Gorgon

Gorgons are humanoids with the power to turn living creatures to stone with a simple gaze.

Snakelike features are common among the gorgon. Some gorgons have scaly skin, and others even have the lower body of a snake instead of legs. Most have hair made of animated snakes.

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The Eyes of Gorgon

Gorgon myths speak of their ancestor, an astronomer who studied the furthest stars in the sky. Frustrated at the technological limitations at the time, they turned to dangerous experimental magic to enhance their vision.

The astronomer was able to glimpse stars from beyond the cosmic horizon, but one of the stars stared back. Gorgon.

The astronomer’s eyes were changed by merely glimpsing Gorgon, gaining the power to petrify others. The astronomer shared this discovery with others, who all gained the same power when gazing upon Gorgon, before the authorities found out and destroyed the telescopes.

Originally known as the Eyes of Gorgon, over time the descendants of these astronomers just became known as gorgons.

The petrification power remains hereditary.

The Stars

Gorgons believe that some stars are sentient. Some are kind and benevolent, like the star their planet orbits, but some are angry. Some hate us. They are the ones to fear.

Astronomy is an important part of gorgon culture, and many of their festivals and events revolve around astrological events. The finest telescopes are made by gorgon craftsmen, for they were the first that charted the skies.

Warlocks are common among the gorgon, since they can make pacts with stars. Each star has its own unique powers and abilities. What star in the night sky were you born under?

Unique Eyes

Gorgon eyes are uniquely beautiful. They have colors, patterns, and pupil shapes not found in other species. One gorgon might have orange eyes with a star-shaped pupil, while another might have hard, stony eyes.

Gorgon eyes are hereditary. It’s possible for non-gorgon offspring of a gorgon parent to have gorgon eyes, but without the petrification properties.

Gorgon Names

Gorgons have a given name and a surname, and they often begin with the same letter.

Example Names: Gioia Giovanna, Herbal Herotin, Sybal Sloan

Gorgon Traits

You gain the following traits as a gorgon.

  • Ability Score Increase. You gain a +2 and +1 bonus to two different ability scores of your choice, or +1 to three different ones.
  • Age. Gorgons age and mature at the same rate as humans.
  • Size. Gorgons have the same sizes as a human. Your size is Medium.
  • Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
  • Snake Hair (Minor Feature). Your hair is made of snakes, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your hair, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You can make a single attack with your snake hair as a bonus action.
  • Petrifying Gaze (Major Feature). As an action, you can look at a creature and attempt to turn them to stone. One creature you can see within 60 feet must make a Constitution saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed save, the target is affected a stage of petrification that you can apply, based on the Gorgon Petrification Table. Your level determines the maximum stage of petrification that you can apply. If the target’s saving throw fails by 5 or more, they are affected by the petrification effect one stage higher than you can normally apply. For example, at 3rd level you can apply the stage 2 petrification effect. If the target fails their saving throw by 5 or more, they are instead affected by the stage 3 effect. If you can convince a creature to purposely look into your eyes when you use this ability, they have disadvantage on the initial saving throw. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
  • Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Terran.

Minor Features

Choose three of the following features.

  • Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
  • Fluent. You can speak, read, and write two additional languages of your choice.
  • Many Eyes. You can see through the eyes of your snake hair even if your main eyes are closed. You have advantage on saving throws against being blinded.
  • Poisonous Snakes (Requires Snake Hair). The damage from your snake hair attacks can be poison damage. Whenever you hit with a snake hair attack, you can choose to deal piercing or poison damage.
  • Serpentine Body. You have the lower body of a snake instead of legs. You are immune to the prone condition unless you wish to be affected by it.
  • Snake Charmer. You can communicate nonverbally with snakes. You can share simple ideas with snakes, and vice versa.
  • Snake Tongue. You have proficiency with the Deception skill.
  • Stone to Flesh. As an action, you can touch a creature or object and cure them of petrification. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
  • Trained Tools. You have proficiency in two tools of your choice.
Gorgon Petrification
Character Level Stage Effect
1 1 Speed reduced to 0 until the end of your next turn.
3 2 Restrained until the end of your next turn.
5 3 Petrified until the end of your next turn.
11 4 Petrified for 1 minute, can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns to end the effect on themselves.
15 5 Permanently petrified unless freed by the greater restoration spell or other magic.
Section 15: Copyright Notice

Ancestry Awakened: Copyright 2021, Pirate Gonzalez Games: Author Timothy Gonzalez

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