Morvadan's Pod

Morvadan is the god of the deep oceans to the Dòbhran Selkies of the Arcaibh Islands. When he rises, he is accompanied by a pod of orcas, who serve as both his steed and his hounds in the Wild Hunt of the Sea. These creatures are the embodiment of the primal power of the ocean, and sit at the core of Dòbhran folklore.

Morvadan's pod of orcas are no ordinary beasts. Their skin is as dark as the deepest parts of the ocean, and they are swifter than any natural animal in the water. They hunt as a pack, targeting prey both under the water and on its surface. When they breach, the water around them explodes into the air, and some say that storms form over the pod wherever it is.

Morvadan himself leads the pod on its hunt. He appears as a gigantic Selkie, with jet-black fur and shiny black eyes. He rides the largest orca in the pod, and selects the targets of the hunt. Sometimes this will be some huge beast of the sea, such as a whale or sea-wyrm. More often though, it will be some unfortunate ship, or a group of hunting Selkies who are in the wrong place. His targets seem to be selected by fate, rather than design.

 

With the target chosen, the chase begins. The pod emits an aura of terror around it, and even those who have not yet spotted them under the water will feel it. Sometimes sailors will feel a sudden bout of panic, and claim that Morvadan's pod had passed beneath the ship. At this point, the pod wants the prey to flee, and will circle and feint, goading their victims into an attempted escape. If the prey refuses the chase, or fails to flee fast enough, the pod will strike. They pummel their victim and bite it, pulling chunks away. Ships have been destroyed in minutes, their sailors disappearing beneath the waves and leaving only a red foam to mark their passing. Animals are typically slaughtered even faster than the ships, torn apart by the pod. 

Once the prey has been dispatched, Morvadan's pod dives into the ocean again, vanishing into the abyss. They will not emerge again until Morvadan calls the hunt. While no specific interval has been established, it is usually no less than a month, and no longer than a year, before Morvadan rises to lead the hunt again.