A Kelpie is a sea fae that lures the unwary to a watery death. One appears in Rosemary and Rue.
About[]
Kelpies appear near bodies of water as a fog colored horse with glowing red eyes and fangs, and smell like seaweed and blood. They will bite if approached. They are intelligent, smarter than horses, but can be overcome with confidence and strength of will. They have basic illusion abilities to protect themselves while lying in wait for victims. They may hunt in groups.[1]
Compare to the Hippocampus, a water horse small enough for a standard fish tank.
Characters[]
Unnamed Kelpie[]
"A black horse stood by the curb in the deepest part of the shadow, the smell of debris masking its characteristic blood-and-seaweed scent. Its eyes were red, and the look it gave me was inviting, promising wild adventures and fantastic delights if I'd just get onto its back. I waved it off with one hand, walking on. Only an idiot would trust a Kelpie this close to the water. Getting on its back with the scent of the sea in the air would be a fast, painful way of committing suicide, and I'm not a fan of pain." [1]
Mythology[]
Kelpie, or water kelpie, is the Scots name given to a water being inhabiting the lochs and pools of Scotland. It has usually been described as appearing as a horse, but is able to adopt human form. Some accounts state that the kelpie retains its hooves when appearing as a human, leading to its association with the Christian idea of Satan. Almost every sizeable body of water in Scotland has an associated kelpie story, but the most extensively reported is that of Loch Ness.[2]
The creature could take many forms and had an insatiable appetite for humans; its most common guise was that of a beautiful tame horse standing by the riverside – a tempting ride for a weary traveler. Anybody foolish enough to mount the horse – perhaps a stranger unaware of the local traditions – would find themselves in dire peril, as the horse would rear and charge headlong into the deepest part of the water, submerging with a noise like thunder to the travelers watery grave. The Kelpie was also said to warn of impending storms by wailing and howling, which would carry on through the tempest. This association with thunder – the sound its tail makes as it submerges under water – and storms, may be related to ancient worship of river and weather deities by the ancient Celts, although this is difficult to substantiate.[3]
There was one way in which a Kelpie could be defeated and tamed; the Kelpies power of shape shifting was said to reside in its bridle, and anybody who could claim possession of it could force the Kelpie to submit to their will. [3]
References[]
Gallery[]
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