A nixie is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy

Fantasy

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

. They are a form of a Fey

Fey (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Fey is a type of creature, or "creature type". Fey are usually humanoid in form, and are typified as having supernatural abilities and a connection to nature or to some other force or place....

 water spirit who safeguard freshwater pools and streams, and tend to be reclusive and suspicious.

Publication history

The nixie first appeared in the original Dungeons & Dragons set

Dungeons & Dragons (1974)

The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...

 (1974).

The nixie appeared in first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual

Monster Manual

The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...

(1977).

The nixie appeared in the D&D Expert Set

Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set

The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...

(1981, 1983) and the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia

Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia

The Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia was published by TSR, Inc. in 1991, as a continuation of the basic edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which ran concurrently with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Its product designation was TSR 1071...

(1991). The nixie appeared as a player character

Player character

A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...

 class

Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)

A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...

 in The Sea People

The Sea People

The Sea People is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The Sea People is a "Creature Crucible" supplement and campaign setting that describes the lands on the bottom of the Sea of Dread and the beings that dwell there. The supplement includes rules for player...

(1990).

The nixie appeared in second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) under the "sprite" entry.

The nixie appeared in the third edition under the "sprite" entry in the Monster Manual

Monster Manual

The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...

(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The nixie appeared as a player character race in Savage Species

Savage Species

Savage Species is a sourcebook for use as a supplement in the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game, detailing the use of monstrous races as PC races.-Contents:...

(2003).

Physical description

Nixies resemble somewhat attractive humanoids with green skin and hair and webbed appendages. They are described as looking as though they are composed of water, bubbles and swamp foliage. Nixie are slim and comely and lightly scaled.

Society

Nixies are goodly and peaceful creatures, but are also highly shy, reclusive and suspicious. They are unforthcoming to those they don't trust, rarely leave their watery homes, and can be hostile when they need to be. Nixies desire friendship, and have the ability to charm others to become their friend. Occasionally a nixie will lure a human into the water, but they are usually more interested in company rather than drowning a visitor. Nixies love music, and make instruments from reeds on the banks of streams.