Homebrew Gorgon Species Details

Gorgons are not born, they are made. They are made from the fury of betrayed and wronged women; their bodies reforged in the fires of righteous vengeance. They are created anew with an unmatched ferocity and a stern, concrete nature not unlike the stone monoliths of those judged and found wanting they leave in their path. It takes a special kind of unrelenting person to be transformed into a Gorgon, but that is not the only piece of the puzzle. It takes a special kind of injustice to invoke the magiks that create their new form, a gift left behind by Medusa, the most wronged of them all and a vengeful goddess to Gorgons.

Beautiful and Astonishing

The visage of a Gorgon is at the same time terrifying and wonderful to behold. Their features fine, beautiful, and chiseled as if carved from granite by the gentlest of artists; the writhing serpents falling from their crown in hissing, venomous locks. Their size and form vary wildly, some bearing the torso of a woman and base of a serpent, others walking on two legs. Some have alien, serpentine features while others appear nearly indiscernible from their original race. Their entire being is magical in nature and ancient transmutation magic seeps off of them like sweat.

While they are as varied and diverse as the races that make them up, there are a few features that all gorgons share; A head full of living serpents where hair ought to be, a forked tongue, and yellow, serpentine eyes are most prominent among them.

An Endless Perspective

Gorgons do not age after they are created, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited at the goings on of people and their small troubles. They tend to remain aloof and unfazed by petty happenstance and are unlikely to involve themselves in the affairs of mortals. When pursuing a goal, however, they are focused and relentless. They are slow to make friends, and quick to make enemies. Enemies rarely escape their grasp for long.

The Edges of Society

Most Gorgons dwell near, but outside of civilization. They do not associate with anyone if they don't have to, but they desire easy access to worldly pleasures. Their homes are made in caves, abandoned homes, sewers, and some who posses true magical capability hide in cities and towns in plain sight. 

Wherever they dwell, they frequently intentionally spread rumors about themselves luring in young, virile men who think much of themselves and turning them to stone or eating them. Rarely, these rumors are true, though almost never what they appear to be.

Exploration and Adventure

Gorgons are hard-pressed to leave the comfort of their homes to seek out adventure; though it is not unheard of, especially in newly created gorgons. They seek to destroy and undermine injustices perpetrated upon the innocent, especially those against women. 

A Gorgon is a hard friend to make, but if you should find yourself in the good graces of one, you will find yourself a stalwart companion that will rip apart those who would wish you ill. Though Gorgons are often painted as monsters, they're almost always good and positive individuals, though many become hard and cynical after a few lifetimes of watching mortals undermine and betray each other.

Gorgon Names 

Gorgons almost always retain the name they had before they transformed. Some change their name to symbolize their new lives or as a way of escaping the trauma that created them, but this is rare.

Gorgon Traits

Your Gorgon character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of the magical transformation.

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

When a Gorgon is made, it no longer ages. A Gorgon may be 30 or 2000 years old and their age is indiscernible by appearance, though older Gorgons often have some kind of local mythos surrounding them.

Alignment

Gorgons are cursed with an ever burning rage inside. Their desire to right wrongs and protect the innocent is frequently blind and relentless. They are generally not evil in nature, but they are driven by their fury, often leading them down dark and chaotic paths.

Size

Gorgons range from under 4 to over 8 feet tall and have all sorts of builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Accustomed to fire lit caves and the night sky, 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.

A Head Full of Eyes

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Cursed

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Divine Insomnia

Gorgons don’t need to sleep. Instead, they rest deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, they have disturbing and violent visions. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Petrifying Gaze

Petrifying Gaze. Once per long rest, as an action, when a creature that can see the Gorgon's eyes starts its turn within 30 feet of the Gorgon, the Gorgon can force it to make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw if the Gorgon isn't incapacitated and can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified for 1d2 rounds. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is restrained for 1d2 rounds. 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 it fades or the creature is freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.

This effect increases at higher levels. When a Gorgon reaches level 3 the effect duration becomes 1d4 rounds, and 1d6 rounds at level 7. Additionally, the DC is raised to 16 at level 11.

Serpentine Hair

Natural Melee Weapon Attack:  Hit: 1d6 poison damage.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan. Sylvan is the language of the Eladrin of the Feywilds. It is as flowing and capricious as the Fey themselves.