Dungeons & Dragons Baby Kelpie Miniature

This is a highly detailed miniature of a Baby Kelpie.

This model was created by M3DM who makes amazingly accurate models of Dungeons & Dragons creatures and is provided by Commercial License.

In Dungeons & Dragons, a Baby Kelpie is not an official creature, but it can be homebrewed as a juvenile form of the Kelpie, a shape-shifting water spirit inspired by Celtic mythology. Traditionally, Kelpies are malevolent, luring people into the water to drown them. A Baby Kelpie could be a weaker, less malicious version, still possessing charm-based abilities but lacking the full danger of its adult counterpart.

A Baby Kelpie might appear as a small, innocent-looking foal made of water, reeds, or seaweed, with large, expressive eyes that invoke curiosity and sympathy. It could instinctively use minor illusionary magic to appear harmless or appealing, such as mimicking a lost animal or even a humanoid child. Unlike its adult form, which is adept at deception and lethal traps, the Baby Kelpie might unintentionally lead creatures into danger or struggle to control its enchantment abilities.

Mechanically, a Dungeon Master might grant it lesser versions of spells like Charm Person or Minor Illusion, and a weaker aquatic grapple instead of the adult Kelpie’s full-strength drowning attack. It may still be tied to cursed waters, requiring immersion in its home environment to survive.

Roleplaying a Baby Kelpie could introduce moral dilemmas. Players might debate whether to raise, tame, or banish it, especially if it shows a capacity for good. Its presence could foreshadow a greater Kelpie threat or hint at an ecosystem of water spirits.

In a campaign, a Baby Kelpie could be an unusual familiar, a tragic figure, or a sign of environmental imbalance. A creative DM could use it to challenge players’ assumptions about monsters, making them question whether this creature is destined to become a predator or if it can be nurtured into something more benevolent.