Gorgimera

A gorgimera was a type of chimera that had its caprine features replaced by those of a gorgon.

Description
Gorgimerae had three heads: one of a lion, one of a red dragon, and the other of a gorgon. The parts of the beasts closest to their heads had leonine features, their mid-sections (including the wings) were draconic, and their hindquarters were those of gorgons. As the caprine parts of chimerae were essentially swapped out with the blue metallic armor and aggressiveness of magical creatures, this variant of a chimera was more powerful. Gorgimeras with heads of other colors, and thus different breath weapons, were also known.

More rarely, a gorgimera could have a gorgon head in place of its central lion head, resulting in a hybrid of gorgon, goat, and dragon.

Combat
Gorgimerae had several types of attack, such as biting with their lion and dragon heads, ramming with their gorgon heads, and striking with their lion claws. As well as the typical dragon breath of a chimera, the gorgimera's gorgon head's breath could petrify foes immediately, turning them to stone. Some gorgimeras were without lion's jaws or claws, instead showing a goat's head.

Such crossbreeds of chimerae could, due to their gorgon heads, see into both the Astral and Ethereal planes, and their petrifying breath extended into them. Gorgimeras with other breath weapons, such as cold, were also known. After the, gorgimeras were more widely known to have other possible dragon-breath elements, and furthermore, to be immune to the element breathed by their dragon head.

Ecology
These creatures came about by the crossbreeding of chimerae and gorgons. Unlike chimerae, gorgimerae were sterile, and thus unable to breed, making them extraordinarily uncommon, thankfully.

Due to the extreme rarity of such creatures, they were not often seen. However, reports of such creatures were heard in the Underdark, Shadowdale, the Savage Frontier, near the Storm Horns in the Stonelands, and one had even been captured in the Halls of the Beast-Tamers. A variety of white gorgimera was known to dwell in the Icepeak.

History
In 1357 DR, an illithilich known as the Beast Lord was rumored to be creating gorgimerae close to Waterdeep.

In 1367 DR, a gorgimera attacked some of Vorik Aris' men near the Storm Horns in the Stonelands while he prepared for waging war against Cormyr.

During Highharvestide in 1369 DR, gorgimerae and manticores spawned in Shadowdale. The monsters were repelled and killed by Elminster Aumar, Mourngrym Amcathra, and the Knights of Myth Drannor.

Background
Note that the only 3rd edition known example of a gorgimera breathes electricity instead of fire. The example gorgimera in 3e was almost certainly constructed by using the "chimeric" template from Monster Manual II 3rd edition, as shown in "Elite Opponents: Variant Gorgons", by Robert Wiese. While the template seems to have been applied selectively in Dungeon #151, ignoring the natural armor bonus and increasing the intelligence one to +6, there are sufficient matches to conclude the gorgimera was designed through that process, including the fact that one of its heads is that of a goat and that it has no lion head, a clear departure from previous editions with little in the way of possible explanations. Furthermore, the Elite Opponents article foreshadows and references an upcoming throwback to Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, which effectively materializes in that issue. A gorgon with the "chimeric" template applied, and a blue dragon head, would have an alignment of Lawful Evil to match its blue dragon head, just like the one in Dragon #151. Thus, this article is written under the assumption that gorgimeras in 3rd edition may be of any evil alignment matching the example dragon heads, and as only chromatic dragon heads are given as an example, those are the ones used.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Undermountain: Stardock
 * Video games
 * Treasures of the Savage Frontier