21B
NIXIE LAIR. The entrance to the nixie lair is about six feet below
the lake surface. It is obscured by reeds and weeds and it is 95%
unlikely to be discovered by casual inspection.
Just
within the cave entrance there is a membrane-like structure which is
easily passable by a small amount of force. On the outside is normal
water, but within the nixie lair there is a strange liquid which is
breathable by air-breathers and water-breathers alike. The nixies
share their lair with abundant small innocuous lake life: shrimp,
crabs, fish, and molluscs.
There
are numerous pools within the nixie lair. Each has a different size,
color, and properties but the liquid of each pool is unbreathable and
distinct from the liquid media that makes up the atmosphere of the
lair. The liquid in each pool is separated from the atmosphere of
the lair by a bulging dome-like membrane, also easily penetrable.
Each pool provides dim radiance (of the same color as the pool) to
the area near it, making traversing the lair a wonderland of
competing lights, like a rave party underwater. The nixies dislike
bright light, but the intensity of the pools' lights is below their
threshold for discomfort. Recall also that each nixie will be
colored a bright primary or secondary color from drinking the lake
water and that also adds to the surrealness of the place.
If
the nixies discover intruders or if they have already encountered
adventurers as a random encounter, they will attempt to use their
charm power to enslave party members. If successful, they
will give water breathing to charmed victims and force
them to fight the merrows at Area 21D. Note that the charm
power of the nixies is much stronger than the charm person
spell employed by magic users. The monstrous charm power of
the nixies can compel total obedience.
Normally
nixies keep enslaved characters for one year, but if the adventurers
eliminate the merrows for them, the nixies will be likely to allow
charmed individuals free before a year has passed.
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