Gorgon

Description:

It is unknown whether a Gorgon is a monster, or an unfortunate humanoid that has been cursed by some unknown magic. In either case, Gorgons have to form of ordinary humanoids with the except that their hair is a deadly tangle of poisonous vipers. More unsettling is that anyone who locks eyes with a Gorgon is immediately turned into stone. As a result of this terrible curse, Gorgons live their entire lives in isolation, possibly to hide themselves from those they love, or simply to hide from those who would kill them. The eerie cave of a Gorgon is filled with ‘statuary’; the petrified forms of those who came looking for a Gorgon, or who stumbled upon one by accident. These beautiful but haunting statues are prized by wealthy collectors, or by wizards who wish to use them to create Stone Golems.

Special:

Paradoxically, a Gorgon is not particularly threatening in physical combat, as the vast majority of its enemies are defeated at first glance; a Gorgon rarely even has a chance to use its teeth or claws. Regardless, a Gorgons petrifying gaze is extremely dangerous.

Other:

Special Attack: Petrifying Gaze Anyone who locks gaze with a Gorgon must Resist or be instantly turned to stone. Each turn, a Gorgon may attempt to lock its gaze with an opponent. This is a free, instant Action. The subject must roll a 21 Challenge using their Alertness to avoid locking gazes (unless they have previously chosen to Fight Blind. If the subject succeeds their roll, they must fight at a -4 penalty to all Challenges until the Gorgon directs its gaze at someone else. If the subject fails the roll, the gaze attacks with a Skill of 13 and is Resisted using Phys(-1). Failure results in the subject and everything they are carrying being instantly transformed into solid stone. This effect is magical and can be removed with the Dispel Magic spell as a Challenge against the original attack, but each failure to Dispel Magic reinforces the petrification, and adds an additional -1 to any future attempt to Dispel the effect. While petrified, the subject is effectively in suspended animation, unageing and without any sense of their existence. Someone could potentially exist this way for thousands of years, only to find themselves released exactly as they were at the moment they were petrified with no recollection of the centuries between. These ‘statues’ could even be animated or transformed into golems while the subject remained oblivious. If the statue is smashed, worn down over time by simple erosion, or otherwise destroyed, the subject will die permanently and the remains of the statue will lose their magic and become ordinary stone.