Kelpie

Kelpies are were-animals and as such have a natural ability to shift shape between a humanoid form with a few animal features, and a fully animal form.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Hair

Black and grey are the most common, followed by brown. Blond is less common. The hair is usually glossy and heavy, either straight or with large curls. The coat in animal form is usually a dappled grey.

Eyes

Brown is the most common, followed by blue, and lastly green. They have round pupils and large irises.

Ears

Horse-like ears, placed high up on the sides of the head. They have a lot of mobility and expression.

Other physical attributes

Sharp teeth in both humanoid and animal form, and a horse-like tail the same colour as the hair on top of the head, in humanoid form.
They are very well adapted to water and are excellent swimmers, and have developed a very high lung capacity. They can hold their breath for 15-30 minutes in humanoid form, and 20-40 minutes in animal form.

Common magic abilities

• Elemental: earth, water

• Linguistics: runes

• Mental: hypnosis, illusion

Dietary Needs and Habits

Kelpies are in general omnivores, in both humanoid and animal form.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origins: tenth planet, Helmi.
Commonly found on: Elu, Noverem, Emser, Kober and Helmi.
Uncommonly found on: Palir, Arpa and Emandur.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Kelpies have a higher than average sense of hearing.

Civilization and Culture

Common Dress Code

Folk dresses vary from region to region, but it is common for a traditional folk dress to have knee length pants and high socks for men, and knee length skirts and embroidered bodices for women.
All pants have adjustments for their tails.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Holidays

Midsummer, Midwinter, autumnal and spring equinox are the largest holidays. Midsummer and winter are both celebrated similarily, with eating good food with family, singing and dancing. Midwinter is usually only celebrated with family, while midsummer is more communal gatherings.
The spring equinox is celebrated by lighting bonfires, singing and, in more modern days, with fireworks. The autumnal equinox is a quieter ordeal, and is celebrated by holding a vigil until midnight, and then light candles in a special candelabra, and leave them lit for three days.

Animal form

It is encouraged for children and teens to play and exercise in their animal forms as much as in their humanoid.
There aren't really any rules for how long anyone can stay in either of their forms. If an individual prefers their animal form over their humanoid, that is socially acceptable, and vice versa.

Common Taboos

It is considered extremely rude to get on the back of a kelpie in animal form without first asking their consent. Some considers it overall a taboo to get on another kelpie's back, unless it is a child being carried by their parent.

History

Kelpies are a relatively peaceful race. They have usually settled on land around lakes and rivers and have not had to compete about land with Selkie who lives by the seas and oceans.

Common Myths and Legends

Most myths about kelpies comes from Werecat and Werewolf. These myths often revolve around kelpies tricking people in different ways in order to get them in the water, where the kelpies drown and eat them. Kelpies have never eaten other people, but in old days, they used to hunt animals in similar ways.

Average Height

women: humanoid: 155-175cm. Animal: 120-160cm at the shoulder.
men: humanoid: 165-180cm. Animal: 130-170cm at the shoulder.

Average Physique

Body shapes are very diverse in both humanoid and animal form.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

most commonly white. A greyish or dappled colouration is fairly common (shoulders, upper back, hips, thighs).