Characteristics
According to old German belief, drudes are virgins and priestesses who are possessed in a certain way, enabling them to split off a drude from their spirit. This was known as the Drudenfluch or "drude's curse". Sometimes they voluntarily chose to do so, while in other cases it is forced upon them. Although this can have either a benevolent or malevolent effect on humans and elves, women suffering from the drude's curse will keep this a secret from their fellow human beings. The only way to free oneself from the curse is by being given a very tame and important domestic animal to pass the drude onto, which kills the animal in the process. It was believed that amongst seven daughters there would be one drude.
Drudes typically take the form of an ugly, old, withered woman, who is, at the same time, very heavy. This old woman creeps into homes at night through the smallest of cracks and openings. Once in the room, the drude sits on the person's chest and possesses them. Drudes are also shapeshifters and can appear as feathers, clouds of smoke, bumblebees, snakes or toads.
A drude is always female but often confused with the Trude, a half-human, half-birdlike being that shares some features with drudes.
The only way to prevent being possessed by a drude is by using a charm or exercising magic.
Read more about this topic: Drude