Water-Horse

This amphibious monster appears to be a splendid horse of the very best breeding. Caught and tamed, it truly rivals any natural steed, but climbing onto one is deadly.

A water-horse tramples with its front hooves for 2d6 damage, bites for 1d8, or lashes out with both hind hooves for 2d6, which it cannot combine with a trample that round. Water imposes no combat penalties on it.

This meat-eater raids the shore for sheep, cattle and whatever else it can seize, and it gladly lets people climb on. Then its hide turns magically sticky and it bolts into the sea to drown its rider. Pulling loose takes a save vs. rods; free action magic, such as the ring, negates the glue.

Solitary, each claims up to 10 miles of coast. Their breeding is a mystery, and they seem ageless until killed. Stallions occasionally sire foals on normal mares, always excellent, costly horses that must be fed raw meat instead of hay.

Nothing preys on them, though humans or merfolk sometimes kill one whose raids become unbearable. Training is possible, yet a tamed one that glimpses salt water goes wild and plunges in, rider and all.

The kelpie of Scottish legend is a water-horse with average to high Intelligence (8-14) that can become human at will, a wild, shaggy figure who leaps on travelers and grapples them into the depths to be eaten. As a horse it wears a fine bridle; anyone who takes the bridle will hear the kelpie plead for it with lavish promises, all of which it breaks the moment it is returned. Most speak the local human tongue, and some know others.