Homebrew Warrior Gargoyle Species Details

 

Powerful, intelligent gargoyles, born to serve as night time guardians. Often found on Wizard's towers or protecting high profile fortresses... these gargoyles are found in a variety of shapes and sizes. In sunlight their bodies are turned to pure stone, and they perch on tall structures, disguising themselves as decorative statue. On rare occasions, however, Gargoyles are born immune to the petrifying effects of the sun. Left to pace alone during sunlight hours, these rare breeds often grow tired of their life of servitude, gliding away to find a new life for themselves among the other races.

Stone and Wing

With large leathery wingspans, the Gargoyles stand anywhere from 5 feet to nearly 7 feet in height. They have a vast variety of body types, some born with beak-like faces, others appearing nearly human with the exception of their horns and fangs. Most have long tails... versatile but not fully prehensile. What they all share in common are sharp talons on their hands and feet, which provide them not only with weapons, but also tools to climb even sheer cliff faces.

Born of stone, even when not fully petrified their skin is rough and strong. With their powerful claws and toughened hides, a Gargoyle is a creature whose very body provides both weapons and armor at all times.

Gliders, not Flyers

 

Despite their large, powerful wings, the sheer weight of a Gargoyles body makes them incapable of sustained flight. Rather, they prefer to glide from incredible heights, using their powerful legs and claws to leap and climb upward. Their claws are capable of digging into most stone, and when unrestrained their wings allow them to glide safely down from any height.

Lives of Servitude

Their species was created centuries ago by powerful wizards to serve as guardians and protectors. For many this is all they know, and even those who leave their homes and clans may struggle to adjust to a life of freedom. They are driven by a compulsion to protect others, with some seeking new masters to protect, and others finding greater purpose as heroes and protectors of the weak. Even those who resent their use by others and seek personal wealth and glory find themselves fiercely loyal to those they hold close.

 

Guardian Clans

Gargoyles live as small, tight knit clans in service of their masters. They have long life spans and rarely breed, so children are uncommon. When they are born, however, they hatch from eggs in small clutches of 1 to 3. They grow quickly, adjusting to their lives as new members of the clan with natural instinct. New children are raised communally by the entire clan. On rare occasions when a clan grows too large for their home a young Gargoyle will seek a new clan, often accompanying allies of their masters to new homes where they may become the founders of a clan of their own.

Gargoyle Names

 

Gargoyles do not have names in the same manner of other creatures. Within their own tight-knit clans they refer to each other by familial relationship... an older Gargoyle may answer just as readily to "Brother", "Father", "Grandfather", or "Uncle" depending on who is speaking to him. Occasionally, a Gargoyle will be given a name by their master, but in such cases the names are wholly dependent on their master's whims. Most Gargoyles, however, differentiate one clan from the other by the name of the location they guard, and as such they often associate the names of locations with identities. When a Gargoyle leaves home on their own and chooses to take a name for themselves, it's not uncommon for them to simply look to the nearest street sign and co-opt the name for themselves.

Gargoyle Backgrounds

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for Warrior Gargoyles include the outlander, the hermit, and the sage.

The insular clans live as warriors and guardians. They are most adept at physical roles such as Fighters or Barbarians, with some choosing instead to specialize as Monks or Rogues. Because of their powerful forms its rare for Gargoyles to become spellcasters, and even those with aptitude for such things may never realize their potential without outside forces influencing them to pursue their talents.

 

Warrior Gargoyle Traits

The Warrior Gargoyle is highly specialized for protecting large structures from intruders. Their limited flight allows them to ambush intruders from great heights, and their powerful builds allow many to fight without weapons or armor.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Age

Gargoyles reach maturity by age 15. The limits of a Gargoyle's lifespan is uncertain, with some known to live over 500 years, and stories claiming some to live over 1000 years. However, because of their rough lifestyle, most die from injury or illness within 200 years or less.

Alignment

Most Gargoyles are Lawful, sometimes to a  fault. They most often lean toward neutrality, focused on their duty as guardians over any morality about who they're protecting against or why.

Size

Gargoyles can range dramatically from about 5 feet to 7 feet tall. Even those that are shorter or thinner looking are still incredibly dense and heavy, weighing anywhere from 350 to 500 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor. However, due to the Gargoyle's weight they are incapable of sustained flight. At the end of your turn, if you are airborne, you immediately lower by 30 feet. If you are conscious and unrestrained you take no fall damage.

Stone Claws

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit.

Your powerful claws also grant you a Climb Speed of 20 feet, and are powerful enough to dig into most stone surfaces.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, and one other language of your choice, dependent on the languages spoken by your clans original master.

Stone Skin

While wearing no other armor, your thick, rocky hide provides an AC of 13+CON. If you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal.

Darkvision

Born as creatures of the night, you are more comfortable in the darkness than in the sun. 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.