicted to McVities chocolate biscuits.

Claims to know Stephen Fry. Likely doesn’t.

Claims to have known Walter Scott. Likely did because he made reference to her in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.

Deffo knew Paracelsus. Informed his impression of elementals/water spirits.

Hair always looks vaguely damp, even when glamoured. Hair when glamoured ranges from russet red to dark, inky black/blue. Resembles (is made of?) water in its natural state.

Always smells a bit like the seaside (in a pleasant way). 

Very strong swimmer. Can hold her breath for LONG periods of time.

Can both summon water from particles in the air, and manipulate/bend existing water to her will.

Can turn into an Actual Puddle.

Uses terms of endearment like “darling”, “poppet” and “pigeon” a lot. More often with women than with men. Will also occasionally use more casual endearments like “mate” and “luv”.

Is not particularly touchy feely, for the most part. With the exception of Lucy! It took awhile for Lucy to get her to be open to hugs and the like. Luce never forced the issue, but over time Mel grew to rather enjoy platonic cuddles, etc..

May (emphasis on the "may") have a hug scene with Jack, at some point. Maybe. During a deeply vulnerable moment. Following which they will likely never speak of it again. 

She and Lucy have an ongoing inside joke about being married, espesh while out in public (typically under the surname “Miller”, bc Lucy undoubtedly wears the pants in their relationship). Similarly, Mel sometimes refers to Lucy as her “house husband”, bc Lucy’s much better at DiY related stuff than she is. Not that we should be subscribing to gender roles or anything, but idk. They find it funny. I find it funny. Lucy’s the one who constructs the IKEA furniture; the one who puts up the Christmas tree. The one who fixes broken appliances. All while Mel kicks back with a cup of tea, a plate of biscuits and a Mills & Boon novel.

Has a car — a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, sea-foam green — but has forgotten where she left it last. It’s deffo around here somewhere. Driver’s license expired in 1944.

Cries a LOT. About pretty much anything. Wallows, etc.. Is very mel(ha)odramatic. Think that scene in the SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

And on that note^, possesses “Mermaid Magic” (moustaches and shit). 

Bi? I think? Or pan, maybe? Manages her emotions just fine in front of male/masculine crushes. …Less so, in front of female/feminine ones. 

Isn’t exactly agoraphobic, but dislikes leaving the house. Nowadays, anyway. Some days are better than others. Bit of a misanthrope, to boot. 

Would not actually unfriend and/or murder you for going to Starbucks, but frequently jokes that she would. In that very wry way of hers. Mostly bc it’s fun to watch Lucy sneak around, hiding receipts and swearing up and down that she would NEVER buy from the corporation that stole her best friend’s image. Heck no! Perish the thought!

Can make it rain in small, localised areas. Does this sometimes when she spots people canoodling in the Park, just to mess with them. Has been known to enchant small, personalised rainclouds to follow people around (like Jacquie with the snow-cloud in Frostmas).

Begged Father Time for a pocket watch to turn back the clock/change time after Marthinus was killed. Begged Death (or whomever guards the Afterlife) to trade her life for his, also. 

Substance abuse. Potions and alcohol and Lady knows what else. Given to drowning her sorrows, etc.. Lucy’s helped with this, though.

Worked out that Lucy had The Feels for Jack fairly early on; would make vague reference to the fact every now and then, garnering reactions ranging from indignation and denial to stoic silence, and, finally, weary acceptance, until it just became common knowledge between the two of them.

Is very intuitive/perceptive (see above).

Occasionally smokes a pipe? Lmao. It’s long and loopy and produces weird multicoloured bubbles that turn to smoke when they burst.

Extraordinarily talented ward caster.

Speaks many languages, most of them European. Particularly fluent in French.

Decent mimic. Can do a drop-dead impression of Maggie Smith.

Decent(ish) shot with a pistol. 

Decent(ish) swordswoman? Nowhere near as good as Jacquie though.

Loves to play dress-up. Has multiple aliases. Most of them male.

Default method of teleportation is essentially one big water twister.

Deeply sarcastic/wry/deadpan sense of humour. Uses humour as a coping mechanism.

Is vaguely jealous of Palatyne’s talent for taming terrifying water beasts. There was a nixie in the tarn near their childhood home in the Lake District, and while it would allow Tintin (and sometimes Melior, on the rare occasion that she wasn’t lurking in a cave somewhere) to ride and play with it, it would snarl and gnash its teeth at Mel, and one time it even bit her. She’s never really gotten over the whole thing. 

It took her until adulthood to fully trust nixies/nøkkens/anything vaguely water-equine, as a result, but the ones living in the Lake in Central are pretty chill.

She therefore spent much of her childhood either by herself or with Seb, who tended to remain indoors, reading, for the most part.

Still talks to Marthinus, in quiet moments. And also “Loz”. 

Potioneering license is registered under one of her alias’ names. 

The Willow is planted on Marthinus' grave. It is vaguely labyrinthine inside. And quite possibly sentient.

These days her character design is closer to how the wonderful lmels drew her than to my initial drawing/s! Namely the illo I use as my dp on Ao3. I LOVE it! (Unrelated to Mel but same goes for Ozzy). 

Innate magic is turquoise.

I have yet to figure out how Styx, her familiar, came into being!

*The ‘h’ in Marthinus is silent.

#the wonderful SafyreSky asked me recently if I had any 'rules' for writing Mel and I decided to turn it into a fact sheet/post! #ty Dani! 🥰 #some of these are subject to change I expect #ML #miller's law #melusine #ocs #updated design #long post

[oneslimybastard]

Painting from 2021

Another critically underutilized oc, his name is Bäckros, and he's a Bäckahäst, which can be thought of as a bit of a swedish kelpie which hangs out around creeks to do the... you know... drowning thing.

Here's some bonus art of him!

#oc #digital painting #portrait #character design #horse #fantasy #snail's snaily art #fantasy art

[waraxarcana]

The urge to give Hawkins an each-uisge, bäckahäst, or kelpie is very, very strong…

#Nothing Up My Sleeve (OOC) #(I'm already being self-indulgent as heck do I really need to go down this route?) #(on one hand Oda says his animal would be a horse so they suit him) #(on the other I'd basically be having to add a new animal to the OP world which I'm not against but still) #(I'd have to figure out what the heck it does and where it came from and what happens to it during Wano and after) #(so do I give this man a bloodthirsty shape-shifting water-horse or not???)

[digitial-marketing-world]

What Are Brook Horses And Why They Are Famous?

The brook horse, known as the "Bäckahäst" in Swedish mythology, provides a fascinating and grim element of the mythological animals linked with water sources within Scandinavian tradition. Originating from Norse tradition, the mythology of the brook horse predominates in rural legends, describing a ghostly creature that emerges out of foggy waters to lead the unfortunate to their demise.

Typically characterized as a magnificent white horse that appears near rivers, streams, or lakes, the brook horse emanates an appealing aura that is virtually hard for humans, particularly youngsters, to resist. However, despite its alluring beauty, this creature conceals a wicked goal. According to mythology, once someone climbs the horse, they get attached to it. The brook horse then rushes into the water, pulling its prey under the surface to a watery end.

Apart from only being a cautionary tale urging people to be alert near hazardous waterways, the brook horse is also thought to be a representation of the unexpected force of nature and water. This is mirrored in the fact that the horse is typically represented as gaining strength from the efforts of its prisoners, growing more powerful as it absorbs their life energy.

The stream horse also connects in with larger European legendary traditions, like the Scottish Kelpie or the Germanic Nix, both water spirits that also acquired equine shapes and were considered to be treacherously alluring. The somber tale around the stream horse attempts to underline the synergy between the beauty and danger of nature, as well as to develop a feeling of reverence for the environment and its invisible risks.

#Brook Horse #Horses #Brooks #HORSE BY GERALDINE BROOKS #HORSE GERALDINE BROOKS

[caleod]

30-3-21

#moleskine #sketch #daily #dailyart #dailydrawing #dailypainting #dailysketch #sketchaday #artoftheday #art #artbook #artists on tumblr #gouache #painting #mythological #creature #horse #kelpie #bäckahäst

[ashydrawsthings]

Water horses appear in various forms in Northern European mythology. This includes the Kelpie and the each-usige, from Scotland; the Ceffyl Dŵr, from Wales; the Aughisky, Ireland; Cabyll-ushtey, Isle of Man; and the Bäckahäst, Scandinavia.

#mythology #kelpie #each-uisge #Ceffyl Dŵr #Bäckahäst #ink #folklore #scottish folklore #british folklore #welsh folklore #scandinavian folklore #Illustration #haven't touched this account in ages sorry

[filurig]

happy holidays....

(bonus little holiday outfits below!)

#oc #original character #fantasy #pareidolia tag #illustration #holidays #oc: selma #oc: folke #oc: arvo #oc: gullmar #digital art #my oc #ALSO IK SELMA LOOKS A BIT HULDRAISH HERE shes not! #im just changing the bäckahäst transformation a little so they are mroe faun like as well... #there are some subtle differences between a bäckahäst humanoid and a skogsrå/huldra (in pareidolia) i might make a post abt it later

[dharmaart]

Do not feed or stroke the horses. They can bite!

Returning to my theme of folkloric horses who eat people with this blue black calligraphy ink, gouache, and pencil on brown paper piece.

#art #artist #artists on tumblr #animal art #horse #horses #equineart #horseart #gouache #calligraphy ink #brown paper #toned paper #Kelpie #capaill uisce #bäckahäst #waterhorse #folklore

[julevanwilde]

You gotta earn a name like Bog Mane, so he did.

#Bäckahäst #Kelpie #Sketch #Fenfaxi #Julearts

[ysucae]

9. SPEEDRUN #octencre #inktober #kelpie #bäckahäst #bunyip #wihwin #nykur https://www.instagram.com/p/CGSudHgnXW_/?igshid=dwzmwxahqsmu

#octencre #inktober #kelpie #bäckahäst #bunyip #wihwin #nykur

[only-horse-polls]

Mythological Horse Tournament

Contestants list - Submissions are closed.

Group 1

Bäckahäst (Norse Folklore) - Eliminated Round 3

Kelpie (Scottish Folklore) - Eliminated Round 1

Hippocampus (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 2

Cabbyl-ushtey (Manx Folklore) - Eliminated Round 1

Ceffyl Dŵr (Welsh Folklore)

Each-uisge (Scottish Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1 Bonus

Four Horses of the Apocalypse (Christian Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Mari Lwyd (Welsh Folklore) - Eliminated Round 2

Tikbalang (Philippine Folklore) - Eliminated Round 1

Longma (Chinese Mythology) - Eliminated Round 3

Orobas (Christian Mythology/Demonology) - Eliminated Round 2

Balaam's Donkey (Jewish mythology, Christian Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Zodiac Horse (Chinese Mythology) - Eliminated Round 4

Zodiac Sagittarius (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Group 2

Nessus (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Chiron (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 2

Arion (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Black Horse (Canadian Folklore) - Eliminated Round 2

Árvakr and Alsviðr (Norse Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Sleipnir (Norse Mythology) - Eliminated Round 4

Hrímfaxi (Norse Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Skinfaxi (Norse Mythology) - Eliminated Round 3

Trojan Horse (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Uchchaihshravas (Hindu Mythology) - Eliminated Round 2

Uffington White Horse (English Folklore) - Eliminated Round 2

Balius and Xanthus (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 3

Pegasus (Greek Mythology) - Eliminated Round 1

Unicorn (Possibly Asian???)

Submissions are closed.

Requirements are:

- Their primary form must be at least 50% horse or more (this means shapeshifters are welcome but they must primarily be depicted as a horse or horse-esk.)

- They must be depicted in Folklore or Mythology in one way or another.

#There are a lot of different sources saying unicorns are from Asia or Greece or just general medieval Europe