Medusa-kin (5e Race)

Medusa's Child

Medusa, known for the vanity that got them cursed in the first place, and the stoney gaze upon which many suitors have met their end, are not known for their ability to have children. The immortality that they gain seems to come with a failing of their bodies ability to do what it once did. Even so, you stand before us, the child of a medusa. How has the world fallen so far into chaos...

Physical Description

You are the child of a Medusa. No matter how you got here, you are an anomaly, not entirely taking after the medusa who brought you into this world. You were born with the snake-hair that is an oh so prominent reminder of the curse, and the eyes that can turn an unwary gaze into a deadly mistake, even though your gaze has lost much of it's power, but even so you also have things your medusa parent does not. You have natural skin, entirely unlike stone and filled with warmth, beautiful and smooth to the touch. The unnatural beauty of your parent pre-curse has been further amplified within you by your own nature.

History

Medusa-kin, no matter whether it is a wish or a sick joke from the gods that brings them about, are all as different as most people come. Sadly the hubris and pride over their own beauty is nearly as strong as it was for their parent in many of them. Many of the dead ones at least...

Society

The Children of Medusa have no society of their own, but while their parents are usually more shunned from civilization than most monsters, they seem to be much more well received, even considering that just means treated like another monstrosity...

Medusa-Kin Names

Whatever race the medusa was, the child shall have a name from their language. While this is mostly common, there are a few strange names (latin) that mix in out of nowhere.

Medusa's Child Traits

The child of a medusa brought about by a wish, or a sick curse...
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 3. As normal you may not raise the value of an ability score above 20.
Age. These children, while not immortal like a true medusa, gain a much longer life-span than many of the other races, stretching into the thousands of years with longer lived parents.
Alignment. The medusa-kin are very prone to more chaotic alignments due to their naturally prideful and self-serving nature.
Size. Half-Medusa tend towards medium, though it is certainly possible to have a gnomish (or dwarvish, etc) parent and become small(er)...
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
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.
Serpent-Kin. You are able to communicate with snakes as if you shared a language and have advantage on all charisma checks against them. You also have venomous snakes in place of your hair. You may use them to create 2 vials of basic poison (Poison, Basic (vial)) before you must complete a short or long rest. These vials expire after one week, and cannot be sold for more than 5 gold pieces total.
Mother's Eyes. Your eyes, coming in any number of vibrant colors, look mostly human, but when you feel the need you can infuse your gaze with your familial magic. Starting at 3rd level, as an action, you can fix your gaze on one creature whose eyes you can see within 60 feet of you. The creature must make a Constitution Saving Throw or become Restrained, their body freezing up as if turned to stone. The DC for this saving throw is equal to 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. The restrained creature can repeat the saving throw when it takes damage and at the end of its turn, ending the effect on a success. If the creature fails three saves against this effect total, it becomes Stunned for 10 minutes. The stunned condition can be ended early by remove curse, dispel magic, or a similar spell of 3rd level or higher. You may use this a number of times equal to your constitution modifier, regaining expended uses after completing a long rest.
Languages. Same as your non-medusa parent's race.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 2''	+2d8	100 lb.	× (3) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

5.00

(one vote)

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