Folklore, Urban Legends, and Spirits of Germany.

The Tall Man.

Around 16th-18th century Germany has a legend labeled "Der Großmann". This name is roughly translated to "The Tall Man", "The Great Man", "The Big Man", and others. The legend is located from Schwarzwald, otherwise known as the Black Forest, a fair sized area in southwest Germany. This forest, is the central focus for the Der Großmann legend.

As the story goes, Der Großmann is a fairy who lives in the Black Forest. Parents would warn their children not to go into the woods late at night, or even stay up too late for that matter. They also added, that if the children did not do this, then Der Großmann would come and take them. How would he take them? Well, the stories vary.

For children who had gone into the forest despite their parents warnings, Der Großmann is said to have chased them in his forest. He would continue this pursuit until he finally caught the children, stealing them away to an unknown end. Or, the chase would also stop when the child returned home and confessed to their parents what they had done, or that they had disobeyed them and gone in the forest. At very least in this method, there is hope of escape. Other stories tell of less happy outcomes.

Some stories tell of how he lures in children by haunting them, and whispering voices in their head to come to him. Children who go to him are said to walk into his many arms and be taken away. A few other stories also say, that Der Großmann will come tapping at the window of a child who stays up too late, and he will take them. Their fate, cryptically and as the legend repeats, unknown. Maybe their souls are taken? Like with English faeries?

This being was what fueled the Slenderman and his many games creation.