Half-Medusa

Half-Medusas are humanoids that have been spawned by eggs and are half-human and half-medusa. They look much like a human would, except they have snake hair and some even have patches of small serpentine scales in some parts of their bodies. Being half-breeds, the majority of them cannot breed.

They are most common in Lacrienta, their home, a realm in Rythalion ruled by an ancient medusa named Qazali. Qazali is the only known medusa in Aldmeer to have spawned half-medusas; no other medusa giving birth has ever been documented in Aldmeer’s recorded history. There are those that wonder if Queen Qazali is the only medusa that can indeed give birth and lay eggs that spawn this peculiar race. There are many myths surrounding her; some say that she is the first medusa while others say that she is the last of a super-ancient and long forgotten race that can give birth to half-breeds much like elves. Other myths suggest that she is the one who created the medusas in her image, but her creations were not as powerful and as fertile as her.

Whatever the case, all recorded half-medusas are children of Qazali and serve her and her realm. They’re trained in combat from a young age in case they need to fight for the realm; even all the nobles receive such training and are expected to hold their own in a battle.

Their gaze is not as powerful as a medusa’s. It cannot petrify and it only works on humanoids; upon eye contact the humanoid is stunned.

## **Half-Medusa Traits**

**Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 1, your Constitution score increases by 1 and your Charisma score increases by 1.

**Age.** Half-Medusas mature at 50 years old and live for 400 years.

**Alignment.** Half-Medusas can be any alignment but tend towards law. Any Half-Medusa that has forsaken their duty towards their queen and mother tend towards chaos.

**Size.** Half-Medusas are about the same size as humans. Your size is Medium.

**Speed.** Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

**Languages.** You can speak, read and write Common, Draconic and either Infernal or Abyssal (your choice).

**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.

**Snake Hair.** Your hair is in fact snakes that you can direct as parts of your body. The bite of your snakes make for a deadly weapon against foes at arm’s reach.  Your snake hair is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes against a creature within 5 feet of you. If you hit with your snake hair, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier. On a hit, a creature must succeed on a Constitution Saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier) or take 1d4 poison damage.

**Stunning Gaze.** As an action you force a humanoid you can see and that can see you, within a range of 60 ft., to make a Constitution saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a failure, the creature is stunned for as long as you are actively looking at it. You can use your action on each of your turns to actively continue looking at a creature with your gaze. At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another Constitution saving throw. On a success, the effect ends on the target. For this trait to work your eyes and the eyes of your target must be uncovered. You can use this trait a number of times per long rest equal to your Constitution modifier.

**Half-Medusa Martial Training.** As a warrior and soldier dedicated to protecting your queen and mother as well as her realm, you have been trained excessively with certain weapons and armor from a young age. You are proficient with Glaives, Whips, Longbows and Nets, and you’re also proficient with Chain Shirts and Scale Mails.