DreadPollock
First Post
I'm a bit of a gargoyle enthusiast. I've done some research on the topic of gargoyles in mythology and come up with some stuff. I should point out that I'm not really a fan of the show. I saw a couple episodes, thought they were alright, but that's it- I don't know it well.
Personally, I like the idea of a gargoyle being a good character- a defender of the innocent from demons and devils. I imagine them being celestial spirits animating the statues atop churches, castles, and parks. The idea that they have to be 'badder' than the bad guys they fight makes them an interesting force against them. So, here's my new monster:
The Holy Grotesque
This creature basically replaces the MM gargoyle. As a set of statistics, I like the MM gargoyle, but here's the changes I'd make:
This should add +1 or +2 to the LA, and the CR.
Basically, the role of the Grotesque is to perch atop a building where it can observe the coming and going of good people where they might be in danger of infernal attackers. That usually means holy places, or where particularly good items or people are housed. They spend the vast majority of their time inanimate, maintaining a vigil over the area. When they detect the presence of supernatural evil (they usually don't bother with lesser evils), they will spring into action and attack. When they're done, they simply fly back, perch, and continue to wait. They're not much for words, but they speak, and often pick up a lot of religious knowledge from listening to the sermons.
Their origin can either be explained in your campaign as direct appointees of the gods, or the result of divine magic cast by clerics. Or, you could leave them mysterious. They can either be living beings that immitate statues, or as I prefer- they must be carved as stuatues, and then later become animate by some means.
As characters, they could either be advanced as monsters, or levels in Paladin would be appropriate.
They are celestial, but probably don't get along with the prettier celestials, to which they can't relate as easily. They're the grunts of the heavenly army, and also seen as a bit of an 'experimental' soldier by others.
Anyway, that's a rough draft. Any ideas or other commentary is welcome.
DreadPollock
Personally, I like the idea of a gargoyle being a good character- a defender of the innocent from demons and devils. I imagine them being celestial spirits animating the statues atop churches, castles, and parks. The idea that they have to be 'badder' than the bad guys they fight makes them an interesting force against them. So, here's my new monster:
The Holy Grotesque
This creature basically replaces the MM gargoyle. As a set of statistics, I like the MM gargoyle, but here's the changes I'd make:
- They are now Medium Outsiders (Earth, Good). This means it's attacks are considered aligned as good.
- Its damage reduction is now vs. evil, not magic
- Add the ability Frightful Presence (Su) as described in the MM, pg. 309 This ability should have a bonus vs. infernal beings, perhaps +4 or higher?
- They can Detect Evil (Sp) at will, as a 1st level cleric.
This should add +1 or +2 to the LA, and the CR.
Basically, the role of the Grotesque is to perch atop a building where it can observe the coming and going of good people where they might be in danger of infernal attackers. That usually means holy places, or where particularly good items or people are housed. They spend the vast majority of their time inanimate, maintaining a vigil over the area. When they detect the presence of supernatural evil (they usually don't bother with lesser evils), they will spring into action and attack. When they're done, they simply fly back, perch, and continue to wait. They're not much for words, but they speak, and often pick up a lot of religious knowledge from listening to the sermons.
Their origin can either be explained in your campaign as direct appointees of the gods, or the result of divine magic cast by clerics. Or, you could leave them mysterious. They can either be living beings that immitate statues, or as I prefer- they must be carved as stuatues, and then later become animate by some means.
As characters, they could either be advanced as monsters, or levels in Paladin would be appropriate.
They are celestial, but probably don't get along with the prettier celestials, to which they can't relate as easily. They're the grunts of the heavenly army, and also seen as a bit of an 'experimental' soldier by others.
Anyway, that's a rough draft. Any ideas or other commentary is welcome.
DreadPollock
