Alp

**Alps** are an antagonistic species of demonic creatures that work for Phobetor. They are either dream spirits or demons who are accompanied by the Mara which are fears taking the shape of horses or mares.

## Description

They appear as shadow-like creatures with bulbous white eyes and contorted in horrific ways with long spindly fingers. The Alp is best known for its shapeshifting abilities, similar to the creatures from werewolf lore. It may change into a cat, pig, dog, snake or a small white butterfly. It has also been said that it can fly like a bird and ride a horse.

Alps are said to induce sleep paralysis, sleep apnea as well as night terrors. by sitting on a sleeper's chest. When an Alp sits on a sleeping person's chest the latter begins to experience *Alpdruck* where the Alp becomes heavier until the crushing weight awakens the terrified and breathless dreamer. The victim awakes unable to move under the Alp's weight. Female dreamers who experience "wet dreams" is due to a male Alp that fondles their breasts.

Barring their attacks on dreamers, Alps are also maliciously mischievous outside of their usual function. Alps are fond of souring milk and re-diapering a baby. They also enjoy tangling hair into "elfknots" or chewing and twisting horse's tails. They will ride a horse to exhaustion during the night and may sometimes crush smaller farm animals such as geese to death during a pressing attack. Alps are also similarly blamed for minor illnesses and milking cows dry, for they enjoy the taste of cow's milk as well.

## Overview

Alps are supernatural demonic beings created by Phobetor. They were said to have been supposedly made from the "black sands" of humanity's fears and nightmares.

Though Alps appear to be a distinct species the term itself is referred to a creature that is associated with bringing forth nightmares. Alps are present in Hell and accompany Melinoë, the goddess of nightmares, to bring forth unspeakable night terrors to sleeping sinners. This would categorize them as demons but there are instances where those who fall into narcolepsy become Alps which also makes them oneiroi - dream spirits.

Protections against an Alp include laying a broomstick under a pillow, iron horseshoes hung from the bedpost, placing shoes against the bed with the toes pointing toward the door, or placing a mirror on the chest. Steel and crosses are also used. If awoken by the Alp and finding them still there, one can address them by asking them to return in the morning to borrow something or have coffee.

## Trivia

* They are based on the supernatural beings of the same name in German folklore. The Alp is sometimes likened to a vampire, but its behavior is more akin to that of the incubus.
	+ A mare, which is also one of the Alps, is a malicious entity in Germanic and Slavic folklore that walks on people's chests while they sleep, bringing on nightmares. In the *Divine Comedy* they take the shape of shadowy demonic horses and are referred to as Maras.
* Maras can be found Hell's Suicide Forests.
* There is a subspecies of Alp known as Bugbears which are a type of hobgoblin comparable to the boogeyman, of which were historically used in some cultures to frighten disobedient children.
* *Alpdruck* may also include lucid dreams which indicates that the Alps have an undisclosed relationship of sorts with Phantasos the brother of Phobetor.