So you want to be an Gorgon

Gorgon Heritage Profile

For Legend of Helike purposes, a Gorgon is played properly by some sort of dreaded type hairstyle. This can be natural or use prosthetics. Yarn falls, cable tubing, and weave dreads are all acceptable. You must have this if you are going to play a Gorgon. If you choose to add snake scales, darken your eyes, wear reptilian contacts we will be glad to see it and in fact, you may find yourself with a costume bonus for going all out.

Gorgons can trace their ancestry back to one of the three original Gorgons- Medusa, Sthenno, and Euryale. Most Gorgons who survived infancy found themselves orphaned on the streets.

Those coming from the Medusa line probably had the hardest childhoods, orphans shunned by people who were concerned about guilt by association. Medusa was cursed by Athena to become a Gorgon and it was all Poseidon’s fault. So followers of both Gods will be uneasy in their presence. Few temples would have been willing to take them in.

The behavior of the rest of society may seem harsh-but it is with good reason. Medusa’s sisters were also cursed just because they stood with her.

Sthenno became known for her vicious nature and was responsible for more deaths than either of her two sisters combined. Her children may seem brutish, but they were also born survivors.

Euryale was probably the most worldly of her sisters, she certainly traveled more. Her children tend to have reddish dreads. She made a habit of rounding up the half-breed children who were created by thrill-seeking adventurers and hapless victims. She would raise them herself, instilling in them a healthy distaste for the people of civilized society. She also took in other kinds of half breeds.

The visage of these creatures are often found in coinage, and on things that people felt needed protection.  Because of this, a regular trade was started up with artisans paying for the opportunity to engrave their images. Eventually, some of those talismans did develop some mystical properties.

Most adult Gorgons today are fairly solitary but may maintain contacts with “nestmates”, Gorgon halfbreeds who were raised together. Some may flaunt their striking physical differences, others may hide them by only coming out at night and wearing a hood. They are naturally adept archers and hunters.

 Although the three original Gorgons were women, they did all have male children at some time.

Check out some images on deviant art.

Gorgon by

TamplierPainter

Gorgon by

eronzki999