#gumberoo

[who-do-i-know-this-man-s3]

⚠️Vote for whomever YOU DO NOT KNOW⚠️‼️

[catpartyletsgo]

Oregon Cryptids!

Colossal Claude Colossal Claude is a monster initially spotted by the crew of Columbia Lightship in 1934. A crew member said he was a 40′ long serpent with an 8-foot neck, round body, “a mean looking tail” and “an evil, snaky look to its head.” Claude was spotted again in 1937 by a fishing boat who reported a “long, hairy tan-colored creature, with the head of an overgrown horse”. Claude hasn’t…

[surrealhaunts]

Lumberjacks have a bizarre legend. And it’s very strange.

According to the lore, in the northwestern United States, there’s a large hairless bear-like creature stalking the forest. They call it Gumberoo.

I made this short, less than 60 secs, video about the Gumberoo. Check it out.

[briefbestiary]

The voracious and near-invincible gumberoo. Its tough body repels most dangers, though its ashen skin perhaps betrays its sole weakness.

[auraeseer]

Going Rogue at Crater Lake . . .

[wickedsrest-rp]

NAME: Pets & Peculiars

DESCRIPTION: Most supernatural critters aren’t suitable for domestication, or even living anywhere near a house. But on the other end of the spectrum, there are some that decided living with (sometimes unwitting) humans or other supernatural beings might not be so bad after all. They can even be common familiars for spellcasters. Sure, maybe these critters shed cactus needles instead of hair, and yeah, their drool might be acidic, but they can be as lovable as any mundane pet. You know what they say – “it would never bite the hand that feeds; it just wants the fingernails”.

Below are some of the peculiar critters that populate the supernatural world. Some might make better pets than others, and some might just be so strange they needed to be mentioned somewhere.

[NOTE: While these are some options for supernatural pets, they’re not the only ones! Check out the “friendly” tag in the bestiary, or let your creativity pull you to something else.]

BEASTIES:

Scapegoat: An ordinary goat in most regards, except that they are drawn to negative energy and have the tendency to show up in the midst of bad or violent situations. They are loyal, and will come to their owner’s rescue when they sense danger. Some people say they’re bad luck because there’s belief that they cause problems. Their relative, the black sheep, is similarly blamed but really does cause misfortune to fall upon its owners.

Pinnacle goose: A one-winged goose-like bird whose lopsidedness prevents it from flying. They’re said to be quirky, but not all that smart. Some potions call for their feathers, which can make owning one a convenience. They have a honk that can be heard for miles, and some people utilize this to send messages to others across great distances using Morse code.

Cactus cat: A breed of cat that originated in the American South-West. They’re cactus-like cats covered in small spikes. If one of their spikes is broken, you’ll find that it’s filled with a sweet, milky substance that is used in some potions. Their spikes do not have nerves in them, so this does not cause the cat pain, and they grow back after a matter of weeks. Some owners will remove all of the spikes from their cats on a regular basis to make them less dangerous to touch, but this seems to confuse the cats and give them a poor sense of direction. They have the tendency to rub against furniture which goes about as well as you might think.

Elwetritsch: A small avian fae resembling a chicken with horns or antlers. They’ve been domesticated by fae in aos sí communities to produce glowing eggs, and they are enjoyed for their docile temperaments. Known to be very skittish around non-fae, fleeing into the underbrush upon encounter. They love the sound of percussion instruments and can be lured anywhere with such music or sounds. Some groups of fae play a game with captured humans where the human has to chase an elwetritsch. They get to go free if they catch it.

Axehandle hound: A canine species discovered by lumberjacks in North America. They’re small dogs with axe-shaped heads. Their favorite food is discarded axe handles, which makes them a bit of a pest to woodcutters. There is a miniature variant which is, of course, called the hatchet hound.

Jackalope: A rabbit with a pair of antlers on its head resembling those of a deer. Like a deer’s antlers, they grow and fall off depending on the time of the year. Only males have them, meaning female jackalopes are very frequently mistaken for ordinary rabbits and even sold at pet stores. The related wolpertinger is a smaller, winged variant, that tends to be incredibly skittish around anyone who smells like any kind of animal, be it a dog owner or a shapeshifter.

Arkan sonney: A species of hedgehog fae that look remarkably like normal hedgehogs. They’re very shy and nervous, and are said to bring good luck to anyone who catches them. All arkan sonney appear to be albino (they have white fur and red eyes). Their quills grow in the opposite direction of regular hedgehogs, so they must be stroked back to front.

Ovinnik: A big black cat with fiery eyes commonly kept by farmers. They run around the farm barking like a dog to scare away trespassers, and can breathe fire only when displeased. It is said that if they’re neglected they anger easily and are liable to eat the livestock. They can be quite difficult to please, which means owners must be okay with the occasional fire being set around the house in retaliation for a perceived slight.

Aitvaras: These pyrokinetic roosters are known for stealing shiny objects, grain, bread, and similar wheat products and taking them back to their nest. They’re born from freshly laid poultry eggs that are placed into a fire. In appearance they resemble a black or white chicken with a tail made of flame. They often refuse to leave barns or houses that they’ve decided to nest in, though some spellcasters don’t mind the stealing and fire hazard and take them as familiars. Aitvaras explode into a fireball when they die, so potential exterminators beware.

Tatzelwurm: Resembling a stumpy lizard as long as a snake, tatzelwurms are beloved supernatural pets for their cute pair of cat-like ears on their head. It’s like a cat, but scaly! They grow to be about the size of a dachshund, though are longer in the body, some reaching lengths of up to 10 feet. They have a gentle demeanor, enjoying scratches behind the ears, and move rather slowly. When stressed, they make a high-pitched whistle like a teapot and snort a small puff of poisonous breath that sickens those who breathe it.

Moon rabbit: Inspiring the mythology of rabbits living on the moon, the moon rabbit was actually named as such because it only wakes while the moon is in its waxing or full phases. When the moon starts waning, it falls into a deep slumber and its ears flop down. They have silvery coats and will only drink water that has been left out to absorb moonlight. Moon rabbits are good pets if you want to save on half the regular cost of pet food; they mostly act like regular pet rabbits.

Rarog: These elemental avians are often mistaken for phoenixes, but they’re much more bird-like than their fiery cousins. Rarogs resemble hawks set aflame and are fairly rare, even in supernatural markets. In order for a rarog to successfully hatch, their eggs that resemble igneous rocks must be exposed to intense heat for 9 straight days and nights. The result is a fiery falcon. That can seem frightening, but rarogs are fairly docile birds that are popular among fire elemental spellcasters as familiars. They are susceptible to the same injuries as normal birds and must avoid water due to their flames.

Fluttershine: Much like the name implies, fluttershines appear in the air as fluttering flashes of light and are often mistaken for fireflies. With a closer look, it becomes clear that these flying insects look more like butterflies with colorful, bioluminescent wings that seem to paint the wind. These friendly insects are always docile and seem to gravitate towards grieving individuals. When around one of these people, they fly in little loops that leave traces of colored light in the air and a sense of comfort to the person they’re with. Though fluttershines cannot be sought out, they have an uncanny way of finding those who need the light they bring the most.

Lullabird: With all the nightmare inducing creatures in Wicked’s Rest, lullabirds are considered a nice change of pace by those in the know. These small songbirds look much like nightingales, though they come in more dreamy colors. Male lullabirds tend to take on sparkling dark blue colors with silvers speckled throughout while the females take on more of full sparkling silver glow. Though beautiful to look at, what really sets lullabirds apart from other songbirds is the effect their songs have. Every melody they sing is slow, soothing, and just a little bit magical. With each chirp, their singing can relax even the most panicked of people. Their song is often even able to break through the effects of many fear-inducing creatures making them particularly profitable on the black market. However, these birds rarely do well in captivity. The best way to keep one alive, well, and visiting you is to keep a small bird feeder outside your home. This does attract an array of other birds, most of which are friendly.

Gumberoo: These shy beasts look like hairless bears to most people, and have incredibly smooth skin. Despite its delicate appearance, their skin is impervious to even advanced modern firearms. In fact, using firearms against them is dangerous because the bullets will ricochet off. Gumberoo always seem to be ravenous, and will exercise their ferocious hunger on anyone who comes across them. They fear fire because the chemical composition of their strange skin makes it highly incendiary – gumberoo will explode like a bomb when they make contact with flame, causing fatalities. Some hunters use gumberoo hide to make lightweight and tough bulletproof vests. While it’s a very useful anti-ballistic material, gumberoo hide has the drawback of being very vulnerable to fire, and those who wear it need to be careful to avoid even small open flames so they don’t explode.

[spiralneko]

i'm shocked i haven't ever seen a gumberoo fursona. like... this is a fat rubbery bear that explodes when set on fire. i know several of you that'd be all over that

[prof-marvolius]

Criptido del día: Gumberoo

Descripción: El gumberoo fue descrito por los primeros leñadores como más grande que un oso con una piel negra, dura y brillante que nada podría perforar. Se decía que la única forma de matarlo era con fuego, lo que hizo que las criaturas explotaran. Hacen sus guaridas en las bases de enormes cedros quemados a lo largo de la costa del Pacífico desde Grays Harbor hasta Humboldt Bay.

[sofacepizza]

オレンジ ビールのジャケ買い #ビール #クラフトビール #beer #craftbeer #brewery #rogue #gumberoo #hopworksurbanbrewery #treefrog https://www.instagram.com/p/CllfW49pLMC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ceph-the-ghost-writer]

Happy WBW!!

Does your story have any special animals, or beliefs about cryptids?

<3

CJ! I'm sorry, I'm so far behind on asks, but thank you for persevering!

The Coven's werecreatures department has a small group of dedicated cryptid hunters/believers. Jonah Carver, who Isaac had drunk desk sex with at the last holiday party Isaac's colleague, is one of them. He lives up in the Pacific Northwest, so of course he's a Bigfoot and Batsquatch fan. But he also dedicates his time looking for evidence of Gumberoo, ball-tailed cats, and the many water-based beasts that haunt lakes, rivers, and the coast.

Even though the Coven's whole deal is magic and the supernatural, cryptid research is treated as, er, an eccentric hobby. One could argue that there's actual proof of vampires, ghosts, etc. People like Jonah would counter that you can't find evidence if you never look! Maybe cryptids are endangered species, the types of magical creatures who couldn't adapt to an increasingly human world as well. Or they could be newly emerging species, or even just a one-of-a-kind being. It's never a waste to ask questions or seek new routes to understanding. Besides, if nothing else, these cryptids are cultural and historical touchstones. They're worthy of study and preservation just as much as any document or artefact.

[spacebattleshippotemkin]

Some Fearsome Critters (from 2020).

Cactus Cat

Papaloosie

Sliver Cat

Billdad

Snallygaster

Gumberoo

Axehandle Hound

+ Fearsome Critters again, but from last year (2023).

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Culture & Region

Part 2: Settler (Colonial) & Diasporic Tales of Australia & the Americas

Overview here.

• Australian Settler Folktales Drop Bear; Easter Bilby; Oozlum Bird (oozlum bird also in Britain)

Canadian Settler Folktales

Cadborosaurus B.C.; Cressie; Igopogo Barrie; Manipogo; Memphre; Mussie; Red Lady; Thetis Lake Monster; Turtle Lake Monster

USAmerican Settler folktales including African diaspora

Agropelter, Maine & Ohio; Alfred Bulltop Stormalong Massachussets; Altamaha-ha in Georgia, U.S.A, see Muskogee; Anansi is Akan (which includes the Agona, Akuapem, Akwamu, Akyem, Anyi, Ashanti, Baoulé, Bono, Chakosi, Fante, Kwahu, Sefwi, Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema) also found in African American lore; Red Ghost (Arizona camel with skeleton on its back); Augerino western USA, including Colorado; Axehandle hound Minnesota and Wisconsin; Ball-tailed cat; Beaman Monster; Bear Lake Monster; Beast of Bladenboro; Beast of Busco; Bell Witch; Belled buzzard American South; Bessie northeast Ohio and Michigan; Bigfoot; Black Dog; Blafard; Bloody Bones; Bloody Mary; Boo hag; Br'er Rabbit; Brown Mountain Lights; Cactus cat American Southwest; Calafia Amazon Queen (Caliph) that California is named after; Champ; Chessie; Dark Watchers; Demon Cat Washington D.C.; Dewey Lake Monster; Dover Demon; Dungavenhooter Maine, Michigan; Emperor Norton; Enfield Monster (NOT Enfield); Flathead Lake Monster; Flatwoods Monster; Flying Africans; Fouke Monster Arkansas; Fur-bearing trout; Gallinipper; Gillygaloo; Glawackus; Gloucester sea serpent; Golden Bear; Goofus Bird; Gumberoo; Hidebehind; Hillbilly Beast of Kentucky; Hodag; Honey Island Swamp Monster; Hoop Snake; Hudson River Monster; Hugag; Jackalope; Jersey Devil; Joint Snake; Jonathan Moulton; Lady Featherflight; Lagahoo; Lake Worth Monster; Lava bear Oregon, appear to have been real animals but not a unique species; Letiche (Cajun folktale, from descendants of the Acadian expulsion) Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp; Loveland Frog; Ludwig the Bloodsucker; Mãe-do-Ouro; Mami Wata also African; Maryland Goatman; Melon-heads; Michigan Dogman; Milton lizard; Mogollon Monster; Momo the Monster; Mothman; Nain Rouge Detroit, Michigan; New Jersey folktales; North Shore Monster; Onza; Ozark Howler; Pope Lick Monster; Proctor Valley Monster; Railroad Bill; Red Ghost; Red Lady; Reptilian; Resurrection Mary; Sharlie; Sidehill Gouger; Signifying monkey; Skunk Ape; Snallygaster; Snipe Hunt; Snow Snake; Splintercat; Squonk; Tahoe Tessie; Tailypo; Teakettler; The Witch of Saratoga; Tuttle Bottoms Monster; Two-Toed Tom; Walgren Lake Monster; Wampus Cat; White River Monster; Wild Man of the Navidad

Latin American Folklore

Aido Hwedo, Haiti & also in Benin; Alebrije (born from a dream, Mexican paper mache folk art); Baccoo could be based off Abiku of Yoruba lore; Bestial Beast bestial centaur; Boiuna; Boto and Boto_and_Dolphin_Spirits; Bruja; Bumba Meu Boi; Burrokeet; Cadejo; Camahueto; Capelobo; Carbuncle; Carranco; Chasca El Salvador; Chickcharney; Ciguapa Dominica; Cipitio; Damballa; Day of the Dead; Death; Douen; Duende; Duppy; El Sombrerón Guatemala; Folktales of Mexico; Headless Mule; Hombre Gato; Honduran Creatures; Huay Chivo; Ibo loa (also Igbo in West Africa); Jumbee; Kasogonagá (Toba in Argentina); La Bolefuego; La Diablesse; La Llorona; La mula herrada; La Sayona; Lang Bobi Suzi; Madre de aguas; Mama D'Leau; Minhocão; Mono Grande; Monster of Lake Fagua; Monster of Lake Tota; Muan; Muelona; Nahuelito; Obia also a word for a West African mythological creature (see article); Papa Bois; Patagon aka Patagonian Giant; Patasola; Phantome (Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana); Pishtaco; Princess Eréndira; Quimbanda; Romãozinho; Saci; Sayona ; Sihuanaba; Sisimoto; Soucouyant; Succarath; Tapire-iauara; Tata Duende; The Cu Bird; The Silbón; Tulevieja; Tunda; Zombie Bolivia; Abchanchu; Acalica; El Tío Colombia; Colombian Creatures; El Hombre Caimán; Tunda

Please note that some of these beings (those from Latin America or from diasporic African religions like Santeria, Vodun and Candomble) are sacred and be responsible about their use in art (writing etc.).

Notify me of any mistakes or to add disclaimers when something is considered sacred and off-limits.

[kikiswayside]

Taya, Between Today

She could feel the curtain slide closed behind her. Not soft like a curtain should but firmly like a sturdy door. She looked behind her to make certain it did close. No one needs to deal with a Gumberoo or worse. Before her was a long hallway. Impossibly long really. There should be nothing much beyond the curtain but wall and then street. There was just hallway. It was not lit. But her eyes were made for the dim light of hidden places. Taking fives steps forward then turning slightly to her left and taking five more steps she came to a doorway. Tay knocked softly and hoped that the guard was on the other side. It would suck if she had to stand here long with this pile of books. Time stretched and she sat down the box and took out the book String had ordered for her. She cracked the spine and dove in. She was on the third chapter when the door opened. "Taya Of the Hill Folk, you know you are not to bring back undeclared items. I cannot let you through until you declare." Startled by the guard, she thought this one was called Horner, she slowly closed the book and stood. She then picked up the box and cleared her throat. "I, Taya of the Hill FOlk, Declare this box of books from the human folk to be mine and mine alone. I declare this collection of herbs and teas to be for the GrandMar and they alone. All other straggling things are on their own." She said loudly and firmly. Horner nodded and swung the door open wider. Crossing over the threshold Tay felt the world tilt and become her world. The colors deepened and the light became something more of an ambient glow. The light was so similiar to the light of a rainy fall Seattle morning and yet so different. In Seattle the light came from the sky, here it just was. This doorway as at the back of the Day Market of the West. That was the thing about the paths. They came and went to similar places in their worlds. If Tay waited she could have gone to the Night Market. But that was not where she was needed. Thanking Horner she picked up her box and headed into the chaos of a fae market. Her first stop was for chestnuts. She was starving. They weren't as tasty as the steam buns but they did the job. Next up was to find GrandMars tent. Which was always near the center and always lit like a small city. Today the top of the lime green and pale blue tend was topped with a weather vane that reminded Tay of a skyscraper. Which probably meant he knew she was coming. Good. She wanted this over with. If he were to prolong her exile, she wanted to take her books and go back as soon as possible.

The front of the tent was open. Folk milled about waiting for their turn to enter and have audience with GrandMar, the defacto mayor of both Day and Night Markets of the West, and of the Western Edge folk. Here he settled disputes or created them, set rules and guidelines and just generally made things work. Mostly. Most regular folk never got an audience with him. No one ever really wanted an audience with him. As Tay approached the guards saw her and crossed their absurdly long spears (all show and zero function) to prevent her entry. "Halt human, you have no place here" Tay straightened her back and carefully set the box down. She dropped her glamour and the guards dropped their comical spears. "I am Taya of the Hill Folk and I have been summoned by the GrandMar. To deny me entry is to deny his wishes." The guards slid to the side and bowed deeply. Taya walked past them and entered GrandMars tent. Inside was vast. One huge circular room with a raised circular dias in the center. On the dais was a throne. Or what the GrandMar treated as a throne. The truth was, as most things were, much more complicated Taya approached the dais. "Grandmar of the Western Folk, I, Taya of the Hill Folk am here at your request. I have returned from the exile you sent me to. I do not come of my own accord." She spoke loudly making sure the whole of the tent heard here. GrandMar turned his attention to her and smiled. He looked like little more than a fishmonger. Long stringy grey hair, that framed the wizened face of an old man. But GrandMar was not old, not a fishmonger. He was a powerful and dangerous fae lord. Who had the power to control much of the lives of the fae he ruled over. Today, for the first time in a long time that included Taya.

[jojoseames]

My final card illustration for MetaZoo: Nightfall! This was one of a few Nightfall cards that were re-releases of cards that had been seen in Cryptid Nation, but with new art, as a second version.

In this case, the ever-popular Gumberoo! I love Gumberoo! I love Poncho's original design for the Gumberoo, and I was so excited to draw him! This fine cryptid creature is found in cedar tree forests all across the continent, and what it is is a fearsome bear that--aside from its bushy beard and eyebrows--is completely hairless, with tough, rubbery skin that can bounce away any bullets that foolish hunters might try shooting at him. Then he eats those hunters. I tried to express his sense of bouncy, playful-but-dangerous energy and personality. And, of course, to portray him as very shiny.

Sweet Gumberoo. Gumberbaby. Lil' Gumbles...

Hope y'all enjoyed the art I did for this series! I'm hard at work now on art for the third card set, "Wilderness", that is scheduled to release in March, and I'm even more excited about the work I've done for that one, so...look out, I guess!

[lpbestiary]

The Gumberoo is a fearsome critter from North American folklore. It is said to resemble a large, portly bear with tough, black, leather-like skin and bristly hairs on its brow and chin.

The Gumberoo makes its den in hollows at the bases of cedar trees. It will only leave its lair rarely, and only to search for food. The Gumberoo possesses a ravenous appetite, and is said to devour any creature it comes across on its hunt for food. Its hide is impossible to pierce, but fire will make the creature explode.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.