Kelpie

Kelpie Creature4

NE Large Amphibious Fey

Senses Perception +11; low-light vision

Languages Aquan, Common, Sylvan

Skills Athletics +11, Deception +14, Stealth +10

Str +5, Dex +2, Con +3, Int -1, Wis +3, Cha +4

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AC 21; Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +14

HP 60; Weaknesses cold iron 5; Resistances fire 5

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Speed 35 feet, swim 35 feet

Melee [one-action] jaws +13, Damage 2d6+7 bludgeoning plus Grab

Captivating Lure [two-actions] (concentrate, emotion, enchantment, incapacitation, mental, primal) The kelpie instills an overwhelming attraction to itself within the mind of a single creature within 60 feet. The target perceives the kelpie as a desirable person (if the kelpie is in humanoid form) or a valuable steed (if the kelpie is in equine form) and must attempt a DC 23 Will saving throw.

Critical Success The creature is unaffected and is temporarily immune to Captivating Lure for 24 hours.

Success The creature is stupefied 1 for 1 round and is then temporarily immune to Captivating Lure for 24 hours.

Failure The creature is fascinated, and it must spend each of its actions to move closer to the kelpie as expediently as possible while avoiding obvious dangers. If a captivated creature is adjacent to the kelpie, it either attempts to mount the kelpie (if the kelpie is in equine form) or stays still and doesn’t act. If the creature is attacked by the kelpie, or if it can’t breathe water and enters an area of water, the creature is freed from captivation at the end of the kelpie’s turn.

Critical Failure As failure, but the target doesn’t consider water a danger and will enter an area of water even if it can’t swim or breathe water. If it is attacked by the kelpie or starts to drown, it can attempt a new save at the start of its next turn, but it isn’t freed automatically.

Change Shape [one-action] (concentrate, polymorph, primal, transmutation) The kelpie can take on the appearance of any Medium or Large animal of an equine nature (such as a horse, hippocampus, or pony), or any Small or Medium humanoid. This doesn’t change its Speeds or its attack and damage modifiers with its Strikes.

About

Kelpies are malevolent amphibious fey shapechangers intent on luring mortals to their doom. These cruel predators lurk in and around areas of water, slightly preferring freshwater over saltwater. Kelpies lure or drag their prey underwater then drown and devour them, leaving behind only the victim’s heart and liver- the only parts of a meal kelpies find unpleasant. Kelpies are fond of magically disguising itself as fine steeds or attractive strangers to draw in victims, but its true appearance takes the form of a hideous equine with slimy, green flesh resembling aquatic plants.

Some fanciful stories about kelpies speak of them appearing in equine form wearing riding tack, complete with silver stirrups and bridle bit. These folktales claim that cutting the harness from the kelpie’s body grants the bearer power over it, or causes the kelpie to sicken and die. In truth, doing so has no ill effect on a kelpie, suggesting these stories are spread by kelpies themselves to further trick prey into making foolish mistakes.