Medusa

As is the case with mythological creatures being adapted into the TTRPG format, we all know what a Medusa is—a snake lady, can turn people to stone with her eyes, typically not the most social type. We could probably end it there and carry on with the hooks.

But let us dwell a moment on this here monster. Because, if you stop to think about it, is medusa really a “monster?” She is far from mindless, but just so happens to possess an ability that makes it hard for her to integrate into society. The snake hair probably doesn’t help either. Some medusas will probably accept their fate and live out their lives as monsters to scare children with. Some will not. I think that’s where you can make things interesting with them, for we’ve all seen the cave with countless petrified people—a place where a medusa stalks the shadows, but wouldn’t it be refreshing to see one that uses her powers to help those turned to stone, or uses her talents in other, more intriguing ways?

- Max

Hook 1 (Max) - Stone Cold

Mara, a wandering sculptor, is famous far and wide for her skill and incredible, life-like detail. She goes from city to city looking for inspiration, creating a few pieces, auctioning them off to some of the wealthiest people in the area, after which she moves on.

Many have tried to unearth the secret to her artistry, moreover, she always has a long list of upstart artists who want to become her students. She always refuses. This, combined with her rather seclusionary lifestyle, reportedly otherworldly beauty, and the all-around aura of mystery surrounding her character, it is no surprise that many chase after her.

No one has ever actually seen her at work, and she never takes on the job of replicating someone's likeness. Mara herself attributes this to the fact that only when inspiration strikes her can she truly work her magic, though some have suspicions, especially since whenever she is in a town reports of people missing arise...

Hook 2 (TJ) - The Queen's Pieces

As the auction progressed, a multitude of rare pieces of art and mysterious objects passed in front of the discerning patrons. Each bidder raised their card silently, driving the price for the lot of curios ever higher. In the front row, a sprite waited impatiently, flitting back and forth around their seat. Finally, the item they had been waiting for was revealed. A chessboard of immaculate make went up for auction. Quiet murmurs went up over the pure artistry of it—the embossed tiles, the magnificent carvings on the edge of the case. Most of all, people fawned over the incredibly crafted pieces. It depicted two kingdoms of sprites pitted eternally in stony battle with one other, trapped to the wits and whims of those who played. The sprite had found their family. Flying to the front, the sprite grabbed the auctioneer by the collar.

"Where did you get these?"

Hook 3 (Nemanja) - The Mother of Golems

The Underworld of Starkstone recently had a coup and is now under the heel of a mysterious grey eminence known only as the Mother Of Golems.

Indeed, Thessellema the Stonewielder is quite adept at golem-crafting, and found for herself a previously unexplored niche—she discovered that golems crafted from petrified humanoids are especially hardy, if sometimes a bit ornery.

Thessellema also happens to be the only person in the city who knows where the Ratcatchers, an elite society of trapsmiths, can be found at the moment, and time is running out...