Well, since I'd like to contribute, here's what I felt should be added on...
Snake hairI think it would be interesting if their "snake" hair was actually a symbiote which attached itself early on in the naga's life-kind of like how a certain species of ant will establish itself in young acacias. In exchange for feeding off of the blood of the naga, they would serve as a kind of self defense if the gorgon, for some reason, got caught unawares (perhaps while drained after petrifying a victim) or serve as a hunting "accessory" to the naga; the naga might be able to petrify various small prey items, and once these were collected the snakes may be able to use a magic of their own to "unfreeze" the petrified prey items, either once they were in the stomach or one by one outside-say, one which just happens to be in the firm grasp of the gorgon's hand. Note that the snake hair being a symbiote would allow for the gorgon to also have regular hair-how much being entirely dependent on the naga in question, and how many it snakes it tolerated playing host to. Venom in the snake heads would also provide a nasty to surprise to anyone attacking from behind or above-say, an aggressive drider or other preds if the gorgon was still on the young side). The sybiotes could reproduce at the same time the gorgons do, and deposit their eggs among the gorgon eggs. Both hatch at the same time, and the just born gorgons would automatically get their snakey allies unless one was particularly unlucky. These symbiotes have no digestive track of their own, and cannot survive without a gorgon host-they cannot survive on other types of naga. They can be removed, but they are very firmly anchored and the main body of the symbiote must be removed and the stump left to die and weaken its grip. Incidentally, the symbiotes share some of their traits with the creations of Chlaenas Shapers...
Social lifeI think these would be pretty solitary creatures, probably living alone most of the time except when they are looking for a mate. Given the petrifying nature of their hunt, the chance to befriend one would be very, very slim indeed-the only way would be in the time between being unpetrified in her hand and entering her mouth. If the prey was moved to another location-say, a home cave or some other lair-then they would also be disoriented by the sudden change in surroundings-further reducing their chances. It probably would not help that the only time a medusa would see reason to unpetrify a prey item would be when it was hungry. It would be possible, however, to befriend a magically drained gorgon (ie, one tired right after turning a very large quantity of people into stone or a particularly large target). Their home would be rather obviously recognizable, surrounded by statues of yet to be devoured prey items. In fact, this arrangement could be considered their hobby, with the aesthetic senses of each causing them to seek out certain types of races or body builds in order to "collect" them, much like we might collect cards or figurines. A gorgon might even barter one (petrified) prey item in exchange for a one which better suited their tastes.
Distinguishing TraitsEyes; the eyes of a gorgon often are more snakelike than human like; all have a slit pupil to some extent at least, and it actually very common for their eyes to be completely slit pupiled. The most distinguishing feature of a gorgon are of course its symbiotes. They are also immune to petrification magic, or whether this is due to their symbiotes or an innate resistance to transmutation spells is unknown. They also tend to grow slightly smaller on average due to the drain of nutrients by the symbiots;as the gorgon grows, so does the length (and width) of its symbiotes. They also like to "hoard" prey which has been petrified, besides those they keep as statues. These prey are the first to go if the gorgon has unsuccessful hunts, and typically are lacking in aesthetic appeal in the eyes of the gorgon. Hunting is preferably done by traps or ambush, to allow for petrification to occur at the gorgon's leisure. Being smaller on average than other nagas, some also make themselves bows or spears tipped with the venom of the forgon in order to give themselves an edge in fights with other predators. Some also may keep moss basilisks around as pets or plant "gardens" of forgons in the area around their den, away from their stash, in order to dissuade other predators from bothering them-the later is especially common for young gorgons.
LocationThese nagas can be found anywhere it isn't too cold. However, they are very rare outside of the mycoria forest, where they will often steal meals form forgons. It is rumored that populations may exist in deeper Felarya or on the continent across the sea, but these are only rumors.
Related RumorsThere are actually three distinct types of gorgon-the one that has been observed so far is the only one found in most areas.
The gorgon may be a chlaenas Shaper creation. Or refugees from another reality/world who took advantage of a portal.
Gorgons are have only recently arrived on Felarya.
Subject: Gorgons 
Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:01 pm
