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Vízkutya

Origin

There was once a man of the Mulak Tribes in the Swamps of Vörövisz who did not fit in. He hated his people's affiliation with the fey and he had seen firsthand how dangerous they could be. Having lost both his parents to the capricious fey he swore to never participate in their revelry. This all went wrong when one day he refused the invitation of a man who turned out to be the divinity Korszez himself. Indignant, the god reduced him to a lesser shape, something in between a hound and an otter, and cursed him to never be able to hold another person. The first of vízkutya, also called dobhar or water hound, now stalked the lands, tenaciously trying to survive. The divinity Tenvíz took pity on the creature and decided to help it. While he could not fully undo the curse as it was not his, he was able to weaken the curse sufficiently to the point where it could be suppressed for a brief moments. He also gave it a partner, which it held onto in the brief moments that the curse was held back. So the species has survived to this day, often alone but sometimes together.

Intelligence and Behavior

Despite their heart-aching story, the vízkutya are dangerous creatures. They are nearly 2 meters in length, and its protective hide can shake off physical and magical punishment alike. Its jaws are exceptionally strong and reports say that it can run its muzzle through solid rock easily. They are also known for their aggression and incredibly speeds, both on land and in the water. They are intelligent hunters and they can patiently lie in wait if they want to, but usually they prefer the hunt. They are not unsocial creatures however, but they are rather unlucky on that front. Like otters are known for holding hands, dobhar are always searching for a partner. But they have been cursed with an inability to touch others, and even worse, their magical curse naturally forces them to drift apart. It is said that if one were to pacify a dobhar, suppress their curse and lead them by the hand (paw?) to another of their kind and bring them together, they will be eternally grateful and reward their benefactor with an otter skin's weight in gold. If by any chance you spot a dobhar pair, never kill one or force them apart, for the other will hunt you to the ends of the earth.