Monster Dossier

Medusa

Medusa MEDUSA INFILTRATORS Rumors persist of disguised medusas acting as prominent members of criminal organizations such as the Vrothaes in Thoumoul a...

Level 7

Traits

lemediumhumanoid

Rules & statistics

Monster Profile

Perception

16

Senses

  • Name
    darkvision

Languages

Languages
  • common

Skills

Deception
16
Diplomacy
14
Stealth
16

Ability Mods

Str
2
Dex
5
Con
4
Int
2
Wis
1
Cha
2

Items

  • +1 composite shortbow (60 arrows)
  • shortsword

Defenses

Ac
Std
25
Abilities
all-around vision
Saving Throws
Fort
15
Ref
16
Will
14
Hp
  • Hp
    105

Speed

Walk
25

Attacks

  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    shortsword
    Attack
    18
    Traits
    • agile
    • finesse
    • versatile
    Effects
    • serpent venom
    Damage
    1d6+8 piercing plus serpent venom
    Types
    • piercing
  • Range
    Melee
    Name
    snake fangs
    Attack
    16
    Traits
    • agile
    • finesse
    Effects
    • serpent venom
    Damage
    1d4+8 piercing plus serpent venom
    Types
    • piercing
  • Range
    Ranged
    Name
    composite shortbow
    Attack
    19
    Traits
    • deadly
    • magical
    • propulsive
    • range increment
    • reload
    Effects
    • serpent venom
    Damage
    1d6+7 piercing plus serpent venom
    Types
    • piercing

Abilities

Mid
  • Traits
    • arcane
    • aura
    • transmutation
    • visual
    Entries
    • 30 feet. When a creature ends its turn in the aura, it must attempt a 25 Fortitude save. If the creature fails, it becomes slowed 1 for 1 minute. The medusa can deactivate or activate this aura by using a single action, which has the concentrate trait.
    Name
    Petrifying Gaze
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    reaction
    Trigger
    A creature ends its turn adjacent to the medusa.
    Entries
    • The medusa makes a snake fangs Strike against the creature.
    Name
    Biting Snakes
Bot
  • Activity
    Number
    1
    Unit
    action
    Traits
    • arcane
    • concentrate
    • incapacitation
    • transmutation
    • visual
    Entries
    • The medusa fixes their glare at a creature they can see within 30 feet. The target must immediately attempt a Fortitude save against the medusa's petrifying gaze. If the creature was already slowed by petrifying gaze before attempting its save, a failed save causes it to be petrified permanently. After attempting its save, the creature is then temporarily immune until the start of the medusa's next turn.
    Name
    Focus Gaze
  • Type
    affliction
    Name
    Serpent Venom
    Traits
    • poison
    DC
    25
    Saving Throw
    Fortitude
    Max Duration
    6 rounds
    Stages
    • Stage
      1
      Entry
      1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 1
      Duration
      1 round
    • Stage
      2
      Entry
      2d6 poison damage and enfeebled 2
      Duration
      1 round

Background

Lore

Medusa

MEDUSA INFILTRATORS

Rumors persist of disguised medusas acting as prominent members of criminal organizations such as the Vrothaes in Thoumoul and the Theiveith Consortium in Zugomix, and their kind is known to thrive in metropolises including Shoumeistai and Vokhiago. Because they are so widespread, medusas resembling humans of every major ethnicity can be found in Khaigraik and Stefaliabu.

Monstrous humanoids that resemble humans with snakes instead of hair, medusas are best known for their petrifying gazes that—if lingered upon—can permanently transform mortals to stone. Medusas are shrewd and manipulative adversaries who collect and covet secrets, and who use threats and guile to exploit the fears of weaker creatures. A medusa may seek out powerful magic items, use divination magic to discover secret knowledge and unlock forbidden power, or infiltrate a society to beguile influential politicians. Their ability to worm their way into powerful organizations makes them natural leaders of criminal outfits and thieves' guilds, and their interest in magical phenomena leads some to pursue careers as oracles who offer to help adventurers find what they seek—for a price. Of course, if wit and deception proves insufficient, a medusa can always simply turn rivals into ornate stone decorations with little more than a glare.

Exceptionally agile and surprisingly hardy, a medusa rarely backs down from a conflict even when cornered. Many adventurers who thought themselves readied to resist the effects of a medusa's gaze have nevertheless fallen to a medusa, as these creatures are also often deadly archers able to riddle their foes with venom-coated arrows from a distance. Still, a medusa may barter for their life if no alternatives remain, and the secrets carried by these powerful villains often make it more than worth sparing the monster's life.