Information

Daphne
Legacy Name: Marguerita

The

Hydrus Legeica
Owner:

alex

Age: 12 years, 7 months, 2 days

Born: October 2nd, 2011

Adopted: 6 years, 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Adopted: November 19th, 2017

Pet Spotlight Winner
July 10th, 2022

Statistics

Level: 17
Strength: 41
Defense: 37
Speed: 37
Health: 37
HP: 37/37
Intelligence: 6
Books Read: 6
Food Eaten: 0
Job: Post-Fight Clean Up

Entered the Limelight in September 2021

even lovers drown

A kelpie inhabiting a pond in France. She's a shape-shifting water spirit. She's a black horse-like creature but can take a human form, though she can't stray far from the pond. Somewhat malevolent, she strikes a deal with Audrey (in order to escape her curse). Children are taught to stay away from the pond because of the cases of drowning, which were most likely the work of Daphne.

Information

I

Audrey's grandfather believes in magic. The supernatural, those beings not subject to the laws of nature.

72 years ago, when he was a child, Auguste and his brother Edward went to the pond beyond the woods. A Kelpie who dwelled within those murky waters tried to drown them both. Auguste escaped, but a monster took Edward away.

The failure of the Kelpie is what led to the curse coming into effect: she was bound to that pond forever. You see, she had once roamed the land, drowning men who committed crimes against women. She was particularly good at tempting men to their watery graves.

A monster sought her out for her skills. "I know what you want," the monster said, "and I can make it so.

"To become mortal is quite a simple doing for a creature like I. Though I won't do such a service without cost. I need you to use your ... gift.

"Kill a child by drowning once a year for a hundred years.

Should you be successful, humanity will be yours at last."

"And if I fail?"

"You will be bound to this pond for eternity." The creature's many eyes glittered at that.

"I kill men, not children." Daphne countered.

"And who are you to decide the fate of men?" the monster hissed.

"There is nothing more to be said. Complete my request and be freed."

II

The very first child to reach the edge of the pond was Auguste. It must have been Daphne's lucky day: two children at once! Edward lagged behind, younger and more cautious. Auguste had that boyish fearlessness that younger brothers always admired so much and he strode dauntlessly towards the pond, throwing his clothes to the ground before leaping in for a swim.

Of course by the time the black entity had pulled Auguste under, Edward was quick to follow. His doggy-paddle swim was barely enough to keep his head above the water: Daphne wouldn't have needed to do a thing.

To see a child so selfless was too much for the Kelpie to bear. She manipulated the water and propelled the boys to the surface with an unseen force.

The monster appeared as if from nowhere, from some shadow she had sprung.

"You foolish beast," the monster crackled from the embankment, "leaving me with three prizes at once? You at this pond and not one boy but two?"

III

Daphne leapt from the water, her black horse-like form warping magically into her human one. Her body clothed in a silky green gown, her hair soaking wet and auburn red. The black horsehair had turned to ashen white skin, her muscular limbs to bony ones and in her hair clung bits of pond debris. A frightening yet beautiful sight for young Auguste, who was just about ready to faint.

Daphne dragged Auguste to his feet by his shoulders, still nude and overwhelmed with the sight before him. Edward was in the arms of a horrifying monster, and a horse -- no, a woman! Had him by the shoulders.

"Run!" she whispered, shoving him forward and out of his trance.

Auguste did as instructed, though he wasn't sure whether by his will alone or some magical force put unto him.

He didn't see the monster throw the Kelpie back into the pond, but he heard its horrible roar! To Auguste it sounded like logs bursting in a fire, a crackling hot noise both unnatural in sound and volume. He didn't see it collect Edward from the ground, but he couldn't stop his legs to turn back for his brother, only praying that he was behind him.

IV

The Disappearance of Edward Deschamps was all it took. It only took one child to drown for the pond to go down in local legend. The Drowned Pond.

For seventy years it was known as a terrible place. Children would drown if they played there, no doubt about that! Everyone said so. Before long, the pond was the threat of parents across the South of France. "You will be sent to l'étang de noyade!" they would say if children came home late or didn't wash the dishes after dinner.

There were in fact no known drownings since. But a certain Kelpie still dwells at the pond, bound to it forevermore.

Reference (NSFW)