Bog Kikimora

Lore

In all myths, the Bog Kikimora is described as a terrifying creature that inhabits forest swamps. She usually takes the appearance of an old woman wrapped in rough cloth, which she has woven herself from moss and algae. Visually, she is a frightening woman—very shaggy, with unkempt hair sticking out in all directions. Her distinctive features are green skin, large hands, and, like other swamp creatures, short legs. However, few living people have seen the Kikimora because she is incredibly stealthy—in the swamps, at best, you might hear her wail. She fears sunlight. With the onset of darkness, like the rest of the forest's evil spirits, she emerges from her hiding place and begins to roam her swamp kingdom in search of a new victim.

It's believed that Kikimoras appear in swampy areas where a brutal murder has been committed or where there's a strong accumulation of negative energy—for example, due to dark rituals or frequent use of dark magic.

When travelers become lost in the swamps, the Kikimora lures them with her cries into parts of the forest where there are quagmires. Usually, the person who hears the cry feels hopeful, thinking they might soon escape the forest and swampy terrain, but after some time, they end up in a mire from which there's no return. As the person begins to sink into the bog, the Kikimora suddenly appears from the tangled moss nearby to revel in the horrifying death of the traveler drowning before her eyes.