Gorgons

Foreword

by Prof. Grey Books

It was a cool, clear night in Canterlot when I decided to go for a starlit stroll down the streets of our capital city. The Equestrian Bestiary was nearly ready for publishing and I was feeling a great surge of satisfaction at that which my fellow scholars and I had accomplished.

But on this night, I was in for the surprise of a lifetime as I came across one of the many pond-bridges in the Royal Gardens and found a young mare waiting for me. This enigmatic, bespectacled yellow unicorn filly with a bushy brown mane and paranoid manner clearly knew of me and my work, addressing me by name although I had never seen her before. I was beginning to grow concerned as she approached me, refusing to give her name and instead only stating in an cryptic tone that she was ‘Loyal to Luna’ (a somewhat fearsome claim as the Mare in the Moon loomed overhead) and I am not ashamed to admit that her mysterious manner was enough make me apprehensive.

My apprehension turned to disbelief when she drew forth a thin package of manuscript and offered it to me for my perusal. What lay within nearly took my breath away

Now, as a scholar, one of the most lofty of goals is to be remembered for our contributions by our colleagues and future seekers of knowledge. However, few achieve what a laypony might call ‘fame’. And those few exceptions are giants in their respective fields.

Clover the Clever: The first Friendship Scholar and co-founder of Equestria*

Star Swirl the Bearded: The Founder of the Unicorn Colleges who revolutionized Magic**

Maestro Leonard Di Hoovsie : The Genius of Roan, Father of the Modern Scientific Age***

So as the aged, yellowed manuscript from Roan’s age of Advancement lay in my trembling hooves, the sketches and illustrations recognizable as his style, my heart nearly burst from my chest. An original, complete, nearly three thousand year old thesis… written by Di Hoovsie himself and never before published in any form I knew (Which was saying something considering the years of research that have gone into the bestiary)

“My task here is complete. Good Night, Professor.” The mare said to me. And when I looked up to say something, to thank her perhaps or to ask where she had obtained this priceless treasure, she was gone.

After a moment of stunned silence, I ran home as quickly as my legs could carry me, locked the door, and worked until dawn authenticating and translating the Thesis that had been gifted to me to ensure it was prepared to be added to the final draft of the Bestiary.

While I have added my own thoughts and comments on the remarkable works here, they and the Beatiary’s scales and standard are kept separate and printed in a different ink color in order to maintain the integrity of Leonard Di Hoovsie’s original, unedited thesis.

Of Gorgons

A Thesis by Leonard Di Hoovsie

(Foreword and Commentary by Prof. Grey Books)

—

Gorgon

MIGHT: 4/5

RARITY: 5/5

“Older than the Mountain Stone, Agile as a Viper, Stronger than the Dragons, Cunning as any member of ponykind and capable of feats that confound even the wisest among us.

All of this and more is how I would describe the creature responsible what is now being referred to as ‘The Lost Years of Roan’. Nearly six hundred of our own, ponies of all classes and kind. Missing… vanished without a trace over the course of nearly three years of unbridled fear in the streets of our beloved city.

Although I do not accept the claims of heroism on my part for bringing about the end of this nightmare, or the acclamations that have led to much of my notoriety, I do not deny that I played a role in the events that led to the revelation and exile of what many of my fellow equines would call a monster.

I, for one, do not agree with them.

Herein lays what observations, estimations, and considerations I have garnered from my brief encounters over the course of two days with this rare, wondrous specimen of myth. Put to parchment at the behest of my greatest patron, the Lady of the Night.”

((GB- Try as I might, I have been unable to find solid documentation of the events that Maestro Di Hoovsie references here. One would think the disappearance of hundreds of ponies in the largest, most advanced city in the world at the time would have left more evidence. Also, the denied claim of heroism and honorifics for his part in this event are strangely lacking from the many works documenting Di Hoovsie’s life as if somepony deliberately removed them from the records.))

Of the Myths

I would be amiss if I did not first bring to consideration the myths surrounding this creature, believed by many to be imaginary. In my research, Gorgons have long appeared as part of creation myth and ancient pony-tales as being among the first intelligent species, predating even the Dragons according to some tellings.

According to the Brother’s Grimm (Very and More Grimm of the city of Shetland), Gorgons were ‘born of the stone’ (A rather enigmatic beginning, as is on par with most creation myths). Depicted as having equine upper bodies, and forelegs, manes made of snakes, and the lower-bodies of enormous serpents, the Gorgons were said to be horrific creatures that sought to create the beauty they lacked in the world around them. To this end, the gorgon species became the world’s first craftsponies, raising majestic mountains from the flat stone land with their command of the stone, turning the landscape into their canvas. Others took the dull, rough stones that they fed upon and worked them… carving and polishing rocks of color until they shined and gleamed, creating the first gemstones, which were then seeded throughout the world in fields where the dormant magic of the land caused them to break apart and multiply, thus creating the plentiful Gem Fields of today.

According to these legends, as the beasts, monsters, and mortal races began to emerge the Gorgons became bitter, selfish, and jealous, not wanting to share their crafts and creations with others and set to war with them claiming to be ‘protecting’ their works. They found that they were considered so repulsive by the mortal races that a mere glare would turn their enemies to stone and allow the gorgons to devour their mortal victims. But while long lived and powerful, the gorgons were soon overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and growing courage of their younger foes, ceasing to exist as a species and reduced to a few neigh-immortal survivors that have popped up in legend from time to time, always living in caverns or atop mountains and always portrayed as a villainous figure.

*Maredusa: Artist Rendition by Ponytale Book Artist: Foxy Wolf

((GB- The most famous of these gorgon legends being the tale of Maredusa, in which the pre-classical pegasus hero ‘Pegesius’ after whom the species has come to be named, defeated the gorgon though cunning strategy. The winged foal of an alicorn (whom exactly she was the child of depends on the version of the myth, with even Celestia herself mentioned in some tellings) Pegesius was given six tasks that required her to discover the Values of the Sky, Six lessons that made up the foundation of the Pegasus Tribe’s war-like culture in the eras before the founding of Equestria. In this tale, Pegesius final (supposedly insurmountable) task was to single hoofedly defeat the monstrous Maredusa in her mountain lair. Pegesius attempted to engage Maredusa directly five times over the course of five days, each time using a virtue she had learned in her previous tasks, but was defeated and narrowly escaped with her life each time. On the sixth day, using everything she had learned from her previous failures, Pegesius used Maredusa’s overconfidence to trick the monster into chasing her over a cliff edge, sending the gorgon plummeting to her doom and learning the virtue of Wisdom. ‘Know thy enemy, know thyself, and thou need not fear a thousand battles.’))

Of the Facts

First and foremost, one thing that I should point out so that there is no confusion or misunderstanding is this: Gorgons ‘are’ real.

However, with all due respect to the Brothers Grim and the Legends of Old, they are not what we think they are. I will attest without any doubt that the gorgon appears to be a creature of magic, as the abilities demonstrated are certainly not found anywhere in the natural world. But all other observations within are either from direct observation or first hoof account of a single specimen, the self-proclaimed ‘Last Gorgon’: Marr Bell.

While I cannot account for their origins and history from my admittedly limited encounter, one of my compatriots in the endeavor, ~~~~~~~, stated that the Marr Bell willingly and animately confirmed several elements of the accepted mythology, including the claim of being the first craftsponies, forming and seeding the gem fields, and creating the mountain ranges of the world. If this is based on knowledge passed on to the Gorgon or merely a desire for acknowledgment of credit for these works is unknown and cannot be verified by any means currently available. ~~~~~~~ also indicated that according to Marr herself, the gorgon species are indeed creatures of longevity, with Marr claiming to be several ‘centuries’ old by referencing the founding of Roan. Her expected lifespan is now impossible to determine due to her swift (and I might add ‘unjust’) exile, but judging by her personality and level of maturity, my personal belief is that she was only just on the cusp of marehood by her species standards, perhaps the equivilent of 17 or 18 in pony years.

((GB: The name of the ‘compatriot’ mentioned by Di Hoovsie in the above paragraph had faded beyond recognition. While it is not surprising given the age of the document, the fact that only this and a few other places (all names it seemed) were worn beyond recovery seems too exact to be coincidence.))

What I can confirm without any doubt however are the physical attributes of Marr Bell herself and the what I have personally observed of her abilities. While the myths have taken the gorgon’s appearance to extremes, they are not without a grain of truth.

Marr herself is indeed an intelligent composite creature, an almost perfect fusion of equine and stone serpent. Although I was unable to accurately measure her, I have estimated her form to be at least eight or nine pony body-lengths long from tail to snout, standing as high as three stories were she stretched out completely. The vast majority of her body is a highly articulated serpentine structure perhaps two leg-lengths thick at her widest point. This portion of her body was covered in stone-like, vertical scales that ran up and down her length with a broken, craggy surface much akin to an exposed rock-face. I have learned however, that she is not made of solid stone as some myths claim. Under these scales, exposed by extreme injury, lay incredibly dense muscle tissue that indicate the gorgon, while magical in nature, is not a purely elemental creature such as the Timberwolf. Gorgon’s blood also has no acidic qualities (as described in some myths) and has shown to be as thick and red as any pony’s. One point of note on Marr’s lower body is an apparently ‘self-inflicted’ version of a cutie-mark painstakingly carved into her stone scales. As it seems that either gorgons do not acquire Cutie Marks as ponies do or Marr’s isolation prevented her from discovering her own. This particular specimen (for reasons not fully understood) attempted to emulate the magical symbol herself, although the only thing that could be represented by her ‘cutie mark’, a heart broken by a chisel, is enough to weigh down on the mind of anypony.

The uppermost portion of Marr Bell’s body (perhaps a total of 1/10 of her total length) was absolutely passable as a pony. Where her serpent body ended, a course grey fur covers her pony form, which glitters as if containing tiny flakes of quarts. She has two fore-legs, which she is capable of using as easily as anypony, even able to stand upon them to complete an illusion of being a pony herself. While myths attribute the gorgon with a level of ugliness that is in and of itself enough to petrify, I have found these to be woefully inaccurate as Marr’s pony face proved to be quite fair and exotic by equine standards. Also lacking was the snake-like mane, Her own being coarse and thick, almost like strands of stone, but most certainly not a writhing mass of serpents.

One exotic non-pony trait she possessed were her draconic eyes, a slitted green that added to her exotic allure. I also observed that the central iris seemed to widen and narrow depending on her emotional state, with anger causing the black of her eyes to slit and a relaxed state allowing them to widen to an almost pony-like appearance.

From what I had observed in my time with her, the only other non-equine feature of her upperbody seemed to be the formation of a hood reminiscent of the Elapidae family of serpents. While completely invisible when relaxed, the seams hidden by her fur, when extended, this hood represents perhaps the gorgon’s most potent and dangerous weapon, which I shall elaborate on in the next segment.

Gorgons are exclusively crystavores, unlike with Diamond Dogs and Dragons who are capable of gaining substance from other sources, gorgons feed solely on gemstones and crystals. In the absence of gemstones, they are apparently capable of using their immense strength to ‘crush’ normal stone into crude crystals. Due to limited time, I was unfortunately unable to learn anything further in regards to Marr’s Dietary needs.

Body Study of Marr-Bell, the Last Gorgon by Leonard Di Hoovsie, magically copied directly from the Thesis by master printer ‘Fox Shadow’. The untranslated inscription indicates that these sketches are ‘not’ to scale and were drawn (from memory) years following Leonard’s encounter with the creature.

((GB: If accurate, this depiction of the gorgon makes them the largest known members of the Equus biological genus, and the unheard of status of being an exclusive crystavore makes them the only one on record as other species that are capable of devouring gemstones are often evolved to be omnivorous and only have a ‘preference’ for gems. This feature may also explain both the inherent magical nature of the gorgon (as gem fields are often saturated with innate natural magic) and their rarity, as a surplus population would quickly deplete an area’s gem-fields if they were to exclusively feed on the gems, which require decades to form at the very least. ))

Of the Powers and Flaws of the Gorgon

While I do not in any way agree with the near universal depiction of Gorgons as heartless monsters, it would be foalish to ignore the fact that, if provoked, they are perhaps among the most dangerous species living in our world. At my patron’s request (in spite of my own objections) I have compiled herein my observation of the strengths and weaknesses of the gorgon species based on my first-hoof experience with Marr Bell. I remind anypony who might read this to understand that these observations are based on a ‘single’ gorgon and may not be universal among the species should any more still exist. And should this information be used in an actual first hoof encounter with a living gorgon, I STRONGLY URGE the reader to use this knowledge to resolve the matter as peacefully as possible.

Immense Strength - Many claim the earth pony is the physically strongest of the Equines. I am sorry to say I know this to be false. With my own eyes, I have witnessed a gorgon render apart stone, wood, and practically any other obstacle in her path with almost no effort. Although I am unable to offer more than conjecture, the simple fact that an adult gorgon is capable of SQUEEZING a stone with such pressure that it is compressed into crude crystal should be enough to convey the level of raw power their serpentine bodies contain.

Tactile Sense- Whether this is a magical or an evolved ability, I am unsure, but there is no doubt that it is real. As long as a gorgon is on a stone surface (Such as a cavern floor), they are capable of feeling every vibration within an unknown range. This ability is disturbingly accurate and appears to allow them to operate even in total darkness. At close range, it was discovered that this sense is so acute that Marr Bell was able to accurately determine when a pony was lying to her by feeling the pulse of said equine though their hooves. In short: do not lie to a gorgon… do not even TRY. If Marr was any indication, they find it both insulting and provoking.

Articulation and Speed- Speaking as a pony who had to try and outrun a gorgon, allow me to make this very clear: It is NOT possible. Unless you are blessed with wings, you cannot outrun a gorgon. I made the mistake of believing my pursuer's size would be an impediment in tight corners and attempted to lose her down a narrow alley. To put it mildly, it did not work.

My hypothesis is that the gorgon’s serpentine spine and ribs are not made of bone, but of a flexible cartilage, allowing for full range of movement without resistance and that speed is assisted by the powerful muscles along the gorgon’s belly scales. This may also explain why the stone-like scales are so cracked and uneven, as the muscles constantly flexing and twisting would prevent them from settling and wearing themselves smooth.

((GB - More than anything else in this thesis, the above passage surprised me the most. That a being of such size could be capable of so easily running an equine to ground. The concept of an implacable, unstoppable creature of both speed and strength is an absolutely frightening concept. Perhaps these physical attributes and fear of them are what led to the wide-spread depiction of gorgons as unrelenting and monstrous creatures.))

Elemental Manipulation- ‘Child of the Stone’, this was how Marr Bell described herself to ~~~~~~~, And as I learned, the title is quite fitting. Not only are they capable of magical petrification (Described below), but the Gorgon is also well deserving of it’s accolades as stone-shapers, capable of altering the properties of rocks in her immediate vicinity. It was this ability which allowed Marr to ‘swim’ though stone as if it were water, in turn allowing her to travel unseen and without resistance to any place in Roan as the entire city was built of and upon the exposed stone face in and around the Denarius Quarry.

((GB - Denarius Quarry refers to what is now Lake Astrolia, the second largest lake in Equestria. This was a fully operational stone quarry in the days of Di Hoovsie. Following the sacking of Roan by Griffin Raiders some centuries after Leonard's death, neglect led to the Quarry being filled in.))

Photo-prismatic Petrification- While it is a myth that Gorgons petrify a pony with their horrifying visage, this ability is still very real and was the cause of the Lost Years. This, as we discovered, is the working of a gorgon’s hood. The term ‘photo-prismatic petrification’ was coined by the Doctor as we attempted to understand and had some success in reversing the effects of gorgon petrification.

When a gorgon’s hood is opened, it reveals a crystalline structure (of natural design or personal configuration is unknown) that focuses a burst of colored bio-luminescence . With one notable exception (Described below) any materials, living or inorganic, that are caught in this light are almost instantly petrified.

While the device we developed is certainly capable of reversing the effects of Marr Bell’s petrification on living victims, it’s development required as much luck as guess work and may well be impossible to reproduce. As it stands, it is unlikely that the device would work in a similar fashion for victims of another gorgon as their hood structures are theorized to be as individual as snowflakes. Nor has it proven effective against petrification caused by cockatrices or dark magic.

((GB - It is unknown who this ‘doctor’ figure is, although there were likely many individuals of this title during the period and may have been a college of Di Hoovsie who’s works and name were lost to time. Also, in spite of multiple inquiries, the Royal Astrolia Society for the Preservation of the Arts (RASPA) the organization that owns most surviving works of Di Hoovsie, has offered no comment to confirm or deny the existence (past or present) of this ‘de-petrification’ machine described in this thesis.))

In the event of facing a gorgon in an aggitated state, I HIGHLY recommend attempting a peaceful resolution. Marr, while emotional, proved to be as rational and intelligent as any pony and was eventually calmed once the influence of certain parties that shall remain unnamed was countered. It is recommended to appeal to a gorgon's vanity (while remaining as honest as possible) and sense of reason while remembering that a gorgon is capable of distinguishing truth from lies. In the event that conflict with such a creature is unavoidable, I can offer only a few tips for survival.

I. Gorgons petrification is ineffective against non-living wood. The standing theory is that trees grow using light from the sun over a long period of time and something about the curing process to turn trees into wood products (boards, construction beams, ect) somehow makes the materials impervious to the flash of a gorgon’s hood. A wooden shield or barrier, or woven material made from wood pulp, will block the flash and protect an equine. If you can, attempt to bind the hood closed with any sort of fastening. There is a chance a gorgon will make removing such a binding first priority and give you the chance to flee.

II. Do not try to engage in single melee combat. You will lose. Not only are gorgons faster, stronger, and tougher than a pony, but they are also highly resistant to magic. Anything less than the full might of an Alicorn is unlikely to do more than slow a gorgon down. It also doesn’t help that gorgons are intelligent enough to make as much use of their surroundings as anypony would. The only chance to defeat a gorgon in a direct battle requires two advantages: Overwhelming Numbers and Flight. It is my belief that these two factors allowed for the near obliteration of the Gorgon species in altercations between the griffin and pegasi that would often inhabit their territory.

III. If you are a pegasus, FLY away. The greatest advantage of pegasi against a gorgon is to separate yourself from the ground. As the creature has no ranged weapons or ability to pursue, it will likely give up chase upon losing sight of it’s target.

IV. Concussive Phenomenon are highly effective. ~~~~~~~~~~~ saved my life after my ‘attempt’ to run away from Marr by kicking the thunder from a storm cloud. Loud, rumbling noises disorient and harm the Gorgon due to it’s incredible sensitivity to vibration. This effect can also be gained ‘apparently’ though the application of explosives, although I am loathed to imagine a day when blasting powders would be readily available or used specifically to harm other living creatures.

((GB- The above statement is interesting as during Di Hoovsie's life-time, pegasi had not yet mastered the skies or weather control. In fact, one of the most contraversial thesis' of his time was his work indicating that large scale weather manipulation was possible, which was considered preposterious at the time. The above passage suggests that Di Hoovsie not only theorized Pegasi weather control...but bore witness to it.))

V. If you are in an underground or stone-laden area, VACATE immediately. Their ability to manipulate stone means that a gorgon could ‘literally’ come out anywhere for a finishing strike.

VI. If all else fails, pose in a fashion you find fitting and hope that at some point in the future, somepony can save you from an eternity as statuary. In my experience, it appeared that Marr always attempted to petrify in favor of other, more lethal tactics that would have,on several occasions, been far easier to execute.

Of the Fate of Marr Bell

Following the events of the Lost Years, Marr Bell’s final attack on Roan’s citizenry, ironically upon the nobility that had for years ignored the rumors of ‘disappearing ponies, was ended by an explosion the likes of which I hope the city never sees again. Although there were no fatalities, the injuries sustained by the last gorgon, both physical and emotional, were devastating.

With her capture, in spite of calls for the destruction of this ‘monster’, it was deemed by the sovereign Night Empress, Alicorn ruler of Roan that Marr Bell be exiled to the Wild Frontier on the far western edge of the civilized world. As the area was forested and ill suited to her abilities, it was not expected she would be able to survive there, a fact that put to rest the concerns of the populace.

Several days later, when the wagon transporting the gorgon reached it's destination, it reported that the locked and sealed container in which she had been contained had gone missing, vanished without a trace with no signs of escape. In spite of an outcry from the citizenry of Roan, no search was initiated nor action taken against the caravaner's who had lost track of her.

To my knowledge, she has not been seen again.

The final whereabouts of Marr Bell, the last gorgon, remain unknown.

May it always remain so.

((GB - It is unclear why Maestro Di Hoovsie was clearly of the mind to side with this gorgon or what exactly took place in that time three thousand years ago. No record has been found of the events described in this Thesis nor has any cooperating evidence of the existence of the Gorgon Marr Bell (or any other member of the species for that matter) been uncovered. All attempts to decipher or uncover the identities of the individuals mentioned have failed, save for the single reference to a mysterious ‘Doctor’.

The Thesis and it’s attached sketches were authenticated by four separate experts as being undoubtedly genuine and written by Leonard Di Hoovsie’s own horn. Upon completion of the bestiary, I have been 'requested' to surrender the original manuscript to RASPA for preservation.

As for the identity of the mare who delivered this information to my hoof, I am resigned to accept the possibility that I may never know. ))

*Clover the Clever

**Starswirl the Bearded

***Maestro Leonard Di Hoovsie

((Author's Note: Marr Bell, Gorgons, Leonard Di Hoovsie, and the events described here are the work of 'Loyal2Luna' . This entry on Gorgons was offered freely by it's creator to add to the Spaced's 'Equestrian Beastiary'. I hope you have enjoyed and if you would like to see more contributions from my crazy filly head, please leave a comment))