Bogeyman

Official artwork

## Reference

**Bogeymen** are a common urban cryptid that regularly pass in the human world. They appear throughout the InCryptid series.

Compare to Ghouls and Bug-a-boo.

## Appendix Entry

**Bogeyman** (*Vestiarium sapiens*). The thing in your closet is probably a very pleasant individual who simply has issues with direct sunlight. Probably. Bogeymen are close relatives of the human race; they just happen to be almost purely nocturnal, with excellent night vision, and a fondness for enclosed spaces. They rarely grab the ankles of small children, unless it's funny.

## About

Bogeymen are physiologically similar to humans with greater strength and night-vision. Their nocturnal adaptations make them incredibly sensitive to noise and light. They are inventors of "darks," magical anti-lights that keep rooms full of shadows.

Their diets are also comparable to humans, with the addition of a tendency to eat carrion. They have excellent immune systems but may be asymptomatic carriers of disease.

### Appearance

Bogeyman have a grey pallor, an extra joint in their fingers, and a somewhat different bone structure from human

### Abilities

Bogeymen have more power in the dark. They are adept at throwing one's voice so it seems to be coming from anywhere in a room, even through a phone.

They are extremely good climbers, when necessary.

### Habitat

Bogeyman can live anywhere habitable to humans. They prefer to reside underground and have been known to hide in closets.

### Culture

They have a clannish but independent social structure.They once had their own cities and society, but they were destroyed and their people are driven into hiding by the Covenant. If a city has a famous sewer system or necropolis more than a century old, it was probably built by bogeymen.

They do not like to keep debts, and keep detailed accounts of what is owed. They are well known for their information and favor networks and the importance they place on contracts, which are both intricate and in-depth, covering nearly any eventuality. They will charge varying fees for goods and services, depending on the wealth of the customer.

They recognize Sweat equity and financially compensate for the various chores family members do.

Bogeymen stay at home until they get married, and both parties must pay the the family of their betrothed. Young couples will often live and work together while engaged and saving up this money.

Bogeyman cuisine includes rattlesnake stew and mealworm-flour bread.

They are known to use the phrase "jumping at sunbeams" rather than "jumping at shadows"

## Characters

* Dave Smith
* Kitty
* Drew Baker
* Crystal, her fiancee and father
* The Knowles twins
* Carol, Kitty's mother, and Dave's sister
* Pammy
* Marjory, Dave's cousin
* Identity forger

## Trivia

* Their genus and species are specific to cryptozoology and literally translates to "person of the wardrobe/closet." The pun is attributed to Frances Healy.
* There is a subspecies of bogeyman called an "abatwa" It is unclear whether they are related to the Zulu legends of ant-sized hunters.

### In Popular Culture

The **Bogeyman** (also spelled **boogeyman**, **bogyman**, **bogieman**, **boogie monster**, **boogie man**, or **boogie woogie**) is a type of mythical creature used by adults to frighten children into good behavior. Bogeymen have no specific appearance and conceptions vary drastically by household and culture, but they are most commonly depicted as masculine or androgynous monsters that punish children for misbehavior. The Bogeyman or conceptually similar monsters can be found in many cultures around the world. Bogeymen may target a specific act or general misbehavior, depending on what purpose needs serving, often based on a warning from the child's authority figure. The term "Bogeyman" is sometimes used as a non-specific personification or metonym for terror, and in some cases, the Devil.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bogeyman
2. ↑ Appendix Field Guide, Books 1-11
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 What Was I Meant to Do?
4. ↑ Midnight Blue-Light Special, Ch. 16
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chaos Choreography, Ch. 17
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Magic for Nothing Ch. 22
7. ↑ InCryptid Q&A, Part VIII: Bogeymen
8. ↑ Midnight Blue-Light Special Ch. 16
9. ↑ Calculated Risks, Ch. 10
10. ↑ The Girl in the Green Silk Gown
11. ↑ Midnight Blue-Light Special Ch. 6