Gorgon ~ mama-loving snake-people

[Varos Talantos]

Gorgons Medusa, Stheno, Euryale Overview Gorgon (Euryale, Medusa, Stheno) - Gorgons are a breed of serpentine beings descendant from what were originally three; Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno. The descendants of each of the three have kept their last name consistent with the first name of their patron Goddess. For example, all who were descendants of Stheno would have Stheno as their last name. Gorgons are a highly religious species that live in a matriarchal society. There are some males within this society but they are smaller, less intelligent, and generally weaker. The males are used for breeding purposes only. Gorgons generally do not befriend Gorgons outside of their ancestral line, but they will always unite to defeat a common enemy, if present. Gorgons are know to live up to 500 years old. They are full height within twenty years, but are not considered adults until the age of 300. Their noses are extremely sensitive, and many have learned to even navigate through darkness merely on sense of smell.  Subspecies Euryale - Descendants of Euryale, second of the original trio of Gorgon sisters, are known for their crippling Sonic Blast. Euryales are very beautiful singers, able to reach notes that are nigh impossible for the highest soprano and barely manageable for the deepest bass with ease. This is due to multiple sets of vocal cords within their throats. They also have large lungs, enabling them to go without taking another breath for around 15-20 minutes. This is also how they have learned to blast all of their vocal cords at once to such a volume and with all the breath collected in their lungs that the sheer volume and range will almost always cripple those nearby, ears bleeding and often with a concussion. They are not as strong as Sthenos or Medusas, and only grow to be about 7-9 feet long, but they are formidable nonetheless. Their patron Goddess is Euryale, who they believe created sound and worship her by singing their most illustrious, glorious songs and, on occasion, placing a sacrifice on the altar and kissing them open mouthed for a moment and then unleashing their sonic blast within the victim’s mouth, causing their body to explode. Euryales who fail to properly perform within the nest are usually surgically opened at the throat and have their vocal cords removed, then are sewn back up and banished from the nest forever. Their vocal cords are then sacrificed to Euryale. Outcast Euryales can get synthetic vocal cords, but the loss of their beautiful voice and sonic attacking ability would always be something that would be on their mind and an extremely touchy subject. Medusa - Descendants of Medusa, third of the original trio of Gorgon sisters, are known for their Hypnotic Gaze, rendering prey immobile with their ridiculously gorgeous eyes (thus the myth of turning prey to stone). Medusas are serpentine, but their torso and face (eyes in particular) are extremely potent to males of any race and masters of the Medusa subspecies have been known to be able to hold a prey hypnotized for a full five minutes, though most Medusas cannot do so for more than a minute (which is still long enough to usually prove fatal). Once a Medusa has used her hypnotic gaze on a prey, she may look away without the effect wearing off prematurely. They are stronger than Euryales, but not as physically powerful as Sthenos, lengths ranging from 8-12 feet long. Their patron Goddess is Medusa, who they believe created sight and worship her by staring at her statue for days and weeks at a time, the record being held by the revered High Priestess Hshristah, who stared at the statue of Medusa for a full six years. Sacrifices are also made by removing a victims eyes from their head without damaging it and, after collecting at least five pairs of eyes, swallowing the eyes whole, regurgitating them onto the altar, and burning them. Outcast Medusas have their hair shaven and their scalps burnt so they can never grow hair again and their eyes sacrificed to their Goddess Medusa. Synthetic eyes are available and the rare outcast Medusa will obtain them, but they will have lost their ability and the loss of their beauty would always be painful to remember. Stheno - Descendants of Stheno, first of the original trio of Gorgon sisters, are known for their raw strength, being from 14-18 feet in length. Their primary method of attack is constriction, though their venom is paralyzing for three minutes on adult human-sized creatures. They are stronger than Euryales and Medusas, bodies rippling with muscles that help them move swiftly towards their intended target. Their patron Goddess is Stheno, who they believe created the sensation of touch and worship her by engaging in sexual orgies. Because of this, Sthenos only worship Stheno once per year at the statue of Stheno where all Sthenos will go to procreate simultaneously, ensuring the furthering of their race. Sacrifices to Stheno are made by skinning the prey alive and melting the flesh above the still-living subject so the flesh may melt onto the victims body. Outcast Sthenos are usually stripped of their own flesh with razor blades and then burnt alive (but not to death) to keep them from dying to loss of blood. The pain is excruciating and it takes outcast Sthenos at least a month to recover, causing many to die from starvation. Abilities Euryales are known for their deadly voices. As an innate ability, they have 'Sonic Pitch' and can change how they sound with 'Voice Trick'. Strength - 4- 20 Speed – 6- 30 Intelligence – 5- 25 Endurance – 5- 20 Agility – 5- 25 A Medusa's gaze can be deadly. They can stun others with 'Mesmerize', and frighten them with 'Haunting Vision'. Strength – 5- 20 Speed – 5- 25 Intelligence – 5- 30 Endurance – 5- 20 Agility – 5- 25 Sthenos are naturally strong creatures. They are also quite venomous, hence why they receive 'Poison' as their innate ability. Strength – 6- 30 Speed - 4- 20 Intelligence – 5- 20 Endurance – 5- 25 Agility – 5- 25 For more information on stats, view our stat page. For more information on magical abilities, view our supernatural ability page.