MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
QALUPALIK
Qallupilluk, Qallupilluit, Qalupaliit, Mitiling
The Qalupalik is a creature from Inuit mythology, legend and folklore, which is also described as a water spirit or a molevolent variant of mermaid. It is a human-like monster that lives beneath the oceans of the Arctic circle and stalks the beaches during the dangerous spring break up of the ice, looking for wayward children who have wandered too close to the shore. They will lurk near broken patches of ice or just beneath, where it is thin. It is said, that waves of steam rising from the the frozen waters, are a sign that one is hiding just beneath the surface. According to the myth qalupaliks wear an amautik (a form of pouch that Inuit parents wear to carry their children) and will use it to stow any children whom disobey their parents and venture too close to the water, but what they do with these children is not entirely known. Some say they devour them but other legends claim they will steal them away and feed off of the young, innocent energy to sustain their unnaturally long lives. Qalupaliks are said to make a distinctive humming sound; therefore, they can be heard before they appear. This is thought to be a tactic, used to draw a curious child in close enough to grab them. Another similar method they like to use is to tap on the thin areas of ice, so that when the child wanders over to investigate, they can break through and drag them beneath the icey waters.
Physiology:
The Qalupalik is described as an aquatic humanoid with green scaly or slimey skin and long unkempt dark hair. It is sometimes depicted as having fins coming out of its head, back and torso, with webbed hands, that are tipped with long, claw-like nails. It is rumored to smell like sulfur or rotten fish, which is a tell tale sign for hunters, that one is nearby. They wear eider duck clothing and most disturbingly an amautik. Amautiks are commonly worn by Inuit women to secure their babies to their backs. It will use this to store the children it snatches.
Etylmology:
The Qalupalik is sometimes called "Mitiling", which translates to "with Eider ducks". This refers to the garment that it wears known as an Amautik, which is often made from Eider duck skins.
History:
A Qalupilak is a creature from Inuit legends and folklore. Tales surrounding these unpleasant creatures, as well as many others have been told for generations and used as a means to instill caution within the young children and prevent them straying beyond safety.
Territory:
Canada, Alaska
Origination:
In some tales the qalupalik is said to take a female child and raise it as one of her own. Once the child reaches adulthood, she herself will become a qalupalik and continue the cycle. Any male child taken is either devoured or drained of youth, becomeing older as the creature becomes younger.
Nature:
Cunning and predatory. The Qalupalik chooses to prey on young children, avoiding adults at all costs. It prefers to remain hidden from sight revealing itself only at the last moment as it rises from the water to strike, instead of actively hunting down its quarry. It is a deceitful creature, that will exploit a childs curious nature and use it as an effective lure to draw them within range when hunting.
Modus Operandi:
Will lurk near settlements, where young children tend to play on the ice and attempt to lure them away from safety by humming or knocking on the ice. Once their curiosity is peaked and they are within striking distance the qalupalik will lunge from the water or break through the thin ice and drag the infant down into the frozen depths never to be seen again.
Vulnerability:
Although the qalupalik posesses magic, it does not seem to stretch beyond the ability to syphon the life force off of those it abducts. Even with its prolonged life, it has a fear of anyone older than a small child, prefering to remain hidden from sight. This would suggest it has an awareness of its own vulnerabilties and fears the possibility being hunted or killed by physically stronger opponents. Even though they show an amount of intelligence, as displayed via the clothing they craft and the tactics they utilize when hunting, there are stories, which tell of them being easily outwitted by children. There are tell tale signs, which, if spotted will suggest one may be nearby, such as steam or unexplained movement on the water, humming, knocking beneath the ice or the smell of sulfur or rotten fish.