Medusae, medusas, gorgons…
Whatever you call them, they’re truly icons of fantasy and pop culture. From Ray Harryhausen to Rick Riordan and Ovid to #MeToo, these serpent-haired ladies captivate our imaginations. With so many sources of inspiration, and such a long history in D&D, there are many possible approaches to portraying them. I chose a Classical base, going back to the earliest Greek myths for their origin. On top of that I added a few notes on their appearance, biology, and culture, a nod to the male maedar of earlier editions, and traits derived from the 5e monster stats.
Medusae are an ancient semi-humanoid lineage descended from a pair of primordial sea deities. Legend tells of a mortal maiden transformed into a medusa by a spiteful deity as punishment for some sacrilege, but the species long predates that tragic tale. The medusae carry a power from their chthonic origins that most people would call a curse. Any creature who looks into a medusa’s eyes risks being turned into stone. Those who have seen a medusa’s dread gaze and lived to talk about it say that its face contorts into a horrible, monstrous appearance visible only to the victim. Even the medusae themselves are subject to this curse, causing them to be quite wary of each other.
I also present you with additional variant stats for the unique medusae found in the planeshifted MTG worlds of Ravnica and Theros. Added for good measure are four new magic items that allow you to resist, restore, or impose the petrified condition—including the legendary Head of Medusa!
- from the publisher's blurb