Ay

Ay’s are a type of witch endemic to Goggurum. They are believed to have been created by the Worridden in the Croan kingdom. An Ay typically resembles a scrawny old woman with a clay nose and red face who attacks pregnant women when they are alone and interferes with childbirth. It is believed that she carries a basket in which she puts the liver or lung of the mother, although a variety of other descriptions exist as well.
They destroy embryos in the womb, causing miscarriages, and steal babies forty days after childbirth, replacing them with imps. After stealing the organs of a woman, the ay attempts to escape and cross the first source of water, after which the woman cannot be saved. Apotropaic wards (to ward off evil influence) against ays include methods used against other demons (such as charms, prayers, iron objects, onions, and garlic), and preventing the ay from reaching water. 
There are male and female Ay but they are universally referred to as female. 
== Subspecies ==
Various subspecies of the creature exist. 
=== Northern Breed ===
The Northern Breed of ays steals the lung, liver and heart of women in childbirth, pregnant women, and women who have just given birth. They have clay noses, fiery eyes and appear with sharp fangs, disheveled hair, copper claws, iron teeth and the tusks of a wild boar. 
=== Southern Breed ===
The Southern Breed Ays look like bony, thin old women, with a clay nose, red face, and a straw or reedy basket hanging from its shoulder, in which the liver or lung of the young mother is placed. 
=== Eastern Breed ===
The Eastern Breed al resembles a fat, ugly and hairy crone, hanging over her shoulder is a woolen bag in which she has placed the heart and liver of her victim.
== In culture ==
According to numerous Grendel traditions, the Modor created Ay for to seek vengeance on humans who mistreated her; this is the origin of the enmity between the ay and humans.
Category:Witches
Category:Pages with red links
Category:Short articles