Gorgon

With their love of stone, are we sure they are not from Infernus?

Beneath the fields of Parnathum, the caves of the Gorgon lie. If anything could be said to be infused with the Well of Possibilitythe Gorgon are it. In a land of enchantment and infusing, the gorgon are as infused with magic as the satyr are infused with a love of life and relaxation. The few records from old Levis call the gorgon profane for their connection to the stone, while records from the Hsithborn Demonarchy call the the gorgon shrewd traders.

Gorgon Communities

While some gorgon integrate into communities across Parnathum, and lineages may even be found in Infernus (trapped there when the way between realms closed suddenly), they are most known for their underground communities. Sometimes hundreds large, these locations are dimly lit as to not make the snake or snakes bonded to the Gorgon agitated.

Gorgons prefer the dark and the moist, and when they cannot exist underground, they tend to find ways to artificially humidity the areas they inhabit. Especially on the endless fields of Parnathum, this has led to those that enter Satyr communities having very internal lives.

Anatomy

Described by most as humanoids with reptilian eyes, including a third eyelid, and pronounced jaws (often with venomous fangs). At a distance they could be confused for human, though the light scales that coat their bodies would be more evident as you get closer. The distinguishing feature of a gorgon is the "scar" tissue upon their back, from which between one and up to 40 snakes can appear. The snake and the gorgon are one being, and as such the snakes usually do not fully leave the gorgon, and if they do not for long and not very far from the main humanoid part of the body.

A foreign snake can bond to a gorgon that it is not born to, though the process is more magic than biology, and does not always happen successfully. A gorgon whose snakes are all killed is likely to tend towards madness - often through endless grief (the sensation being like losing a hand and a twin in the same instance). The snakes of a gorgon sit in a pouch located below the ribs, and as such many gorgon have a heavy-set profile.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Almost entirely carnivorous, the gorgons can eat only minor amounts of plant material without becoming sick. Able to digest bone (likely from when they ate mainly 5through their bonded snakes), their diet was once considered barbaric.

Growth Rate and Stages

Beauty Ideals

The most important sign of health with a gorgon is the care taken with their bonded snake or snakes. As anything placed on the snakes has a likelihood of entering within the internal cavity of a gorgon, piercings often accompany decorative jewellery, with gorgon piercers almost having a supernatural knowledge of reptilian biology.

For those that live upon the plains, these gorgon tend to see through the senses of their snakes, tending to blindfolds or upper head coverings to limit the use of sight in the blinding light.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking Gorgon scales hold a variety of colours, though black scales with light grey zig-zag stripes, olive green with black spots, or dark bronze with white freckles seem the major colours and travel over to their snakes.