Gorgon Guidelines
Jun 28, 2020 17:29:25 GMT -5
Post by Austin on Jun 28, 2020 17:29:25 GMT -5
GORGON LORE
I. History and Origin
Stories of Gorgons have existed throughout the ages. Perhaps the most famous was that of Medusa during ancient Greek times. Like most stories humans tell, there is truth founded in it from the mythical world back before their society was thought to be no more than children's stories. Gorgons spawned into existence because of a punishment, similar to the stories, but it wasn't by the hands of Greek gods. Instead, it was from a cataclysm. When Pandora opened the box for the first time it unleashed a wave of chaos that had a detrimental effect on the world from coast to coast. It buried entire civilizations in the waves, and the Gorgons were no exception.
It is speculated, though not officially proven, that all Gorgons trace back to a small village in Greece from the time of the Greek Pantheon. Their women were beautiful and were said to have the most captivating eyes and luscious hair. Their men were said to be strong and stout. Sturdy like an ox. When the box was opened, their village was rocked and twisted. The women's hair became unruly and grew into serpents from their skull. Their once captivating eyes became even more so, turning many men in their village into permanent statues. The men that survived were said to have morphed into monstrosities plated in steel and with the frame of a large bull. This is believed to be the reason there are both Gorgons as a species and as a mythical creature, though many modern day mythic researchers claim that it was nothing more than a nomenclature error.
Seeing the devastating effect of their eyes and their new serpent appearance, most of the women fled to different parts of the world to isolate themselves. Though love finds a way and many found a lover and bore children. Their traits were passed down through the generations to their daughters, though not every daughter is so lucky (or unlucky) and it is known to skip generations or even siblings. Today, Gorgons still avoid highly trafficked areas, instead preferring to live in smaller and more isolated areas with reptiles who they share a unique kinship with.
Stories of Gorgons have existed throughout the ages. Perhaps the most famous was that of Medusa during ancient Greek times. Like most stories humans tell, there is truth founded in it from the mythical world back before their society was thought to be no more than children's stories. Gorgons spawned into existence because of a punishment, similar to the stories, but it wasn't by the hands of Greek gods. Instead, it was from a cataclysm. When Pandora opened the box for the first time it unleashed a wave of chaos that had a detrimental effect on the world from coast to coast. It buried entire civilizations in the waves, and the Gorgons were no exception.
It is speculated, though not officially proven, that all Gorgons trace back to a small village in Greece from the time of the Greek Pantheon. Their women were beautiful and were said to have the most captivating eyes and luscious hair. Their men were said to be strong and stout. Sturdy like an ox. When the box was opened, their village was rocked and twisted. The women's hair became unruly and grew into serpents from their skull. Their once captivating eyes became even more so, turning many men in their village into permanent statues. The men that survived were said to have morphed into monstrosities plated in steel and with the frame of a large bull. This is believed to be the reason there are both Gorgons as a species and as a mythical creature, though many modern day mythic researchers claim that it was nothing more than a nomenclature error.
Seeing the devastating effect of their eyes and their new serpent appearance, most of the women fled to different parts of the world to isolate themselves. Though love finds a way and many found a lover and bore children. Their traits were passed down through the generations to their daughters, though not every daughter is so lucky (or unlucky) and it is known to skip generations or even siblings. Today, Gorgons still avoid highly trafficked areas, instead preferring to live in smaller and more isolated areas with reptiles who they share a unique kinship with.
II. Appearance
Gorgons typically have dark brown or black hair that is frizzy and unruly. Their eyes are still captivating even without their stare being activated. Most still have olive skin from the Greek ancestry, though some have lost said pigment through generations. Apart from that they look like a normal human until their other forms are revealed.
When a Gorgon is scared, threatened, angry, or upon their own command, their hair shifts into a mass of snakes. The type and color of the snakes depends on the individual Gorgon, though snake types tend to carry through generations and is often used as an indicator to tell which family line a particular Gorgon is from. These snakes have a slight mind of their own, but they feed off of the emotions of the Gorgon, often acting defensive over their host. Most Gorgons have no issue controlling their snakes when they need to, though there have been rare cases of snakes fighting one another atop the Gorgon's head when they lack control.
Finally, when a Gorgon is in their Echidna (Serpent) form, their hair remains the mass of snakes, and their lower body transforms into a large snake tail in lieu of legs. They can use this tail to attack, defend, or restrict their assailant. Their skin also adopts a light hue of the color of the scales on their lower snake half. The vast majority of Gorgons have a variant of green for their scales, but in rare cases reds, yellows, blacks, and blues have been recorded.
Gorgons typically have dark brown or black hair that is frizzy and unruly. Their eyes are still captivating even without their stare being activated. Most still have olive skin from the Greek ancestry, though some have lost said pigment through generations. Apart from that they look like a normal human until their other forms are revealed.
When a Gorgon is scared, threatened, angry, or upon their own command, their hair shifts into a mass of snakes. The type and color of the snakes depends on the individual Gorgon, though snake types tend to carry through generations and is often used as an indicator to tell which family line a particular Gorgon is from. These snakes have a slight mind of their own, but they feed off of the emotions of the Gorgon, often acting defensive over their host. Most Gorgons have no issue controlling their snakes when they need to, though there have been rare cases of snakes fighting one another atop the Gorgon's head when they lack control.
Finally, when a Gorgon is in their Echidna (Serpent) form, their hair remains the mass of snakes, and their lower body transforms into a large snake tail in lieu of legs. They can use this tail to attack, defend, or restrict their assailant. Their skin also adopts a light hue of the color of the scales on their lower snake half. The vast majority of Gorgons have a variant of green for their scales, but in rare cases reds, yellows, blacks, and blues have been recorded.
III. Becoming a Gorgon
Gorgons are born with the curse. A Gorgon is only capable of having a daughter, and the chances of the daughter having the active trait is about one and three. Though the other two without their active trait still carry it in their genes and will only have daughters themselves. Said daughters may still emerge with an active trait even if their mother did not. Gorgons do not get their abnormal serpent appearances until they begin puberty. Afterwards they quickly go through the changes as the curse takes its hold. A Gorgon doesn't fully mature with their stare and other abilities until they are done with puberty completely, which occurs most often between the ages of 17-24.
Gorgons are born with the curse. A Gorgon is only capable of having a daughter, and the chances of the daughter having the active trait is about one and three. Though the other two without their active trait still carry it in their genes and will only have daughters themselves. Said daughters may still emerge with an active trait even if their mother did not. Gorgons do not get their abnormal serpent appearances until they begin puberty. Afterwards they quickly go through the changes as the curse takes its hold. A Gorgon doesn't fully mature with their stare and other abilities until they are done with puberty completely, which occurs most often between the ages of 17-24.