Fleshing out a Medua

[AxeMental]

I'm trying to flesh out a medusa for a dungeon I'm writing and looking for ideas (something a little beyond standard is what I'm going for, but not hokey). Being humanoid I've always thought these would be neat to develop a little. I want to stick with any precedent already established in any of the source material you can think of, including the modules and Dragon. For instance, did any of the appearances of medusas have magical spell abilities (priestesses, shaman etc.), did they use any particular weapons of interest, have special magic? I've always wondered if they might know how to craft stone to flesh scrolls. Just anything you can think of might be helpful. Thanks.

[deathanddrek]

Vornheim has the following spin on medusae (some snippets):

It is known to some scholars that the skins of all snakes can be read like books. Those who speak the serpent language know that these creatures continuously hiss their titles...
--

The snakes growing from the heads of medusae are generally reference works and the medusae themselves are often cata- loguers – tending private libraries contain- ing nothing but caged snakes, selectively breeding exotic and daring new works...

--

Once, demons ruled every universe, unchecked. Then came 12 sisters – medusae – they looked upon the demon kings and changed them to stone, and drove the rest away. The grey bones of this earth were hewn from the petrified bodies of these demon kings. Or at least that’s what the 12 sisters will tell you.

At any rate, though masked and monstrous, the twelve sisters are respected in all nations. One of the most civilized of the sisters – Eshrigel – has long lived in Vornheim.

[genghisdon]

I think you want this in homebrew.

One can do innumerable takes on medusa/gorgons; ranging from starting over from greek myth versions, re-imaginings like the Vornheim example or from the Conan story "black tears" or whatnot, or just taking one of the D&D versions add modifying by adding class abilities or monster abilities.

How powerful is she to be?

[AxeMental]

I think you want this in homebrew.

One can do innumerable takes on medusa/gorgons; ranging from starting over from greek myth versions, re-imaginings like the Vornheim example or from the Conan story "black tears" or whatnot, or just taking one of the D&D versions add modifying by adding class abilities or monster abilities.

How powerful is she to be?

Its something I want confined to "done before" in this case (so sorta official) modules, Dragon, etc. I am unaware of any medusa's that had any powers outside MM.

[Kellri]

You could be just really nasty and insist any PC in melee with the medusa must make a saving throw every round. Barring blindfolds, no blind-fighting bullshit either.

[genghisdon]

I think you want this in homebrew.

One can do innumerable takes on medusa/gorgons; ranging from starting over from greek myth versions, re-imaginings like the Vornheim example or from the Conan story "black tears" or whatnot, or just taking one of the D&D versions add modifying by adding class abilities or monster abilities.

How powerful is she to be?

Its something I want confined to "done before" in this case (so sorta official) modules, Dragon, etc. I am unaware of any medusa's that had any powers outside MM.

Well, I don't think much of anything special/unique was done with a Medusa in "official" 1e then.

You could be just really nasty and insist any PC in melee with the medusa must make a saving throw every round. Barring blindfolds, no blind-fighting bullshit either.

Isn't that the default/BTB?