Homebrew Gargoyle Species Details

Sitting perfectly still as if no more alive than any of the rest of the stone structure they adorn, Gargoyles are as well recognized as the mysterious and often villainous mages who craft them. Linger long enough, or approach too closely, and trespassing adventurers will learn quickly how alive they are.

Animate Stone

Carved from masonry and animated tediously with dark magic and material from the elemental plane of Earth, a gargoyle is created by a mage who desires both ambience and a security system in one malevolent package. It lurks among masonry and ruins, as still as any stone sculpture, and delights in the terror it creates when it breaks from its suspended pose, as well as the pain it inflicts on its victims. They haunt city rooftops, perching vulture-like among the high stone arches and buttresses of castles and cathedrals, and they can hold themselves so still that they appear inanimate. Able to maintain this state for years, a gargoyle makes an ideal sentry. A gargoyle might alleviate the tedium of its watch by catching and tormenting birds or rodents, but its long wait only increases its craving for harming sentient creatures.

Deadly Reputation

Gargoyles have a reputation for cruelty. False gargoyles appear in the architecture of countless structures, unable or unwilling to enlist real ones, to frighten away trespassers. They are difficult to make and uncommon, but the chance that there might even be one among the ranks gives caution to potential trespassers.

Cruel Servants

With the patience and fortitude of stone, they will serve even the cruelest master for years without complaint. Gargoyles are not bound by magic to serve, but are created with a task in mind and an intense, single-minded sense of purpose. If this purpose cannot be fulfilled anymore, such as the ground they were created to protect being destroyed or their master killed, they wander aimlessly from rooftop to garden, hoping to encounter a new master to give them direction. They are easily inspired by the cunning of an intelligent master.

Gargoyle Names

Most often, the creator of the Gargoyle gives no additional thought to the process and sees them as moving stones who need be individually named no more than the bricks in the wall. However, among themselves, they may refer to each other by nicknames gained through reputation, christen themselves with the names of famous demons, thieves, and dark lords of long ago, or otherwise craft a name in some harsh tongue that properly carries fear in it's sound.

Some common names may be Abezethibou , Belphegor, Constantine, Frances, or Draegloth.

Gargoyle Traits

As a Gargoyle, you have the following Racial Traits

Age

It takes several years to create the finished warden, but all Gargoyles are created mature, and can then live as long as their bodies are still intact. Weather and erosion will reduce your lifespan. Generally you can live for around 300 years total without magical repairs.

Alignment

Due to their upbringing and treatment, Gargoyles lean towards Evil or Neutral alignments. Their purpose driven creation leads to lawful behavior.

Size

Gargoyles vary in construction and can stand between 4-8 feet tall. Heavy minerals that make up their form can make them several hundred pounds.  Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet

Limited Flight

You have a flying speed of 30ft. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor. Due to weight, you must land at the end of each turn.

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 colour in darkness, only shades of grey.

Still As Stone

Once per Long rest, as an Action, you can command your form to solidify and remain completely rigid. You can hold this form indefinitely and cannot be forced out of it unless magically compelled. While in this state, You:

• Can't take any actions other than a bonus action to end the effect,
• Cannot move or speak,
• Automatically fail Strength and Dexterity Saving Throws,
• Attack rolls against you have advantage,
• You have resistance to Fire Damage.

Become Inert

A Gargoyle does not require sleep. Instead, once every 3 days they can choose to cease consciousness and become one with the elements. Whilst in this state, you cannot be woken up by any means until 8 hours have passed.

Sculpted Warrior

Carved from the earth itself, you gain the following:

• There is variety in the shape and size of each Gargoyle, but they are all designed with natural weapons, such as teeth/beak, talons, tails, etc. which can be used for unarmed strikes. On a hit, you deal 1d10 + STR slashing damage.
• You do not require food
• You have advantage on Stealth checks to hide in rocky terrain.
• You have resistance to Slashing and Piercing damage, and vulnerability to Force damage and Bludgeoning damage .

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.