The nuckle is one of the most horrific undead abominations to terrorize the mortal realm. From a distance, the nuckle resembles a human rider upon a horse. Closer inspection, however, reveals a creature that could not possibly be mistaken as such. The nuckle resembles a rotting corpse with its humanoid lower torso fused to the back of an equine form that makes up the majority of the creature’s body. A single oversized eye stares out from the center of the nuckle’s bulbous head, and it grasps at its victims with clawed hands attached to spindly, too-long arms. However, the most noteworthy aspect of the nuckle may be its raw pink flesh, which evokes the appearance of person who has been severely burned or flayed alive.

A Titan’s Scourge#

The nuckle is said to be created by Lutheria, the Goddess of Death, with the singular purpose of haunting the civilized world and tormenting those who dwell within it. Although the sea is the creature’s true home, the nuckle regularly rises from the depths to plague coastal cities and towns, bringing death and misfortune in its wake. A nuckle’s preferred manner of attack is to grab a victim and drag them into the sea on its back in a manner that makes the victim appear to be riding into the water on horseback. The nuckle may disappear beneath the waves for years at a time, only to rise and wreak havoc during a months-long rampage.

Bringer of Decay#

Black poison pumps through a nuckle’s veins, which pours out of its slit-like nostrils in the form of noxious fumes. This toxic cloud threatens all forms of life, wilting crops and sickening livestock. Animals that survive the nuckle’s poisonous breath are often driven mad and compelled to dash themselves upon rocky cliffs or drown themselves in the sea.

Cleansing Water#

As formidable as the nuckle is, the monster does have its weaknesses. Chief among these is large amounts of pure fresh water. If the nuckle is drenched with enough fresh water, its body swells up and bursts, destroying the creature. To protect itself, the nuckle uses its magic to cause devastating droughts. However, this ability weakens the farther it strays from the sea. Brave heroes wishing to vanquish a nuckle often lure it as far inland as possible by burning seaweed. The stench of the resulting smoke has the power to enrage the nuckle to the point where it abandons all sense of self-preservation, as it is driven to find the source. Strong caution should be taken when using this strategy, however, as it is prone to backfiring; the nuckle destroys any settlements unfortunate enough to exist between it and the target of its fury.