Realms of Fantasy and Myth: Week 33 - Kelpie

Jul 16, 201018 min read

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Published: Jul 16, 2010

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Realms of Fantasy and Myth: Week 33 - Kelpie

Welcome to the thirty-third issue of my weekly news article! I hope you enjoy it, and please, show the featured artists some love and recognition through pageviews,

's and

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This week's creature feature is: Kelpie

From Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelpie :

The kelpie is a supernatural water horse from Celtic folklore that is believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland and Ireland.
Its hide was supposed to be black (though in some stories it was white), and will appear to be a lost pony, but can be identified by its constantly dripping mane. Its skin is like that of a seal, smooth, but is as cold as death when touched. The horse's appearance is strong, powerful, and breathtaking. Water horses are also known to transform into beautiful women in order to lure men into their traps, and vice versa.
As the fable of the kelpie differs depending on the region in which it is told, other versions of the story saying that the kelpie is "green as glass with a black mane and tail that curves over its back like a wheel" or that even in human form they are always dripping wet and/or have water weeds in their hair.
The water horse is also a common form of the kelpie, said to lure humans, especially children, into the water to drown and eat them. It performs this act by encouraging children to ride on its back. Once its victims fall into its trap, the kelpie's skin becomes adhesive and it bears them into the river, dragging them to the bottom of the water and devouring them - except the heart or liver.
An exception is an Irish tale in which, towards the end of the mystical period of Ireland, a water horse fails to travel to Tír na nÓg with its fellow mystic folk, and instead rises above water, seeking a wife. However, after attempting to court a clever girl, who consults the wiseman about the situation, he is captured and forced to work in order to be taught compassion. After learning his lesson, he is given the choice of departing to Tír na nÓg, or drinking a magic potion that will make him a real man. The water horse, now full of love decides to drink the potion which erases the memories of his life as a water horse and gives him the chance to live with the clever girl with whom he has fallen in love.

Now, for the features! Works are featured from various categories, in no particular order:

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Kelpie returns to the Sea by GingerKellyStudio

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Ceffyl Dwr - Water Horse by Ladyofshadow

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Commission: Beware the Lake by WSTopDeck

Kelpie: Dangerous Waters by SharysAogail

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Thank you so much for viewing, and come back next time for a different inhabitant of the Realms of Fantasy and Myth!