In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching myths and legends in other cultures to find something that has a rich history surrounding it, but that is not considered modern. One of the countries that have some unique myths is Italy.

Ferocious Beast

The Ferocious Beast was a monster with wolf-like features that was the size of a large horse. It was used as a cautionary tale by parents to scare their children into being home before dark. It was after dark that the Ferocious Beast was known to hunt for its food and its food of choice was children, though if none were available, it was known to eat pets as well. It preferred to hunt in villages, towns, and cities and was rarely seen hunting in the forest, even though that was where its den was often located.

 Badalisc

The Badalisc, also known as the Badalisk, was the size of a large bear with the head of a goat, two small horns on its head, a large mouth with razor sharp teeth, and large glowing eyes. The Badalisc was known for being a transient creature that made its home in the forests of Italy. However, it was not an intelligent monster and it often entered the local communities in the area where it made its home to cause trouble, only to find itself driven off. The Badalisc was only ever driven off as it was considered bad luck to harm or kill the creature, especially because the trouble it caused was always mischief and never deadly or truly harmful.

Squass

 The Squass is a small elf that looks a bit like a squirrel without a tail with some human features and pointed ears. The Squass is known for being summoned to frighten unruly children. However, once summoned, the Squass has a mind of its own and often deviates from the summoner’s wishes once it has frightened the children it was summoned to frighten. Once its mission is complete, the Squass can often be found laughing behind the backs of drunks, playing jokes on random people, and its true joy comes from playing pranks on young girls that it considers pretty.

Marabbecca

The Marabbecca is an aquatic creature that is best known for living in wells. The Marabbecca prefers to make its home in only the most popular wells as its food of choice is children, and it will often be able to drag in unwary children who play by its well without being careful. The Marabbecca sometimes gets lucky and will get food without having to hunt when a careless child plays on or near the well and falls in.

La Bissabova

La Bissabova is a reptilian creature that has the ability to control storms and cause high winds. La Bissabova has been known to use its abilities to cause tornados and hurricanes to destroy entire villages when it has been offended by an inhabitant of a village. However, it has also been known to turn storms away from those who have paid it respect and provided it with gifts.