Medusas are scaly monstrous humanoids with snakes for hair. They are known and feared for their petrifying gaze.[8][3] The largest known medusa settlement is Cazhaak Draal, in Droaam,[1][2] but medusas can also be found in smaller numbers in cities like Sharn,[9] and in Khyber.[3][4][1]
History[]
Gatekeeper legend states that the medusa were created by the daelkyr Orlassk, the Lord of Stone, and served as his troops during their invasion.[4] The medusas dispute this account, and attribute their creation to the Shadow of the Dark Six.[3]
In 778 YK, a group of medusas emerged from Khyber and took over an abandoned goblin metropolis, Cazhaak Draal. For the next two hundred years, the medusas ruled over the city as a small kingdom, domesticating its dangerous inhabitants and rebuilding the structures.[3][1]
In 985 YK, the hag Sora Teraza visited Cazhaak Draal to speak with the medusas' leader, Queen Sheshka. After the Daughters of Sora Kell assumed power in 986 YK, representatives of Cazhaak Draal were among the first to travel to Great Crag. Since then, medusas have held many positions of power in Droaam, including as architects in Great Crag and as diplomats to broader Khorvaire, and their city has prospered.[3]
Councilor Kilk of Sharn has sought to obtain medusa architects to perform work in the Northedge district of Sharn, but he hasn't been able to obtain the funds.[3]
Many medusas also operate as part of the crime gang Daask, including Harash, second-in-command of Daask in Sharn.[3][10] Medusas also help run the illegal sport Six Stones for Daask.[11]
Religion[]
The medusa priests of Cazhaak Draal worship the Shadow, claiming that the Shadow is responsible for the creation of them and other creatures such as harpies. They consider the Sovereign Host to be evil, and compare the exile of the Shadow to the fear with which medusas and other "monsters" are treated.[3]
Personality[]
Medusas are intelligent and cunning creatures, generally more intelligent than the average human. For some medusas, this is cause to be proud, even arrogant. Medusas enjoy the same entertainments as humans, particularly music, sculpture, and architecture. Cazhaak Draal in particular has a tradition of stone architecture and sculpture.[3]
Medusas are no more inherently evil than humans or elves. A few medusas indulge in their powers to petrify others for fun, but they are usually swiftly caught and punished.[3]
Abilities[]
The most famous ability of the medusa is its petrifying gaze, which it can choose to employ.[5] The gaze is considered a powerful weapon, but medusas do not consider it deadly because the petrification can be reversed. Medusas often use petrification to preserve their own who are badly injured until they can be treated, or on dying elders to preserve their likeness.[3]
Medusas are also known for their serpent hair, which they use for a variety of purposes. The snakes serve as weapons in combat and use their vision to support the medusa. The serpents can also reflect the emotions or mood of the medusa.[3]
The medusas of Cazhaak Draal have developed a simple language called Serpentine, which is based on the motions and hissing of their snakes.[3]
Lands[]
Medusa originally hail from an unknown realm in Khyber.[3][4][1]
The largest community of medusas is Cazhaak Draal, their kingdom at the foothills of the Byeshk Mountains ruled by Sheshka, the Queen of Stone.[1][2]
Medusas are known to reside in many other cities, including Sharn. At least three medusas reside in Zarash'ak in the Shadow Marches, and this trio serves as personal bodyguards of each of the Triumvir of House Tharashk.[9]
Notable Medusas[]
- Sheshka, the Queen of Stone: A Warlord of Droaam and one of the most famous medusas in Khorvaire. She is the ruler of the medusas of Cazhaak Draal and a major power in Droaam. She has basilisks and cockatrices at her side ready to defend her along with her own medusa honor guard.[3][1][2][12]
- Zerasha: A black-scaled priestess of the Shadow who resides in the temple known as the Eye of the Shadow in the Street of Shadows in Graywall. She is loyal to the Daughters of Sora Kell and is almost as influential as Xor'chylic in the city, but she foremost serves her queen Sheshka.[13]
- Gasslak: Gasslak is a member of the Daask cell in Sharn and the de facto authority figure in the Lower Dura district of Malleon's Gate. He prefers to use his power sparingly within the majority goblinoid district, but some statues on the streets are a public display of his power.[14]
- Harash: Second-in-command to Cavallah of the Daask cell in Sharn. He acts as the diplomat of the organization, and maintains morale when he can.[15][10]
- Karyale: A member of the Daask cell in Sharn.[11]
- Ashkora: The leader of the Daask cell in Wroat.[16]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
External Links[]
- Medusa article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 123–124. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 167. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 Keith Baker (2006/09/05). The Medusas of Droaam. Dragonshards. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018/08/15. Retrieved on 2021/06/24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Keith Baker (2005/07/25). Masters of Magic. Dragonshards. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/10/31. Retrieved on 2021/06/30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014). Monster Manual (5th Edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 214. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt (2008). Monster Manual (4th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 186–187. ISBN 0-7869-4852-3.
- ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual (3.5 edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 180. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual (3.5 edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 180. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 250. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 199. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Keith Baker (October 2008). “Dragonmarks: Backdrop: Graywall” (PDF). In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #368 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5–18.
- ↑ Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 153. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker (September 2011). “Eye on Eberron: Daask” (PDF). Dungeon #194 (Wizards of the Coast) (194)..
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