Homebrew Gargoyle Species Details
The inanimate gargoyles that perch atop great buildings are inspired by these malevolent creatures of elemental earth that resemble grotesque, fiendish statues. A gargoyle 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.
Animate Stone. Gargoyles cling to rocky cliffs and mountains, or roost on ledges in underground caves. 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.
Deadly Reputation. Gargoyles have a reputation for cruelty. Statues carved into the likenesses of gargoyles appear in the architecture of countless cultures to frighten away trespassers. Although such sculptures are only decorative, real gargoyles can hide among them to ambush unsuspecting victims. 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.
Cruel Servants. Gargoyles are easily inspired by the cunning of an intelligent master. They enjoy simple tasks such as guarding a master’s home, torturing and killing interlopers, and anything else that involves minimum effort and maximum pain and carnage.
Gargoyles sometimes serve demons for their propensity for wanton chaos and destruction. Powerful spellcasters can also easily enlist gargoyle guardians to keep watch over their gates and walls. Gargoyles have the patience and fortitude of stone, and will serve even the cruelest master for years without complaint.
Gargoyle Traits
Gargoyles share certain racial traits as a result of their elemental nature.Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 1, your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence decreases by 2.
Age
After growing from their rock-like eggs Gargoyles reach adulthood at age 5 and live up to 50 years but they do not age while in stone form. Because they spend most of their time in stasis, it’s possible, even common, for gargoyles to live for centuries. They rarely die of old age.
Size
Gargoyles are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Alignment
Gargoyles are creatures of elemental evil from the Elemental Chaos, your alignment is chaotic evil.
Speed
You have a base walking speed is 30 feet, and have a flying speed of 60 feet while you aren’t wearing heavy armor.
Creature Type
You are an Elemental.
Darkvision
Thanks to your elemental heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.
Claws
Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Bite
Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Natural Armor
When you aren’t wearing armor, your base AC is 13 + your Constitution modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
False Appearance
While you remain motionless, you are indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.
Stasis
When you take a long rest, you spend at least 4 hours in an inactive, motionless state, instead of sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but you remain conscious, you do not age while in stasis.
Stone Resistance
You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine, and immune to poison damage and the poisoned, petrified, and exhaustion condition.
Elemental Nature
You don’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Terran and one other language.
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