Gaze of the Gorgon

Gaze of the Gorgon

1st-level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S, M (a snake scale)
Duration: 1 round


Gaze of the Gorgon is an enchantment that taps into ancient, primal fears, channeling the legendary power of the mythical gorgons. When this spell is cast, the caster's eyes briefly flicker with a serpentine luminescence, echoing the petrifying stare of these dread creatures. As you invoke the spell, your gaze becomes a vessel of terror, a mirror of the abyssal depths where legends dwell and nightmares are born.

Upon casting Gaze of the Gorgon, you fix your eyes upon a single creature within range, locking them in a paralyzing gaze. The target feels an overwhelming sense of dread as your eyes meet theirs, the primal fear of being turned to stone seizing their heart. It is not just a physical paralysis but a deep, soul-chilling terror that takes root, as if the very essence of the gorgon's myth has come alive in your gaze.

The target must make a Wisdom saving throw, attempting to avert their gaze or withstand the surge of fear. On a failed save, the creature is paralyzed with fear, rooted to the spot as their body locks up and their mind reels from the overwhelming terror. They stand frozen, unable to move or react, as if turned to stone by the gorgon's curse.

On a successful save, the target manages to break eye contact or steel their nerves against the fear. They are shaken but not paralyzed, the lingering dread a reminder of the close brush with a fate out of myth and legend.

The effect of Gaze of the Gorgon is fleeting but intense. For the brief duration of the spell, the target is at the mercy of their own fear, a puppet suspended in a moment of terror. As the spell ends, the paralysis fades, leaving the target with the memory of a fear so profound it seemed to turn their very blood to ice.

This spell is favored by those who understand the power of fear, by casters who wield terror as a weapon. It is a testament to the ancient legends that still hold sway over the hearts of mortals, a reminder that some fears are etched deeply into the soul.

However, the use of such a spell is not without risk. Invoking the essence of the gorgon, even briefly, can attract unwanted attention from ancient beings or entities that guard over the old myths. Moreover, the caster must be wary, for delving too deeply into the well of primal fear can leave its own mark, a shadow in the eyes that lingers long after the spell has been cast.

Classes: Warlock, Sorcerer, Wizard
Source: Custom Creation


Gaze of the Gorgon is more than a spell; it is a journey into the heart of ancient fears, a dance with the legends that have haunted humanity since time immemorial. It is both a weapon and a warning, a glimpse into the abyss that whispers of powers old and dark, still potent enough to freeze the heart and soul.