Homebrew Medusa (Frontiers of Eberron) Species Details

Medusas are notorious throughout Khorvaire for their petrifying gaze, calm and calculating demeanor that commands both fear and respect. In Droaam, the medusas of Cazhaak Draal are among the most powerful factions, celebrated for their exquisite stonework and unwavering devotion to the Dark Six. Their faith, known as the Cazhaak Creed, has become the leading religion across Droaam. 

The appearance of medusas varies by bloodline: some have scaled skin, while others appear as if sculpted from stone. All medusas possess a mane of writhing serpents, allowing them to sense their surroundings even when their main eyes are closed or blindfolded. Their petrifying power develops over time, beginning with the weaker Gray Gaze in their youth and eventually maturing into the Shadowswift Gaze, which can instantly petrify a target.

Medusa Traits Creature Type:

• Size: Medium (about 5–6 feet tall)
• Speed: 30 feet 
• Language: Serpentine. You know Serpentine, a sign language conveyed through the motion of the snakes atop your head. Serpentine has no written form and can only be utilized by medusas.

Special traits:

1. Darkvision:  range of 60 feet.
2. Fearsome Presence: Proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
3. Petrifying Gaze:  
   • Gray Gaze cantrip and can cast it without components. When you reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with this spell, you can cause it to turn to stone (Petrified condition). Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell (choose when you select this species).
   • Medusa’s Gift: When you cast Gray Gaze, you can choose to augment it. If a creature fails its saving throw against the augmented spell, it has the Restrained condition for 1 minute instead of having Disadvantage on its next Dexterity saving throw. A Restrained target makes another Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. You must concentrate to maintain the effect. If you lose your Concentration, the creature no longer has the Restrained condition. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.
   • Shadow’s Magic: If you have the Spellcasting or the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Medusa Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. You can cast these spells without Material components.
     • Spell Leve 1:  Ensnaring Strike
     • Spell Level 2:  Hold Person
     • Spell Level 3:  Hypnotic Pattern
     • Spell Level 4:  Stoneskin
     • Spell Level 5:  Hold Monster

Medusa (Frontiers of Eberron) Traits

As a Medusa, you have these special traits

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet

Fearsome Presence

You have proficiency in the  Intimidation skill.

Serpentine

You know Serpentine, a sign language that uses the motion of the snakes on your head.

Petrifying Gaze

You know the Gray Gaze cantrip. You cast it without components. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for  this spell (choose when you select this species). When you reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with this spell, you can cause it to turn to stone. A creature turned to stone in this way has the Petrified condition.