Will O' Wisp

The Will O' Wisp is an enemy in the Castlevania series. They are oppressed souls which manifest themselves as floating balls of evil energy. They will attack anyone who comes near them by electrocuting or homing into them, and will also respawn constantly.
==Origins==
Also known as ignis fatuus or jack-o'-lantern, the will-o'-the-wisp is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travelers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes. It resembles a flickering lamp and is said to recede if approached, drawing travelers away from the safety of paths.
The term "will-o'-the-wisp" comes from "wisp", a bundle of sticks or paper sometimes used as a torch, and the name "Will": thus, "Will-of-the-torch".
In European folklore, these lights are believed to be spirits of the dead, fairies, or a variety of other supernatural beings which attempt to lead travelers to their demise. A modern Americanized adaptation of this travelers' association frequently places swaying ghost lights along roadsides and railroad tracks. This swaying movement is alleged to be that of 19th- and early 20th-century railway workers supposedly killed on the job. Sometimes the lights are believed to be the spirits of unbaptized or stillborn children, flitting between Heaven and Hell.
Their particular portrayal in the games, however, being floating balls in blue flames, seems to be more based on the hitodama, which in Japanese folklore are believed to be the souls of the newly deceased which have separated from their bodies, taking form as mysterious fiery apparitions. Hitodama are said to be found in graveyards or in gloomy forests in summertime.
==Appearances==
===Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (Saturn)===
A blue flame that respawns around the Cursed Prison the same way as Ghosts do in the Marble Gallery.
===Castlevania: Circle of the Moon===
Blue flames with a dark core that materialize out of thin air in infinite numbers –usually from a spot high on the room– and slowly home toward Nathan Graves. They are found in a few diverse areas of the castle, mainly in the Triumph Hallway and the Outer Wall. They don't pose much of a threat, however, although they can become a bit bothersome if there are other enemies around. In return, they may often drop Mind Restores.
==Item Data==
==Gallery==
Saturn 097.png|Will O' Wisp enemy list entry from the Sega Saturn version of Symphony of the Night.
==External links==
*Hitodama at Yōkai Wiki
*Hitodama at Yokai.com
Category:European Mythology
Category:Flying Enemies
Category:Ghosts
Category:Circle of the Moon Enemies
Category:Symphony of the Night Enemies