Kelpie

Family: Kelpie

Medium fey, neutral evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 84 (12d8+30)
Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	16 (+3)	15 (+2)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)	17 (+3)

Damage Resistances cold
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Aquan, Common, Sylvan; telepathy (1 mile, previously touched creatures only)
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The kelpie makes two slam attacks.
• Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, 5 ft. ft. reach, 1 target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
• Captivating Lure (1/Day). The kelpie chooses one target within 60 feet. Unless it makes a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw, it must move towards the kelpie using the most direct means available. If the path leads through dangerous conditions, such as fire or a cliff, the creature makes an additional saving throw before moving into the hazard. Water is not considered a dangerous condition, even if the target cannot breathe water or swim. A creature captivated this way takes no actions on its turns. A creature so affected may make a new Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns.
• Change Shape. The kelpie can use its action to polymorph into a female humanoid, or a horse or hippocampus, or back into its true form. Its statistics are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.

ABOUT

A kelpie is a deadly shapechanging predator that, in its natural form, appears as a hideous combination of emaciated horse and sickly humanoid, with slimy, transparent skin and long, stringy hair. Its face is long and equine, with a mouth filled with jagged teeth. Few, however, ever see a kelpie in its true form, for kelpies almost always encounter other creatures while in disguise as a humanoid, horse, or hippocampus, reverting to their true form only after their targets have drowned so that they can feast on their victims, leaving behind only the heart and liver (as both of these organs are distasteful to most kelpies). A typical kelpie is 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds.

Kelpies can be found in saltwater and freshwater environments, including fens, rivers, swamps, and underground pools and lakes. Communities living near kelpie lairs believe that folk who die on the water or are killed by a kelpie become kelpies themselves. Kelpies may serve as steeds for aquatic fey or other water monsters while in their hippocampus forms, sometimes without their riders ever knowing the truth of the steed’s sinister nature.