Nuckelavee

The Nuckelavee (or Nuckalavee) is a creature from Orcadian folklore. The name is a later corruption of the Orcadian name "knoggelvi", which in turn seems to be a variant of the "Nokk" or "Nuggle", and is thus related to the Icelandic Nykur.*

A creature from Northern folklore, the Nuckelavee is the most horrible of all the Scottish elves. He lives mainly in the sea, but was also held responsible for ruined crops, epidemics, and drought. His breath could wilt the crops and sicken the livestock.

He resembles a centaur whose legs are part fin; he has an enormous gaping mouth, and a single giant eye, which burns with a red flame. The most gruesome detail of his appearance is the fact that he has no skin. Black blood courses through yellow veins and the pale sinews and powerful muscles are visible as a pulsating mass. He has an aversion of running water and those who are chased by him have only to cross a stream to get rid of him. Some reports claim that he is simply a very large head on two small arms, with all of the other characteristics mentioned above.

Another phobia that the Nuckleavee suffers from is the burning of seaweed to create kelp. This enrages him and causes him to start on a wild rampage of plague, killing cattle and many other creatures and bringing bad crops. At this time, the only person to stop him is The Mither O' The Sea, another ancient God-like being of of Orkney Mythology.

In fiction

The Bard's Tale (Video Game, 2004)

The Stones Are Hatching, a Novel by Geraldine McCaughrean, features a description of the Nuckelavee as above, but with no legs.

The Secret of Platform Thirteen, by Eva Ibbotson, has the Nuckelavee summoned out of a saltwater fountain for only once every century, and is treated with respect and awe, inspiring one character decide to study medicine.

The Nuckelavee, 1999, by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola. A story included in the text novel Hellboy: Odd Jobs.

The Nuchlavis is a monster in the Playstation 2 RPG Final Fantasy X.

A particularly dangerous version of the Nuckelavee appears in Elizabeth Bear's 2007 novel Whiskey & Water.

In the anime Dunbine it is the name of the silkie who fist summons a person of Upper Earth (Marvel Frozen) in Byston Well.

In the Magic: The Gathering set Eventide, there is a blue-red hybrid card that is named Nucklavee. The art portrays it as having fins for the legs and multiple eyes. It seems to be portrayed as a water-dweller, although one could argue that it prefers stagnant water. Otherwise, there is nothing centaur-like about it, and it is not obviously lacking skin.

Action Figures

Nuckelavee is Monster in My Pocket #66.

See also

• Centaur
• Orkney Island information on the Nuckelavee
• Account of the Only ever recorded Encounter with the Nuckelavee

References