The Sluagh
Funny name, not so funny race, the Sluagh are a part of the Celtic mythology that date back to the medieval era, and are a type of evil spirit. They are referred to in the plural, because that is how they appeared; as a massive flock of angry black birds, or dark shapes, flying in the air. The Irish and Scottish believed that they were the spirits of men, and women so evil, that they were rejected from both Heaven and Hell, and weren’t even welcome in the Otherworld; a type of parallel reality to the living world. The Sluagh were not even welcomed by any of the gods and goddesses in Celtic myths, despite there being quite a few deities that leaned towards the darker inclinations.
The Sluagh were also rejected even from earth; they were always seen flying, never allowed to touch the earth with their feet. They were always regarded as being destructive, and unwholesome. Even seeing the Sluagh coming was bad luck. Since medieval times, they have appeared in numerous Irish folklore, and have also survived in modern legends, and popular culture. Some theories today are that the Sluagh were merely incoming thunderstorms, the heavy black clouds anthropomorphizes into more malevolent creatures.
According to legends, the Sluagh always came from the west, flying on the wind as an angry airborne black mob of the undead. They also sometimes were said to try to enter the homes of the newly dead, or dying in order to snare their souls, and carry them away. Even innocent souls were not safe; the Sluagh were also believed to be able to kidnap anyone who did not immediately run inside and bolt their doors. It was believed that not all the spirits that rode with the Sluagh were wicked; some were prisoner souls that the Sluagh had stolen from dying men, or the living innocent victims.
