Tokkaebi (tʰok͈ɛpi)
Tokkaebi are a type of spirit that are associated with the Ryeong family of gods and spirits. They are a widely varied group, but are typically associated with mischief, misfortune, and even evil. They are most commonly found among the Daemado Islands and the Seom Islands.
These spirits are most commonly associated with natural locations. The Tokkaebi found in the Daemado Islands are far more active and malicious than those that inhabit the Seom Islands, so much so that navigating the waters around the Daemados requires a Giljabi Tokkaebi to safely pass through.
One thing all the Tokkaebi have in common is a taste for blood, specifically the blood of sentient beings, freely offered. They will bargain with people for a meal of blood, but will not attack someone for it, claiming that they cannot benefit from the meal unless a sentient person spills it for them, either their own, or someone elses. Interestingly, it does not matter if the blood donor was willing, as long as some sentient creature offers the blood to the Tokkaebi. This interest in blood has caused some people to think they are actually revenants of some variety that have transcended into a permanent spirit, but there is no solid evidence to support this.
Another common trait of the Tokkaebi is that they tend to possess and animate objects, especially those that have been stained with blood. There are several tales of Tokkaebi possessed weapons that grant the wielder exceptional powers, in exchange for the blood spilled in combat. However, Tokkaebi weapons have the tendency to drive the wielder insane, stoking their bloodlust to levels that eventually overtake their need to sleep or eat, sending them on a killing spree that does not end until the wielder is slain or dies from exhaustion. Some have tried to avoid this fate by giving away the Tokkaebi weapon, but this enrages the spirit, who will then attempt to slay their former wielder by any means available to them.
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