Bestiary IV: The Inverted Gorgon

Illustration by author

The hubris of magicians made mercurial flesh, the Inverted Gorgon persists as a warning to arcane practitioners who would seek to reshape their bodies in search of power. In theory, the transformation is not unlike a permanent Polymorph spell, but the Gorgon's search went awry when it made contact with creatures from the chaotic realms beyond the prime material, and now it is cursed with a grotesque and freakish form. Its skin is wet and grey, translucent and rubbery. But you will never see its face. No matter where you stand, no matter how many people surround it, you will see only the back of its head -- a bald, slippery cranium which points directly at any observer at all times. The only indication that it has a face at all is the demented monologue which spills unceasingly from its mouth. Forever babbling, its mood swings wildly to and fro as it laughs, curses, and sobs uncontrollably.

Unnatural form. The Gorgon is a mess of limbs that bend at unnatural angles, sprouting from its torso, forming and reforming. It shifts and rolls like a manic pinwheel as it moves, clawing and grasping, pulling itself through the air as though it were swimming through syrup. Its uncanny gait is not limited to the horizontal plane, and may climb vertical surfaces, even walking upside down without difficulty.

Obsessive Hoarder. Before its transformation, the Gorgon was a wizard with a passion for collecting obscure artefacts and lost knowledge. It continues now, accumulating rare items, scrolls, books, and other oddities from across the planes and bringing them back to its lair. If it encounters players in possession of magical items, it may prefer to bargain for these items instead of fight. It is open to conversation, and speaks haltingly between muffled bouts of gibbering.

Ruined ambition. Just as a reclusive arcanist may establish a laboratory or sanctum hidden away from prying eyes, the Inverted Gorgon may inhabit the ruins of such a place. However, the Gorgon embodies the degradation of a wizard's pride, wearing neglected, filthy robes and little else. They are unwashed and care little for their physical state. They have no care for their surroundings and the places they inhabit are often in a state of total chaos. A tower, once grand and elegant, may have become a leaning ruin. A beautiful library may have become a dusty, moth-eaten wreck.