Medusa

* Elysium
* Classic

## History

### Medusa: Early Mythic Age - ~1550 BCE

Medusa is one of the immortal nymphs known as Okeanids, spawned from the Titans of Okeanos and Tethys. Before the war between Titans and The Gods, Medusa and her Gorgon tribe of nymphs lived along the coasts of Aeolis, which marked the far-eastern rim of the Titans' empire. Medusa's only real interaction with any of the gods or Titans was with Poseidon who would visit her every so often on his voyages. The two became lovers, but their encounters were few and far between, though the two did collaborate in the creation of a flying steed.

When the war broke out, Poseidon had overlooked requesting Medusa's aid in the conflict, and she had been too far from the other Oceanids to be informed of their alliance with the gods. When word reached her, and she learned Poseidon had married her sister Amphitrite, Medusa responded by siding with the Titans' forces, becoming a lieutenant of the Titan Pallas.

In the final battle, as the Titan Pallas tore apart the ship commanded by Athena's daughter Kalliste and threw the young goddess to the shore, Athena sprinted across the battlefield to aid her daughter but was tripped by Medusa's whip and the two engaged in a fierce melee. After a long exchange of blows, Medusa was knocked to the battlefield and felt Athena's spear at her neck. As Medusa refused to yield, Pallas struck the final blow against Kalliste, causing Athena to forget her place and drop to the bloodied mud in her heartbroken despair, giving Medusa time to flee.

Sometime after the war, Athena felt compelled to pursue Medusa and her Gorgons. Poseidon and Athena were at odds at the time and Poseidon gave the Gorgons a warning and provided them with favorable waters as they sailed away from Aeolis and settled into a cave under the Temple at Delphi, where the strong essence from the carcass of Python, a dragon slain by Apollo, would mask their presence from Athena.

### Medusa: ~1550 BCE - 476 CE

By the time they were discovered by Athena, the Gorgons had been feeding on the dragon's remains and that combined with the earthen essence of the cave they called home had mutated the nymphs, transforming them into serpentine creatures with snakes replacing their hair and the ability to petrify anyone who locked eyes with them.

When Athena tried to kill the Gorgon's chieftess, Apollo intervened. As the patron of Delphi and God of Prophecy, he told Athena that he had decided that Medusa and the Gorgons were under his protection as they were guardians of the temple and its precious oracle. Eventually, the Gorgons became such trusted guardians that the Olympians began storing their sacred relics in the cave where the ambient essence would recharge the depleted essence of the relics.

Athena grew upset at this appointment and gave the demigod hero Perseus an adamant sword, tasking him with killing Medusa. Perseus did so by sneaking into the cave through the temple above and hacking off the Gorgon chieftess' head while she was sleeping. But the head of Medusa was not the only thing which the hero claimed, he also stole Hermes' sandals, Hades' helmet, and Zeus' shield Aegis. Perseus also accidentally released Medusa's steed Pegasus from its stable, causing it to fly away.

Perseus used those stolen relics and Medusa's still living head to kill many of the people who wronged him and become a king, founding the kingdom of Mycenae. The gods sent Dionysus and Ariadne to negotiate a return of the relics, but Perseus had grown bold with his powerful charms. When he declined the god's offer, Dionysus insisted that he surrender the artifacts at once. Perseus responded by using Medusa's head to turn Dionysus' lover Ariadne into stone. Overcome with rage, Dionysus did something Perseus had not expected from the drunken god. Dionysus took his petrified wife and left the now blood-soaked relics with the spattered king. Athena and Hermes would be dispatched to reclaim the relics.

For a while, Athena kept her father's shield upon which Medusa's head had been affixed. For centuries, Medusa paid off her debt to Athena by aiding her in battle in this manner, eventually becoming strange friends. Shortly before the voyage to Elysium, Athena went to Delphi and returned Medusa's head to her body which had been preserved by the Gorgons who sewed it into Python's heart.

### Medusa: 476 - Present

Medusa's place in the legend of Perseus (even though warped) gave her the strength to survive the transition to Elysium where she resumed her duties as the protectress of the new temple on an island named Delphi. She also returned to earth on missions to retrieve lost relics.

## Abilities

* **Fusion Endowment: Environmental Adaptation:** As a nymph, Medusa was born as an incorporeal being and who later manifested a body from the essence of the environment. However, due to the corrupting essence of Python, Medusa's soul became intrinsically linked to essence of the ophidian and geomantic types.
* **Gracious Endowment: Immortality:** As an Okeanid, Medusa carries an immortal soul. Her ophidian essence and mutations have also afforded her an extra layer of immortality, allowing her to survive several centuries as a severed head affixed to a shield before she was reunited with her body and made whole once more.
* **Tribal Mutation: Petrification:** As a Gorgon, Medusa can emit stony essence from her eyes. With eye contact, she can flood the victim's own soul with geomantic essence, eventually causing the target to turn to stone. Only powerful healing magic can reverse this effect. Medusa, like all Gorgons, can choose when to apply this effect and is herself immune to petrification.
* **Tribal Mutation: Gorgon:** Medusa resembles a serpentine woman with smooth scales, a long serpent tail, and snake-like creatures adorning the top of her head. She can constrict her body around a victim as a snake would. Medusa's senses of touch and smell are also exceptionally enhanced.
* **Protectress of the Divine Reliquary:** Medusa serves as the guardian of the Temple of Delphi, home of the Oracle Pythia. She also acts as the warden of the Reliquary below the temple where the gods store not only their own relics but those which belong to heroes awaiting to be reclaimed on their next reincarnation.

### Weaknesses

* **Adamant:** Weapons made from Adamant inflict serious wounds on the gods which are not easily healed and can be easily fatal.
* **Ancient Laws:** As a cosmic being, Medusa is bound by arcane rules.
* **Coldblooded:** Medusa becomes increasingly lethargic when she is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Prolonged exposure will put her in a state of hibernation.

## Relationships

* **Olympus:** Medusa may be mistaken as a villainous monster by most mortals on Earth, but on Elysium she is given honors by the new followers of the new Olympian cult and is a trusted friend of the Oracle Pythia.

## Gallery

Medusa
ElysiumMedusa
ClassicClassic (with Athena)
## Links and References

1. ↑ RepCap: Medusa
2. ↑ New NeO: Medusa