''In some regions of eastern Austria, as winter sets in, parents warned their children not to stray far into the woods. Often they would speak of some skinless horror, a boogeyman of sorts, that would carry away little ones when they got lost in the great forests that surrounded their villages.

To most strangers, these are nothing more than simple tales that were meant to spook the kids and make them behave. In reality, they describe an actual monstrosity that caused much anguish during the countless years of its existence.

As it often is with many monsters described in folk tales, it's exact origin is uncertain. According to some, it is a furious spirit, others say it is the corrupted protector of the forest; some kind of fay that went insane.

The flayed man (or the hooded vagabond) is dormant through most of the year - come winter and he begins stalking the woods, gnashing his teeth in anticipation of the next meal. He always brings along a blackbird; sometimes in a cage, sometimes it follows him around - its song lures curious children right into his hands, as though they were enchanted. Should he catch a person (usually the youth, although he will occasionally settle for adults), he devours their eyes and tongue and leaves them for dead. Even those who survive are usually catatonic and die within months.

According to folklore, every seven years the flayed man leaves the forests and slowly makes his way to the villages, entering houses and snatching children from their beds. In order to protect their families, men leave a flatbread doused in pig blood on the windows of their homes - it is said that such an offering will appease the flayed man and make him leave them in peace.''


It always amazed me how silly some folk tales could get and still creep me out, so I tried making something based on that. I'm not really sure how well it turned out.

As for the drawing itself... I took a much larger bite than I could chew. I still have a lot to learn about... well, everything, it seems.

Edit: It's not real folklore, just something I made up because I enjoy that kind of stuff.