What are Kelpies?

[rwbryan 16]

I have been wondering the lore and the specifics of Kelpies in the series. I have read that one of the three versions can be found in the different forms of water and wondered something, could they technically be in the form of plasma, steam, or a mix of different forms? Any help would be appreciated because I do want to make a character based on the Kelpie species.

[Otaku-sempai 579]

Friendship is Magic had three kinds of Kelpies, all in the comics. This might help: 

Cassie the Kelpie

Cassie the Kelpie created by Jeremy Whitley (writer) and Amy Mebberson (artist)

Typical Equestrian Kelpie
Body: D8 Mind: D6 Charm: D6 Stamina: 14
Talents: Special Skill: Singing (D6), Special Skill: Swimming (D8)
Quirk: Restricted to water, Choose one

Typical Sea Kelpie
Body: D6 Mind: D6 Charm: D6 Stamina: 12
Talents: Speak with Animals: Fish (D6), Special Skill: Swimming (D8)
Quirk: Restricted to water, Choose one

Kelpies are water-dwelling creatures that live in rivers, lakes and the sea. Their physical appearance can vary wildly. Cassie, the fresh-water Kelpie who almost drowned the residents of Ponyville had the head and mane of a pony, a long snake-like body, an eel-like tail, and four frond-like fins with matching spines on her back. Kelpies who live among other creatures (such as the Zebra of Farasi) can have a very Pony-like appearance. Sea-dwelling Kelpies more closely resemble Seaponies with scaly torsos, and live in the undersea city of Coltlantis. Fresh-water Kelpies possess Cutie Marks; sea-dwelling Kelpies do not seem to have them.

Kelpies can be very protective of the bodies of water where they live and of the creatures that dwell in them. Some possess a Hypnotizing Song. If such a Kelpie feels that it or its home is threatened, it can attempt to use its Hypnotizing Song to place any Ponies within hearing under its control either to send them away or otherwise do as it commands.

New Talent: Hypnotizing Song (Kelpies only)
When a creature with this talent feels threatened it will attempt to use its song to place any Ponies within hearing range under its control. This talent only works on intelligent creatures, not on ordinary animals.

Kelpie, Farasi


Typical Farasian Kelpie
Body: D6 Mind: D6 Charm: D6 Stamina: 12
Talents: Water Control (D6), Pick one appropriate Cutie Mark talent.
Quirk: Weakness: Electricity (D6) , Choose one

The Kelpies of Farasi look very much like Earth ponies made of water. As Zecora's old schoolteacher explained: "Kelpies have magic that allows them to manipulate water. They can control it with their minds, and can change their bodies from water to ice to steam". Electricity is harmful to Farasian Kelpies, but they also become weak if they are away from water for too long.

Edited yesterday at 02:41 PM by Otaku-sempai

[Otaku-sempai 579]

The book Dark Skies Over Equestria, an expansion for Renegade Game Studios' My Little Pony Roleplaying Game (which also introduced the Changelings into the game), has its own entry for Kelpies like Cassie from the comic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic issue #23. I did write homebrews for both the Sea-dwelling Kelpies and the Kelpies of Farasi using Renegade's Essence20 rules, if you are interested in seeing them. Here is the entry from the book (plus another panel from the coimic):

Kelpie

Kelpies are pony-like aquatic creatures known for their powerful, enchanting song. While they are generally peaceful, they prioritize the needs of water creatures, which can lead to conflicts with land creatures. Kelpies can leave the water for short times, but prefer not to if they can avoid it. Kelpies have the head and mane of a pony but a serpentine body with four fins in their backs. They are clever and able to talk in pony language if they choose to.

THREAT LEVEL: 5

SIZE: Common HEALTH: 2

MOVEMENT: 10ft Ground, 45ft Aquatic

STRENGTH: 5 SPEED: 4

SMARTS: 4 SOCIAL: 3

TOUGHNESS: 15 EVASION: 14

WILLPOWER: 14 CLEVERNESS: 13

SKILLS 

• Acrobatics +d4

• Alertness +d6

• Athletics +d4

• Initiative +d4

• Might +d6

• Performance +d6

• Survival +d2

PERKS 

Aquatic Creature: While in a body of water, a kelpie is more dangerous, upshifting all Strength Skill Tests by ↑1.

ATTACKS 

Bite (Might): +d6, Range Reach (1 sharp damage)

Tail Smash (Might): +d6, Range Reach (2 blunt damage)

POWERS 

Enchanting Song (1/Scene, Standard): Kelpies can sing a magical song that dominates the mind of those who hear it. The kelpie makes a Performance Skill Test and anyone hearing it who’s Willpower is lower than the result is affected. The song implants a single idea in the minds of those affected by it, such as ‘protect the kelpie’ or ‘break the damn’. After a night of rest the affected creature can shake off the affects by making a DIF 14 Alertness Skill Test. They can also attempt to shake off the affects if another character can convince them what they are up to is wrong. Note that while the song is powerful, it cannot make someone hurt themselves or act directly against their nature (as defined by the GMs discretion).

Edited yesterday at 05:11 PM by Otaku-sempai