Classification: Mythical Beasts & Cryptids

Temporal Range: Unknown, possibly as early as 13th Century

Geographic Range: West Africa, primarily Togo and Ghana

Diet: The blood of women and children

Horde: West African

Tales of the Adze are carried through stories from the Ewe people in Togo and Ghana. They describe a vampiric firefly, which enters the home at night through cracks, open windows or even keyholes and then feeds upon the sleeping inhabitants, drinking their blood until they are sated. Skeptics suggest that stories of this creature exist as a way of understanding how insects carry diseases such as malaria. 

Locals have said that if an Adze is caught (which it must be noted, is very difficult to do), it can turn into a human and attempt to possess their victims. While their victims vary, they prefer to drink the blood of children but when it comes to possession, they prefer to target women. However, they have been known to attack any humans they can find. 

While in its humanoid form, the Adze has been described as hunchbacked with long talons. It can only be killed in this form so we recommend setting out plenty of bug traps and waiting patiently.