Kētos, also known as Wereorcas, are a species of therianthropes that have the ability to transform into anthropomorphic whales.
Description[]
Kētos are able to assume two or more forms like their fellow werekin which consists of a humanoid and hybrid form. Humans that are afflicted can be slightly distinguished from a regular normal human, though some bear hints of their true nature with the most notable being their eyes; their iris is circled by a pale ring of varying colour, mostly amber or silver, with a bent pupil. The ethnicity of Kētos in human forms are widely diverse since orcas can be found almost all over the world, however, the dominant majority of Kētos appear as indigenous.
Like the Mokolé and Rokea, Ketos are one of the oldest species of werebeasts on Earth. They are known for their relatively docile and peaceful nature, unlike many other types of therianthropes who can be aggressive. However, they can be immensely dangerous when provoked, especially if their pod and tribe is threatened. Like most werebeasts, Kētos also have sacred places referred to as Littorals like with the way Rokea have Grottos and Werewolves have Caerns.
A Kētos' hierarchical structure operates very similarly to real-life orcas, example is that their society is matriarchal thus the pod is led by a female but is only one who is an elder and members of the Pod look to as the "great mother". Pods are so finely attuned together that its implied their bond is as strong, if not stronger than even werewolf packs. Moreover, it is practically unheard of for a Wereorca to leave its Pod and act independently.
Overview[]
Like most werebeasts, the origins of Kētos can be traced back to divine hands although it is uncertain which god had a hand in the creation of the wereorcas. Some believe that Ketos came from Rep-un-kamuy who according to the Ainu created the Kētos by burying the bodies of humans who died at sea into the ocean bed before breathing life into it. Others like the Inuit tribes say that their ancestors took the form of Kētos when they devoured the flesh of an Akhlut. Whatever the case may be, one thing is definitely certain is that Kētos are the rulers of the oceans and are powerful enough to repel even the savage might of the Rokea. Known as the "Wolves of the Sea" they are the marine counterparts of werewolves.
Kētos were created to maintain balance in the ecosystem of the supernatural and are revered to as guardians or even demigods. They defend the ocean just as they defend the lands, specifically the indigenous humans who live by the coast and provide them offerings for their protection. Wereorcas are highly valued and respected by many maritime cultures. In some societies, like in Skellige, they are even worshipped as divine creatures, being called the "sons of Aegir", believed to bring good luck and protection to those who encounter them. They are regarded as spirit warriors since they actively hunt and kill malicious spirits and demons who seek to destroy the livelihood of humans and their pods. In ancient times, they have been seen and documented defending not just humans but also humanoid beings (elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc.) sailing the oceans, from attacks by Sirens, krakens, Raandeese, Sea Witches and other similar beings.
Much like the Mokole and Nzahu, wereorcas can also be found in the Hollow Earth thanks in part to the deep underwater tunnels that lead to the Hollow Earth where they would affiliate themselves with the kingdom of Agartha and have made their home in Panthalassa. In terms of their relationship to other werebeasts, Kētos associate very little with them. Although they appear to have a relatively healthy alliance with Werebears, such as those that live in the polar regions where they aid each other in destroying dark forces that lurk about in the snowy arctics. They also seem to have good relations with Merfolk as well and like the Rokea can even procreate with them. However, due to their extreme rarity and elusive nature, wereorcas are not often seen by humans or even hunters and the notion of a wereorca even falling in love with a human is even more rare but not unheard of.
Capabilities[]
Wereorcas are the most powerful therianthropes that roam the depths of the oceans with the Weresharks being a close second and are one of the most powerful werebeasts in the world of the supernatural. Due to their inseparable bond, combined with their physical and magical prowess they are one of, if not the only, known werebeast that can force a Rokea to retreat, so much so that even a Slew of weresharks know better than to engage with a Kētos as they know that its Pod is never far behind. While Kētos are at their strongest while in the ocean they are still highly formidable even when on land and can last for longer durations than Rokea who can be incapacitated when in their hybrid form on land for extended periods.
Wereorcas are spirit warriors, both literally and figuratively speaking. As such they are able to harness the spiritual essence dervied from the practice of animism. Wereorcas can distinctly identify and channel the spiritual essence of animals, plants, rocks, rivers, and even weather systems to where they can harness the inner 'purpose' of these objects and integrate it into their prowess. Example is Luke, a wereorca, reading the spiritual essence of a typhoon that encircled his island home and was able to channel and project the storm's destructive powers against his opponents. On top of that in part of their practice to spiritualism, Wereorcas also integrate the power related to totemism where they can call upon the past experiences of a family, clan, lineage, or tribe to enhance their already formidable abilities. They do this by inscribing totemistic tattoos around their bodies.
Aside from their magical prowess, they extremely effective hunters, so much so that they often put the hunting tactics of werewolf packs to shame. Wereorcas can devise somewhat complex strategic plans of attacks in order to successfully take down prey or their enemies. Their weapons consist of spears and glaives that are carved to resemble scrimshaws. Like real-life orcas, Wereorcas communicate through pulsed calls, and whistles and these form a unique dialect for a family even when in human form. It also has the advantage of not being understood by their enemies which helps during attack patterns so their enemies do not counterattack.
