Homebrew Gorgon Species Details
Gorgons are a humanoid race that have existed in Ozmira for thousands of years. They evolved from the yuan-ti, a race of snake-human hybrids that all possess some degree of serpentine features. As such, the gorgons share serpentine qualities and features. Many folk fear the gorgons, with legends claiming that a single look from a gorgon can turn a man to stone.
Gorgon Appearance
All gorgons have bodies that appear similar to humans. However, upon closer inspection their more inhuman and serpentine qualities make themselves known. Their skin tone varies from a pale beige to dark green to dull gray, with tough small scales no larger than a centimetre covering their body. Their eyes are usually either yellow or light-green, with a dark slit for a pupil. Rather than having a head of hair, their scalp is covered in long serpents. These snakes are autonomous but usually lay dormant in order to keep up the facade of being actual hair. However, if the gorgon wills it, the snakes can become aggressive, hissing and biting at anyone who gets too close.
From Flesh to Stone
Most folk fear the gorgons, believing them to be man-eating monsters who petrify their victims, turning their flesh to stone. In reality, gorgons lack the ability to turn anyone to stone, much less with a single gaze. Most historians believe that this legend stems from a gorgon transmutation wizard who lived many years ago, named Rasswan the Forked. It is said that he was the first spellcaster to unlock the secret behind petrification spells. Along with that, gorgons do possess the ability to temporarily stun enemies with their gaze. Using innate magic the Gorgons can temporarily disorient and confuse a creature using its eyes or its hair, leaving the creature stunned for a few seconds. It is not hard to understand why these two facts may have evolved into the myths of today.
Unwilling Rulers
Due to the wide-spread fear of gorgons, few of their kind ever decide to take residence in any of Ozmira's densely populated areas. Instead, most choose to either live in isolation, far from broader society, or in smaller communities consisting of other gorgons and their snake-like cousins, the yuan-ti. In fact, due to their position as an "evolved" form of the yuan-ti, many yuan-ti see the gorgons as natural leaders, claiming that they are divine messengers sent to them by the god Evion. As such, many gorgons are forced into the position of an unwilling ruler, worshipped by their people.
Gorgon Names
Gorgons usually have names similar to that of the yuan-ti, with exaggerated hissing sounds, such as Ssimali, Hessatal, Issahu, Teoshi and Sisava. However, some Gorgons may pick more common names for themselves, in order to blend in better in cities and more populated areas.
Gorgon Traits
Your Gorgon character has the following racial traits:Ability Score Increase
When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2 and a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy.
The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You’re free to follow those suggestions or to ignore them. Whichever scores you decide to increase, none of the scores can be raised above 20.
Age
Gorgons can live for as long as 500 years, though most only live for around 300.
Size
Gorgons are taller than most humans, often rivalling elves. Their size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30.
Darkvision
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.
Viper's Tongue
You can speak with all types of snakes as if you shared a language with them. You also have advantage on all Charisma checks made while interacting with them.
Stunning Gaze
While the gaze of a gorgon doesn't turn men into stone like the legends claim, it is capable of temporarily stunning a creature. As an action, you can focus your gaze on the eyes of a creature that is within 60 feet of you, forcing the creature to make a Constitution saving throw against a DC of 8 + your proficiency bonus + either your Intelligence, Charisma or Wisdom modifier. If the creature fails the saving throw they become stunned until the beginning of your next turn.
You can use this feature once per long rest.
At 10th level, the activation time of this ability changes to a bonus action.
Snake Hair
Whenever you hit a creature with a melee attack, you can use your bonus action to have your serpentine hair bite it, causing the creature to take poison damage equal to your level.
You can use this feature once per long rest.
Poison Resistance
You have resistance to poison damage and have advantage on Constitution saving throws made to resist the poisoned condition.
Languages
Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character. The Player’s Handbook offers a list of widespread languages to choose from. The DM is free to add or remove languages from that list for a particular campaign.