Ocasta : The Stonecoat

Ocasta

Introduction

In the folklore of the Yamasee Cherokee in the southern United States, there is a being referred to as the Ocasta, or “Stone Coat.” Interestingly, this creature is averse to the presence of menstruating women, viewing them as “Moon sick.” Initially dispatched to Earth by the divine to aid humanity, the Ocasta’s heart eventually succumbed to malevolence.

Physical Traits

In the realm of legend, the Ocasta, also recognized as the “Stone Coat,” is depicted as an enormous humanoid creature with a body completely adorned in flint, rendering it impervious to all forms of weaponry.

Family

Functioning as one of the Creator’s aides, Ocasta harbored both benevolent and malevolent traits. Utilizing his abilities, Ocasta crafted witches and traversed from village to village, sowing discord and turmoil. His indecisiveness between good and evil led him to alternate between aiding the Creator one day and wreaking havoc the next.

Other names

Named after the coat fashioned from flint fragments that adorned him, Ocasta served as one of the Creator’s assistants, exhibiting a blend of positive and negative attributes. He played a role in the creation of witches and journeyed from village to village, instigating disruption wherever his presence was felt.

Powers and Abilities

Endowed with just one innate magical ability – the capacity to become invisible at will, Ocasta faced limitations since he could only activate it while remaining unseen. Nevertheless, he possessed a walking stick, which proved useful for creating temporary bridges by hurling it across chasms. The bridge, however, vanished once he traversed it. Furthermore, the walking stick guided Ocasta to his preferred food – human livers.

Despite his solitary magical skill, Ocasta employed it for nefarious purposes, traversing from village to village, sowing discord. He engendered witches and instigated chaos wherever his presence loomed. Eventually, fed up with his disruptions, some women took action by trapping him, impaling him to the ground with a stick through his heart. As he neared death, Ocasta was cremated by the men.

Yet, amidst the flames of his funeral pyre, a miraculous transformation occurred. Overwhelmed by a newfound sense of goodness, Ocasta imparted knowledge to the men, teaching them songs and dances for hunting, warfare, and healing. Enlightened by his guidance, some became the first medicine men, passing down their acquired wisdom to subsequent generations.

Modern Day Influence

Ocasta has served as the inspiration for numerous characters in contemporary comics, often depicted as individuals covered in stone and posing significant threats to the main protagonists. In recent times, various spin-off characters embodying the earth element have also emerged, drawing inspiration from the legacy of Ocasta.