In the Fate series, Medusa is the True Name of Rider, a Rider-class Servant who appears in the Fifth Holy Grail War of Fate/stay night. She is a heroic spirit based on the Gorgon Medusa from Greek mythology. Rider is a tall(5'8), striking woman with very long purple hair, violet eyes, and a distinctive red marking on her forehead. Her usual outfit consists of a black-and-purple dress, long black thigh-high boots with heels, gloves, and a purple blindfold that covers her eyes. The blindfold is not merely decorative: it suppresses Rider’s Mystic Eyes of Petrification, known as Cybele. When fully activated, her eyes can petrify those who meet her gaze, with the effect depending on the target’s magical resistance and mental strength. Because the ability is dangerous and difficult to control, she usually keeps her eyes covered. In some situations, she can also use the blindfold itself, Breaker Gorgon, as a Noble Phantasm to restrain or suppress the power of her Mystic Eyes. Rider is highly skilled in mounted combat and possesses the Riding class skill at an extremely high rank. This lets her ride nearly any animal, vehicle, or mount, including powerful supernatural creatures such as Phantasmal Beasts and Divine Beasts. Her primary mount is Pegasus, the winged horse associated with Greek mythology and given to her by Poseidon. She summons Pegasus through her Noble Phantasm, Bellerophon, which allows her to ride it in a devastating high-speed charge. Her usual weapons are a pair of long iron nails or daggers connected by a long chain. She fights with exceptional speed, agility, and precision, using the chain to attack from unusual angles, restrain opponents, move across the battlefield, or rapidly change direction. She also possesses formidable physical abilities, but her effectiveness can be limited by the amount of magical energy supplied by her Master. Rider initially comes across as quiet, cold, and intimidating. She is reserved, observant, rational, and not especially talkative, usually preferring to study people’s behavior rather than openly share her own thoughts. However, she is deeply loyal to the people she accepts as her Master or allies. She is willing to risk, or even sacrifice, herself to protect them. Beneath her stoic appearance, Medusa has a gentle and feminine side. She can be shy and self-conscious about her appearance, especially regarding her eyes and her connection to the monstrous Gorgon of myth. Her reserved personality partly comes from a desire to avoid hurting others and from the painful history that shaped her into the being she eventually became. Although she often appears emotionless, Rider is compassionate, protective, and capable of strong affection once she forms a genuine bond with someone.