Mythic Bestiary

Log 3:Selkies

Summary: Heading back to Celtic myths, Selkies (Pronounced "Sell-keys") are thought of as being like mermaids. They are hauntingly beautiful, and live under the sea, away from prying human eyes. These creatures, however, can move back and forth between the land and the sea basically whenever they please. Though the female Selkie is very popular and more well known, there are male Selkies, and they are said to be just as otherworldly as their female counterparts.

Behavior and Powers: Selkies live underwater in the form of seals, and when they wish to see the land, they simply remove their seal skin and walk onto land in a human form, carrying around their seal pelt with them. Selkies aren't aggressive creatures, they don't go out and attack humans for sport. But they are protective of their pelts, as it's the only way they can return to the sea. A selkie can only stay on land for seven years, at the end of that time, they dive back into the sea and may never return to the land. Even if they have a family on land, they will leave.It may be harmful to their health if they stay longer, or they may simply have a unconquerable urge to go back to the ocean no matter what. Female selkies are known to come onto land and simply keep to themselves, retreating to spaces devoid of humans and bathe or even just take a breather. Why they leave the water to bathe in more water though,is beyond me.

Known weaknesses: All Selkies are powerless without their seal pelts. If you manage to take their pelt and lock it away in a place where they cannot find it, you then have complete control over that Selkie. I do not recommend this though, Selkies are sweeties and don't deserve this kind of treatment.If you want a Selkie boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe you should just buy them dinner or something.

Legends: The female Selkie is mostly known for one type of legend. She will climb onto land and find a pond to bathe in, setting her pelt down by her. Soon, a man happens upon her and seeing her seal coat, snatches it up. She will beg for it back, but to no avail. He will force her to become his wife, and then she must live with him and do whatever he wants. He'll hide her coat, but usually she'll find it and retreat back to the sea, leaving her husband and any children they might have had. There are versions where she willingly marries a human man,(Yay! Consent!)but still must return to the sea after seven years. It may be sad, but that's just how it goes. The male Selkie is known for a whole different legend however. They say that if a lonely woman goes to the sea and cries exactly seven tears into it, a male Selkie will appear and offer to be with her or even profess his undying love for her. Either way, it's a sweet deal! It isn't really specified whether or not the male will have to leave her after seven years, or if he stays bound to her forever, but it's still awesome. Crying into the ocean is actually pretty hard though, I may or may not have wanted to test this theory. You should try it though, see what happens. Maybe you'll come back and thank me for telling you how to get your seal boyfriend.