Bethesda has released a list detailing the many mysterious West Virginian myths, and monsters that will make an appearance in Fallout 76, in a recent blog post. We’ve compiled the images into the gallery down below.
That list includes the likes of the Wendigo, the Snallygaster, the Mothman, the Grafton Monster, and the Flatwoods monster. Each of these monsters are embedded in American myth, with most of them even being specifically from West Virginia and its surrounding states Fallout 76 is inviting you to hunt these creatures down and discover the truth behind their existence.
Each of the creatures has a distinct background and story behind their existence as myths. The Wendigo was originally meant to be a cautionary tale to repel people from falling to acts of cannibalism. The story goes that anybody that consumed human flesh, risks the chance of becoming one of these creatures and developing a permanent taste for human flesh.
The Snallygaster is actually a Germanic myth that originated in Maryland. It’s a dragon-like creature that was known for its speed, with its name originally being “Schneller Geist” which means in English quick ghost. Appearances of the Snallygaster would deal with it swooping down from the skies and attacking people.
The Mothman is an urban legend, denoting a man with glowing red eyes in its chest area, no discernible head, and moth-like wings. Most instances of its appearance would entail it acting more as a watcher, following people for miles upon miles and watching them. There have been instances where it’s been described to attack certain animals, such as dogs or deer.
An ape-like creature, the Grafton Monster, stands as a hulking mass with a massive height to it. The monster is often described as being headless, as it appears in the photo above, or that it simply tucks its head down in order to protect it. It remains to be seen whether the monster will rear its supposed head in Fallout 76.
The story of the Flatwoods monster is one of less prestige than the rest; it was a single occurrence that captured the minds of West Virginians. In 1952, two brothers and their friend saw a flash of light beam across the night sky, ultimately crashing into the Earth. When the group reached the crash site, they described a tall, man-like figure with a round, red face surrounded by a pointed, hood-like shape.
West Virginian urban myth is plentiful, and we’re excited to see what else they may include in the full game. If there’s anything you’re hoping for specifically, throw it in the comments below!
Fallout 76 launches on Nov. 14 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For even more on Fallout 76 you can check out its most recent live-action trailer, and see why the game just “wasn’t doable” on Nintendo Switch.
