#buckriders

[legend-collection]

Buckriders

The Buckriders are a part of Belgian and Dutch folklore. They are ghosts or demons, who rode through the sky on the back of flying goats provided to them by a demon. During the 18th century, groups of thieves and other criminals co-opted the belief to frighten the inhabitants of southern Limburg, a province in the southern part of the Netherlands and eastern Belgium. Using the name "Bokkenrijders", these criminal bands launched raids across a region that includes southern Limburg, and parts of Germany and the Netherlands (parts of which were a part of the Southern Netherlands, currently Belgium). Commonly, the "Bokkenrijders" raided peaceful communities and farms. Several confessed "Bokkenrijders" were convicted and sentenced to death. Because of the link to the occult, authorities accused a large number of potentially innocent men of being "Bokkenrijders" and a number were tortured and subsequently convicted of crimes they denied having committed.

Formally, the name Bokkenrijders was first publicly used in 1774, during the 'trial of Wellen', a town in the Belgian province of Limburg. Johan van Muysen slid a letter underneath the door of a farmer called Wouters. The letter contained a threat that Wouters's house would be burned down unless he paid up. Van Muyses claimed to be member of the buckriders and used the word Satan up to three times. In the trial of Wellen, the term “buckriders” is openly used against Philip Mertens, who wrote a similar threat letter.

Earliest records mentioning the buckriders originate from a tome called Oorzaeke, bewys en ondekkinge van een goddelooze, bezwoorne bende nagtdieven en knevelaers binnen de landen van Overmaeze en aenpalende landstreeken, which approximately translates to Causes, proof and discovery of a godless, averted gang of night thieves and gaggers within the lands of 'Overmaas' and adjacent regions. This book was written in 1779 by S.J.P. Sleinada (real name Pastor A. Daniels). This pastor, who lived in Landgraaf, knew several buckriders personally. The author tells us that these robbers made a pact with the Devil and rode their bucks at night. The common people told stories about them flying through the sky, pronouncing the following spell: 'Over huis, over tuin, over staak, en dat tot Keulen in de wijnkelder!' (across houses, across gardens, across stakes, even across Cologne into the wine cellar!). Once a year, they would visit their master, the Devil, on the 'Mookerheide'.

Later on, the buckriders held a reputation that resembles Robin Hood and his gang. The present interpretation is that a number of criminal gangs robbed houses and committed other crimes, using the myth to their advantage. Also, many of the buckriders that were arrested are thought to be innocent, as confessions were obtained through torture.

In Limburg, the buckriders are now embraced as part of cultural heritage. Trials against buckriders differed from 'common trials against common criminals' if the suspect had performed a godless oath: 'I forswear God ... etc.' This so-called oath of heresy is a stereotypical aspect of the buckriders myth. Since the convicts were accused of their oath and pact with the devil, we can define this as a late form of witch-hunt. Prosecution of buckriders was as ruthless as the buckriders were themselves, even by those day's standards. 90% of the convicts received capital punishment. Confessions were given by means of torture, or by fear for it.

There are 7 periods of different buckrider raids. The first took place during 1743 - 1745, and the last during 1793 - 1794.

The fact that the buckriders were tried and prosecuted for their pact with the devil, resembles the witch-hunts during the Early Modern Period. Historians place these buckrider-hunts alongside other prosecuted 'godless' people: heretics and witches. These kinds of ruthless and fullscale trials last took place in Limburg.

Most of the crimes they were accused of, buckrider gangmembers never performed (such as the pact with the devil). There never was an organized central buckriders gang, but small separate groups.

[cassandraxiv]

In Dutch and Belgian folklore, there's the Buckriders (Bokkenrijders), which are ghosts that ride through the sky on demonic flying goats. They are a sort of Dutch version of the Wild Hunt. In the eighteenth century, various bands of thieves and highwaymen adopted the name and cultivated an image of heretic marauders aided by Satan himself. With some alterations, a band of cursed goat-riding marauders could be great for a Feywild encounter.

The Buckriders are part of the lore of a ride in the Dutch theme park Efteling, in which you visit Villa Volta, the mansion of Hugo the Buckrider, which has been cursed by a mysterious lady in white (possibly a reference to the Witte Wieven, also from Dutch folklore) after he and his band of marauders raided a chapel. Hugo is cursed to live forever and never rest, as his own home twists around him, tormenting him for eternity. The ride also has the most amazing soundtrack.

I'm currently in the process of writing some short DnD sidequests for my Feywilds campaign where the party gets to engage with some pretty wild fairytales I have picked out.

For something a bit more particularly scary and unsettling I am writing up some more dark folk horror type encounters for tales like:

-- Long Tom

-- The Hobyahs

-- Kate Crackernuts

I would also like to have the party come across an abandoned church based off of St. Trinian and let them defend it from a buggane attack during the middle of the night...

Are there any other obscure fairytales or folk horror you can think of that would make a fantastic DnD encounter?

[one-with-the-tree]

Looking back it's kiiinda unrealistic Hugo never got killed or at least arrested and tortured during the Buckrider Trials lmao

[myth-lord]

Animals + their Mythika/Myth counterparts

I get a lot of questions about what animals have which myth variants or which animals do you use in mythika, for all of you this list.

BIRD: Phoenix / Caladrius / Stymphalides / Boobrie / Valravn / Nachtkrapp / Rarog / Colorobetch / Zhenniao / Rukh / Penchapechi / Thunderbird / Tsenahale / Psonen / Naujakuksualuk / Achiyalabopa / Tuyango / Alicanto / Camulatz / Minokawa / Makalala / Impundulu /

BIRD PART ONLY: Wolpertinger / Keythong / Griffon / Peryton / Sphinx / Harpy / Erinyes / Pegasus / Nosoi / Siren / Celedon / Kere / Ascalaphus / Hraesvelgr / Valkyrie / Kikimora / Alkonost / Aitvaras / Dijiang / Xiao / Piasa / Quetzalcoatl / Peuchen / Lechuza / Snawfus / Tripodero / Roperite / Ropen / Kongamato /

FISH: Echeneis / Hippocampus / Akheilos / Marool / Trollgadda / Vatnsandi / Hrokkall / Lilyi / Isonade / Namazu / Caspilly / Slide-Rock Bolter / Abaia / Anae-Moe-Oho / Chipfalamfula /

FISH PART ONLY: Ziphius / Zitiron / Scylla / Merrow / Lorelei / Lapiduch / Sagari / Qalupalik / Agloolik / Mishibizhiw / Cipactli / Cuero / Cuchivilu / Rumptifusel / Adaro / Siyokoy / Muldjewangk / Yawkyawk /

FELINE: Pard / Nemean Lion / Cait Sith / Nekomata / Kasha / Zheng / Serpopard / Mishibizhiw / Cactus Cat / Splintercat / Mngwa / Pixiu /

FELINE PART ONLY: Manticore / Keythong / Griffon / Sphinx / Chimera / Ovinnik / Tarasque / Nue / Taotie / Ammut / Piasa / Succarath / Bulgasari / Dingonek / Tatzlwurm /

CANINE: Cerberus / Teumessian Fox / Barghest / Cwn Annwn / Cu Sith / Garmr / Kludde / Osschaert / Fenrir / Chicheface / Pesanta / Kitsune / Salawa / Amarok / Akhlut / Cadejo / Kumiho /

CANINE PART ONLY: Peryton / Psoglav / Gaueko / Skinwalker / Rougarou / Ahuizotl / Chupacabra / Nguruvilu / Ga-Gorib /

HORSE: Monoceros / Pegasus / Kelpie / Nuckelavee / Ceffyl Dwr / Each Tened / Sleipnir / Helhest / Sin-You / Apaosha /

HORSE PART ONLY: Centaur / Hippocampus / Dullahan / Phooka / Coiste Bodhar / Valkyrie / Hrosshvalur / Caballucos Diablu / Sagari / Qilin / Besta Fera / Tikbalang / Anggitay / Inkanyamba / Psoglav /

SERPENT: Amphiptere / Ouroboros / Basilisk / Amphisbaena / Hypnalis / Seps / Haermorrhois / Lamia / Hydra / Python / Caorthannach / Suileach / Ajatar / Jormungandr / Ikuchi / Uktena / Tizheruk / Haietlik / Quetzalcoatl / Peuchen / Yacumama / Boitata / Bakunawa / Grootslang / Nyuvwira / Inkanyamba /

SERPENT PART ONLY: Jaculus / Scitalis / Chimera / Gorgon / Ladon / Attorcroppe / Tatzlwurm / Nue / Orochi / Tienlung / Shen / Serpopard / Wakandagi / Rahara / Nguruvilu / Ihuaivulu / Snow Wasset /

BAT: Amphiptere / Manticore / Water Leaper / Kludde / Moroi / Strigoi / Issitoq / Camazotz / Chaneque / Chon-Chon / Aswang / Ahool / Popobawa / Olitiau / Guiafairo /

RAT/MOUSE: Rat King / Nosoi / Lavellan / Tesso / Ugjuknarpak /

ANT: Gold-Digging Ant / Nuno /

WORM: Skolex / Olgoi-Khorkhoi / Minhocao /

BASED ON SMALL PREDATOR ANIMALS: Ichneumon / Dobhar-Chu / Gulon / Ramidreju / Kamaitachi / Raiju / Nalusa Falaya / Aniwye / Ahuizotl / Snow Wasset / Rompo /

SCORPION: Manticore / Scorpios / Girtablilu /

RABBIT: Wolpertinger / Jackalope / Phooka / Almiraj / Carbuncle /

DEER: Wolpertinger / Crocotta / Peryton / Jackalope / Cerynitis / Sianach / Hiiden Hirvi / Bies / Qilin / Ijiraq / Piasa / Delgeth / Wakandagi / Anhanga /

WHALE: Ziphius / Cetus / Raudkembingur / Hrosshvalur / Bakekujira / Akhlut / Encantado /

GOAT: Barometz / Chimera / Faun / Phooka / Buckrider / Shurale / Zlatorog / Sigbin /

BUTTERFLY/MOTH/CATERPILLAR: Piskie / Awd Goggie / Pyrausta / Shinchu /

HYENA: Crocotta / Kishi /

AMPHIBIAN: Salamander / Water Leaper / Alp-Luachra / Bagiennik / Bolotnik / Bukavac / Lapiduch / Arzhavennik / Kappa / Chan Chu / Cueyatl / Cipactli / Minhocao / Tiddalik / Yara-Ma-Yha-Who / Khodumodumo /

APE/MONKEY: Yeti / Nependis / Fear Liath / Kappa / Nue / Satori / Xiao / Ahuizotl / Whirling Whimpus / Ahool / Ga-Gorib /

BOVINE: Catoblepas / Minotaur / Khalkotauroi / Aatxe / Erchitu / Huallepen / Sarangay /

BOAR/PIG: Catoblepas / Nependis / Muscaliet / Yale / Erymanthian Boar / Chrysaor / Gloson / Ramidreju / Curupira / Cuchivilu / Squonk / Bonguru / Babi Ngepet /

ANTLION: Myrmecoleon /

OCTOPUS/SQUID: Lusca / Scylla / Grindylow / Kraken / Iku-Turso / Marabbecca / A-Mi-Kuk / Snallygaster / Migas / Kerit /

SQUIRREL: Muscaliet / Ratatoskr /

DINOSAUR/PREHISTORIC REPTILE: Odontotyrannus / Morgawr / Tarasque / Stoa / Ropen / Burrunjor / Mbielu-Mbielu / Ngoubou / Kongamato / Mokele-Mbembe / Muhuru / Mamlambo / Nguma-Monene / Kasai Rex / Ninki Kanka / Gambo /

ANTELOPE: Yale / Shadhawar /

MANTIS: Empusa / Mandarangkal /

SEA VERMIN: Charybdis / Shellycoat / Muirdris / Skeljaskrimsli / Atuikakura / Kurage-No-Hinotama / Shen / Nakshatra Meenu / Pua Tu Tahi / Tridacna /

BEE/WASP: Thriae / Ulagu / Eintykara / Bonguru / Zankallala /

CRAB: Karkinos / Heikegani / Kamikiri / Saratan /

SPIDER: Arachne / Jorogumo / Tsuchigumo / Djieien / Jba Fofi /

MOLE: Buggane /

SEAL: Selkie / Huallepen / Bunyip /

LEECH: Burach Bhadi / Bezkost / Tlanusi /

LOCUST: Bruch / Haakapainizi /

HEDGEHOG/PORCUPINE: Manticore / Arkan Sonney / Velue / Pukwudgie /

BEAVER: Afanc /

CROCODILE: Afanc / Ammut / Cipactli / Cuca / Gbahali / Gambo /

BEAR: Osschaert / Skeljaskrimsli / Otso / Berserker / Bauk / Sermilik / Qupqugiaq / Drop Bear / Kerit /

LIZARD: Bukavac / Ajaju / Xhumpedzkin / Hodag / Whowie / Intulo /

SNAIL/SLUG: Lou Carcolh / Sazae-Oni /

FLY: Musca Macedda / Druj Nasu / Mambabarang /

DRAGONFLY: Caballucos Diablu /

TORTOISE/TURTLE: Tarasque / Kappa / Longgui / Motelo Mama /

ELEPHANT/TAPIR: Baku / Airavata / Bulgasari / Grootslang /

CENTIPEDE: Omukade / Kugdlughiak / Ek Chapat / Con Rit /

BEETLE/FIREFLY: Jinshin Mushi / Scarab / Adze /

RHINOCEROS: Karkadann /

ARMADILLO/ANTEATER/SLOTH/PANGOLIN: Carbuncle / Mapinguari / Dingonek /

ASSASSIN BUG: Abuhuku /

LLAMA: Jarjacha /

KANGAROO: Sigbin /

KOALA: Drop Bear

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Culture & Region

Part 6: Medieval Europe

Global list & overview here.

This list still needs revising, because I didn't distinguish French, German, Italian and Spanish folklore (Catalan folklore is independent, because I support Catalonian independence haha). Some European folklore has already been listed in part 3 and 4 and 5 or will be listed in future in connection with religious culture.

Here are some links to websites with European creatures that I didn't all list: https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beastalphashort.htm

Medieval Europe Fish: http://www.godecookery.com/ffissh/ffissh.htm

Medieval Europe Plants: http://www.godecookery.com/mythical/mythical.htm

Abyzou; Aegipan in medieval bestiaries, based on Pliny the Elder; Aitvaras from Lithuania; Alberich in Thidrekssaga written in 1250 in Norway, possibly based on a Plattdeutsch original (also appears in German Nibelungenlied from 1200 in Passau, Bavaria and Ortnit from 1230s Germany, Strassburg; Alerion only 1 pair of these birds exists at a time, bestiaries and heraldry; Alp German; Alphyn; Amadís de Gaula made some time before 1508, contains the giant Endriago, a monster born of incest who exhales a poisonous gas and whose body is covered in scales and Urganda the Unknown: Sorceress who protects Amadís; Amphiptere, word is Greek, found on French coats of arms between 1300 and French Revolution. Possibly found in medieval bestiaries as an African animal (anhinga)? Winged snakes of Arthurian legend. Terrible Wikipedia page.; Anguane Italy; Anjana Spain; Antichthones; Arquetu; Askafroa German "Eschenfrau"; Aspidochelone referenced as Jasconius; Atlantes (sorcerer); Aufhocker; Augenbrand;

Badalisc; Bahkauv Aachen; Balaur Romanian, multi-headed dragon; Baldanders; Baphomet; Barabao; Barnacle Goose; Barstuk; Basilisk; Beast of Gévaudan; Beerwolf; Befana; Belsnickel; Bergmanli; Bergmönch; Bicorn; Bieresel; Big Ghoul (dragon); Biscione; Bishop Fish 2 visits, 1 in 1531; Bisterne Dragon; Black Dog; Black Panther; Blemmyes; Blue Ben; Blue Lady of Verdala Palace; Bonnacon (Pliny the Elder); Borda; Bragmanni; Brazen Head; Broxa; Bucentaur; Buckriders North Belgian and South Dutch; Buschgrossmutter; Buschweibchen; Butatsch Cun Ilgs; Butzemann;

Caballucos del Diablu; Caelia; Caladrius; Careto; Cerastes; Cheval Gauvin; Cheval Mallet; Chichevache; Chromandi; Cinnamologus; Coco; Cocollona; Cola Pesce; Crocotta; Cuegle; Cuélebre; Cynocephali;

Dahu; Dahut; Dames Blanches; Dames Vertes; Death; Demoiselles Blanches; Dipsa; Dolphin; Doñas de fuera; Drac; Draconcopedes; Dragon; Dragon of Beowulf; Dragon of Mordiford; Dragons of St. Leonard's forest; Drake; Drapé; Drude; Duende; Dwarf ; Dwarfs, Dwarves;

Easter Bunny; Ekke Nekkepenn; Elegast; Elemental; Elwetritsch; Emmet Giant Ant; Enchanted Moura; Enfield; Erchitu; Erdhenne; Erdluitle; Erlking; Ewiger Jäger;

Fáfnir; Familiar; Fänggen; Farfadet ; Farfadets; Fasolt; Fates; Father Frost; Fées; Feldgeister; Ferragut; Feuermann; Fish-man of Lierganes; Follet; Folletti; Frau Holle; Frau Holunder; French Mythic Creatures and Saints; Freybug;

Gabija; Galehaut; Galgemännlein; Ganna; Gargoyle; Gatipedro; Gayant; Gegenees; Giane; Glatisant; Gnome; Goblin ; Goblins; Golden Goose; Goldenhorn; Gorgades; Graoully; Guajona; Gudrun; Guivre; Gütel;

Hans von Trotha; Haymon (giant); Headless Horseman; Heimchen; Heinrich von Winkelried; Heinzelmännchen; Hercinia; Hey-Hey Men; Hinzelmann; Hircocervus also Greek & Roman; Hödekin; Homunculus ; Homunculi; Houles fairies;

Ichneumon; Irrwurz;

Jaculus; Jean de l'Ours;

Karnabo; Ķekatnieki Latvian mask processions; King Goldemar; King Laurin; Klabautermann; Klagmuhme; Knecht Ruprecht; Knight of the Swan; Knights of Ålleberg; Kobold; Kornbock; Korred Iberia, Britanny, Cornwall; Krampus; Kurents (Slovene mask processions);

La Encantada; Laima; Lampetho possibly based on Roman accounts of Lampedo; Lauma; Laúru; Legendary Horses in the Jura; Legendary Horses of Pas-de-Calais; Leontophone; Lepus cornutus; Lietuvēns; Lindwurm; Loch Ness Monster; Lou Carcolh; Lucius Tiberies (vs King Arthur); Lutin; Lutins Noirs; Lutzelfrau; Lycaon; Lyncetti;

Machlyes; Mahound; Mandragora; Manticore; Marabbecca; Mare; Massarioli; Muscaliet; Musimon; Myrmecoleon; Nachtkrapp; Nachzehrer; Naimon; Matagot; Mazapégul; Melusine; Monaciello ; Monacielli; Monopod; Moss People; Mouros;

Nimue; Nixen aka Nixie ; Nixies; Norggen;

Ojáncanu; Oksoko (3 headed eagle in heraldry & 3 headed bird in alchemical texts); Ork; Orphan Bird; Ortnit; Ouroubou;

Pamarindo; Pandi; Pantheon_the_creature; Panther; Pard; Peluda; Perchta; Père Fouettard; Petermännchen; Phoenix; Picolaton; Púca;

Quiet Folk; Quinotaur;

Ramidreju; Rasselbock; Revenant; Reynard; River Women; Rougarou; Rüdiger von Bechelaren; Rumpelstiltskin;

Salamander; Salvanel ; Salvanelli; Salvani; Sandman; Santa Compaña; Satyrus; Schrat also Slavic; Sciritae; Scitalis; Sea-Griffin; Sea-Lion; Sebile; Selige Fräulein; Serván; Sheela na Gig; Skrat; Straw Bear; Strix; Struthopodes; Swan Maiden; Syrbotae;

Tarand; Tarasque; Tatzelwurm; Termagant; The Devil Whale broad category, includes modern accounts and Sindbad; The Imp Prince; The Legend of Ero of Armenteira; The Nixie of the Mill-Pond; The Prince Who Wanted to See the World; The Swan Queen; Theow; Thyrsus (giant); Tooth Fairy; Trasgo; Tree Elves; Trenti; Türst; Tyger;

Uhaml;

Vegetable Lamb of Tartary; Venediger Männlein; Ventolín;

Weiße Frauen; Werewolf; White Lady ; White Ladies (fae); Wichtel; Wiedergänger; Wight; Wild Hunt; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Wind Folletti; Witege; Witte Wiver; Wolpertinger; Wolves in heraldry (search wiki page for word calopus);

Xana;

Yale; Ypotryll;

Žaltys Lithuanian;

allegedly medieval

Lorelei; Rompo; Squasc

Belgium

Druon Antigoon; Lange Wapper; Zitiron

Brittany

Amadís de Gaula (Gaula, the fictional part of Brittany); Ankou; Bugul Noz; Fions; Groac'h; Iannic-ann-ôd; Jetins; Korred; Korrigan ; Korrigans; Les Lavandières; Malo (saint); Margot the fairy; Morgen; Morvarc'h; Tréo-Fall; Yan-gant-y-tan

Byzantium

Abyzou; Gello

Catalan

Aloja; Banyoles monster; Catalan Creatures; Comte Arnau; Dip; Home dels nassos; La Guita Xica; Marraco; Minairó; Muladona; Negret; Nitus; Pesanta

Celtic mainland

Dusios Gaul (known through Greek, Roman and medieval sources); Les Lavandières; Púca; Sovereignty goddess also Irish; Swan Maiden; Trasgo; Werewolf

Dutch

Alven; Ellert and Brammert (giants); Kabouter; Swan Maiden; Witte Wieven

Estonia

Akka, also Finland and Sami; Dragon of the North; Ebajalg; Estonian Creatures; Kalevipoeg; Kratt ; Kratid; Maa-alused; Skrat; Toell the Great; Vanapagan

Finland

Aino; Ajatar; Akka, also Sami and Estonian; Antero Vipunen; Etiäinen; Firefox; Haltija; Heikki Lunta; Hiisi; Iku-Turso; Lemminkäinen; Lempo; Maanväki; Menninkäinen; Nine Diseases; Nuuttipukki; Otso; Paasselkä devils; Piru; Soul Components_Finnic Paganism; Swan Maiden; Syöjätär; Tapio; Vellamo

Germanic

Albruna Germanic seeress attested by Tacitus; Cimbrian seeresses mentioned by Strabo; Gambara; Ganna; Hooded Spirits; Idis; Matres and Matronae; Plusso Wendish = Slavs of North Germany; Swan Maiden; The Woman of the Chatti; Thiota; Veleda; Waluburg; Wurm

Roma

Mullo; Ursitory; Vampire pumpkins and watermelons

Sami

Akka also Finland and Estonia; Ruohtta; Stallo; The Elf Maiden;

Venice

Winged Lion (St. Mark), Venediger Männlein (allegedly from Venice, not on Wikipedia)

Renaissance

Allocamelus in Edward Topsell and among English companies; Hippogriff; Hircocervus in Edward Topsell, based on earlier sources; Ipotane first attested with John de Mandeville; Irrwurz; Jenny Haniver; Lampago maybe medieval not renaissance???; Lepus cornutus; Lizard Fairy; Mephistopheles; Oberon; Orgoglio; Pier Gerlofs Donia; Pyewacket (familiar spirit); Queen Mab; Satyress; Sea Monk; Succarath; Sylph; Teutobochus; Three Witches; Titania; Undine ; Undines; Vegetable Lamb of Tartary; Werewolf; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women

Enlightenment

Jacques St. Germain; Terrible Monster maybe real??? Romanticism; Lorelei; Warlock

Notify me please if there are mistakes or if these beings should have a disclaimer not to be used in art or fiction writing.

[ancillary-review-of-books]

Scale, and the Power it Holds: Eden Kupermintz reviews THE YEARS SHALL RUN LIKE RABBITS by Ben Berman Ghan, out this week from Buckrider Books

[piccrews-and-uquizes]

Make a sheep friend! i didnt intend to make her look so much like a devil. but she does. reminds me sort of of the buckriders, but thats probably because she is a goat. show me yours!

[theartisanalwriter]

Andrew Wilmot

Toronto editor and author of The Death Scene Artist talks to Sabyasachi Nag about their craft & process. Sabyasachi Nag (SN): What inspired you to write your debut novel The Death Scene Artist (2013) Wolsak &Wynn/Buckrider Books: October 2018. How did you come up with the idea? Andrew Wilmot (AW): Without being conscious of it at the time, I was pulling from a fair number of unresolved personal…

[art-of-tek]

So the goat steeds in Nyerla are different from Earth goats! Aside from them having fangs, they also have a very loose relationship with gravity, with them being able to leap incredibly long distances from standstill, with the longest distance to date on record being about fifty meters. This dashing ability makes them nigh-impossible to kill for most predators (when not domesticated, at least) and also makes them beloved steeds for fast travel by some species. They're commonly ridden by thylacines to cover long distances in a short amount of time. The ability of these goats to leap this far has nicknamed them the name "flying goats", though they don't actually fly. One of the downsides of their long distance leaping is that they wear out easily, but for short-timed long-distance dashes they're the ultimate mount. So here's Tek with their goat Bearli taking the leap of faith of a rocky hill to test the steed's dashing abilities. Also purple. I felt like drawing something purple today. Ain't that neat?

[bokkenrijders]

The Bokkenrijders - Introduction #1: The Basic Story

In order to understand anything on this blog, a short introduction to the Bokkenrijders might be in place.

Why this can only be a short introduction, has a simple reason: we know little to nothing about the Bokkenrijders and everything we do ‘know’ is up for debate. The only thing people can agree on is the death count, and even on this subject, there’s a small debate going on.

I will, however, tell you the story which has been believed for over 250 years, the story supporters of the 1st and 2nd theory (more on that in introduction #2) still believe today and the story which has ultimately led to the tragic death of hundreds of people. This is the original story.

The story started in the 1730′s (1), a time in which the Lands of Overmaeze were downright poor and war-torn. Church robberies started to occur and, in the very Catholic Lands, this obviously started rumours...

The First Rumours

According to these rumours, there was a Satanic gang active in the Lands. Members were said to gather at chapels before robberies and, in the case of a new member, say their oath. The exact wording of this oath is unknown, but everyone agreed that new members had to “renounce God and all the Saints and instead worship Satan”. Some also claim they had to promise to do harm whenever they could, but most researchers, even those who believe all condemned were guilty, do not believe this. 

It was also said that, because of this oath, Satan would help them with their criminal activities and would appear to them as an enormous goat - hence the name Bokkenrijders, or Goat/Buckriders in English. They would fly on this goat (or multiple goats, according to some) to be able to rob more places per night. Some confessions even stated to have flown with 42 people on a single goat. (2)

The Trials

In the 1740′s the first people got caught, but here’s something incredibly important to the trials that followed: torture was a common practice and complices were thus named by the dozens. Trials turned into mass trials, three main ones in total (1743-1745, 1749-1751 and 1771-1776) and a few smaller ones afterwards. What started off as church robberies ended up with 500 to 700 people executed, exiled or otherwise tried and outcast, and around 1200 to 1600 people in total being named as complices of this gang. 

What Posts Will Be About

In later posts, I will tell you more about how these mass trials came to be, how exactly an interrogation went, the differences in trialing between the three Lands of Overmaeze and, of course, some specific people and robberies. The Askbox is always open if you’d like to know more about a specific subject, and I’ll try to get to your ask as soon as possible!

Sources

1: Anton Blok: De Bokkerijders, Roversbenden en geheime genootschappen in de Landen van Overmaas [1730-1774]

2: https://johnve.home.xs4all.nl/docop/proc4/proc_I12b.html

[basschel]

Last week’s warmup doodles: fanart from the “Legende van de Bokkenrijders” (“Legend of the Buckriders”) from the Nineties. I drew some of the main characters, a Buckrider and two Rakkers (early policemen). Swipe for close ups. Made exclusively with the Karen Kali-Graf brush for @procreate by @georgvw. It’s my go to brush for character design, doodles and comics. #procreate #procreateart #buckrider #buckriders #bokkenrijders #limburg #legendevandebokkenrijders #fanart #doodles #doodlesofinstagram #conceptart #characterdesign #digitalcomics #comics #illustration (bij Boxtel) https://www.instagram.com/p/B88n0QvDwIc/?igshid=1534qk3gkbpye

[mohegan567]

My entry for Clip Studio Paint’s contest: Myths and Mythology

I chose the Dutch legend of ‘The Buckriders.’ They were a gang of thieves who roamed the southern parts of the Netherlands and parts of Belgium in the 18th century. Stealing from churches and robbing and killing folks. 

Legend says they sold their soul to the devil and rode on giant goats, with red eyes, through the sky. Capturing them was almost impossible. 

Basically this was the Dutch version of the Salem witch trials, and lots of folks were tortured and hanged on suspicion of being a Buckrider. Lots of history took place in the village I grew up in and where I live now. It always fascinated me and also creeped me out a bit.

[enchantedbook]

A 1919 poster for Frederick Van Eaden's play : 

The Buckriders (De Bokkenrijders). The Buckriders are part of Belgian and Dutch folklore.  ghosts or demons, who rode through the sky on the back of flying goats .

[lpbestiary]

In Belgian and Dutch folklore, the Bokkenrijders (or Buckriders) are spirits that ride on the backs of flying goats. These goats were said to be provided by demons, and some believe that the Bokkenrijders themselves are demons.

In the 18th century, several groups of bandits and thieves co-opted the name of the Bokkenrijders, raiding farms and small communities. Because of the lore surrounding the spirits, and their ties to the Devil, several men were excecuted in witch-hunt style prosecutions.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.

[lo-3darts]

Read right to left :3 《《--《《--

(I've read too much manga xD)

A lil comic from a rp with @cursed-drivein-29 they profiled the lines for his oc Buckrider. (The large guy)

The gremlin with the visor is my oc :3

Also if you see spelling errors, I'm sorry, I'm very dyslexic x3

[uselessalexis165]

So I'm making a bunch of doodles for @pastelpaperplanes​ C&M AU and this is the first batch.

Skrrt Skrrt is Pastel's tfsona

Scout is @authorchanlove​'s tfsona

Buckrider is @abigor29​'s tfsona