Lamia

Encyclopedia Entry:
Monsters with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a snake. Highly intelligent and individualistic, some form villages of their own kind, while others live alongside humans.

Those who live in the lamia-only villages (the so-called wild lamia) lurk around roads that humans travel. Keeping under cover so that only their human upper body is visible, a lamia will use her sweet, magically charming voice to entice human men that come walking along. She then traps the enraptured man within her serpentine coils, and uses him to satisfy her body’s sexual desires. Afterwards, if she is pleased with her catch, she will bring him home and marry him – whether he likes it or not.

All lamia go through a fixed cycle of shedding. Like a molting snake, a lamia casts off the skin of her lower body. Caution is necessary: immediately after shedding, a lamia will be in a state of extreme lust. A man who carelessly approaches her will be knocked down and immobilized; she will have her way with him until she tires.

Lamia are extremely jealous and vindictive. If a lamia’s husband is unfaithful to her, it is said that she will not rest until she has strangled him to death, even if she must pursue him to the ends of the earth.

Subspecies

 * Echidna
 * Medusa
 * Shirohebi