Medusae of Mystara
by HåvardI am working on a background for the Medusae of Mystara. Here is what I have so far:
The Medusae came to Mystara from the Elemental Plane of Earth. While they originally were elemental creatures, the Medusae of Mystara have developed into a special breed. Their connection to the Plane of Earth can still be seen through their ability to turn victims into stone through their gaze attack.
While there are no records of the first appearance of Medusae on Mystara, it is believed that a large number of them appeared on Mystara during the time of the Nithian Empire. It is possible that it was these Nithian Era Medusae who founded the Medusan Kingdom of Bachraea on Davania. During that time, a cult to the Immortal Bachraeus appeared within the Milennian Empire. Bachraeus was the patron of the Medusae and this allowed for a secret alliance between the Medusas and groups within the Milennian Empire.
The destruction of the Milennian Empire also proved devastating to the Kingdom of Bachraea, which was dependent on the Milennians. The surviving Medusae were scattered across Davania.
Sources:
Rules Cyclopedia p 192 (Medusa Entry) and 249 (Artifacts section)
Bachraeus by Marco Dalmonte, from the Codex Immortalis