Gargoyle

Forged by divine hands and bound by purpose, the Gargoyles of Tanaria are living constructs of stone and magic, created not through birth, but through an ancient and now nearly lost ritual. Crafted to be immortal sentinels, they do not age, do not eat, and do not tire. They are watchers, their very existence tied to the places they guard, standing unwavering even as the world forgets them.
Unlike mindless golems, Gargoyles possess souls, intelligence, and will, but they are not truly free. Each was created for a purpose, whether to protect a temple, a noble bloodline, or an ancient fortress, and they are bound to that duty until the end of time—or until they are destroyed. With no natural way to reproduce, their numbers are dwindling, and the secret of their creation is known only to a single surviving order, which fiercely protects the ritual, forging only a few new Gargoyles per century.
Their bodies, made from enchanted stone, are nearly impervious to harm, but they do not heal like mortals. Instead, they repair themselves by absorbing minerals, often requiring long periods of dormancy. Though they feel no pain, they are not immune to wear—many have cracked, eroded, or lost limbs over the centuries, yet they persist, refusing to succumb to time.
Their senses extend beyond the physical. A Gargoyle does not simply see or hear—it perceives. It can detect the faintest shift in the wind, the tremor of footsteps miles away, the lingering energy of the past imprinted upon stone. Those bound to sacred places feel disturbances in their domain as though the land itself speaks to them, and some claim to receive visions from the gods, remnants of the divine forces that first shaped them.
Feared by some, revered by others, and pitied by those who understand their burden, Gargoyles are creatures of solemn duty. Many still guard places long abandoned, watching over ruins as if waiting for masters who will never return. Others, unmoored from their purpose, wander the world in search of a new reason to exist. But one thing is certain—so long as even one remains, the Gargoyles will endure.
They were made to stand. And stand they shall.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gargoyles are not flesh and blood but living constructs of stone and divine energy, shaped for endurance and vigilance. Their bodies, sculpted from enchanted minerals, range from smooth marble to rough basalt, each bearing intricate carvings or runes reflecting their purpose. Though they resemble statues at rest, they are anything but immobile; their movements, powered by arcane forces rather than muscles, are deliberate and unnervingly precise.
Their faces vary—some regal and humanoid, others monstrous and bestial—yet all share a solemn, watchful intensity. Their glowing eyes, remnants of the magic that animates them, pierce through the darkness, allowing them to see even in the absence of light. Though they do not breathe, eat, or tire, they do feel—though not as mortals do. Their sense of touch is dulled, more attuned to detecting structural weaknesses in their form rather than pain itself.
Not all Gargoyles possess wings, but those that do are more gliders than true fliers, their broad, leathery spans allowing them to descend from great heights with eerie silence. Their limbs, dense and powerful, end in clawed hands that can carve through stone as easily as they cling to it. They do not heal in the way that living creatures do—injury does not mend, cracks do not fade. Instead, they must enter dormancy, slowly drawing minerals from their surroundings to restore themselves, though this process is slow, and for many, impossible without aid.
At their core—both figuratively and literally—is the secret of their existence. Unlike golems, they are not mindless; each possesses a soul, bound and given purpose upon creation. It is this core, this divine spark, that sustains them, and should it be shattered, no force in the world can bring them back. Their numbers have dwindled, and with no natural way to reproduce, every fallen Gargoyle is another step toward extinction. Yet, despite time’s unrelenting march, they remain, as they always have—watching, waiting, enduring.

Behaviour

Gargoyles are creatures of purpose, defined not by instinct or desire, but by the role they were created to fulfill. Unlike mortal beings, they do not experience hunger, exhaustion, or physical pain in the traditional sense. Instead, their existence revolves around duty, vigilance, and the unwavering compulsion to guard. They are not mindless, nor are they truly free—a Gargoyle without purpose is a lost soul, wandering without meaning, searching for something to bind itself to once more.

A Mind Built for Eternity

Gargoyles do not perceive time as mortals do. Where a human feels the weight of years pressing upon them, a Gargoyle experiences the passage of time as though watching water flow endlessly past a stone. Decades pass in what seems like mere moments to them, and thus, they do not hurry, do not rush, and do not panic. Their patience is absolute, their perspective vast—so much so that they often struggle to relate to shorter-lived races, who seem to be in a constant state of movement and change.
Yet, they are not unfeeling. Gargoyles remember everything. They are witnesses to history, watching as cities rise and fall, as generations come and go. Those that serve a single family or kingdom often grow attached, even if they do not express it in ways mortals understand. They grieve not in outbursts of sorrow, but in silent, unmoving observation, standing over the graves of those they once protected, continuing their watch even when no one remains.

A Gargoyle is incapable of betrayal, not because of magical compulsion, but because their psychology does not allow them to abandon their sworn duty. They are, by nature, loyal to what they were created to serve, whether it be a place, a bloodline, or a sacred charge. However, this does not mean they lack the ability to question orders—a Gargoyle bound to a corrupt master may struggle, conflicted between their duty and their own moral reasoning. In rare cases, a Gargoyle may even defy a command if it goes against the very principles of protection and guardianship.
When a Gargoyle loses its purpose—whether its charge is destroyed, its temple abandoned, or its kingdom fallen—it does not simply cease to function. Instead, it enters a period of deep contemplation, a kind of grief that manifests as stillness. Some remain motionless for centuries, slowly eroding in forgotten places, waiting for a new calling. Others seek out a new purpose, wandering the world in search of something—or someone—worthy of their protection.
A Gargoyle who has lost its way is a tragic figure. Though they cannot die of age, many allow themselves to be overtaken by time, standing still as vines creep over them, as stone cracks under the weight of centuries, as the world forgets they ever existed.
Gargoyles feel emotions, but they do not express them as humans do. They do not laugh, weep, or rage in the way that mortals expect. Instead, their emotions manifest in subtle shifts of body language, in the way they hold their stance, in how long they pause before answering a question.

• Concern may appear as a tightening of their stance, wings shifting slightly forward in a protective manner.
• Amusement is a slow, rumbling exhale, the closest thing they have to laughter.
• Sadness is expressed in silence and stillness, a willingness to let time pass without movement.
• Anger is rare but unmistakable—stone grinding against stone as their bodies tense, wings unfurling, their eyes narrowing like an approaching storm.

Despite their seemingly emotionless nature, Gargoyles are deeply contemplative beings. They reflect on their past, on the purpose they were given, and on the world they observe. A Gargoyle does not speak unless it has something worth saying, and when it does, its words are slow, deliberate, and weighted with the gravity of centuries.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Every Gargoyle has a unique set of facial structures, ranging from horned, bestial visages to smooth, almost regal statuary forms. The shape of their face often reflects their intended role (i.e., intimidation for warriors, solemnity for watchers, wisdom for sages).

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Gargoyles perceive the world differently than living creatures. They do not rely on traditional senses alone, but on an innate connection to their surroundings, allowing them to detect threats and disturbances that others might overlook. Their eyes, carved from the same stone as their bodies yet filled with divine energy, pierce through darkness as if it were daylight, unaffected by blindness or mortal limitations. They do not simply see—they sense, their vision attuned not just to physical presence but to movement, intent, and even the lingering echoes of past events.
Though they do not breathe, their awareness of the air around them is unparalleled. They can detect the subtlest shifts in pressure, sensing an approaching storm before the first drop of rain falls. Vibrations in the ground tell them of distant footsteps, even those of creatures trying to move undetected. Their hearing, while not as keen as a wolf’s, is finely tuned to patterns—heartbeats, rhythms of speech, the way sound bounces off stone. They are less concerned with volume and more with disruption—they instinctively notice when something is out of place, even if they cannot explain why.

Beyond these heightened physical senses, Gargoyles possess a deeper, more enigmatic awareness—an extrasensory connection to the places they guard. Those bound to temples or fortresses feel disturbances in their domain as though the land itself whispers to them. Ancient ones, who have stood watch for centuries, claim they can hear the weight of history in the walls, the prayers of the long-dead lingering in the stones beneath their feet. Whether this is true perception or simply echoes of magic woven into their being is unknown, but the result is the same: a Gargoyle does not simply guard its domain—it is part of it, inseparable and ever watchful.
Some Gargoyles, especially those created with specific divine purpose, can sense magic, sacred energy, or corruption. They may be able to track an individual by the aura they leave behind or detect the presence of desecration in a place where holiness once resided. While they do not dream, some experience visions while in dormancy, as if the divine forces that created them still whisper guidance into the depths of their stone-bound souls. Whether these are true prophecies or remnants of their creators’ will is unknown, but to the Gargoyles, they are undeniable.
Their greatest limitation, however, is that they do not perceive time in the same way as mortals. For a creature meant to endure centuries, a decade passes in the blink of an eye. What feels like an eternity to men is but a watchful pause to them, and this disconnect can make them seem distant, unfeeling. But this is not true. They see, they listen, they remember. They simply do so at a pace only stone can understand.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Gargoyle names are not chosen—they are given upon creation, inscribed into their very being as part of the sacred ritual that binds them to their purpose. Unlike mortals, who name children with hope for the future, a Gargoyle’s name reflects its function, duty, or the place it was created to protect. Each name is unique, a mark of both identity and servitude, unchanging as the stone that forms them.
Many Gargoyles are named for their duty, whether it be protection, vigilance, or war. These names often have a weighty, commanding presence, evoking their eternal role.
Examples:

• Aegis – The Shield
• Vigil – The Watcher
• Palladion – Sacred Guardian
• Wardren – Keeper of the Gates

Some Gargoyles bear names tied to the temples, cities, or fortresses they were created to protect. When these places fall into ruin, the Gargoyle still carries its name, a lingering memory of a place long forgotten.
Examples:

• Orrinhold – Sentinel of Orrinhold Fortress
• Vaelspire – Watcher of Vaelspire Cathedral
• Zorvakul – Guardian of the Lost City of Zorvakul

Gargoyles who embody certain physical traits or elemental aspects may be given names that reflect their form or power.
Examples:

• Gravemaw – A warrior Gargoyle with a fearsome visage
• Stormclad – A Gargoyle infused with wind or lightning magic
• Stoneborn – A name given to those made from sacred mountain stone
• Ashenveil – A guardian who has watched over a ruin long turned to dust

Some of the oldest Gargoyles bear names that resemble those of celestial beings, their origins deeply tied to the gods who first forged them. These names may hold power, often spoken in reverence or fear.
Examples:

• Thal’vakar – The Unyielding Protector
• Erythion – The Stoneborn Sage
• Vaeltharion – The Winged Sentinel
• Xal’dras – The Ever-Watching

A rare few Gargoyles do not have personal names, instead going solely by titles that describe their role. Mortals may give them names, but these Gargoyles do not claim them as their own.
Examples:

• The Silent Bastion
• The Stone Lord
• The Unmoving One
• The Guardian of Ash

History

Long ago, in an era where gods still walked the earth, the world was threatened by forces too great for mortals to withstand. Corruption, demonic invasions, and entities beyond human comprehension threatened to unravel creation itself. It is said that the gods, unwilling to rely solely on their mortal worshippers, forged the first Gargoyles as their unyielding warriors, protectors, and watchers.
Unlike other constructs—such as golems, which were mindless—the Gargoyles were different. They were given souls, a will, and a purpose. Unlike mortals, they would not falter, they would not die, and they would never betray their duty. They were immortal guardians, bound to protect sacred sites, temples, and the people chosen by the gods.
For centuries, they stood vigilant, watching over civilizations, holding back the darkness. But as time passed, the gods grew distant, their wars became legend, and the knowledge of Gargoyle creation became a secret passed only to the most devout.

The Ritual of Creation – A Secret Viciously Guarded

The process of creating a new Gargoyle is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the world. It is not a mere spell or an enchantment—it is a rite of power, a divine covenant.
At one time, multiple sects and holy orders were entrusted with the knowledge, passing it down through generations. But war, betrayal, and time have erased nearly all traces of this wisdom.
Now, only one known order remains.

• They guard the knowledge with their lives, allowing no outsider to learn the truth.
• Once every eight years, they create one new Gargoyle through the ancient ritual.
• Each newly forged Gargoyle is assigned to a location, be it a temple, a fortress, or a noble bloodline, sworn to protect it for eternity.

If this last order were to fall, the knowledge would be lost forever, and no new Gargoyles would ever be created again.
The Ritual of Creation – What It Requires
The process to create a new Gargoyle is not just a spell—it is a divine act. It requires:

• A Vessel of Stone – A perfectly crafted body, sculpted in the form the Gargoyle will take, prepared with rare materials and ritual carvings.
• A Divine Catalyst – A relic, imbued with the power of the gods—perhaps a shard of celestial essence, a soul bound in devotion, or a blessing from a forgotten deity.
• A Willing Sacrifice? – Some whisper that to truly bring a Gargoyle to life, a soul must be given—a mortal’s essence, willingly or otherwise. This is one of the order’s darkest secrets.
• A Guardian’s Purpose – Every Gargoyle is created for a specific place, person, or duty. Without this purpose, the ritual fails. A Gargoyle must be born with a mission, bound to an oath from the moment of its awakening.

Once the ritual is complete, the stone cracks, the vessel breathes, and a new protector steps forth—one more eternal sentinel in a world that may no longer need them.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Most Gargoyles do not envy mortals, but they do not always understand them, either. To a Gargoyle, mortality is chaos. Humans and other short-lived races change too quickly, contradict themselves, and destroy what they build, only to build again. They war, they die, they forget. To a being crafted for endurance and permanence, this is an enigma.
However, this does not mean they are dismissive of mortals—in fact, many develop a sense of protectiveness toward them, viewing them as fragile things in need of guardianship. While a Gargoyle rarely interferes in mortal affairs beyond its assigned duty, those who have spent centuries among humans sometimes grow attached in their own way.
When a Gargoyle watches over a family or a kingdom for generations, it may begin to see patterns in mortality—a cycle of birth, growth, decline, and death that repeats again and again. Some view this with sorrow, others with admiration. A few even come to respect the way mortals burn brightly in their brief existence, achieving in decades what a Gargoyle might contemplate for centuries.
The rare Gargoyle that chooses to abandon its post and walk among mortals often finds itself struggling to relate—its speech is slow and measured, its movements careful, its thoughts filled with the weight of time. But those who do form bonds with living beings often become their most stalwart protectors, devoted beyond death itself.

At first, I thought it was just another statue—weathered, unmoving, like the countless others lining the ancient halls. But then it breathed. Stone cracked like shifting earth, wings unfurled with a slow, deliberate grace, and those unblinking eyes met mine—not lifeless, but ancient, heavy with a thousand years of vigilance. It was not a relic. It was a guardian. And it had been waiting.

— Master Scribe Aldren Varros

Scientific Name

Gargolythus vigilis

Lifespan

Functionally immortal (unless destroyed)

Conservation Status

Critically Endangered
Gargoyles are a dying species, with their numbers dwindling due to the loss of the ancient ritual that creates them.

Average Height

6'5" – 9'0" (varies by individual and purpose)

Average Weight

600 – 1,200 lbs (extremely dense stone-like composition)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Varies depending on the materials used in their creation, typically resembling granite, obsidian, basalt, or marble, with some featuring metallic veins of gold, silver, or enchanted alloys.

Stat Block

Homebrew

Gargoyle

Forged by divine hands and bound by purpose, the Gargoyles of Tanaria are living constructs of stone and magic, created not through birth, but through an ancient and now nearly lost ritual. Crafted to be immortal sentinels, they do not age, do not eat, and do not tire. They are watchers, their very existence tied to the places they guard, standing unwavering even as the world forgets them.

ability score increase: +1 Strength, +2 Constitution

age: Gargoyles awaken fully formed from their likeness in a statue and are immortal unless destroyed.

alignment: Gargoyles, as ancient sentinels and living constructs, don’t have a singular moral code but tend to lean toward duty, protection, and order. Their alignment usually depends on who created them, what they were designed to protect, and how much free will they possess.

Size: Medium

speed: 30 ft. (walking), 40 ft. (flying) [gliding only, no hovering]

Languages: You speak Common and Terran (or another ancient dialect depending on their origins)

race features:

Living Stone

• Your body is as tough as the rock from which you were sculpted.
• Natural Armor: Your AC is 13 + your Constitution modifier if unarmored.
• You are resistant to non-magical slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning damage.
• You do not need to eat or breathe, but you require rest to recover.

Glide Wings (Optional)

• Your wings allow you to glide but not hover.
• You can reduce falling damage to zero and glide 30 feet horizontally for every 10 feet you descend.
• At level 5, you gain limited flight, allowing you to fly for a number of rounds equal to your Constitution modifier before needing to land.

Sentinel’s Perch

While motionless, you are indistinguishable from an ordinary statue.
When you take the Hide action, you can become completely still, taking on the appearance of a statue. After you do so, your speed is 0 until the end of the current turn. You are hidden from creatures that do not know your true nature until your true nature is revealed.
A creature that uses its action to examine you can determine your true nature with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check, opposed by your Constitution (Deception) check, as your physical construction determines how believable your deception is. Your true nature is also revealed to a creature that sees you move.

Gargoyle’s Endurance

• You can use Stoneform as a reaction once per long rest:
Harden Flesh: You gain temporary hit points equal to your level + Constitution modifier for 1 minute.
Petrify Stance: You gain resistance to all damage except force for 1 round but cannot move.

Gargoyles are creatures of purpose, defined not by instinct or desire, but by the role they were created to fulfill. Unlike mortal beings, they do not experience hunger, exhaustion, or physical pain in the traditional sense. Instead, their existence revolves around duty, vigilance, and the unwavering compulsion to guard. They are not mindless, nor are they truly free—a Gargoyle without purpose is a lost soul, wandering without meaning, searching for something to bind itself to once more.