Grieves

Flocks of spirits which haunt guilty, unfaithful sailors on the seas of the southern ocean. The first sign of Grieves is said to be a disruption of one's natural circadian rhythm. To a person in these stages of a haunting, the sun is said to go dark, as if hidden behind an infinite expanse of cloud. Despite the darkness around them, a target of Grieves is then rendered unable to sleep for some time, ranging from a day or two to entire seasons. However, once they do eventually succumb to the dream, their fate is all but sealed. It is then that the flock of Greeves descend from the skies far above to claim their prey.
The exact appearance of Grieves as described by those who have survived their attacks varies heavily, though they all tend to resemble tiny winged humanoids. Some describe their faces as being a twisted caricature of their lover's face. Others describe them as instead having a bird or human skull where their face should be. Some describe the face of each Grieve as a death mask, optionally covered with a veils or blindfolds. Their wings usually resemble those of a raven or crow, though more unusual forms, such as the wings of gulls, even flies, moths and other insects have been reported.
Even more diverse than reports of their appearance are the ways in which Grieves are said to dispose of their targets. Infamous instruments of death, from the tried-and-true stick and stone, to more advanced implements like knives, pitchforks, and lashes, to the cruel and unusual punishments of cattle prods and branding irons. All of these and more are said to be wielded with terrifying ferocity by a flock of Grieves. At other times, these avian harbingers of death are said to dispose of weapons entirely, relying on their teeth and claws to pierce flesh and armour alike. No matter the method, the aftermath of a Grieve attack is marked by characteristic bloody lesions upon the deceased target's skin, ranging from a bruisy blue to vile black in colour.
Sometimes, these birds are even said to carry messages from the lips of Death itself and deliver them in written form, using the blood and bodies of their victims for their paints and canvas. For this reason, a flock of Grieves is also called a 'Kiss of Death'.