Month: May 2023

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Orcadian Folklore: The Bad to the Bone Nuckelavee

The Bad to the Bone Nuckelavee

Bad To The Bone

In the folklore of the Orkney Islands, “Nuckelavee,” meaning “Devil of the Sea,” is the Orcadian name for a malevolent, monstrous, amphibious beast in the seas of the archipelago. It is one of several mythical marine entities in the islander’s folklore. It is considered the most dangerous, with no redeeming features and utterly bad to the bone. The more powerful Sea Mither keeps it in restraint during the summer and its abhorrence of fresh water found in streams, lochs, and rain keeps it under further check. Hence, to counter this handicap it is believed to be the cause of prolonged droughts. Islanders believe Nuckelavee brings disease to the land to ravage the human population and their livestock. Its vile breath spreads the mould and mildew that blights food, crops, and anything else it touches and is blamed for driving animals over cliffs and everything wrong that happens on the islands. It hated the islander’s practice of burning seaweed for kelp and was exceptionally hostile to the folk of Stronsay who began it. In revenge, it sent a deadly disease that attacked their horses and spread throughout the other islands, making the kelp.

The form of its body takes in the sea is unknown, possibly because few folks escaped alive with an encounter with Nuckelavee. But according to local tradition, one man succeeded in escaping alive with an encounter on land and his horrific, detailed description is given below. But first, it should be explained the islanders believed any mention of the monster’s name should immediately be followed by the phrase, ‘Guid save us a’ I’, which invokes divine protection and probably means something like “God save us all!”  In addition, that phrase should be inserted in any narrative at various interludes for increased safety.

A Close Encounter with Nuckelavee

The name of this lucky escapee, was Tammas, who one late night who was walking home along a coastal road between the sea on one side, and a deep freshwater lake on the other. There was no moon that night, but the sky was filled with stars giving enough light to see a fairway. Looking up the road ahead, he saw a massive dark shape rushing towards him. It was something beyond his experience, and sensing it was evil realised he was in a dangerous position. To one side of him was the deep freshwater lake, and to the other, the salt sea. 

If he went onward, he would meet whatever was coming face to face, and he did not fancy that. But, on the other hand, if he returned the way he had come, the approaching threat would be at his back, leaving him vulnerable to attack, and he did not fancy that either. He could not go to his left because of the lake, and he could not go to the right because of the salt sea, and he had to decide. He had heard that turning your back to an evil thing was the worst possible act, therefore, all he could think of doing was uttering a quick prayer, 

“The Lord be aboot me, an’ tak’ care o’ me, as I am oot on no evil intent this night! “

In fact, this was probably the most effective thing he could have done, although he had no way of knowing that at the time.

How Tammas Escaped

Nevertheless, he was not without courage and was known for being rough and ready and never backed down from a fight. Therefore, he stood tall, squared his shoulders, and marched forward to meet head-on whatever was speeding towards him, and from this point Tammas takes up the narrative,

“Unfortunately, as the thing drew near, I realised I was drawing face to face with Nuckelavee – ‘Guid save us a’ I ‘. 

Like everyone else on the islands, I had been brought up to believe it was the most savage, evil, and malicious monster that had ever stalked humankind. Now I know why!

Whether it was one terrible beast or two, I could not tell. It looked like an oversized horse with a massive misshapen man either riding on its back or as part of its back; I could not tell!

The lower horse-like part had fin-like flappers growing from its legs. It had a massive and deformed head the size of a whale and a wide, gaping maw from which breath came hot enough to boil a kettle or strip paint from the door. In the centre of its forehead, it had a large red oval eye that glowed like a red-hot coal.

On its back, either part of it or separate, I could not tell which sat what looked like a massive legless man with long thick arms that hung down to the ground. Again, I could not see if he was connected to the lower part or separate. Its terrible head rolled from side to side, giving a sick, ghastly aspect.

Yet, worst of all was its lack of skin on top of all these unworthy and frightening defects. I could see its raw flesh and muscles in motion, stretching and contracting as it moved and the blood pumping and pulsating through arteries and veins. 

I was terrified, my entire body trembling in fear and drenched in a cold sweat. 

Nevertheless, I dared not turn my back and run, knowing it would surely catch me. If I must face death, I preferred to face it head-on, so I advanced doggedly to meet it.

Fortunately, despite my fear, I managed to keep my wits and recalled from some long distant memory that Nuckelavee – ‘Guid save us a’ I ‘- hated fresh water. Therefore, I walked the side of the road that ran beside the freshwater loch.

As I and the ghastly thing met on the road, the lower head of the beast turned to me, its awful maw gaping wide open, like a black tunnel leading to hell, opened towards me!

I felt its hot, rancid breath on my face, and its elongated misshapen arms reached out to grab me! Instinctively I shrank from its reach, but in doing so, one of my feet stumbled into the loch, and a splash of freshwater hit the forelimb of the beast. 

It was only a splash, but it dramatically affected the beast. It gave out a panicked snort loud as thunder and shied over to the other side of the road. The long arms reaching out to grab me missed, brushing over my face. 

Luckily, I still had my wits about me, and despite my fear, I sprinted down the road, and I now had my back to the beast, which I had wanted to avoid but now had no other choice. Therefore, I hoped to either outpace it or jump into the loch even though I could not swim.

Glancing back as I ran, I saw, despite its initial reaction, it had quickly turned and gave chase, roaring like a hundred lions and was catching up fast. 

I knew I could not outpace it and was unsure of the depth of the loch, but I remembered the road was crossed by a small stream of fresh flowing water that drained from the loch into the sea just ahead. 

This gave me hope, as I knew if I could get across that stream, I would be safe, as it is a law of nature that no evil entity can continue to pursue a quarry that has passed over or through fresh flowing water. 

It was a law that even the Devil was bound, so I ran as fast as possible, hoping my legs and lungs would hold up long enough to get across. 

I tell ye, I was fast, but Nuckelavee – ‘Guid save us a’ I’ – was faster and nearly upon me. 

My legs were near to breaking, and my lungs nearly burst. I did not look back but could feel the beast’s hot breath on my bare neck. 

I saw the stream ahead just as I thought I would not make it.

Despite the pain in my lungs and legs, I found extra strength to surge forward. 

Just as its long arms reached to grab me, I took one almighty leap and jumped over the stream, leaving those ghastly long limbs snapping empty air. All the beast managed to catch was the cap from my head.

Landing safely on the other side, I collapsed exhausted to the ground.

 Nuckelavee – ‘Guid save us a’ I’ – pulled up sharp to avoid contact with the fresh running water and because it was bound by the law. 

If the stream had not been there, I would have been caught, but now all it could do was vent its frustration and rage in a series of unearthly screams and roars and stamp the ground, but despite its wild anger, it could not follow and thankful am I for that!” (1)

Thus, it was Tammas escaped to tell the tale.  

© 04/05/2023 zteve t evans All rights Reserved.

References, Attributions and Further Reading

Copyright May 4, 2023 zteve t evans All rights Reserved.