Mythic Origins

Traditional lore identifies Selkies as beings capable of shedding their skin to take on the form of a seal. These beings lived exclusively near salt water in coastal regions. As humans began to spread across the globe, a few oceanic selkies moved in land. Generations later, some have adapted to the fresh waters of lakes, rivers, and springs, allowing them to become otters more suitable to the terrain. Purists have dubbed these 'Selkie perversions' as Selkos.

Leadership & Social Structure

Selkos are social creatures who live together in groups called Romps. Romps may begin as a small group of blood-related family, but they are not shy about taking in other Selkos and expanding their numbers. Some maintain units of 5-8 while others can grow as large as 20-25. A few Selkos prefer to wander and explore, using nearby Romps as a place to stay while traveling, but otherwise venture on their own.

Leadership among the Selkos is unusual. Formally the leader of a romp is called the Dobhar, but the formality of the role itself is questionable. Few Selkos enjoy the serious nature of the role and do not care to be Dobhar for very long. When they tire of it, they will simply offer the position up to anyone else who is interested and let that person have a try at it. If there are no interested candidates, then the Dobhar defaults to the oldest member, either male or female.

Wherever they establish a home it is near water, preferably a natural river or lake side, but swimming pools are an accepted alternative when a natural water source isn't available. Their dwellings tend to give minimal consideration for sleeping with several Selkos in a room, in order to use other rooms as spaces for the things they enjoy - game rooms, indoor bowling alley, theater rooms, etc., while the outdoors are used for basketball courts, go-kart tracks, and other larger scale needs. Although the Romp would best be described as a fraternity house, it lacks the expected clutter as Selkos are very clean and keep their spaces tidy.

General Traits & Abilities

Selkos by nature are playful and engage in various behaviors for the sheer enjoyment. Selkos are willing to try almost anything once, including dangerous activities like skydiving, scuba diving, rock climbing, and other extreme sports. It is not uncommon for Selkos to become adrenaline junkies as they find pleasure in new experiences. . Selkos like being around others and are usually a great source of entertainment in gatherings, as they can lead the group in a plethora of games, perform tricks, and don't mind looking silly as long as they're having fun.

Do not mistake the fun-loving Selkos as harmless though. In otter form, they are active hunters, equipped with sharp claws and teeth to grip and tear flesh, a powerful tail capable of striking like a cudgel, and the ability to use rocks as hammers. In human form, Selkos can show the same ferocity and are not afraid of challenges or confrontation that might deter more docile shifter groups.