Do gargoyles have a god?

[Anti-Sean]

Do they really guard churches, though? Or are they just showing their contempt for the gods by perching on their holy sanctuaries and defiling them with their defecations?

Well that certainly gives new meaning to the term 'flying buttress'.

 

[Arnwyn]

Well that certainly gives new meaning to the term 'flying buttress'.

badumbing/here all week/try the veal

 

[ivocaliban]

Good catch! Maybe Aghrasmak is a scion/aspect/creation of Ogremoch?

That would certainly work. I'm actually curious to know the "behind-the-scenes" origin of the two, however. From what I can tell Ogremoch was "created by Lewis Pulsipher for the 1981 Fiend Folio." [1] I'm wondering if Arghrasmak appeared in any of the early (original) Wilderlands/Judges Guild books. I know Judges Guild had released quite a bit of material by 1981 and it's possible that Arghrasmak was the inspiration for Ogremoch. Depending on how the names are pronounced they could sound quite similar.

It's also possible that Arghrasmak wasn't given a name until the recent edition of City State of the Invincible Overlord. If that's the case, Arghrasmak might be the Wilderlands version of (perhaps an hommage to) Ogremoch.

Anyone know which came first?

EDIT: James Mishler over at the Necromancer Games forum says: "Arghrasmak's first appearance, as far as I know in print, was in the Guide to the City State published in 1977; he's there on page 38." He also mentioned that Arghrasmak is listed as Chaotic Evil. I suppose that means the high priest's alignment in the current City State of the Invincible Overlord is in error, after all.

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Well that certainly gives new meaning to the term 'flying buttress'.

Kidding aside though (mine and others), I kind of like the idea of gargoyles as atheists, hanging around churches not to guard them, but to discourage their patronage.

 

[Blair Goatsblood]

Personally, I have no problem with CE deities having LE priests.

 

[William drake]

Do gargoyles have a particular god or demon they worship or pay homage to? Is any particular being connected with gargoyles?

Better question, "Do they have to?" and a great follow up, "why would they?"

Sorry, I like my gargoyles, if I use them, to be creatures. Just like bats, horses, and snakes...they don't pray, they don't talk. They are flying eating machines that like to burrow into rocky caves or other natural or well cut rock formations.

Just a thought.

 

[Thurbane]

Better question, "Do they have to?" and a great follow up, "why would they?"

Sorry, I like my gargoyles, if I use them, to be creatures. Just like bats, horses, and snakes...they don't pray, they don't talk. They are flying eating machines that like to burrow into rocky caves or other natural or well cut rock formations.

Just a thought.

In earlier editions I would have totally agreed with you, but since they have become monstrous humanoids in 3E, it got me to thinking.

Personally, I would have thought they should be either some sort of Elemental creature, or Aberations with the earth subtype rather than monstrous humanoids...although from an Ultima POV, MH makes more sense...

 

[frankthedm]

In earlier editions I would have totally agreed with you, but since they have become monstrous humanoids in 3E, it got me to thinking.

i wouldn't put much stock in their type. They are about as monstrous humanoid as Ropers are magical beasts.

 

[pawsplay]

Assuming you don't go the construct route, well, gargoyles have an unusual combination of flight and the earth subtype, making an elemental origin unlikely. Orcus seems like a thematic possibility, but I think my inclination would suggest Tharizdun. Tharizdun has elemental powers and hates most living things.

 

[Rechan]

I figure that gargoyles aren't menacing churches, primarily because they'd likely be smited or hunted by clerics/paladins. Churches are just usually the highest buildings in the area, so they perch there out of convenience.

As far as origins, I have a different suggestion, just to be interesting.

Gargoyles are male harpies.