Kēthys (ˈkeː.tʰys)

"You beasts! How dare you treat my shrine and devout thus! I lay my curse upon thee that you shall bear the forms of your soul henceforth!" - an excerpt from "The Purification of Ákra" by Dionýsios Ephýdris, a popular staple of Masker troupes.

The Kēthys are a group of monstrous creatures that are found in the Southeastern and Northeastern regions, most often near the Kaphtor Islands, the Rasrathnii Islands, and the Korabovi Islands. They are a strange, hybrid creature with the head of a deformed wild boar, the front legs and claws of a lizard, and the bottom half of a dolphin. They are particularly known for large growths on their snout, and for their glowing red eyes which roll madly in their heads. They are most often encountered on deserted beaches where they haul themselves out of the water for a time, and are extremely aggressive and violent towards anyone they encounter.

Cursed by a Goddess

According to legend, the original Kēthys were pirates from the island of Sintike who drunkenly defiled a temple to Ákra, goddess of the tides and shorelines of that island. In her fury, she cursed the pirate crew to become the grotesque Kēthys, who would have no home on sea or land, and must always be longing for one or the other.

In the years since the curse was levied, the Kēthys have struggled to survive and thrive in their new forms. Those currently alive are descendants of those who were originally cursed, and despite being born into their strange bodies, have never been truly comfortable in them. The Kēthys are good swimmers, but cannot hold their breath long enough to great hunters in the water. Likewise, they can move surprisingly fast on land, but cannot allow their skin to dry out without suffering extreme pain, nor does fresh water suffice to maintain them. They haunt the shorelines and coastal regions of the islands, attacking anyone who approaches them. In most places they are seen as a menace and a monster, and thus they are killed or driven away from anywhere they attempt to rest for a time.

Enduring Fury

One of the aspects of Ákra's curse enveloped the Kēthys in her rage, so that all who met them would feel it. Whenever a creature meets one of the Kēthys, the goddess' anger echoes in their heart and filles them with the urge to attack. The Kēthys themselves are not immune to the effect - they too feel a burning rage at themselves and those who share the curse. Some Kēthys have attempted to isolate themselves to escape this, only to find the pain of loneliness is equally devastating. Most will eventually return to the company of their fellow cursed. Their groups will often explode into violence and bloodshed, but at least they are no longer alone.

Unto the Tenth Generation

While it was not included in Ephýdris' play about the curse, some scholars believe that the goddess originally placed a limit on how long her curse would plague the Kēthys. This limit is sometimes thought to be the seventh generation, or the tenth, or possibly the 70th. Ákra herself refuses to speak on the matter, and will reportedly fly into a rage if the Kēthys are mentioned, so the exact number remains unclear. However, there are occasional tales of infants left on the shore near villages on Sintike, covered in seawater and sand, and bearing the reek of the Kēthys upon them. It seems possible that at least some of the beasts have outbred the curse at last, and that the Kēthys may be gone in another generation or so.

Kindred Spirits

There is one group of land-dwellers who feel a certain kinship to the Kēthys, although they are able to do little to help them. These are the Eofor of Ynys, those who have been transformed by Fulmen's Eofordræht. This magical concoction grants people supernatural strength, stamina, and fury, while slowly transforming them into wild boars. Of all the people the Kēthys have ever encountered, only the Eofor seem to really understand the depth of their curse, and to offer more sympathy than violence. You can read more about the Eofordræht here.