Medusa (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
roleplaying game, the medusa
is a monstrous humanoid
creature with a mass of writhing, hissing snakes instead of hair.
named Medusa
of Greek Mythology
.
(1974), where they were described as human-type monsters with the lower body of a snake, that turns those who look at it to stone. They were also detailed in the Eldritch Wizardry
supplement
The maedar, the male counterpart to the medusa, is introduced in Dragon #106 (February 1986), in Ed Greenwood
's "The Ecology of the Maedar." which also focuses on the medusa. The glyptar, a gemstone-like creature associated with the maedar, is introduced in Dragon #140 (December 1988) in the "Dragon's Bestiary" column.
(1977, 1981, 1983), and the Companion Rules
(1984). The medusa was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
The maedar and glyptar appear in the first Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), and later appear in Dungeons of Mystery (1992), and are then reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
Savage Species (2003) presented the medusa as both a race and a playable class.
The amphibious medusa appears in Stormwrack (2005).
The maedar and glyptar later return in the "Creature Catalog" feature in Dragon #355 (May 2007).
of legend, a female medusa's gaze can turn one into stone.
Maedar appear as muscular, hairless, human males, and lack the female medusa's snake-like hair and petrifying gaze. They do, however, hold the power to turn stone into flesh, and use this ability to provide food for their mates.
campaign setting
, medusae are part of the monster nation Droaam. Their ruler, under the Daughters of Sora Kell, is the Queen of Stone.
novel Lady of Poison is a male half-medusa named Marrec, a priest of Lurue.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, the medusa
Medusa
In Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
is a monstrous humanoid
Monstrous humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
Monstrous humanoids are a "creature type" in the 3rd and 3.5 editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Monstrous humanoids are differentiated from humanoids by their monstrous or animalistic features, and not all are technically "humanoid" in body form...
creature with a mass of writhing, hissing snakes instead of hair.
Publication history
The medusa of Dungeons & Dragons is based on the eponymous gorgonGorgon
In Greek mythology, the Gorgon was a terrifying female creature. The name derives from the Greek word gorgós, which means "dreadful." While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a...
named Medusa
Medusa
In Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
of Greek Mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The medusa was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" setDungeons & Dragons (1974)
The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1974), where they were described as human-type monsters with the lower body of a snake, that turns those who look at it to stone. They were also detailed in the Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry
Eldritch Wizardry is a supplementary rulebook by Gary Gygax and Brian Blume, written for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which included a number of significant additions to the core game.-Contents:...
supplement
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The medusa appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a hateful humanoid creature that tries to beguile humans to look into her eyes, causing them to turn to stone.The maedar, the male counterpart to the medusa, is introduced in Dragon #106 (February 1986), in Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
's "The Ecology of the Maedar." which also focuses on the medusa. The glyptar, a gemstone-like creature associated with the maedar, is introduced in Dragon #140 (December 1988) in the "Dragon's Bestiary" column.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the medusa, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic SetDungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
(1977, 1981, 1983), and the Companion Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Companion Set
The Companion Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1984 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
(1984). The medusa was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)
The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The medusa appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), which also introduces the greater medusa. The medusa and greater medusa are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The maedar and glyptar appear in the first Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989), and later appear in Dungeons of Mystery (1992), and are then reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The medusa appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).Savage Species (2003) presented the medusa as both a race and a playable class.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The medusa appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The amphibious medusa appears in Stormwrack (2005).
The maedar and glyptar later return in the "Creature Catalog" feature in Dragon #355 (May 2007).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The medusa appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Ecology
Despite common belief, not all medusae are female. They are mortal creatures, and therefore require both genders to reproduce. Male medusae are known as maedar. In some campaign settings, medusae are born from eggs, like reptiles.Environment
Medusae typically inhabit temperate marshes, usually making their lairs in caves or ruins.Typical physical characteristics
The most striking characteristic of female medusae is the mass of writhing poisonous snakes atop their heads. They otherwise appear as humans of their gender, save for their fangs and scaly skin. Like the gorgonGorgon
In Greek mythology, the Gorgon was a terrifying female creature. The name derives from the Greek word gorgós, which means "dreadful." While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a...
of legend, a female medusa's gaze can turn one into stone.
Maedar appear as muscular, hairless, human males, and lack the female medusa's snake-like hair and petrifying gaze. They do, however, hold the power to turn stone into flesh, and use this ability to provide food for their mates.
Society
Medusae are usually solitary, though will sometimes gather in small coveys or mated pairs.Medusae in Eberron
In the EberronEberron
Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, medusae are part of the monster nation Droaam. Their ruler, under the Daughters of Sora Kell, is the Queen of Stone.
Medusae in other media
The main protagonist of the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
novel Lady of Poison is a male half-medusa named Marrec, a priest of Lurue.