Gargoyle

Gargoyles live in small groups with others of their kind, interested in little more than finding other creatures to hurt. Smaller animals are scarcely worth the trouble to these hideous monsters, who prefer to attack humans or other intelligent creatures.

Gargoyles often collect treasure from human victims. Individuals usually have a handful of gold pieces among them, with the bulk of their treasure hidden carefully at their lair, usually buried or under a large stone.

Originally, gargoyles were carved roof spouts, representing grotesque human and animal figures. They were designed in such a way that water flowing down gutters would be thrown away from the wall, so as to prevent stains and erosion. Later, some unknown mage used a powerful enchantment to bring these horrid sculptures to life. The race of gargoyles has flourished, spreading throughout the world.

Gargoyles do not need to eat or drink, so they can stand motionless for as long as they wish almost anywhere. The damage they do to other creatures is not for sustenance, but only for their distorted sense of pleasure.

Because they are fairly intelligent and evil, they will sometimes serve an evil master of some sort. In this case, the gargoyles usually act as guards or messengers; besides some gold or a few gems, their unsavory payment is the enjoyment they get from attacking unwanted visitors.

The horn of the gargoyle is the more common active ingredient for a potion of invulnerability and can also be used in a potion of flying.

These monsters are ferocious predators of a magical nature, typically found amid ruins or dwelling in underground caverns. They have their own guttural language.

Gargoyles prefer to nest on high rocky outcroppings and the rooftops of tall stone buildings; however, they can also be found in caverns deep below the earth. Rituals can summon gargoyles to serve as guardians of locations or prisons, or to hunt down people or items.

Gargoyles attack anything they detect, regardless of whether it is good or evil, 90% of the time. They love best to torture prey to death when it is helpless.

These winged creatures are excellent fighters with four attacks per round. Their claw/claw/bite/horn combination can inflict up to 16 points of damage, while their naturally tough hide protects them from victim’s attacks.

Gargoyles favor two types of attack: surprise and swooping. Counting on their appearance as sculptures of some sort, gargoyles sit motionless around the rooftop of a building, waiting for prey to approach. Alternatively, a gargoyle may pose in a fountain, or a pair of the horrid beasts sit on either side of a doorway. When the victim is close enough, the gargoyles suddenly strike out, attempting only to injure the victim rather than to kill it all at once. (To a gargoyle, inflicting a slow, painful death is best.)

When on the move, gargoyles sometimes use a “swoop” attack, dropping down suddenly from the sky to make their attacks in an aerial ambush. In this case, they can make either two claw attacks or one horn attack. To make all four of their attacks, they must land.

Swoop: Must have surprise and must be aerial. Counts as chrge using either2 claws or 1 horn

Flyby: The gargoyle flies up to 8 squares and makes a melee attack at any point during the move without provoking an opportunity attack from the target. If the attack hits, the target is knocked prone.

+1 or better weapon needed to hit

Stone Form: The gargoyle becomes a statue and ignores up to 25 pts. of dmg. While in this form it regenrates 5 hp per round. It loses all other senses and can take no actions in stone form other than revert to its normal form (as a half action).

       
Special Advantages
SPECIALADV
 
Special Disadvantages
SPECIALDISADV
Also Known As
AKA
 
Government Type
GOVTYPE
 
Known Strongholds
KNOWNSTRONGHOLDS
 
Known Clans
KNOWNCLANS
 
Homeland
HOMELAND
 
Known Alliances
KNOWNALLIANCES
 
Trade Expertise
TRADEXPERTISE
 
Ability Score Adjustments
ABILITYSCOREADJ
 
Languages Spoken
LANGSPOKEN
 
Racial Enmities
RACIALENM
 
Life Expectancy
LIFEEXPEXT


Climate/Terrain:
Alignment: CE
Organization: Tribe
Activity Cycle: Any
Intelligence: Low (5-7)
Treasure: M×10 (C)
Diet: Carnivore
# Appearing:
XP Value: 420
Mvmt: 9, Fl 15 (C)
Size: M (6’ tall)
Morale: Steady (11-12)
Spoken Languages and Dialects

Hit Dice


4+4

Base THAC0:

15

PSP(Chi)


Armor Class


5

Magic Resistance: Nil

Armor Notes:

Number of Attacks


Attack Forms

TypeTHAC0DamageSFEffect
Claw (x2)15d33
Bite15d63
Horn15d43