According to myth, a race of subterranean humanoids who live on the flesh of the recently dead - usually scavenged by digging up into newly-buried coffins. According to occultists such as the Comte d'Erlette ghouls live beneath many of the world's great cities (notably Paris, with its famed Catacombs) and are intelligent. Indeed they are said to willingly interact with humans who share their interest in occult subjects, and often trade with those who practice black magic.

Legends of ghouls and creatures like them exists in many cultures, though the word ghul originates in Arabic culture.

Andrew Saunders believes that the creatures that came up from Lawrence Bacon's basement were Ghouls.