The Curse of the Undead Legends and stories of haunted beings have been passed down through generations. One of the most chilling and spine-tingling tales is the Curse of the Undead. This curse speaks of individuals who have been condemned to an eternal existence as creatures that defy death – the undead. The Curse of the Undead revolves around a dark and mysterious ritual that, when performed incorrectly or irresponsibly, can result in a dreadful consequence. It is said that those who have been cursed are stuck in a realm between life and death, forever wandering the earth with a insatiable hunger for human flesh. They are forever trapped in a state of decay, their bodies deteriorating yet never fully dying.
Is the gaze effect of a medusa blocked by an antimagic field? [duplicate]
This question addresses the question of whether petrification effects are blocked by the Antimagic Field spell. But it does not seem to address the gaze itself—particularly the Petrifying Gaze of a Medusa. A Beholder's ray is clearly blocked as a magical beam, but what about the gaze of a Medusa? Is the gaze of a Medusa magical or non-magical? Alternatively, if not the gaze itself, what about the effect of the gaze? Is the effect of the gaze considered magical and blocked by an Antimagic Field? The text for Petrifying Gaze does not state either way whether the effect is magical.
Follow 21.3k 3 3 gold badges 78 78 silver badges 133 133 bronze badges asked Oct 2, 2019 at 16:55 Praxiteles Praxiteles 11.9k 9 9 gold badges 75 75 silver badges 151 151 bronze badges \$\endgroup\$They are forever trapped in a state of decay, their bodies deteriorating yet never fully dying. According to legend, the curse can be activated through various means. Some believe that it can be cast by a powerful witch or warlock, others claim that it is a result of a curse placed by vengeful spirits seeking retribution.
2 Answers 2
Sorted by: Reset to default \$\begingroup\$Antimagic Field states the following:
Spells and other magical effects, except those created by an artifact or a deity, are suppressed in the sphere and can't protrude into it.
So in order to answer your question, we have to determine whether or not Petrifying Gaze constitutes a magical ability/attack,
Unfortunately, the source books for Fifth Edition do not provide an explicit definition for what exactly constitutes a magical ability. However, there exists an overall consensus summarized here based off the Sage Advice Compendium. Jeremy Crawford's original tweet neatly sumarizes the ruling as such:
A monster's attack is magical if its text says so.
The Medusa's Petrifying Gaze makes no mention of the attack being magical, so the effect would not be dispelled or prevented by Antimagic Field.
Overall, there is ample precedent to support this interpretation. This answer establishes that a Dragon's breath weapon is not considered magical based on similar logic, so I would say that the strongest interpretation is that the Medusa's Petrifying Gaze is not affected by Antimagic Field.
However, there's more information to consider.
If you're feeling creative. sort of yes.
According to the Monster Manual, Medusas are created under the following conditions:
Men and women who seek eternal youth, beauty, and adoration pray to malicious gods, beg dragons for ancient magic, [. ] seek out powerful archmages, [or] make sacrifices to demon lords or archdevils, offering all in exchange for this gift, oblivious to the curse that accompanies it.
A curse could easily constitute a "magical effect" as defined in the text for Antimagic Field.
So, as long as the curse was not bestowed by a god/deity, an interesting interpretation would be that the Medusa is temporarily freed of its curse, such that it would be unable to use its normal abilities.
Opinion: as a DM, I would say yes.
As the text for the Medusa's ability is vague in this context, I personally would rule in favor of the Antimagic Field suppressing the ability. The abilities of a CR6 creature like the Medusa should be trumped by a Level 8 spell like Antimagic Field, and both thematically and intuitively it makes sense that Antimagic Field would work in this way.
Additionally, I think the player's satisfaction at overcoming the Medusa in such a way is enough that I would rule in their favor regardless of the interpretation. Ruling against the player for situations like this break "the rule of fun" and can sting strongly of killing something interesting simply for the sake of a technicality.
Magic Mike’s Last Dance proves men are not up to the task of presenting the female gaze
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The third and final instalment of the Magic Mike series is still drawing enthusiastic audiences in UK cinemas. Inspired by Channing Tatum’s real-life Magic Mike Live stage show, the conclusion to Steven Soderbergh’s trilogy operates as a backstage musical.
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In an interview for The Drop podcast, Soderbergh, the film’s director and cinematographer, explains that he used the camera and cuts in such a way as to emphasise “the emotional experience” of female spectators and show “how she feels”. This prompts the question that inspired the field of feminist film criticism: is it possible for male filmmakers to represent a female perspective on screen?
Regardless of the origin, once the curse has taken hold, there is no escape. The cursed undead are often depicted as terrifying monsters. Their decaying bodies, pale skin, and glowing red eyes make them an unmistakable sight. It is said that they can only be killed by a wooden stake through the heart or decapitation. However, even after death, they may still roam the earth as vengeful spirits, seeking revenge on those who wronged them in life. Throughout history, tales of the undead have struck fear into the hearts of many. From vampires to zombies, the curse has taken various forms across different cultures and traditions. These creatures, once human, are now cursed to an existence of darkness and despair. The Curse of the Undead has inspired countless stories, books, and movies, capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. Whether it serves as a cautionary tale or a source of fascination, the curse has become a prominent fixture in popular culture, reminding us of the enduring human fear of death and the unknown. In conclusion, the Curse of the Undead is a legendary curse that condemns its victims to an eternal existence as creatures that defy death. The curse has captivated the minds of people for centuries, instilling a deep fear of the undead within our collective consciousness. May we always remember the consequences that may await those who dare to tamper with the realms of life and death..
Reviews for "The Undead in Popular Fiction: A Study of Themes and Motifs"
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