Welcome to the second installment of Vette of the Month! This is a feature which will be published monthly up until NordicFuzzCon 2015, where our theme is Scandinavian Folklore: the Enchanted Forest.

Vette (plural: vetter) is an archaic Norwegian word which serves as catch-all term for supernatural beings. In these installments we will introduce you to a different creature (or vette) from Scandinavian folklore every month, as well as giving you an artist's interpretation of said creature.

Without further ado, we would like to present you to this month's vette:

LYKTGUBBE

Near moors, bogs and marshlands, it is not uncommon for travelers to encounter ghostly, shimmering lights. When moving closer they may appear as glowing detached heads, or as men carrying lanterns. But when people approach, perhaps being curious and wanting to get a better look at the creature, the light will move further away, luring the traveler from the safety of the path and into the often dangerous wetlands.

A lyktgubbe (translated: lantern man, plural: lyktgubbar) is believed to be the soul of an unbaptized man or woman, trying to lure others into the water in the hopes that they may somehow get baptized, thus allowing their souls to rest. Some also believe that they could mark the location of hidden treasures, adding to the allure of following the lights. While their intent may not be malign, following a lyktgubbe has more than once resulted in death by drowning.

Stories are told all over the world of these glowing lights and ghostly visages, usually encountered in various wetlands and often leading travelers astray. Stories of their origins and intent do, however, vary greatly. Other popular names for them are jack-o'-lantern, fairy light, and will-o'-'the-wisp. Some may remember the latter from the Pixar movie Brave, where they lure the film's protagonist into the forest.

Drawing by Rowkey