Medusa Gorgona

Medusa Gorgona is Victor of the 60th Hunger Games.

## Pre-Games Life

Medusa trained all her life along with her older sisters Euryale and Stheno. Despite her phenomenal performance in the Academy Medusa was regularly shunted aside because of the racist attitudes of a handful of the instructors, Poe Sidon foremost among them. When Medusa was seventeen she was cornered and raped by instructor Sidon. There was not enough evidence to convict Sidon and in retaliation for speaking out Medusa was expelled from the Academy. Euryale murdered Sidon to avenge Medusa and stop him from raping more girls. She was later caught and executed. The rape and execution turned Medusa into a cold and bitter shell of her former vibrant self. She volunteered despite not being the chosen volunteer.

## Games Description

In the pre-Games Medusa reluctantly joined the Career alliance and began to bond with Andromeda when the other girl asked about her necklace. She kept to herself and was regarded with caution by her allies due to her prickly disposition.

Medusa's first kill was Fryderyk Zielinski of District Eight in the Bloodbath. In the days after the Bloodbath the Careers were reluctant to venture as far as they might in other years because of the cold water forming much of the Arena. In her downtime Medusa continued to bond with Andromeda. She was initially guarded when Andromeda mentioned her hair, a source of constant racial taunting in her life, but was blindsided when Andromeda remarked that she looked like a noble lion. She paired up with Andromeda to employ a strategy wherein Medusa hid under mud while Andromeda chased their victim, Pik Reynolds of District Eleven, directly into her. Before she did so he kicked her in the face, chipping a tooth. Andromeda remarked that it made Medusa look very tough.

Near the endgame Percy Mordecai of District Four threw a knife at Katrina Moonshadow of District Seven, one of the few remaining outliers. At the moment he did so Medusa fatally stabbed him. This caused Cyrene Longuemare of District Four to attack her and Andromeda to kill her in defense of her friend. This left Andromeda and Medusa the only remaining competitors. The girls shared a moment of pained hesitation before they began their fight. After a drawn-out battle in which each competitor flinched and hesitated when the other was injured, one of Medusa's strikes slipped past Andromeda's defenses and into her chest. As Andromeda lay crying as she died Medusa sat by her, wrought with guilt, and begged for forgiveness, which Andromeda granted, repeating her earlier statement that Medusa's bullies were wrong and that she was beautiful.

## Post-Games Life

Since her Victory Medusa has been slowly healing from her guilt and her past traumas. She still has a long way to go. She has, however, managed to reconnect with her childhood love of sculpture, especially of mythical creatures. It has been a great source of therapy to her. She also revived another pastime from a more innocent part of her life: writing children's fantasy stories. She collaborates with fellow Victor Bambi Kirkland of District Ten to maintain a line of children's books she distributes mainly for free to outlying Districts. Medusa does not flex her celebrity. She is indifferent to fans she knows firsthand are fair-weather.

## Personality

There are many stages in Medusa's life. When she was a young child she was a creative and lighthearted girl who enjoyed silly games and made-up stories with Euryale. When she entered school and was bullied for her appearance, especially her hair, that was increasingly dampened until she was entirely withdrawn. Her mistreatment at the Academy furthered this bitterness and her rape and the loss of Euryale filled her with hate that she no longer tried to deny. She remained a coldhearted killer until Andromeda started to show her that not all people would attack her. Andromeda dismantled her defenses with continued kindness and admiration until Medusa was heartbroken to kill her. Andromeda remains, along with her sisters, her main motivations to remain hopeful. They are her proof that some people are golden. She has made great gains in confidence and happiness since her time with Andromeda and her victory.

## Relationships

### Euryale Gorgona

Medusa's older sister, who also trained for the Games Euryale was Medusa's fiercest protector and closest confidante. When she heard of Medusa's rape she immediately started plotting revenge. She waited for an opportune time and murdered her rapist. Unfortunately, she was caught and executed, which devastated Medusa.

### Stheno Gorgona

Medusa's eldest sister. She was an excellent student at the Academy but was denied her rightful place as volunteer due to racism. She maintains a loving relationship with Medusa.

### Andromeda Dior

Andromeda and Medusa began as mentors and became genuine friends. Medusa loved Andromeda's sincerity and value of those around her. Andromeda thought Medusa was tough as nails and amazingly resilient to continue after the way she'd been treated. The girls were devastated to have to fight each other and both found themselves hesitating after successful blows.

## Trivia

* Medusa is one of Pray Jager's favorite mentees for her coldness and drive
* Medusa scored a nine in her private session