Selkie

A selkie, sometimes referred to as a (sort of) sealwere, was a very rare creature, capable of taking the form of a seal-like being, or a humanoid.

Description
Selkies were intelligent seal-like beings that, instead of flippers, had webbed hands and feet. Their eyes were either light blue or bright green, like that of emeralds. Other than that, they were indistinguishable to normal seals. These shapechangers were able to assume a human form, once per month, for around a week. They referred to the land above, where humans had settled, as the overworld. In their human form, they would visit the overworld and purchase supplies, or even information. They generally, however, had very limited knowledge of the world other than their own.

Behavior
These creatures enjoyed seafood and acted in a particular manner, sometimes leading to their unwanted detection. Oddly, they also enjoyed wine.

Combat
Their humanoid forms couldn't be dispelled, as antherions, but true seeing spells, or a creature with truesight, could see through the selkies' assumed form.

Selkies were usually unarmed, as weapons made swimming difficult, slowing them greatly. They also preferred to run from combat instead of fighting, utilizing their strong webbed arms and legs move away quickly. Thus, they used natural weapons, such as their sharp teeth in their natural form, but wielded weapons when taking on humanoid form.

Society
These shapechangers were often led by a single leader, who acted much like clerics, healing and curing other selkies. They could occasionally control the weather, either calming, or causing, a storm.

Selkie community was split between providers (males) and those who looked after the family (females). Both sexes were appreciated and respected, making selkie society very wholesome.

Selkies enjoyed seeking treasures, usually from sunken ships, which they hoarded in their homely grottos. As well as grottos, selkies inhabited underwater caverns in cold water (saltwater, or freshwater) environments. Their cavern-like homes had access to air, as young selkies needed to breathe air for the first year or so of their life.

History
Around the mid-1300s DR, Black Pearl admitted that she spent most of her time being raised by selkies, not far from Waterdeep. She felt more accepted by the selkies, than with the aquatic elves.

Appearances

 * Magazines
 * Dragon magazine 250
 * Dungeon magazine 64
 * Novels
 * Elfshadow