Sunday, October 8, 2023

Here a Wesen, There a Wesen, Everywhere a Wesen Wesen (part 1)

 
The next thing I wanted to talk about was all the Wesen that seem to habitate in and around Portland Oregon where Nick Burkhardt, the Grimm, is centered.  
 
 
                                                                  Hexenbiest

 

First up is a Hexenbiest which is your basic witch.  The witch in Snow White?  Hexenbiest.  The witch who tried to capture and eat Hansel and Gretel?  Hexenbiest!  The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz?  Well, actually I don't know she's not in Grimm's Fairy Tales, ya know copyright infringement and all that.  In their human form they look like any other woman.  Adalind Schade is the first Hexenbiest we meet in the series although plenty more would come around.  When they woge, (pronounce like the fashion magazine Vogue) which is when they turn into their true wesen state, any Grimm can see them.  Most of the human world cannot see the change and usually when they can see the change the person who sees it usually doesn't have long to live as it means the Wesen is about to kill them or at least try to.  When a Hexenbiest woges they retain most of their human form except their skin seems to decay, their teeth become sharper, and their hair turns gray to some degree.  In their woged form they are some of the most powerful Wesen in the series.  They possess superhuman strength, telekinesis, pyrokinetic, and seductive powers.  They have a vast knowledge of magic in making potions and other concoctions.  Each Hexenbiest has different degrees to their skills.  Some are more skilled than others and it would seem that each one may possess individual skills.  One is shown to be able to make a key that opens any door.  Another was shown to have the ability to bring the recently deceased back from the dead.  Excerpt from Grimm Diaries: "Witch-like creature that somewhat resembles a demon or goblin. They work at the behest of royalty and are identifiable by a dark birthmark under their tongues.  Appears to be eyeless when transformed but has no visual impairment. Extraordinary beauty in human form.  Highly intelligent and cunning."

 

Blutbad


Blutbad (translation is literally "Blood Bath") are wolf-like Wesen.  They retain a good deal of their human form when they woge with their features mostly sharpening as opposed to a full change into wolf form like the legendary werewolf.  Think about the Big Bad Wolf in the Three Little Pigs story or Little Red Riding Hood (which the first episode of the series is loosely based on) and that is sort of what a Blutbad is just more human looking than wolf looking.  When woged their teeth become pointed, their eyes glow red, they gain increased facial hair, and they grow long claws on their hands.  Blutbaden have increased strength in both human and Wesen states.  Their usual means of killing their prey is by biting the neck or throat.  They have increased speed and agility.  With heightened durability as well as resiliency, they are harder to injure than a normal human.  They are excellent trackers due to their incredible sense of smell.  Their hearing is also increased to that of more than a normal human.  While they do not fear Grimms, most of them do hate Grimms and their first instinct is to attack.  Most Blutbad live solitary lives as they tend to be more aggressive and lose inhibitions when around other Blutbad showing that although they do have a pack mentality, they do not blend well in society when in a pack.  This could be why when Nick first meets Munroe he lives alone and doesn't have many friends.  While thought of as savages, they show great loyalty and make faithful allies to those who earn their trust making Munroe Nick's most trusted ally.  While natural meat eaters, some Blutbad in an attempt to lessen their ancestral urges will become vegetarians which Munroe is.  Blutbad are the most seen Wesen in the show.   Excerpt from Grimm Diaries: "Wolf-like creatures. They have an incredible sense of smell that can only be weakened by an herb called Wolfsbane.  Blutbaden are often violent in packs, especially when they see red. Their physical weak spot is on the lower back, an area of the lumbar vertebrae with a cluster of nerves. In between kills, Blutbaden fatten up their victims because they typically go a week between meals." 

 

 

Zauberbiest


Zauberbiests simply are male Hexenbiests which are termed warlocks in the Grimm world meaning "Oath-breakers".  When a Zauberbiest woges their skin also wrinkles and rots even more so than their female counterparts.  Their eyes also turn a deep red color and seem to glow.  On at least one occasion a Zauberbiest was shown to have the ability to turn someone to stone just by touching them.  They also possess the power of telekinesis and can create illusions with their mind.  For the most part Captain Renard, who is only half Zauberbiest does not have all of the abilities of a full blooded one.  One difference from their female counterparts the Hexenbiests is that Zauberbiest do not possess the knowledge of spells or magic.  Some spell books also are only able to be opened with Hexenbiest blood where Zauberbiest blood does not seem to have this ability.  Both tend to find power very attractive and can be rather selfish.  Of the two, a Zauberbiest is more sadistic and will attack it's own kind if they can profit from it.  Due to only being half Zauberbiest, Captain Renard, when woged, only half his face changes to his Wesen form.  Excerpt from Grimm Diaries: "A male version of a Hexenbiest, they are both rare and extremely powerful beings. Throughout time, they have been found in many places and known by many names: warlocks, wizards, mages, and shamans. All of them are equally influential and terrifying."

 

 

Fuchsbau


A Fuchsbau, meaning fox burrow, is just that; a fox like Wesen.  Compared to other canine type Wesen a Fuchsbau has a mild physical change when woged.  When they do woge they grow long orange fur on their faces with white and black patches.  Their facial features mostly stay the same with their ears becoming pointed, their teeth sharpening, and they get these cute little black noses.  Yeah, I sort of have a thing for Rosalee who I mentioned in an earlier post is a Fuchsbau.  They do not have any considerable increase in strength although it does seem their jaw strength may be boosted in their woged state.  Their sense of smell is increased to that equal to the Blutbad or even greater in some cases.  In their human form they enjoy a better sense of smell than the average human.  In order to increase their eyesight it has been shown they can woge just their eyes if needed to be able to see better.  Fuchsbau are generally loyal and friendly but have been shown to be included in some illegal activity.  For some reason in the Wesen community they are looked upon as liars.  Fuchsbau fear Grimms and will usually run away instead of fight.  While it is a fact that Fuchsbau skin is more valuable than that of the Blutbad, I cannot disclose exactly how we came to possess this knowledge.  Excerpt from Grimm Diaries:  "Fox-like creatures known for being extremely sly."  Gotta hand it to that Grimm Diary; nails it every time!

 

More Wesen to come.       



      

 

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