Race Name: Medusa

Ability Scores: +2 Dex, +1 Con

Size: medium
Speed: 30ft
Languages: common, one of your choice

Age: unknown
Alignment: lawful evil
Size: about the same build as humans

Traits:
 Darkvision
 Petrifying Gaze: when a creature that can see your eyes starts its turn within 30 ft. of you, the you can use your
reaction to force it to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + proficiency + Con) if you aren’t Incapacitated and
can see the creature. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is instantly Petrified. Otherwise, a
creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is Restrained. The Restrained creature must repeat the
saving throw at the end of its next turn, becoming Petrified on a failure or Ending the Effect on a success. The
petrification lasts until the creature is freed by the Greater Restoration spell or other magic. You can do this a
number of times per long rest equal to your proficiency bonus.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature
does so, it can't see you until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at
you in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
If you see yourself reflected on a polished surface within 30 ft. of it and in an area of bright light, you are
affected by your own gaze.
 Snake Hair: you are proficient in Perception. In addition, your snakes can be used as a melee attack you are
proficient with (using Dex). On a hit, you deal 1d4 + Dex piercing damage and 1d4 poison damage.
 Petrification Immunity: you are immune to being petrified by the gaze of other medusae.

Subrace:
 Greater Medusa:
o Your size becomes Large. Your lower body becomes that of a snake, extending your entire body to 20ft
long.
o Poison Skin: when a creature hits you with an unarmed strike or otherwise touches you, it must make a
DC 14 Con save. On a fail, it takes 1d6 poison damage.

History:
Typical medusae had scaly skins of either pale or earthy colour. Their eyes glowed with an intense red colour and,
instead of hair, their heads were covered in a mass of 1-foot-long (30-centimeter) living venomous serpents. Despite
those features, from large distances they could easily be mistaken by ordinary humans. For that reason, it was
common for medusae to hide their features behind hoods or veils.

People cursed into becoming medusae could belong to either sex and both male and female medusae created by
such curses were similar in form and capabilities.

Most medusae despised their own powers and viewed their abilities as a curse. They directed their frustration and
anger outwards, seeking to petrify any living creature they encountered, and only used restraint when hunting prey
for food or when searching for a mate.

Medusae preferred to live alone or in small groups, but they desired treasures and dominance over
other humanoid societies. It was common for a group of medusae to seek to rule a rural community as a recluse
royal family, or for a lone medusa to become a crime lord or the leader of an assassin's guild. They were typically
seen in the company of creatures who were immune to their gaze, such as grimlocks and gargoyles, though they
were also known to gather humanoid servants. Medusae and maedar formed monogamous relationships and usually
mated for life, forming a powerful emotional bond that bordered on obsession.
Medusae typically made their homes in dark caves or large abandoned structures. Their lairs progressively fell into a
state of disrepair, riddled with shadowy overgrowth, hiding places, and obstacles, usually inhabited by nests of
venomous serpents. While they enjoyed keeping the petrified statues of their victims as trophies or decoration for
their lairs, some medusae also destroyed most of their victims' remains in order to make their lairs less immediately
recognizable by wary adventurers.

It was common for medusae to associate with equally powerful or stronger creatures. In particular, medusae
held yuan-ti in high regard, so small groups of medusae and maedar often allied with them to work together.
As a result of their ability to perceive and influence the Ethereal Plane, a few medusae made their home in the
Border Ethereal. The gaze from an ethereal medusa could just as easily petrify a victim in the Prime Material plane,
which made them terrifying opponents. Earth half-elemental medusae were also known to inhabit the caves of
the Elemental Plane of Earth.

A few powerful medusae also made their home in Olympus and elsewhere in the first layer of Arborea, as well as
in Ysgard. In the Lower planes, half-fiendish medusae could also be found in the Abyss and the Nine Hells.

The deity Sseth was known to favor medusae and maedar and often worked through them.