Draugr

A **Draugr** (plural: **Draugar**) is a kind of undead creature that were documented in Norse mythology.

## **Characteristics**

Draugar live in their graves, often guarding treasure buried with them in their burial mound. They are animated corpses with a corporeal body, with similar physical abilities as in life. Older records makes clear distinctions between sea-draugar and land-draugar.

Draugar possess superhuman strength, can increase their size at will, and carry the unmistakable stench of decay. They exist to guard their treasure, wreak havoc on living beings, or torment those who wronged them in life. The Draugr's ability to increase its size also increased its weight, and the body of a Draugr was described as being extremely heavy.

In folklore, Draugar slay their victims through various methods including crushing them with their enlarged forms, devouring their flesh, devouring them whole in their enlarged forms, indirectly killing them by driving them mad, and by drinking their blood. Animals feeding near the grave of a Draugr might be driven mad by the creature's influence. They may also die from being driven mad.

A Draugr's victims were not limited to trespassers in its home. The roaming creatures devastated livestock by running the animals to death either by riding them or pursuing them in some hideous, half-flayed form. Shepherds' duties kept them outdoors at night, and they were particular targets for the hunger and hatred of the Draugar.

## **Sub-Types**

There are currently three known recorded sub-types of Draugr, they are categorized by where they inhabit.

### Draugen

Draugen are created after a person dies while at sea, like drowning, boating accident, etc. After death, they will be transformed into a Draugen, and will attack any ships that pass into their territory, and brutally slaughter the entire crew.

### Gleip

Gleips are a parasitic variation of Draugr that live on beaches or near seashores. They wait for their victims to pass by while walking on the beach, they then will attack the unfortunate victim which causes them to fall and severely injure themselves on the sharp rocks on the ground.

### Haugbui

This sub-type live in their burial mounds and will attack any trespassers on their territory. However they are unable to roam very far from their burial sites and are bound to the near vicinity they were buried in.

## **Similar Creatures**

Similar creatures include:

* Aptragrangr (Iceland)
* Dreygur (Faroe Islands, Norway)
* Draugur (Iceland)
* Draug (Denmark)
* Aptraganga (Iceland)
* Drog (Sweden)

## **Powers and Abilities**

Draugar are very powerful, even by monster standards. They possess unique abilities not normally seen in many monsters.

* **Super Strength**- Draugr are one of the most powerful monsters in terms of physical strength, they can easily rip off the heads of humans and snap bones like twigs. They can also easily punch holes in solid wooden walls and overpower large full grown livestock.
* **Super Stamina**- Draugr are incapable of feeling fatigue or require sustenance to maintain themselves since they are undead creatures.
* **Immortality**- Since they are neither living nor dead, they cannot age and are immune to disease.
* **Advanced Invulnerability** - Draugr are incredibly hard creatures to kill. They are immune to all man-made weapons and conventional means of killing. They only way to kill a Draugr is complete destruction of their body.
* **Regeneration**- Draugr can regenerate from virtually any injury. Even if they are badly mutilated or dismembered they can still heal themselves back to normal if their body is not completely destroyed.
* **Shapeshifting**- In addition to be able to increase and decrease their size at will, Draugr can shapeshift into various horrific different forms such as a seal, flayed bulls, a cat, and a grey horse with a broken back and missing ears and tail.
* **Mental Manipulation**- Anyone or anything who spends too much time around a Draugr will become insane, losing all of their sanity. These affected victims will be indirectly killed by the Draugr via suicide.
* **Weather Manipulation**- Similar to Ghosts, they have limited influence over the weather, being able to create gusts of wind and other minor weather phenomena.
* **Dream Walking**- Draugr have the ability to enter into the dreams of the living, and they will frequently leave a gift behind so that "the living person may be assured of the tangible nature of the visit." What these "gifts" are is largely unknown.
* **Reality Warping**- Draugr appear to have control over reality to a very limited extent, as they are able to create temporary darkness during daylight hours. Their existence will also open a portal between earth and Helheim in their gravesites.
* **Foresight**- Draugr are noted for having the ability to see glimpses into the future.
* **Biokinesis**- The presence of a Draugr is able to spread deadly diseases, and can wipe out an entire village of people.

## **Weaknesses**

* **Iron**- Iron can injure a Draugr, however it would not be sufficient to kill it.
* **Complete Destruction of Body** - A Draugr has to have its body completely destroyed for it to remain dead. The preferred method is to cut off the Draugr's head, burn the body into a pile of ash, then throw the ash into the sea. The emphasis being on making absolutely sure that the Draugr was dead and gone.