gorgon

Gorgons are reptilians which appear very similar to humans, except that their scalp hair is a mass of symbiotic living snakes.

Basic Information

Anatomy

While gorgons are considered reptilians socioculturally, they are actually more closely related to ape-like humanoids like humans. The snakes are not part of a gorgon per se, but instead are implanted as part of a sacred cultural practice shortly after birth.
Gorgon biology allows for snake eggs to be easily inserted during a short window after birth, due to the shape and plasticity of the skull. However, if this critical period is missed, gorgons appear simply as humans, albeit without any head hair. Certain wealthy lineages of gorgons specially breed such head snakes and carefully select those used in the process. However, many lower class gorgons are forced to use wild snakes which may not match and cause an appearance which is looked down upon in gorgon society, almost as much as having no snakes at all is.
After the snakes have been successfully implanted, their nervous systems fuse with the nervous system and digestive system of the gorgon, meaning that pain, hunger, thirst, and other sensations are shared by all in a centralized fashion. Each snake may maintain its own personality, and snakes have been known to fight and kill each other after implantation. Preventing such issues and appeasing one's snakes is highly important, so gorgon salons are quite popular for maintenance, styling, and upkeep.
Very rarely, snake implantations are attempted in other parts of the body other than the scalp, although with limited success.
Because the body of a gorgon is fused neurologically with that of their snakes, the snakes typically die shortly after the gorgon, although they can be killed or die for numerous other reasons both the death of their host body. Interestingly, this fusion means that, by using advanced medical procedures, a snake can be grafted from one person to another in some select circumstances (pending the new host body does not reject the snake or vice versa). Because this snake carries some of the brain matter of the previous individual with it, the new individual may carry on memories and other aspects of personality from the deceased.
Some elderly gorgons lose their snakes and begin a process which may be considered equivalent to "balding" in other species, irrespective of gender. This process begins when hair snakes die, causing part of the fused neurological matter to die as well. Such a process can cause memory loss, dementia, or agnosias, depending on the number of snakes that die, and their positions. Because of these experiences, gorgons have become quite knowledgable regarding brain anatomy. Further, a dead hair snake is likely to be consumed by the other hair snakes, and therefore a careful procedure is needed to keep the snakes from consuming into the brain matter.
In extremely rare cases, gorgon hair snakes have reproduced with one another, and there are limited treatments available when this occurs. Usually, another snake must be removed to make room for the new snake, which may cause small amounts of brain damage.

Genetics and Reproduction

While the gorgon itself reproduces in a manner similar to humans, the snakes upon its head lay occasional eggs within the individual's cranium, which grow forth like individual hairs. The snakes grow old and may die, and this acts to keep the number of snakes relatively consistent. The process of a new snake bursting forth can be somewhat painful for the gorgon.
Gorgons can engage in relationships with other humanoids like humans and elves, but cannot reproduce with most Reptilians. Reproduction with a humanoid results in a child that cannot carry a full head of snakes, only being able to have a few implanted, appearing alongside natural hair. These children are known as demi-gorgons, and are often looked down upon in gorgon society.

Dietary Needs and Habits

An individual gorgon's diet can be omnivorous, carnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, etc. However, all snakes are carnivorous, and while they do not have to eat necessarily (because their digestive systems are fused to the gorgon's), they may become irritable or angry if not fed. The type and quantity of food necessary depends on the type(s) and quantity of snakes.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to the fused nervous system of head snakes with the gorgon, gorgons effectively have 360 degree vision, and can see both as human beings do, and as snakes do, almost like the eyes of a chameleon being wholly independent from one another.

Civilization and Culture

Gender Ideals

Like humans, gorgons are mostly sexually dimorphic, but show a great variation in gender roles, identities, and presentations.

Courtship Ideals

Gorgon marriages must be approved by both the individuals, and their snakes. If the individual snakes do not get along, it is possible they may kill each other, or one another's hosts. Some gorgons have tried to assuage theses issues by having separate sleeping chambers, by wearing specialized head coverings, or by taking specific anti-venom to build up resistance to bites. However, none of these methodologies appear to be successful.
In the primary gorgon religion, known as Seti, it is preferred that individuals be entirely veiled other than their snakes, allowing the snakes to meet first without either conversing. If the snakes get along, the relationship is said to be blessed in the eyes of the god Set, otherwise the relationship is said to be cursed.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

For the most part, gorgons speak Common and Naga, the autonymous language of the naga. These languages are usually spoken based on who is being spoken to, with Common being used in discussions with humans, while Naga is used in conversations with naga and other reptilians, as naga is a draconic language and draconic languages are usually relatively mutually intelligible.
In the home and among other gorgons, individual gorgons tend to speak a creole of Naga and Common called Garjana.

History

It is unknown when or how gorgons originally separated into a distinct culture from humans. Many gorgons believe that, long ago, they were humans of a region abandoned by an ancient human empire during a great war. They were nearly all killed in the ensuing conflict, but Reptilians of the area, namely serpent folk and naga, stepped in and saved them, even at the cost of their own lives. This sacrifice has been cited as the beginning of Gorgons merging socioculturally with Reptilians, and it may also be why snakes are used in their rituals, as opposed to any other reptile.