The Koidra

The Koidra is a mythological creature that features often in fables told to children. Physically, it approximates a seven-headed hydra in both form and physical size. However, each of these individual heads resembles a giant koi fish rather than the traditional snake, dragon or reptile.

Further unlike hydras, the Koidra is a unique and immortal being and there has only ever been one.

Nature & Abilities

Although the creature's abilities vary from story to story, the power to grant wishes and to turn selectively invisible are its most well known. Both feature prominently in most variations.

The Koidra is described to be pure, kindhearted and infinitely wise. It is also playful and mischievous. Its pranks and hijinks are always good-natured, however, and include things like making fish glow at night or revealing its appearance to one person in a group while hiding itself from the others in order to see how the person (and group) will react.

It favors the company of children who believe in it while respecting its secrecy. It usually conceals itself from ever being seen by adults (although not without exception, if it deems them to be pure of heart as well). In many stories, a child who has seen it attempts to show their discovery to others, only to have the Koidra shun both the child and those whom they attempted to show. In other stories, when the child keeps the Koidra a secret, they are often granted a wish. This wish is never spoken aloud, however--the Koidra sees into the heart of its friend and chooses something to make them happy.

Origins

The first mention of the Koidra is sadly unknown. Its history seems to predate even The Spellplague which is all but unheard of for oral traditions. Pre-Spellplague anthologies have even been uncovered, but these have not reflected the work of any single author. Rather, they are descrobed as assorted and collected works, none of which are definitively attributed. New stories are also being written all the time as the Koidra continues to be beloved by children even in modern times.

There are some who believe the creature's seemingly permanent place in Acaelican mythology reflects the possibility that the creature truly does exist. No credible proof has ever been put forth, however. Some have even gone so far as to offer Mnemomantic evidence of their having met the Koidra, but the existence of illusion magic casts a shadow of doubt that cannot be ignored.