Aswang: The Viscera Eater
The Sound on the Roof
In the rural provinces of the Philippines, the night is not quiet. But there is a specific sound that stops all conversation: a flapping on the corrugated tin roof. It sounds like a large bat, but heavier.
If a pregnant woman is in the house, the atmosphere shifts to terror. The sound is not an animal. It is an Aswang (specifically the Manananggal variant), landing to feed. It is listening for the heartbeat of the unborn.
The Butcher of Capiz
The term "Aswang" is a catch-all classification for a complex ecosystem of predatory shapeshifters. While Western vampires are aristocrats, the Aswang is a butcher.
By day, an Aswang appears fully human—often a shy, reclusive woman with long hair. She integrates into the village, often working as a vendor or butcher. But biological analysis reveals distinct traits: her reflection is inverted, and if you look into her eyes, your own reflection will appear upside down. This is the mark of a creature whose internal geometry is reversed.
Taxonomy of Terror
The Aswang species has multiple phenotypes, each adapted for specific hunting methods.
- The Tik-Tik: A shapeshifter that transforms into a large bird. It makes a "tik-tik" sound. The terrifying physics of this sound is that the louder it is, the further away the monster is. If the sound is faint, she is right next to you.
- The Manananggal: The self-segmenting predator. At night, she separates her torso from her legs. Bat wings sprout from her back, and she flies in search of prey, leaving her lower half hidden in the bushes.
- The Sigbin: A ground-based variant resembling a reptilian dog or kangaroo that walks backward.
The Tongue of the Night
The primary feeding mechanism is the proboscis—a long, tubular tongue that extends like a garden hose.
The Aswang lands on the roof of a victim's house. She finds a hole in the thatch or tin. She lowers her tongue thread-thin through the gap until it reaches the stomach of a sleeping pregnant woman. The tongue penetrates the skin painlessly and sucks out the fetus. It is a parasitic extraction, silent and fatal.
Survival Protocols
Defending against an Aswang requires a combination of spiritual and chemical warfare.
- Garlic and Salt: The creature's metabolism is violently allergic to purification agents. Hanging garlic bulbs at windows acts as a chemical barrier.
- The Lower Half: Against a Manananggal, the only kill-shot is to find her lower half (the legs) while she is flying. Sprinkling salt or ash on the exposed flesh prevents the two halves from rejoining. When the sun rises, the separated torso burns.
- The Stingray Tail: A whip made from the tail of a stingray (buntot pagi) is the only physical weapon that can wound an Aswang flesh.
The Morning After
An Aswang does not vanish at dawn. She walks among you.
The Final Warning
If your neighbor seems tired, if she avoids eye contact, if she smells faintly of raw meat despite washing her hands... be careful, and check your roof.
