MEDUSIANS
Medusians are a cursed line who have fled to Ocumene from a world named Gorgadia, conquered early in the Millennium War. Many of them are slaves of their Chaotic masters or little better than beasts, but some preserve the nobility of the Medusian civilisation and continue to support Law. However, even Lawful and Neutral Medusians are tainted by Chaos and are repelled by protection from chaos.
Character Advancement
Medusians can be Fighters or Thieves (or alternatively Druids using Expanded Lore character classes) but can only advance to 6th level. They can also be Demonists up to 6th level.
Petrifying Gaze
Medusians usually wear lenses or veils because their gaze can petrify living creatures. This is not automatic: the Medusians must be enraged or terrified for the gaze to activate. Anyone failing a saving throw vs Petrification is turned to stone for 1d6 turns (or permanently, on a saving throw of a natural 1). Using this power causes a Medusian to gain 1 Trauma whether or not the target makes its saving throw.
Living creatures excludes undead (obviously) and golems. It also excludes creatures from other worlds, such as demons, elementals and some fey (e.g. Banshees, Sidhe) and anything described in the rules as a 'spirit'. Creatures who can only be harmed by magical weapons have enchanted bodies that are immune to Petrifying Gaze. The Referee will have to rule on whether creatures that do not depend on sight are affected by Petrifying Gaze but should give such creatures as bats, moles, shrews etc. the benefit of the doubt.
Whoops!: In combat, a Medusian can target one opponent within 30' with Petrifying Gaze. However, if the target makes its saving throw, a random ally must save vs Petrification or be turned to stone instead. Allies can state at the start of a round tha they are avoiding the Medusian's direction, in which case they are immune to this effect but they fight at -2 To Hit.
Mirrors!: A Medusian can be affected by her own reflected gaze. However, they gain their +2 bonus on such saving throws (see below).
Serpent Crown
The Medusians have snake-like feelers for hair. These feelers confer on Medusians a 360-degree vision up to 30', making it impossible to surprise or backstab them unless attackers are invisible or magically hidden. These 'serpents' are not poisonous and do not bite.
Monster-Medusas who have given themselves over entirely to the Serpent Curse have feelers that are actual serpents and possess venomous bites. Their Petrifying Gaze turns victims to stone permanently and is always in effect. The gaze of monster-Medusas affects extra-planar creatures and extends into the Astral Plane (where it causes death) and the Ethereal Plane (where it turns ethereal creatures into ethereal stone).
Cursed
The Medusian form is a curse on their lineage which cannot be broken. Consequently, they cannot shapechange easily. As Druids, they can only assume one reptilian forms (a snake, lizard, crocodile or tortoise). Healing by Clerical spells always results in the lowest possible healing (e.g. 2 HP from cure light wounds or 6HP from cure serious wounds).
If affected by a polymorph or other shapechange, they always betray a reptilian feature (usually scales, possibly a forked tongue or fangs). They are immune to non-reptilian forms of lycanthropy.
If affected by a polymorph or other shapechange, they always betray a reptilian feature (usually scales, possibly a forked tongue or fangs). They are immune to non-reptilian forms of lycanthropy.
Medusians cannot remove derangements. If they reach level 6 derangement, they become monster-Medusas. Their derangements progress like this:
- You express anger or fear by hissing (creating Reaction Tests at -2)
- You only eat live food (mice, rats, small birds, maybe a cat - may cause Trauma for viewers)
- You cannot bear to be touched by warm-blooded creatures (gain a Trauma if they bind your wounds)
- You must attempt to petrify anyone who attacks you
- You must attempt to petrify anyone who shows you compassion
- You are a monster-Medusa and become a NPC villain
Saving Throws
Medusians save at +2 vs Petrification or Poison
Languages
Medusians speak their own language, although monster-Medusas usually disdain to speak it, having rejected their old civilisation.
Trauma
Medusians cause allies to gain 1 Trauma when they use their Gaze successfully. Creatures who survive being petrified also gain 1 Trauma.
