Hippocampi and Kelpie are bygone creatures.
Overview[]
- If all the creatures of the seas were wondrous as the hippo-
- -campus, I would gladly brave the krakens of the deep.
- — Niklos Kazantzakis, Sahajiya poet
Legendry[]
When the world was free of the barriers that now bind it, spirit and matter mingled freely. Horses, running along lakes and oceans, would join with the protean spirits of the waves and water. On occasion, their games would culminate in love-play. The spirits of the water would care for and see to the protection of foals born from such unions.
Hippocampi arose when the sea-kind took their foals into deep currents and hidden caves. There, the fish-kind taught the horse-children to swim and bestowed them gifts of fins and scales. Safe and happy, the hippocamp acquired good and trusting nature.
Kelpies were spawned when the babes were foaled during storms. In a tempest, angry spirits would take a babe and toss it to and fro until its nature was jangled and its heart was awash with spite. Half-drowned, it would always remember the terror of the sea and despite to show others what it had endured.
Description[]
Hippocampi love to play are willing to befriend any creature that doesn't seem hostile. Should the notion amuse them, these creatures may even allow themselves to be ridden. Much to the chagrin of many magi, these animals are just as capricious as they are helpful. Many a magus has been tossed unceremoniously onto a strange beach when she bored or annoyed the hippocampus she was riding. To their credit, hippocampi have never been known to drown a rider deliberately. Those that have killed are kelpie, and riders who can not discern between the temperaments of their would-be mounts deserve the fate they receive.
Hippocampi exert tremendous control over the element of water, and it is simple for them to impart the ability to breathe water to their riders. Likewise, they can remove the ability to breathe water from sea creatures; while they typically reserve this harsh treatment for overly persistent sharks, at least one kraken has died this way after trying to devour an entire herd of hippocampi in one gulp. Kelpie, on the other hand, would deny a fish or finned creature the right to breathe simply because it was "bothersome."
Greatest among the talents of hippocampi and kelpie is their ability to quell (or cause) huge waves. With sufficient motivation, the sea-horses can create tremendous currents of water resembling storm-surges, which they ride onto land. Even a small herd of four or five angry creatures can bring the ocean well inland to destroy structures and drown enemies. Such an even has been observed only once. The subject of the creatures' ire was a butcher in Lyon who had been pouring horse blood from an abattoir directly into the sea.
Land-dwellers are largely ignorant of the existence of hippocampi and kelpie, but seamen see them as a matter of course and spend hours discussing them, competing to tell the most outrageous tales about the creatures. Any crew learns immediately if it passes through a hippocampi habitat; the majestic beasts rise to the surface to play, zigzagging through the crests and troughs of the ship's wake. Alert sailors know kelpie to do the same, but to lure a ship to jagged rocks or far off course.
These beings are creatures of the oceans. While they prefer warm waters, they can be found anywhere. They avoid populated shores or highly traveled seaways, as the water in those places is typically dirty and foul-tasting.
Future Fate[]
When the barriers rose and the worlds were split, the seaside games came to an end. However, even now a wild horse occasionally gallops along the shore. Maybe, just maybe, a playful spirit could seep through the Mists and join the race, possibly leading to the birth of a foal. Whether the foal will be hippocampus or kelpie - peace or a storm - none can say. Such is the way of the sea, which gives and takes in equal measure.
Image[]
The fore quarters of a hippocampus or kelpie are like those of a large horse - though a hippocampus has large fins where hooves would be. The hind quarters comprise a long agile, fish tail with which the creature propels itself through the water at spectacular speeds. The best's equine portions are white, while its piscine remains are iridescent blue and green.
Roleplaying Hints[]
What a wonderful thing it is to be curious, whether for its own sake or to see what kind of harm you can do! Go where your sense of wonder or frustration takes you! Be friendly or bitter toward land-dwellers; they have to be absolutely fascinating (or amusing to harm) to hold your attention for long. You fear nothing in the ocean because you can out-swim anything. Besides, life isn’t about fear, it’s about fun — no matter what form it takes!
Character Sheet[]
References[]
- WOD: The Bygone Bestiary, p. 39-40
