A skinless man and horse joined together, the legendary Nuckelavee was not only hideous looking, but also one of the most evil creatures ever imagined. This terrifying monster used its long arms and sharp claws to grab victims and drag them into the sea. It also had diseased breath that killed entire crops and caused people to starve.
Skinless: Nuckleavee's body was completely skinless, exposing thick layers of red muscle, veins and the black blood that runs through its body. The monster's waist merged into the back of a horse, which also had no skin.
Long Arm: This creature's arms were extraordinarily long and were tipped with pointed fingernails. Nuckelavee didn't even have to bend down from its horse to grab a man by the scalp and drag him into the sea.
REALLY Bad Breath[]
Stone circles in Orkney were believed to ward off evil forces, such as Nuckelavee.
Nuckelavee was a horrible monster with supernatural powers. This creature's head was said to be 10 times bigger than a human's, and its skeletal mouth opened in a wide gape. Nuckelavee didn't eat people, but forced them to go hungry instead. The monster's breath was diseased; carried by the wind, it could kill all the crops on the Scottish islands of Orkney, leaving the whole population without food. Plus, Nuckelavee had some control over the weather, and could cause droughts that lasted an entire season.
Safe Harbor: This monster hated fresh water. In fact, a man named Tammas once told of an encounter he had with Nuckelavee. He escaped from the beast's grip by leaping over a stream-Nuckelavee refused to cross it and risk touching the water.
It Came From the Sea[]
Walking home one moonlit night, a group of Orkney farmers stays on a path near the seashore. It's not long until they feel the ground tremble and hear the feet of a galloping horse. Nuckelavee appears out of the darkness, grabbing one of the farmers and dragging him into the sea. The man's companions watch helplessly as their friend disappears beneath the waves.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The nuckelavee is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Give 'Em A Hand! on Monster Mania 28.
- Going by packet numbers, the Monster Mania card arrives before the Nuckelavee's knowledge card; the trading card comes at this point, however.
- It is later featured in Where In The World? on Monster Mania 59.
- The nuckelavee shares the "It Came From the Sea" heading with Woodlice.
- It is first featured in Give 'Em A Hand! on Monster Mania 28.