User Profile

the tempestuous loveliness of terror



Everyone knows my story.

Or thinks they do.

Prepare to know Medusa.






Medusa was a Gorgon, and one of three sisters in Ancient Greece, the only one of them who was mortal. She was said to be beautiful - so beautiful that she rivalled the beauty of the Goddess Athena.

But Beauty was not Medusa’s only gift from the Gods - the Gorgons were a people of warriors, much like the Amazons, and Medusa was a great warrior, and one who ruled over Cisthene well, protectively and with great courage.

Beauty and land. Two things to make you an easy target.

The first thing that was taken from her was her beauty. She was worshipping in the temple of Athena one day when Poseidon came upon her and raped her - apparently taken over by her great beauty. Athena just happened to see this, and not only deemed it a desecration of her Temple but also cursed Medusa with the power to turn anyone who looked upon her face to stone, and turned her hair - the physical trait Medusa was proudest of - into snakes.

Medusa would never rival Athena’s beauty again.

But of course, that wasn’t enough.

After years of living in a cave on Cisthene, attempting to isolate herself from anyone who would be turned to stone by her gaze and failing more times with both humans and animals (whom she is as protective of as she was to her sisters) than she can bear to think of, Medusa was approached - in her sleep - by Perseus, who had much help and guidance form Hermes and - guess who? - Athena. Staring at her through Athena’s mirror, he cut off her head, and her offspring with Poseidon - Chrysaor and Pegasus - were born of her blood.

The same blood that spilled out over Libya as Perseus carried her away on Pegasus, creating vipers wherever it dropped.

The same blood that, it is said, has healing powers if taken from the right side of her body.

And even has the power to bring the dead back to life.

Always, always the perfect target.

Now, Medusa finds herself alive - alive, and with all the memories of her death, including seeing a glimpse of her body left behind as she was carried out by Perseus’ hand. But she is also restored; no longer with snakes for hair, and no longer turning anyone who looks at her to stone. The power exists within her, though - she can feel it, turbulent and burning in her chest. It would only take a moment, a flex of power, and it would be done.

Aside from the lessening of Athena’s curses, Medusa is the same person she was while living. Powerful and nearly fearless, a Keeper of Beasts and, above all, a warrior. Most who meet her now are likely to shy away from her, to interpret terror from her lovely face, to feel Death or worse is upon them. Animals, however, or shape-shifters will only feel vague pleasantness, a sense of security.*

Angels and Demons are likely to be unaffected.

However, anyone, or anything, has the capability to see themselves as they truly are if they stare too closely or too long into her eyes. Perhaps this is her most terrible gift.

Medusa is unlikely to look you in the eye. She is lonely and hungry for vengeance. She will never trust the Gods again.

And she misses her snakes, the way they would so carefully curl around her neck, offering the only comfort she could be given. Now, more than even her time spent in that cave on Cisthene, is Medusa truly and horribly alone. But companionship is not her goal. Restoration and destruction is. Those she sees as evil will be sought out obsessively as she tries to gain some semblance of power again, of control.

Do not get on the Gorgon’s bad side.





She looks asleep
As if dreaming of petrified forests,
Monumental dryads, stone leaves, stone limbs,
Or of the mate that she will never meet
Who will look into her eyes and live.







*Note: Either the fear or the pleasantness will be very personal to each character - just know that Medusa will give off these vibes, and interpret it with however your character feels/responds best. Also, if you actually stick around her long enough, the fear will abate a great deal. The pleasantness for animals and shifters probably won't, though. :)




I own nothing of Medusa. But I did get this version of Medusa out of my head, so make of that what you will. I do not own Zuleikha Robinson and do not intend to make any profit from this journal. It's all for fun, guys, so no suing. :p

Friends (193):

Friend of (51):