Another creature to add to the ever-growing list of Water Guardians, we have the Topik, or Topak, a demon born from the spirit of a drowning man.
Tainted Streams
As mentioned in the previous Water Guardian Post, Water Guardians can take on many forms. But there is a deeper layer that we can examine, how the Water itself affects them.
Not limited to Salt and Fresh Water, Water is a supernatural thing that can both bring and cleanse disease, it can wash away evil or drag you under. Bulgarian Folklore is filled with magical pools or cursed springs. Great warriors bathe in these streams before going to battle and heroes may gain great powers from drinking at these sites. Some specific enough to curse you with left handedness upon drinking from it.
But, as water can be blessed and cleansed, so to can it become tainted and sick.
Terrible Waters
Terrible Water is a general term for water inflicted with this kind of evil. A water that actively seeks to cause harm to the world around it. When heavy rain comes and rivers burst drowning livestock and ripping away crops, or when water dragged up from Wells. This water is darker, deeper than other waters, and can only be described as evil.
When taking anything from these pools of water, it is important to be respectful of the local Water Guardian, especially when they can drown you so easily. You must not take water from them at night, and at all other times not cross unless in silence. Disturbing the Water too much, or making too much noise would awaken these Guardians, and either through magic or force, they would ensure your suffering.
Local villagers would often leave offerings or gifts to calm the restless spirits, as mentioned before with the Minotaur like Water Bull, but other offerings included clothes, food and even other animals to satiate the hunger of the Guardians.
Terrible Water is inhabited by many Guardians, like Samodiva, Dragons, Sea Serpents and even at time Sorcerers, but for todays post I wanted to give a shout out to one that really caught my attention.
Drowning Ducks
Born from the spirit of a drowned man, the Topik is a demonic creature from Strahdanza in South Western Bulgaria. Often found in Reservoirs this demon has been described to take on the forms of a Dog and Duck. Trying to lure people to the water bank to share their own water grave.
But unfortunately, this is all I can so far find on the topic of Topik's. I truly wish I could find more and learn about their older traditions or what exactly creates them, but there doesn't appear to be much I can find, even with the resources I have available. Only mentioned a few times as part of larger sections of Water Guardians. And presumably acting under their same rules, of showing respect and offerings at the risk of drowning or floods.
But nether the less, the idea of giant Elemental Duck Demons is certainly eye catching, and helps to show the sheer breadth of belief on the power of water.
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