Kelp
| Kelp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fauna | |
| Official Name | Kelp |
| Common Nicknames | Charmers, Deceivers. |
| Classification | Reptile. |
| Habitat | Bodies of water in New Ceardia. |
| Domesticated | No. |
| Current Status | Rare. |
Cunning and deceitful, the kelps of Aloria were only recently found near the shores of New Ceardia. Prone to taking on guises that anybody could trust, they are notorious for luring their victims to secluded places and attacking them. They predominantly dwell in underwater caves, preferring to rest far away from the watchful eye. Kelps are rare, beautiful, and fascinating, but a person should treat them with utmost care when in contact with these creatures.
Appearance
Slightly smaller than the average human, kelps usually seem to resemble impossibly beautiful women. In reality, this is only a magical enchantment, meant to hide their ugly and malicious appearance. Their true forms are normally very alien and appear very similar to slender predator maiar draped in seaweed clothing.
While humans have only sighted kelps with a beautiful woman’s guise, or undisguised entirely, kelps actually possess the ability to disguise themselves as any roughly similar creature. A kelp that encounters a Naylar, for example, will take on the appropriate form of a Naylar female. While the limits to their magic is unknown, it is safe to assume that they can disguise themselves as almost any remotely humanoid race.
Habitat
Kelps are a rare but adaptive species, they have been recorded in a number of bodies of water all around the Aloria. Most commonly kelps can found in the river banks of New Ceardia, where they are believed to originate. These areas tend to be rather undeveloped and are avoided by travelers clever enough to heed the warnings of the locals.
Kelps will generally reside in any body of water, be it running, fresh, or salty—though they always look to find an underwater cave of sorts, and will only form hunting grounds around one. kelps absolutely need shelter for many things, as they do tire from sustaining their illusions like any magic user, and require a space to hide while they rest. kelps rarely, if at all, use their magic when out of sight, and are strictly conservative and efficient in using their ability.
First Encounter
While these creatures had long been fooling the land dwellers in various parts of the world, the true nature of their existence wasn’t discovered until the colonization of New Ceardia began. Scouting parties consisting of young men would be led in order to explore the untapped wilderness of the continent, more often than not following one of the many rivers sprawling its landscape. When it became a noticeable problem after several groups of able men had gone missing, a search party was organized. One of these groups managed to track a particular exploration team toward a seemingly innocent lake where a small river had ended. To their horror they found a small enclave of the creatures, devouring bits of the drowned explorers. Suddenly aware of their sudden attention, the scaly creatures unnaturally faded into the image of peaceful women. The ill-timed ploy was wasted on the explorers as they managed to kill one of the vile creatures. As for the remaining creatures, they quickly fled, seeing that one of their own had been killed by the search party. After the kelps fled, the search party remained behind to investigate the deceased creature as well as the rest of the enclave.
History
Kelps are considered a minor traveler’s concern. Their existence and fatal charm often go largely unanticipated by ignorant young adventurers and merchants spitefully being led into their watery graves by the vixens. Luckily, ever since the unexpected discovery of their existence, educated locals were able to ward off their magical lures. The creatures have been largely avoided, but on occasion were found boarding small trade ships attempting to fool the less informed into becoming their next victims. These instances however, are generally accepted to be rare and desperate attempts made only by starving kelps, and more often than not, the bizarreness of the approach raises enough rational thought in sailors to see through the magic.
Trivia & Speculation
- Kelps are one of the very few creatures on Aloria that are born with an affinity toward magic.
- Kelps are able to speak convincingly in common when disguised by their magics. However, what Kelps that have been caught undisguised only communicated in an incomprehensible, guttural fashion.
- Kelps have many similar qualities of the Maiar, but remain distinctly classified for certain reasons. Kelps boasts nearly no intelligence outside of the clever use of Hex Magic that their species had somehow come to acquire naturally. Researchers of the Seraph have come to believe that they are possibly Maiar that were once tested by the ancient race, giving them magical abilities in exchange for lesser intelligence.
- Items adorned with scales from a kelp tend to act as a popular amplifier of charm magic. However, the elusiveness of the creatures makes their hunting fairly difficult. One kelp scale can sell for upwards of ten thousand regals depending on the region.
- Unionists often use kelps as an example to demonstrate magic’s dangers.
- While kelps are inherently born with a heightened ability to use Hex Magic, researchers who have studied them find that parents will teach their kin Hex Magic sometimes days after they are born. Their individual forms are not nearly as varied as any sentient species on Aloria, but kelps have been observed using their abilities in unique ways.
- There was an incident at the beginning of 302 AC when a woman was out collecting shells with her ten year old daughter. The two of them came upon a gorgeous woman soaking in the waves, and while the child became enamored and sought to talk to the kelp, the mother criticized the woman for soiling her nice clothes.
Accreditation
- Written by Goldenrook.
- Processed by Plecy and Ryciera, with contributions from DJWingedHope.