Homebrew Medusa (Gorgon) Species Details

Medusas, often called gorgons, are a monstrous race of creatures that appear superficially similar to human women. In place of hair, a gorgon has a writhing mass of black, serpentine cables, and its hands are scaly claws.

Exile and Ruins

As deadly as they are ravishing, the serpent-haired medusas live in quiet exile surrounded by the petrified remains of those who have crossed them.

As decedents of an ancient curse, medusas live in seclusion, alienated from the world around them by their serpent-haired form and caprice. Their homes are shadowy ruins covered with thorns and creepers, riddled with obstructions and hiding places.

Although few in number, their powerful gaze and keen awareness defend a medusa's place in this word.

Gorgon Gaze

The gaze of a medusa’s glowing eyes causes living tissue to petrify. The transformation is rapid, leaving the victim as a stone statue, usually frozen in a position of abject fear or agony. The medusa must exert its will to effect this transformation, so the gaze of a surprised or friendly medusa is harmless.

The power of a medusa's deadly gaze develops with maturity and practice. The gaze of a young or inexperienced medusa has little to no effect on any creature, try as they might. Eventually, a medusa will find their gaze can stun the small rats and bats around their home and, with practice, creatures of any size. Many young medusae struggle with the strain their stunning gaze takes on their eyes. As a medusa enters adulthood, their gaze begins to petrify as well as stun.

Healers and Medicine

Medusa communities have powerful healers who specialize in restoration magic. Healers specialize in restoring creatures or community members that young or inexperienced medusas have accidentally stunned or petrified. Although rare, some healers move away from their home community to become healers in other towns or cities.

Medusa Names

Medusa typically have two names. One name given by their parents at birth and the other name chosen for themselves in respect and tradition of their cursed ancestors. A medusa's self-chosen name is commemorated in a ceremony after their first successful petrifying gaze.

Female Medusa Names: Stheno, Risea, Chimbria, Althaia, Euryale, Agapia, Achradina, Xinea, Corythia, Isadora

Male Medusa Names: Valdyrus, Thereas, Phyxaon, Lethos, Alpheos, Navagos, Eurytos, Aristaeus, Sostratos

Medusa (Gorgon) Traits

Your medusa character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of living secluded for centuries in the shadows.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.

Age

Although medusas reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, they can live well beyond many human lifetimes. A medusa will typically appear to remain the same age throughout their adulthood, yet can live to be 750 years old.

Alignment

Medusas tend to be true neutral or neutral evil as they are aloof and often keep to themselves while secluded from other creatures.

Size

Medusas range from 5 to 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to dark caverns and shadowed ruins, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Medusa Claws

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Mithridatic Resilience

You have advantage on saves against being poisoned.

Keen Awareness

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Gorgon Gaze

You can use your action to fix your gaze on one creature within 60 feet that you can see with your eyes. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. This action can only be taken a limited number of times depending on your level (see table below) and is refreshed after you finish a long rest.

At 1st level, the gaze has no effect

At 5th level, if the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly stunned until the end of your next turn.

At 11th level, if the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming petrified on a failure or ending the effect on a success. The petrification lasts until the creature is freed by a Greater Restoration spell or similar magic. 

Level	Stunning Gaze Uses	Petrifying Gaze Uses
1	0	0
2	0	0
3	0	0
4	0	0
5	1	0
6	1	0
7	2	0
8	2	0
9	3	0
10	3	0
11	3	1
12	3	1
13	3	2
14	3	2
15	3	3
16	3	3
17	3	3
18	3	3
19	3	3
20	3	3

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.