Selkie

A curious race with some mild changeling abilities; while they exist in the water they simply look like seals or similar marine life, but while on land they have the ability to shed their animal skin and appear as beautiful humanoids. The skin becomes a 'coat' that they must don again to go back into the water, and should the coat be lost or destroyed they can never return to life among their own kind.

Many legends tell of selkies falling in love with other races, some of whom fear that their beloved may not be able to resist the call of the water so they steal the coats to remove the temptation. The selkie is then forced to marry that person and never return to their kin again.

Whether legend or truth, most selkies are wary when on land and unless they fancy spending their lives up there they guard their coats carefully.