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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

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PFS StandardMedusa

Monstrous humanoids that resemble humans with snakes instead of hair, medusas are best known for their petrifying gazes that—if lingered upon—can permanently transform mortals to stone. Medusas are shrewd and manipulative adversaries who collect and covet secrets, and who use threats and guile to exploit the fears of weaker creatures. A medusa may seek out powerful magic items, use divination magic to discover secret knowledge and unlock forbidden power, or infiltrate a society to beguile influential politicians. Their ability to worm their way into powerful organizations makes them natural leaders of criminal outfits and thieves’ guilds, and their interest in magical phenomena leads some to pursue careers as oracles who offer to help adventurers find what they seek—for a price. Of course, if wit and deception proves insufficient, a medusa can always simply turn rivals into ornate stone decorations with little more than a glare.

Exceptionally agile and surprisingly hardy, a medusa rarely backs down from a conflict even when cornered. Many adventurers who thought themselves readied to resist the effects of a medusa’s gaze have nevertheless fallen to a medusa, as these creatures are also often deadly archers able to riddle their foes with venom-coated arrows from a distance. Still, a medusa may barter for their life if no alternatives remain, and the secrets carried by these powerful villains often make it more than worth sparing the monster’s life.

Recall Knowledge - Humanoid (Society): DC 23
Unspecific Lore: DC 21
Specific Lore: DC 18

Elite | Normal | Weak
Proficiency without Level

Changes from being Weak are marked in red below.
NOTE: The -2 damage penalty to non-strike offensive abilities (-4 if the ability is limited, such as spells) is NOT factored in.

Weak MedusaCreature 6

Legacy Content

LE Medium Humanoid 
Source Bestiary pg. 234
Perception +16; darkvision
Languages Common
Skills Deception +14, Diplomacy +12, Stealth +14
Str +2, Dex +5, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +2
Items +1 composite shortbow (60 arrows), shortsword
AC 23 all-around vision; Fort +13, Ref +14, Will +12
HP 85
Petrifying Gaze (arcane, aura, transmutation, visual) 30 feet. When a creature ends its turn in the aura, it must attempt a DC 23 Fortitude save. If the creature fails, it becomes slowed 1 for 1 minute. The medusa can deactivate or activate this aura by using a single action, which has the concentrate trait. Biting Snakes [reaction] Trigger A creature ends its turn adjacent to the medusa. Effect The medusa makes a snake fangs Strike against the creature.
Speed 25 feet
Melee [one-action] shortsword +16 [+12/+8] (agile, finesse, versatile S), Damage 1d6-2+8 piercing plus serpent venomMelee [one-action] snake fangs +14 [+10/+6] (agile, finesse), Damage 1d4-2+8 piercing plus serpent venomRanged [one-action] composite shortbow +17 [+12/+7] (deadly 1d10, magical, propulsive, range increment 60 feet, reload 0), Damage 1d6-2+7 piercing plus serpent venomFocus Gaze [one-action] (arcane, concentrate, incapacitation, transmutation, visual) The medusa fixes their glare at a creature they can see within 30 feet. The target must immediately attempt a Fortitude save against the medusa's petrifying gaze. If the creature was already slowed by petrifying gaze before attempting its save, a failed save causes it to be petrified permanently. After attempting its save, the creature is then temporarily immune until the start of the medusa's next turn.Serpent Venom (poison) Saving Throw DC 23 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 1 (1 round); Stage 2 2d6 poison damage and enfeebled 2 (1 round)

Sidebar - Related Creatures Medusa Infiltrators

Rumors persist of disguised medusas acting as prominent members of criminal organizations such as the Sczarni in Riddleport and the Aspis Consortium in Port Peril, and their kind is known to thrive in metropolises including Absalom and Katapesh. Because they are so widespread, medusas resembling humans of every major ethnicity can be found in Avistan and Garund.