gelpie

Gazing from the murky waters of remote rivers, they await travelers who have lost their way. But not just directionally lost. No, gelpies await travelers who have lost their purpose, their life's meaning, or have no loved ones. Gelpies are lonely, miserable creatures hoping to lure wayfarers close enough to offer riches and promises in return for devoted friendships. But should one accept a gelpie's friendship, they are cursed to be attentive and devoted friends forever. Reject the offer, and the gelpie likely lashes out in anger.

Names: Auntie Uckly, Wuzzy, Ringlemuck, Pappy Dando

abilities

Magical Gifts

Has three random Magic items to entice targets. If the target accepts, they are ENSORCELLED and put under a gelpie CURSE, which compels them to never leave the gelpie's side. The curse can only be broken if the gelpie is Defeated. If the Magic items are refused, the gelpie may use them in Combat.

vulnerabilities

The mere whiff of a [cold steel] weapon makes a gelpie sweat profusely and break out in hives, enough to run away and hide.

social

Gelpies live lonely lives, and have likely not spoken to a living soul for years. They are awkward communicators, and their idea of friendship is warped and unhealthy—more akin to keeping a pet or captive. They are, however, easily overwhelmed by attention. A gelpie, being so solitary, might retreat from too much social stimulation or be so overwhelmed that they get flustered and forget their dark machinations.

combat

Gelpies are rather stringy and weak, but they are cunning. They possess multiple Magic items plucked from the ancient dead, and use them to their fullest, ultimately hoping that their victims are swayed to become friends. They stay in the water as a last line of defense, and some even have minions like leechlings or slurpworms.

defeat

Gelpies easily panic if they lose the advantage, and dive below the water to lick their wounds. But they don't give up that easily. Gelpies are known to pursue their potential friends for miles and miles. If slain, they melt away, their scraggly, muddy hair curling into worms that disperse into the muck.

victory

Gelpies prefer not to kill, instead taking prisoners to lock away in some dark, muddy hole to be friends forever.