Hello lovelies!
Most of you may know this creature from Dungeons and Dragons, as a playeable race and npc, but while most would see them as violent, beastly creatures, that is not entirely what they were characterised as in the original lore. In fact, a bugbear was more similar to the boogeyman.
Now, the world is full of boogeymen, but those are usually sneaky creatures. The bugbear is described as fierce and violent, which is not necessarily unique. However, I still think no list of creatures to write about is complete without a children eating hobgoblin.
So, let's do just that!
General Description:
The bugbear's most common description is similar to your run-of-the-mill wilderness moster, and even somewhat compareable to Bigfoot. It's a large, fierce, wild creature with incredible strength and covered in shaggy fur. The colour of the fur is usually not specifically described, but considering his forested environment, one can assume it's some form of brown, matted with twigs and dirt. On top of that, its teeth and claws are long and sharp to better catch and devour its prey. So, not a creature you would ever really want to encounter.
Children's Boogeyman:
This one is fairly classic. Children were told all the time that they should behave and not to into the woods, otherwise the bugbear would catch and eat them. So, if you want to write a children's story that features a boogeyman, this creature will do nicely. However, it's not only those stories for which this could work.
His design is simplistic and wild, reminiscent of wild animals which could pose a threat to humans, even outside the forest. So, it's a prime tool to get children to behave, and adults to barricade their homes to protect their offspring. Meaning, you could easily write a suspense or even horror story, with this creature as the main villain.
The bugbear as children's boogeyman is its oldest and most well-known reputation. However, that doesn't mean it just gets to be in old wives' tales or stories targeted at children. It can be used as a real, horrifying threat to a community, and prey on parents' most primal fear.
In other words, go nuts!
Wilderness warning:
While I've discussed the way a bugbear can be used as a threat against children, as that is its primary function, the bugbear can, at the same time, be a representation of the dangers of the wilderness. After all, it has the appearance similar to that of a wild animal, kills to eat human flesh, and then scurries back to its forested home
So, in tune with both these actions and its territory, it's not hard to picture this creature as a representation of the harsh reality that living close to dense wildlife can bring. There's no reasoning or diplomacy when it comes to the fiercest side of nature, there's only adaptation and survival. Meaning, this is a great creature to reinforce that notion.
Using the bugbear in this context works well alongside its persona as a boogeyman, as it enhances the tension even further, and allowing more general dread, that isn't necessarily just tied to child abduction, to set in. The primal fear of the environment outside your home or your town not being safe is something most suspense and horror stories can take advantage of.
I hope this has been fun and entertaining, and that you've found a new creature to scare children with!
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Goodbye, lovelies!
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