Creature:Kappa

Kappas are large, amphibious reptiles that live in freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds. They are savage brutes, and they will eat travelers that venture too close to the water.

Physiology
Kappas are large green humanoids, with crocodile-like snouts and horned heads. Their eyes are red. Kappas are unique as reptiles, because their bodies produce hydrogen gas, which allows them to float to the surface of their home waters. Occasionaly, they will cary rocks, so they can sink faster should the need arise.

Behaviour
Kappas live in small tribes, consisting of around ten individuals. Each tribe governs a special body of water, and is ruled by a chieftain. Tribes will often choose a certain species as their "spirit-animal", and they will not hunt it. Tribes are named after their spirit-animal. For example, there is one tribe called the Al Packa Tribe, because the Al Packa is the tribes spirit-animal.

Magic
Although it is incredibly rare, Kappas are sometimes born with the ability to make us of magic. Such individuals are almost always regarded as witches, and as such are cast out of their waters and forced to wander "The Big Dry", which is what they call dry land.