Nereids were originally relatively benign sea nymphs from
Greek mythology. Role-playing’snereids have a decidedly darker tone.
Likely the name has been misapplied to a mash-up of watery fey from
other traditions—RPG nereids combine the murderousness of a rusalka with the
vulnerable attachments of a wiła (to her feathers) or selkie (to her
sealskin). For players used to
pleasant nixies and aloof but manageable merfolk, the deadliness of a CR 10
poison-spraying nereid might be quite a shock! (But at least it’s an excuse to bust out the sunder/disarm rules
for stealing shawls… Speaking of
which, knowledge of said shawls should be a reward for any PCs who have put
plenty of ranks in the appropriate Knowledge and related skill slots.)
One element of Greek nereids worth exporting to the RPG
nereid is that of family connections—nereids of legend almost always have
dozens of sisters and a river god father or other watery patron. So even if killing a nereid is
justified, one may have to contend with any number of upset relatives…
A nereid is surprised
when a female paladin surrenders to her beguiling aura. Amused and intrigued by the novelty of
the experience, the nereid eventually releases the knight without her usual drowning
kiss…but the fey keeps her victim’s enchanted blade. Now the paladin is in desperate straits: While lesbianism is
not against the strictures of her order, surrendering her sword to one of the
Faithless is, even under magical compulsion. She must get it back before her order next summons her or
lose her sacred status, and her desperation is already tempting her to
larcenous and murderous thoughts of which her superiors would not approve.
An adventuring
party’s ally (or perhaps even one of the adventurers herself) needs help
finding her cousin. This turns out
to be more complicated than simply tracking a missing person: the ally is
actually an undine, and her cousin is a full-blooded nereid who does not want
to be found.
A village elder is
assaulted by a tupilaq. If the
scrimshaw construct fails the elder is nevertheless visibly shaken and soon
refuses to leave the lodge. If it
succeeds, a search of the headman’s hope chest reveals the reason: a carefully preserved
nereid shawl wrapped in oilskin.
Either way, random attacks by sea beasts and magical assassins continue—clearly
someone wants the shawl back.
—Pathfinder Bestiary 2
198
I seem to recall a nereid causing trouble for the heroes of
the novel Tantras.
Meanwhile, if you’re considering travel to Unther syringesin has volunteered to be your travel agent.
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