Medusa's Lair
Whether lurking unseen in the urban jungle, stalking the wilderness or lurking in ancient ruins, medusa are a terror to any that behold their stony gaze. Worshipped with adoration by some, their cunning makes them terrifying enemies.
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Outside the Lair
Shattered statues and rubble flank a disjointed path. Stone eyes stare blankly from scattered stone heads.
Silks dangle from the ceilings, covering highly detailed statues and mosaics.
A strange collection of creatures, from goblins to elves, form an intricately tangled fountain ahead. Water spouts from a decanter held high.
The booted feet of several statues stand outside the lair’s entrance, next to a rush mat.
What’s Going On?
Shivering as if cold, the medusa pulls her hooded cloak tighter around her body.
Holding up a red dress, the medusa compares it to several others draped on headless stone mannequins.
The medusa carefully taps hammer and chisel to an intricately detailed stone doorway.
Screaming abuse, the medusa hurls food at a large statue before slumping to the floor in a theatrical swoon. The medusa is unaware of intruders.
Major Lair Features
A stone goblin crouches on the floor. It has its hands over its eyes, but clearly, it could not resist seeing its doom approach.
A stone warrior holds his shield up in front of his eyes and his sword down low, ready to murderously rip the weapon up into his opponent’s belly.
This small rat was petrified in the act of looking around the stony legs of another statue.
This large, muscular human warrior has been petrified in the act of charging. His axe is held high over his head, and his face is twisted into a terrible snarl. As the warrior was petrified while running, the statue is finely balanced and is easily knocked over.
Minor Lair Features
A small pile of faded letters spills from a pouch discarded on the floor.
A stone hand grasps a door handle. If the door is violently opened, the hand falls off and shatters.
Several stone arrows pierce a statue.
A severed snake’s skull lies crushed on the floor. Bits of bone and scale crunch under the characters’ feet.
Medusa’s Appearance
Now old, this medusa leans heavily on a walking stick as she moves. She is hooded and blindfolded.
The medusa wears high leather boots and a long black silken cloak. Her intricately braided hair hangs low over her shoulders.
The medusa hides her shining golden eyes deep within the hood of an elegant red dress.
Clad in voluminous, ragged clothing, the medusa idly plays with sticks. She seems deep in thought.
Treasure
A stone hand still wears a ruby-studded gold ring. The broken tip of a dagger is wedged beneath it.
Gold and silver thread embroider this hood of polished serpent skin.
This bracelet comprises a coiled serpent of bronze with small emerald eyes. It looks ancient and is marred with a greenish patina.
A staff of polished oak topped with a carved dragon head is still grasped tightly in its owner’s stone hands.
Trinkets & Trash
A snapped dagger lies on the floor—its tip is wedged in a nearby statue.
A discarded pack filled with rotting fruit and shattered bowls leans against a statue’s legs.
Several snake scales threaded onto string suggest someone was trying to make a necklace.
This collection of polished but cracked wooden buttons has all been taken from similar articles of clothing.
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from Monstrous Lair #12: Medusa’s Lair by Steve Hood.
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