Homebrew Gargoyle Species Details

Gargoyles first came into being during an archaic age due to the experimentations of magic. Powerful warlocks and wizards carved creatures from stone and imbued them with enchantments & curses to bring them to a semblance of life. Since then, the number of gargoyles being carved has reduced drastically yet the practice is still know to be done in the mage community. Over time, different styles of gargoyles have become popular which creates a wide diversity of the creatures today. Whilst seen as familiars or guardians in the past by mages, some have taken to removing the curses that bind them to a person or place and seek to have a life of their own. This usually involves finding a certain city, area or building and using it as a temporary resting place, appearing like a statue when they rest and often fooling passerby. They seem to find this amusing and some even make it a favorite pastime. Other Gargoyles who may be found adventuring do so because they may have had their master, place or item they were guarding lost or stolen from them and they venture to seek it out.

Physiology

Gargoyles are often large, usually grotesque statues carved out of stone, marble, or other solid earthen materials. Their specific details are down to the carver or creator of the creature with styles coming and going. Nowadays, fiendish styles are the most commonplace with a handful in forms such as animals or heroes of old that have been stylized by the artist. An extremely rare few look like celestials instead of grotesque creatures and these are more commonly accepted by other races but disrespected by their own kind. Almost all gargoyles have a pair of wings, large or small, and some form of horns. Depending on the creature's age they might also show signs of weathering such as small cracks or plants growing around their bodies. It is not known how long a Gargoyle can technically live for, however if kept in a stable, good condition, some have lived for thousands of years until either they finally crumble due to lack of repair or their enchantment finally wears off. It is also theorized that if a Gargoyle sank to the bottom of a body of water due to their lack of swimming ability, they could potentially live a long time trapped there. It is a great fear among Gargoyles for sure. Gargoyles do not need to eat, and in fact have no internal organs, being a construct. However, most gargoyles do enjoy the taste of food, especially when raw. They will usually pass on drinking most of the time due to their fear or hatred of liquids.

Society

In general, gargoyles are quite solitary and rarely communicate or travel with other beings that are not gargoyles. They sometimes form fearsome groups called “wings” for protection and companionship. In certain conditions, gargoyles might even ally with other creatures, but even the most stable alliances with a gargoyle can collapse for various reasons—gargoyles are nothing if not grudge-bearing, selfish, and overprotective. Gargoyles have been known to dwell in the heart of the largest of cities, crouching amid the decorations of stone cathedrals and buildings where they hide in plain sight.

The longer gargoyles live in a region of ruins or buildings, the more they come to resemble that region’s architectural styles. The changes a gargoyle’s appearance undergoes are slow and subtle, but over the course of years, it can shift radically. The base material will always stay the same however.

Gargoyle Names

Gargoyle names are usually given at their time of carving, perhaps taken from their creator or an idea the creator has. However, some also prefer to use old, archaic names taken from their homeland and roots once they become learned enough.

Male: Claw, Coldstone, Griff, Leo, Stagheart, Talon

Female: Duula, Kuonu, Jade, Oestra, Ophelia, Seestra, Una

 

Gargoyle Traits

Constructs carved from stone & given life

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution Score increases by 3

Age

Gargoyles can live for as long as their stone bodies remain intact. Weathering or erosion can reduce lifespan. Their bodies can also become disenchanted if their head is first removed. Disenchantment will kill them immediately.

Alignment

Gargoyles tend to be either civilized (neutral) or mischievous (chaotic). They can be good or evil.

Size

Your size is Medium. Gargoyles generally weigh around 400 lbs and stand at a height of 5 - 6 feet

Speed

You have a walking speed of 20 feet & a flying speed of 30 feet. You cannot swim, and when more then half submerged in water your speed becomes 0.

Darkvision

 You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Stone Skin

Being made of stone, your skin is extremely resilient. While you are not wearing armor, your Armor Class equals 12 + your Constitution modifier. You also gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, & slashing damage from non-magical attacks.

Inanimate

While you remain motionless, you are indistinguishable from an inanimate statue of a gargoyle. You must maintain concentration during that time.

Constructed Nature

A gargoyle doesn't require air, food, drink, or sleep. Instead of sleeping they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. You also gain immunity to poisoning as well as poison damage.

Language

You can speak, read, and write Common & Terran