Baykok (Art by KipBaldovin)
The baykok is a malevolent undead creature or spirit from Ojibwe mythology and is the Native American equivalent of the Norse Draugr.
Description[]
The baykok appear as extremely emaciated skeleton-like figures, with thin translucent skin and glowing red points for eyes. They wear the ragged tatters of whatever clothing they wore when they died (typically a hunter's clothing).
The Baykok only preys upon warriors, but does so ruthlessly, using invisible arrows or beating its prey to death with a club. The Baykok, after paralyzing or killing its prey, then devours the liver of its victim. Baykok was also said to approach a sleeping hunter, gently cut an opening in the chest and remove a piece of the stomach, without waking the victim.
Overview[]
Baykok are created when a human warrior dies a dishonorable or shameful death, particularly after committing some evil crime such as fratricide or incest. Often they are unable to rest because their bones are scattered or thrown into lakes by those they have wronged, which prevents them from moving on to the afterlife.