EYE OF THE DEEP

EYE OF THE DEEP

"It is possible that this monster is a relative of the beholder, for There are remarkable similarities between the two species. The eye of the deep dwells only at great depths of the ocean, floating slowly about, stalking prey. It has two huge crab-like pincers to seize its victims and a mouth full of small sharp teeth, its primary weapons, however, are its eyes. The creature has a large central eye which emits a blinding flash of light to dazzle and stun those in its ray. The eye of the deep also has two smaller eyes on long stalks with which it is able to create an illusion; or, acting independently, the small eyes are able to cast hold person and hold monster spells respectively."

Gary Gygax, Monster Manual

Gygax & co. loved a floating head monster or a variation on that theme. I can't blame them, it's a really fun concept. The gorbel, the monodrone and even the flumph & eyewing can be considered variations on this theme. But their most successful of these was the beholder. So, inevitably there were variations on the theme. The eye of the deep is the underwater version of a beholder. 

The eye of the deep first appeared in the original 1977 Monster Manual with an illustration by Jean Wells. Wells is actually a really interesting character in the lore of D&D. She was the first woman to be hired by TSR as a game designer but also did illustrations & writing. She worked on the White Plume Mountain, The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan & Rogues Gallery modules and  helmed the advice column of Dragon Magazine titled Sage Advice. 

The controversial artwork by Erol Otus (left) & Laura Roslof (right).

She was later tasked with writing a module to get newer players into the game. Her idea was Palace of the Crystal Princess. It contained maps with blank rooms so that players & DMs could customize the palace to their likings. However when the printed books were delivered to TSR executives were shocked by the risqué art of Erol Otus & Laura Roslof. Some complained Roslof's had elements of S&M while others complained that Otus' were too scantily clad AS WELL as having the heads of TSR executives. They were so appalled that all the books were destroyed (except the few that were saved from the dumpster by employees) and the entire module was rewritten (replacing Wells' new monsters with familiar ones & removing the blank spaces on the map) and reprinted with a new cover (the old one was orange the new, green). 

After this incident, Wells was given secretarial work and all her game ideas were ignored. She realized what was happening and left TSR.