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Kelpie
A shapeshifting water horse haunts Scottish lochs and rivers. It appears as a beautiful horse to lure riders. Once mounted, its skin becomes adhesive—the rider cannot dismount. The kelpie drags them underwater to drown and devour them.
Ancient - Present
Scotland
500+ witnesses
The Kelpie is Scotland’s deadliest water spirit.
The Creature
What it is:
- Shapeshifting spirit
- Usually a horse
- Sometimes human
- Water dwelling
- Malevolent
The Method
How it kills:
- Appears as beautiful horse
- Invites riders
- Skin becomes sticky
- Cannot dismount
- Drags into water
The Appearance
What people see:
- Black horse usually
- Sometimes white
- Dripping wet
- Mane like seaweed
- Backwards hooves
Human Form
Alternative shape:
- Handsome man
- Beautiful woman
- Near water
- Seductive
- Hair contains weeds
The Warning
How to identify:
- Always near water
- Wet even on land
- Hooves reversed
- Seaweed in hair
- Too perfect
Protection
How to survive:
- Never mount strange horse
- Check hooves direction
- Bridle with cross
- Iron protects
- Avoid at night