The Wild Hunt originates from European folklore and possibly myth. There are many legends of the Hunt, but notable among them is that the cavalcade is led by the god Odin.
The medieval German hero Dietrich von Bern is said to have been carried off by the Hunt at the end of his life.
To look upon the riders is perilous. It is also considered an omen of death, as the riders are the souls of the dead themselves.
One of the earliest references to the Hunt appears in the writings of the 12th-century British writer Walter Map, who names the king as Herla.
The appearance of the Wild Hunt is also an omen of war, and signifies the coming of war or tragedy.
The abductions or disappearances affiliated with the Wild Hunt are most common during or before times of war.