Medusa (3.5e Race)

Medusa

Personality

Usually solitary creatures, Medusa normally shun the outside world, and inhabit places where they can be alone and undisturbed due to their fearsome appearance and reputation. Though they resemble Yuan-ti abominations and are often treated as such, they are similar to humans mentally quite shy and timid, never actually attacking with malice, but only in defence After years of solitude and shunning, their normally docile and timid nature changes to despise other races, which creates the stigma against them. When in a party, they are distrusted, save for the few that can push past their stigma and appearance. They rarely open up, but when they do, they can be quite bubbly, despite their usual demenours. There are a few who are not as kind, and wish ill upon those who shun them.

Physical Description

A reptilian race akin to Yuan-ti abominations, with a scaly body and a long serpentine body instead of legs. Allof them are female. They have a gorgeous human face, but in place of hair they have a mass of long, writhing, snakes. Their upper body is also coated with scales, beginning just below the neck. The underbelly is very sensitive, and can can detect movement and location of enemies when fully on the ground. Their serpentine body averages ~17 feet, with longer ones as long as 30 feet, and ends with a rattle.

Medusa have the ability to petrify living creatures into stone, this can be reversed either by the death of the medusa that turned them and a kiss from one. Their faces aren't completely human, they have snakelike amber eyes, a forked tongue, retractable snake fangs.

Relations

Medusa are shunned from all societies because of legends of medusa turning men to stone, even the Yuan-ti won't accept them, because they are too human for them.

Alignment

Medusa are Lawful Evil.

Lands

Medusa are shunned from society, they have no definite homeland.

Religion

Because of their distance from society, many don't have a deity that they believe in. The few that do worship a deity tends to worship one of the dragon gods.

Language

Common, but can learn Draconic, Yuan-Ti and Infernal.

Names

Lack of social interaction means that they don't necessarily pick a name, but usually pick one up when travelling .

Racial Traits

• +4 Dex, +2 Con, +2 Int, +2 Wis, +4 Cha.
• Medusas have a base land speed is 30 feet: They have a swim speed of 20.
• Humanoid (Reptilian)
• Medium: As Medium creatures, medusas have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Darkvision 60 ft.
• +4 Natural Armor
• Heat Sense (Ex): A medusa can sense all living, warm-blooded creatures within 30 ft.
• Scent (Ex): A medusa can detect creatures within 30 feet by sense of smell. If the creature is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. Strong scents, such as smoke or rotting garbage, can be detected at twice the ranges noted above. Overpowering scents, such as skunk musk or troglodyte stench, can be detected at triple normal range.
• Constrict(Ex): When a medusa successfully pins a target, she deals damage equal to 1d8 + her Strength modifier to it. They keep taking damage each round as long as they are still pinned
• Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC is Constitution-based (10 + 1/2 of the medusa's HD + her Constituiton modifier)
• Poison Immunity (Ex): As venomous creatures, Medusas have naturally strong immune systems and are immune to all poisons
• Petrify (Su): Once per day, as a standard action, a medusa can turn an enemy to stone with a Gaze Attack, but the target must be facing her and within 60 feet. This ability is otherwise identical to Flesh to Stone.
• -2 to Hide checks. A medusa's snakes constant hisses tend to give away her location.
• Automatic Languages: Common. Bonus Languages: Any, besides secret languages. A medusa can communicate with all snakes.
• Favored Class: Ranger or Rogue
• Level Adjustment: +5

Vital Statistics

Table: Medusa Random Starting Ages

Adulthood	Simple	Moderate	Complex
94 years	+1d10	+2d8	+1d20

Table: Medusa Aging Effects

Middle Age1	Old2	Venerable3	Maximum Age
187 years	281 years	375 years	469 years
At middle age, −1 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At old age, −2 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha. At venerable age, −3 to Str, Dex, and Con; +1 to Int, Wis, and Cha.

---

Back to Main Page → 3.5e Homebrew → Races