Medusa (Dungeons & Dragons)
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In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the medusa, based off of the eponymous gorgon of Greek Mythology, is a monstrous humanoid creature with a mass of writhing, hissing snakes instead of hair. Despite common belief, not all medusas are female. They are, after all, mortal creatures, and therefore require both genders to reproduce. Male medusas are known as maedar. In some campaign settings, medusas are born from eggs, like reptiles.
A medusa is usually lawful evil and usually solitary, though will sometimes gather in small coveys. Creatures that see the medusa are turned to stone permanently.
The main protagonist of the Forgotten Realms novel Lady of Poison is a male half-medusa named Marrec, a priest of Lurue.
In Eberron, medusas are part of the monster nation Droaam. Their ruler, under the Daughters of Sora Kell, is the Queen of Stone.
[edit] References
- Conners, William, et al. Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (TSR, 1989). (Maedar)
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989).
- Greenwood, Ed. "Ecology of the Maedar, The" Dragon #106 (TSR, 1986).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
- Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000).
