Copyright 2008 Wizards of the Coast

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In Greek mythology, the Gorgons are a trio of sisters whose bodies were partly composed of snakes and whose visage could turn people to stone. Medusa was one of the Gorgons (the other were Stheno and Euryale). If you say the word “Gorgon” to anyone, they’ll probably think of Medusa, unless they’re D&D players.

D&D uses the word “Medusa” as a species name for the snake-haired ladies, and “Gorgon” for these carapaced cows with a poison breath. They, in turn, are based on a monster from medieval European folklore whose poison gas came out of the other end. They appear only on the Monster Manual.

The Lore

There isn’t much to go on here. Gorgons are elemental beasts known for their foul temper and deadly breath weapons. In the wild they roam in small herds of 3-7 individuals made up of one bull and his harem of cows. Young males acquire a herd by challenging and defeating its current bull. Those who fail at this roam alone or in pairs and are likely even more aggressive than usual.

Taming gorgons is quite hard, but it happens. Those who most often succed at it are other elemental creatures, particularly giants.

The Numbers

Gorgons are Large Elemental Beasts whose signature traits are Truesight and a complete immunity to forced movement and being knocked prone. They also have a breath weapon of some sort, though its effect varies with the stat block.

Iron Gorgon

This is the one that’s closest to the “classic” D&D gorgon of editions past. It’s a Level 11 Soldier with 120 HP and the common traits listed above. It has the Earth keyword, runs at Speed 6 with Earth Walk, and is immune to petrification.

The iron gorgon’s basic attack is a Gore, though I imagine it will most often Trample instead. This allows it to move its speed, go through enemy spaces, and perform an attack against any enemy whose space they go through. This is a little weaker than the gore but will likely target multiple PCs. The movement draws opportunity attacks as normal.

Ocasionally, the iron gorgon will perform an Earthshaking Charge (recharge 5-6), which does more damage than the basic attack and pushes a Medium or smaller target 3 squares, also knocking it prone.

Finally, it can use the Petrifying Breath that made it famous (Close blast 3 vs. Fortitude; recharge 6). It does poison damage, dazes and slows (save ends). This worsens to immobilized on the first failed saved, and to permanent petrification on the second. Other gorgons are immune to this breath weapon, which means they don’t have to worry about friendly fire when you fight the whole herd.

Storm Gorgon

Explicitly called out as the favorite herd animal of storm titans, the mighty storm gorgon is a Level 26 Skirmisher with 248 HP and all traits listed above. To them it adds a Tempest’s Fury aura (size 5) that does 20 lightning damage to anyone caught inside, which is impressive even for an epic creature. It also has 20 lightning and thunder resistance, runs at Speed 8 and flies at Speed 10 with hover capability.

Its basic gore attack does a mix of physical and thunder damage, and also always pushes the target 2 squares and knocks it prone on a hit. It can use that as part of a Mobile Melee Attack where it moves its speed without drawing opportunity attacks and makes an attack at any point in this movement. They can also Trample like iron gorgons if they want to spread the hurt more widely.

Their breath is a storm (Close Blast 5 vs. Fortitude), which does a whole bunch of lignthing and thunder damage but doesn’t have any riders.

Sample Encounter and Final Impressions

The sample encounter here is level 27: 2 storm gorgons, 1 storm titan, and 2 dragonborn champions. I imagine this is a lord taking a walk with his favored pets and their minders. Yes, the Dragonborn Champions are pet minders - anyone less tough would be killed by those storm auras.

Confusing naming conventions aside, I quite like these deadly bovines. They’re in dire need of a damage fix, of course, and I would probably shift the conditions on the iron gorgon’s petrifying breath around. Something like slowed -> immobilized and dazed -> petrified.

How about some fan-made gorgon lore? I imagine they’re native to the Elemental Chaos, and were brought to the world by the giants way back when. Wild specimens can be found in both planes, descended from escaped members of giant herds who went back to nature.

While storm gorgons (below) are explicitly called out as being a favorite of storm titans, I imagine hill giants would be just as fond of iron gorgons. Those groups who grow adept at gorgon ranching have less reason to raid neighboring settlements for food. Their territories might be full of giant-sized statues left over from the process of becoming adept at gorgon-ranching too.

You know who else might be good at herding gorgons? The githzerai. They’d have to be if they use animal products at all. Normal cattle would have trouble surviving in the Elemental Chaos.