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 of 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 from 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 overworld.

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

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

Selkies usually went 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 to move away quickly. Thus, they used their 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 in healing and curing other selkies. They could occasionally control the weather, either calming or causing storms.

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.

Habitats
Selkies enjoyed seeking treasures, usually from sunken ships, which they hoarded in their homely grottoes. As well as grottoes, 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 lives.

Beyond the material plane, selkies were known to inhabit Aquallor, which they referred to as the Endless River.

Religion
Some selkies were known to worship Istishia.

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

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Dungeon #64: "Grotto of the Queen"
 * Novels
 * Elfshadow


 * Sword Play
 * Card Games
 * AD&D Trading Cards

Connections
{{Cite dungeon/64