Skin Walker: Difference between revisions

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A Skin Walker, also known as a "yee naaldlooshii", is ''usually'' a person with the supernatural ability to [[Shapeshifting|change their form]] into either [[Animorphism|an animal]] or [[Doppelganger|another human being]]. Being very similar to [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Werewolves]], and other paranormal shape changers, most skin walkers abilities are largely powered by [[Black Magic|dark ritual]], and the breaking of native taboos (Such as cannibalism, incest and murder, especially of family members) or are heralded to create them. Each tribes' version differs in details. Most Skinwalkers are differentiated from their brethren by being able to take multiple shapes, but are not free-form shapeshifters. The myths usually describe them as humans who wear only an animal skin, or an abomination of human and animal forms.

A '''Skin Walker''', also known as a "yee naaldlooshii", is ''usually'' a person with the supernatural ability to [[Shapeshifting|change their form]] into either [[Animorphism|an animal]] or [[Doppelganger|another human being]]. Being very similar to [[Our Werewolves Are Different|Werewolves]], and other paranormal shape changers, most skin walkers abilities are largely powered by [[Black Magic|dark ritual]], and the breaking of native taboos (Such as cannibalism, incest and murder, especially of family members) or are heralded to create them. Each tribes' version differs in details. Most Skinwalkers are differentiated from their brethren by being able to take multiple shapes, but are not free-form shapeshifters. The myths usually describe them as humans who wear only an animal skin, or an abomination of human and animal forms.

Primarily detailed in many Native American tales, these entities are sometimes portrayed as either practicing witches, or aspects of the trickster deity (Coyote) or something [[Eldritch Abomination|worse]], from the shared mythology of many indigenous American peoples, Skinwalkers are considered one of the most fearsome monsters from [[Native American Mythology]]. In those myths, they have a few extra powers, including [[Telepathy]], [[Voice Changeling]] (mimicing animal and human sounds) and the creation of poisonous/disease ridden "Witch Powder" or the [[Evil Eye]]. Some cannot fully shift into their animal forms and have a [[Glamour Failure|deformity]] (awkward gait, over-sized feet, etc.) revealing their true nature.

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* The protagonist of the ''[[Jane Yellowrock]]'' series is a skinwalker of Cherokee descent. The first book is, appropriately enough, called ''Skinwalker''.

* A skinwalker appears in [[The Dresden Files]] novel ''Turn Coat''. It mentions the classic version, the human witch, but also mentions the entities which teach them the trade: quasi-divine beings that grow more powerful the more they are feared and have an innate ability to know how to cause the maximum suffering in their victims. Gets into a [[Crazy Awesome]] [[Shapeshifter Showdown]] with [[Magical Native American|Listens-to-Wind]] (who kicks its ass in a manner most [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|righteous]]) at the end of the book. The book also presents an alternate method of killing a skinwalker: [[Nuke'Em|point-blank nuclear annihilation.]]

** The TV Show also had a ~~Skinwalker -- which~~ literally [[Squick|stole skins]] to assume its new forms.

** The TV Show also had a Skinwalker—which literally [[Squick|stole skins]] to assume its new forms.

* Mentioned, but never seen, in the ''[[Mercy Thompson]]'' novels. They are evil shamans who wear the skin of an animal to assume its form, and spread disease and death.