Snake-Haired Recluse with a Petrifying Gaze
Habitat: Desert; Treasure: Any
With their hair of living snakes and their infamous petrifying gazes, medusas are hubristic creatures that inhabit sites of fallen glory. They often dwell beyond the fringes of civilization or travel in disguise, leaving trails of petrified victims. Some medusas dominate groups of monsters or criminals, controlling them with threats of petrified doom, while others recruit servants that are immune to being petrified, such as gargoyles and gorgons.
Medusas are born or created through preternatural circumstances. Roll on or choose a result from the Medusa Fates table to inspire what led to a medusa’s creation.
| 1d6 |
The Medusa Was ... |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Born a medusa and lives unaware of whatever curse or circumstances afflicted its ancestor. |
| 2 |
Created by a god and tasked with guarding a treasure or secret. |
| 3 |
A cultist who made a fiendish bargain and enjoyed rewards that have since faded. |
| 4 |
An explorer transformed and compelled to defend a cursed ruin. |
| 5 |
A vain noble whose magical attempt to gain eternal beauty backfired. |
| 6 |
The victim of a bite from a magical serpent or reptilian god in disguise. |
Multiattack. The medusa makes two Claw attacks and one Snake Hair attack, or it makes three Poison Ray attacks.
Claw. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) Slashing damage.
Snake Hair. Melee Attack Roll: +6, reach 5 ft. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) Piercing damage plus 14 (4d6) Poison damage.
Poison Ray. Ranged Attack Roll: +5, range 150 ft. Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) Poison damage.
Petrifying Gaze (Recharge 5–6). Constitution Saving Throw: DC 13, each creature in a 30-foot Cone. If the medusa sees its reflection in the Cone, the medusa must make this save. First Failure: The target has the Restrained condition and repeats the save at the end of its next turn if it is still Restrained, ending the effect on itself on a success. Second Failure: The target has the Petrified condition instead of the Restrained condition.
