FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Civilized Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Freshwater Surface], [Temperate Freshwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Saltwater Surface], [Temperate Saltwater Depths])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Civilized Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Freshwater Surface], [Tropical Freshwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Saltwater Surface], [Tropical Saltwater Depths])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVE: 9" // 12"
HIT DICE: 5
% IN LAIR: 70%
TREASURE TYPE: [D]
NO. OF ATTACKS: Nil
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Nil
SPECIAL ATTACKS: [SB]
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Low-average
ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV | 165 + 5

SAVES: 11.12.13.13.14

Kelpies are a form of intelligent aquatic plant life that, in their own shape,
rather resemble a pile of wet weed.

They are able to shape their bodies into any form they choose,
and will often assume the aspect of a beautiful human in order to lure men into deep waters.

They have also been known to take the shape of a horse.

However, though the form may be changed, the substance still resembles
green seaweed and the effect is somewhat grotesque.

To counter this, the kelpie can cast one powerful charm spell per day.
If the victim does not save vs. Spells (at -2) he will perceive the
kelpie as the most wonderful, perfect and desirable woman (or steed,
perhaps) and will willingly leap into the water to join her (or gain it).

The kelpie will wrap itself around the charmed man, he will attempt
to inhale water and sink with the kelpie in an ecstasy of drowning. If
left alone, he will happily drown and be dragged off to the kelpie’s
lair to be consumed. Even if the kelpie cannot physically reach the
charmed victim, he will still try to swim downward and breathe
water. If the charming kelpie is killed, the spell will be broken immediately.
Charmed victims attempting to drown themselves will
suffer 2-20 hit points of damage per melee round until they either
surface for air or perish.

For some reason, females are immune to the spell of the kelpie.
Lejend has it that this is so because kelpies were created by the seagod
as punishment for those men who are rash enough to sail the
oceans without paying their lord his proper respect. Women were not
involved in these transgressions and thus did not incur the sea-lord’s
ill will. Others say that Olhydra, the Elemental Princess of Evil Water
Creatures, created the kelpies and rendered females immune in proper
regard for her own gender.

Besides the oceans and the seas, kelpies will also be found in dismal
swamps and stagnant subterranean grottos; occasionally they will be
found in almost any deep body of water, wen man-made. They can
leave the water to walk on land for short periods of time (1-3 hours
maximum).

Due to their slimy wetness, fire attacks do only half damage on
kelpies (none if a save is made).

Kelpies are very cunning and will try to pickoff stragglers, lone watchmen
or tail-end members of groups if at all possible.
 

by Lawrence Schick