SELKIE, the Seal-Skin Pokegirl

SELKIE, the Seal-Skin Pokegirl

Type: Near Human Animorphic Metamorph/Nonhumanoid (pinniped, mermaid-type)
Element: Water
Frequency: Uncommon
Diet: mainly seafood
Role: Fisherman's aide, swimming instructor, babysitter, lifeguard
Libido: Low (High in certain seasons)
Strong Vs: Fire, Rock, Water
Weak Vs: Electric, Ice, Plant
Attacks: Bubbler, Water Gun, Submerge, Roiling Waters, Whirlpool, Command Fish, Slick Stroke
Enhancements: Improved Respiration, Enhanced Strength (Human form x2, Seal form x3), Enhanced Endurance (Human form x2, Seal form x3), Enhanced Senses (Olfactory) (x2), Weather Tolerance (Cold), Metamorph (Alternate Form), Underwater Vision
Disadvantages: Dependency on seal-skin, clumsiness on land in seal form
Evolves: N/A
Evolves From: N/A
Revised: 2/20/2011

In pre-Sukebe mythology, there was a legend about a race of young women who could take the form of seals by wearing a magical seal-skin. When her seal-skin was stolen by a fisherman, a selkie woman could not return to the sea, and was forced to become his wife. The Selkie pokegirl mirrors this legend almost perfectly.

In her more human shape, a Selkie appears to be a muscular, slightly plump Near Human girl with brown, green, or gray eyes. The more feral specimens may have sleek fur or a slight muzzle, but even the most domestic Selkies have a certain strangeness of the features that identifies them as a pokegirl straight away. The true identifier is that a Selkie keeps with her a furry skin identical to that of a pre-Sukebe seal, which she can wrap around her waist and legs to transform them into the hind flippers and/or tail of a pinniped, the species of which can vary.

Selkies are a fairly good choice for a Water-type pokegirl in a traveling Tamer's harem, as they can travel away from water for a while (though they'd rather be near it whenever possible). They generally have mild natures, and don't usually vie for positions of power within a harem, and are fair, if unspectacular, in physical combat. They can be trained to do some non-combat tasks, and are excellent at fishing or at ferrying Tamers across bodies of water, even in cold climates since they have a layer of blubber. In addition, their popularity with fishing communities and swimmers means domestic Selkies are pretty easy to come by in coastal areas.

Pokegirl owners not intent on physical combat will often find a Selkie even more suitable. Their flexibility and lung capacity make them decent at sex-battling, and a good showpiece for contests and competitions. As noted, they excel at fishing and often help fishing Tradesmen locate schools, move and set nets or traps, and haul in a catch. They're also quite excellent with children, and make good swimming instructors, babysitters, and lifeguards, though they often see competition from Beach Bunnies, Swim Sluts, and Wet'n'Wild Sidekicks in these areas.

Selkies are excellent at oral sex, since they can hold their breath for a long time; the record is two hours underwater. They usually prefer their more human shape for Taming. A new owner, whether by capture or transaction, will usually have to keep the Selkie's seal-skin away from her, lest she run away. Hiding the skin is usually a good trick. Once a bond sets in, he can return the skin to her, but he has to be careful to maintain the bond. If the skin is destroyed, the Selkie can no longer change her shape, and will usually become suicidally depressed or evolve into a Penance; penalties ensue according to League policy. The skin cannot be used to transform anybody other than the Selkie it belongs to.

Human girls of Selkie ancestry who enter Threshold slowly transform into their seal shape, then literally tear their seal skin off and emerge in their near-human form. This can be a horrifying experience to the girl, and unless she is raised in a family with other Selkies to console her, a Conditioning Cycle is usually recommended. Selkies are a fairly common Threshold result in coastal towns.

Feral Selkies behave much like pre-Sukebe pinnipeds, save for sunbathing on rocks with their seal-skins removed, and are not known to be aggressive toward humans without provocation. Sunbathing Selkies may be approached similarly to the legend, by stealing one's seal-skin; a feral Selkie will not resort to violence even in this situation unless directly threatened or taunted, and can be Tamed safely (oral sex is not recommended for a feral Selkie). This is not recommended for amateurs, as a Selkie who does feel threatened can kill a human even in her own Near-Human shape, and she might have companions nearby who rush to her defense.