About Illuria EuryalePathfinder:
Medusa Cleric of Wadjet 1
LG Medium humanoid (medusa) Init +1; Darkvision, All-Around Vision, Perception +6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DEFENSE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AC 16, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (Armor +3, Dex +1, Shield +2) hp 10 (1d8+2) Fort +4 , Ref +1, Will +4 (+1 vs divine spells) Medusan immunities; all-around vision ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OFFENSE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spd 40 ft.
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* Includes only viper and constrictor snakes.
Languages: Common, Terran, Ancient Osiriani
Pathfinder Backstory:
It wasn't a big island, but I considered it home. It had everything I really needed, anyway. Fresh water, plenty of food in the way of fish and small game (as long as I was restrained in my hunting), and a nice little stone structure built gods-knew-when. Mother and I made it ready for me to move in. It was the last thing we did together; taking care of the previous residents and starting up my own little stone garden. Then she left. I had become too difficult to hide for her, since my lower body didn't end in legs like hers. She only once told me, somewhat grudgingly, that on occasion a medusa would have a child with a powerful snake tail instead of legs and I was to feel proud of that. However, I could tell she didn't see it that way. Properly veiled, she could go out in public in the massive city of Katapesh. But I had to stay in hiding and could never venture out. Even in such a cosmopolitan city, the presence of medusae would not be tolerated if we lived openly. So when Mother deemed me ready, she smuggled me to that little island and left me there. Several years passed, and I... existed. I missed watching the people from my window high above the streets, far beyond the range of my gaze so no one was in danger. My garden grew thanks to the random shipwreck that washed a lucky sailor or three upon my beach. But all in all it was rather lonely. Mother said she would visit, but she never did. And then one day that all changed when a small ship deliberately landed on my island. Dozens of men swarmed towards me, and though I added many more statues to my garden, they kept coming until two managed to grab ahold of my arms. In their grip, I had to shut my eyes lest my own gaze trap me in their petrified hands. My hair bit furiously at them, but they resisted my poisons until their leader strode up from the beach. I fixed my gaze on him, for I didn't like how he looked: swathed in dark crimson robes and wielding a greataxe. But even though his minions grabbing hold of me succumbed and held me fast, he withstood my stare. I didn't fare as well; he chanted something harsh and gutteral, and with a touch he took my gaze from me. His remaining men broke me from the stone grip of my newest statues and they dragged me back to his ship. I spent many days in the ship's hold, unsure of where they were taking me. After I was sufficiently weak from hunger and thirst, my captor came to me and spoke of the Rough Beast, Rovagug, and that he would restore my gaze if only I worshipped that destructive god. The days stretched on and on as I was kept nearly starving and constantly parched, enduring sermon after sermon of Rovagug and how I, a monster, should embrace his destructive nature. I might have listened to them more if my last memories of my island wasn't of he and his followers destroying my garden. My captor must have been very confident that I would break eventually, because despite my defiance, I was kept alive. The ocean voyage at some point became an overland one, though I was kept in a confined space and not allowed to see where I was. That was extremely uncomfortable -- tortuous, even -- but at least that spared me from the sermons. I guessed that once we reached his destination the true indoctrinating would begin. I had no idea where I was, though I guessed I hadn't gone too far north. It was stiflingly hot inside my box, which I could tell was loaded from wagon to wagon and hauled across long distances. Eventually I was dumped out and into a new room, and that was when everything changed. I was in an ancient temple, that much was certain. I was thrown into some antechamber and the door sealed to await my eventual conversion. But something delayed my captor. I couldn't guess what kept him from renewing his constant barrage of sermons designed to corrupt me, but I was granted a reprieve. But I knew that once he begins anew without the distraction of the demands of travel, my captor would eventually break me. I grew anxious and desperate. I explored my chamber, looking for a way out. I found nothing but old murals and hieroglyphs of a snake-headed woman who seemed to be a protector of other figures in the pictures. Well, I had a snake body and snakes for hair, so I wondered if this figure would be interested in protecting me. So I asked, even though I didn't know her name. Wadjet, came the answer to my surprise. I received a vision, in which she showed me the flaws of Mother's teachings, which were callous and often cruel. I had done evil with my gaze, I realized. I agreed to serve her, and work to atone for my past life. Wadjet offered to restore my gaze but only to petrify temporarily until I grow wise enough to employ it correctly. I had a new life and new purpose, and lots to learn. However, I remained trapped. I still had no way out of the chamber I was in, nor had any hope of resisting the cultists of Rovagug except for my fledgling faith. Then, strange sounds came from outside my chamber. I tensed, waiting for my captors to return. And then, the door was unlocked and pushed open. I blinked at the figures standing in the threshold, who seemed shocked at my presence and looked ready to reach for weapons. Wait! I cried, holding up my hands. Would you mind rescuing me? |
