‘From ghosties and ghoulies and long-leggit beasties and things that go bump in the night, may the good lord protect us.’
(An old Scottish prayer)
A ghoul is a being that lives off human flesh or defiles corpses. The name ghoul can refer to a wide variety of definitions. If you look at fictional or gaming interpretations then almost any humanoid monster can be called a ghoul. What is true is that Ghoul’s are nasty beings that prey on innocent victims.
A ghoul is a being that is undead, it behaves as though it is still alive which theoretically it is, but it once died and has risen to life again. It is a type of monster which usually appears in horror fiction. There are many books and films that feature Ghoul’s. It is a malevolent supernatural being that causes havoc and chaos. Other myths say that the ghoul is a being that has been brought back to life by a witch to complete tasks. A ghoul is strong and fast. A ghoul can be killed in a similar way to a Vampire. They are to be burnt until they are nothing, but ash and they are afraid of the crucifix like Vampires. If a person brings them back to life then they have to obey the commands of that person.
The word Ghoul originates from the word "Ghull" that is an Islamic/preislamic kind of demon that steals dead bodies. A ghoul is a mythological monster that originates from ancient Arabian folklore. A ghoul lingers in burial grounds and other uninhabited places. Maybe because they know that they won’t be seen and can creep up on unexpected victims.
In English the word is translated from the Arabic name of the monster: الغول al-ghūl, this translates to "demon". The Arabic name for the female of Ghoul is "ghouleh" and the plural is "ghilan".
One of the places where a Ghoul lives is in a desert where they can change shape into an animal most often the hyena. The Ghoul attracts travellers by its magic powers and lures them into the desert wastes where it will kill them and feast on their flesh. The evil being also preys on young children and has the ability to take on the form of what they ate previously.
According to White Wolf’s Vampire game line a ghoul describes a monster that has partaken of Vampire blood. A ghoul is not as restricted by decay as a Zombie would be. Ghouls have to live off human flesh to delay the decaying process whereas a zombie will follow its owners orders until it has either fulfilled its tasks or decayed to a level where it cannot move.
A Zombie can be controlled, but ghouls cannot be controlled. The victim will not immediately die from the bite of a Zombie or Ghoul, but they could develop a very nasty disease that kills them. Not everyone who is bitten by a Zombie or Ghoul turns into one, but as said above they could die from a nasty disease.
Although a Ghoul is an imaginary being many people believe within their imaginations that Ghoul’s exist. They see them as real and feel very threatened by the thought of them. Halloween is a time where many people think about Ghoul’s and even dress up as them.
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