Homebrew Gargoyle (Balanced) Species Details

Expert Bodyguards

Their design makes them masters of protection, and their loyalty gives them the courage to take a strike that was intended for another without hesitation. Gargoyles often seem fearless in battle but in truth they often fear for the safety of others - namely their masters and companions. Gargoyles may unwittingly comment about another person's frailty with a seemingly innocent comment from time to time out of concern and caring rather than disdain. A Gargoyle on the edge of death may attempt to just "Walk it off" without a concern for it's own health, but a mere scratch on one of it's companions could be enough to make it step forward to aid the 'injured' fellow. Gargoyles are also capable of providing excellent cover to their companions, and function as Three-Quarters cover instead of Half-Cover when standing between attacker and ally.

In All Shapes and Sizes

Since most of the friendly Gargoyles are hand-crafted by their creator they can take the appearance of almost any living creature known to man, and while most are usually designed with wings there are others that forego such features in favor of others. If a Gargoyle's creator desires a small and agile assassin they might craft their minion in the appearance of a Gnome or Kobold, while a creator in need of protection might craft a gargoyle in the guise of a human, orc or other tall and burly creature. Some may have modifications made to their bodies for specific purposes, such as spiked tails for battering foes.  You can consider your size-bracket to be that of whichever creature you were modeled after, for example a Gnome-like Gargoyle would be considered small.  Your other racial bonuses are unaffected by the design.

Legacy of Stone

Gargoyles are crafted from any kind rock their creator seemed fit. Some are made of marbel or alabaster and were thought to be as shining as the very being they accompany on their eternal rest. Some are made to endure centuries of weather and enviromental influences, so they were carved from basalt or granite. In very rare occasions, if an archmage or someone of royalty needed a watcher for his throneroom or arcane laboratory, single gargoyles were made of obsidian or even gemstones.

What all of them share in common is, that they were infused with purpose. The purpose that brought a gargoyle to life might drive him for his entire exsitance. Most gargoyles are bound by this very purpose, guarding places for centuries and never questioning this behaviour. Few however develop a spark of conscience, achieving the ability to critically judge their existance. In many occasions when this happens, the gargoyle has outlived his creators and/or owners by far, therefor not seeing himself bound to the task he was given long ago. In these cases they form a personality out of their initial purpose, often having a very narrow point of view on the world.

No Stone like the Other

Once becoming a sentient being, gargoyles tend to adapt to their surroundings. A gargoyle generally likes to fit in, especially places where he can literally do so give him comfort. Nevertheless they are driven by deep embeded motives and might seek to change their surroundings to their own ideas and beliefs.

This might show by simply taking the name of a virtue or priciple they connect to, like Purity, Vigilance or Shelter. It also might reflect in their outward appearance, either polishing every inch of their lithic frame or being overgrown with moss and lichens.

Gargoyle Names

 Gargoyles do not use names within their own clutches. They usually go with the names they are affectionately given by the humans who know of them or just like the look of them. Some however through time have taken the name of the stone they were carved from, or derivatives thereof. 

Gargoyle Names: Shale, Slate, Limestone, Granite, Basalt, Granite, Obsidian, Marble, Quartz, Peridot, Onyx, Travertine, and Amber.

Gargoyle (Balanced) Traits

Ability Score Increase

Petrified Sleep

Stone Skin

Stone Eyes

Stone Body

Talk to Nongoyles