Erlking
The Erlking, or Erlkönig, is a malicious elf in European folklore and myth who lingers in the woods, stalking children who stay in the woods for too long, and kills them with a single touch.
Description[]
The Erlking is depicted as an omen of death much like the banshee in Irish mythology. Unlike the banshee, however, the Erlkönig will appear only to the person about to die. His form and expression also tell the person what sort of death they will have: a pained expression means a painful death, a peaceful expression means a peaceful death.
Overview[]
The Erlking is a sinister elven king who haunts the Black Forest. He is also believed to be a member of the Unseelie, a court of malicious fae who seek to harm humans that trespass in their domain. Erlking serves Mab, the dark fairy queen and enemy of Titania, where he captures and brings any human that wanders into the Black Forest to serve her. He stalks the forests with the Erlkönig, his own band of malevolent fairies or elves, most of which were once humans that were captured by the Erlking. The Erlking also appears to share the game with Mab as compensation for his services, wherein he would be given the adults and Mab the children.