Unbeknownst to most of the world, Earth was invaded in the 11th century by magicians from an alternate reality. The mages known only as the "Creators" created a magically engineered soldier race to fight their battles. These soldiers resembled humanoids with lion-like heads and sharp horns protruding from their foreheads, some were created with large wings to allow them to fly. The "Creators" unleashed these soldiers on our world to terrify the populace and create the chaos that would give the "Creators" the chance to invade and take control of major population centers by "saving" them from the beasts. The monster soldiers attacked at night and did a wonderful job frightening the peasants. The trick worked well until the "Creators" discovered that on this world their magical powers were much weaker than in their home dimension. After a few days on our plane the "Creators" barely had a tenth of the power they once enjoyed. Rather than stay and rule they returned to from whence they came, never to be heard from again. Unfortunately they left the remnants of their soldiers behind, these soldiers were driven away and presumed to have died.
But.....
Some survived, some even flourished by leaving the domain of man behind and finding new lives for themselves in distant lands. Those that could, flew to safety in mountains. Those that could not fly wandered as they could, moving at night and resting during the day until they either found sanctuary with their brethren or were slain by humans.
The creatures were dubbed "gargoyles" by architects who recreated their frightening visages on cathedral and castle rooftops, and many legends grew around them, most of which were completely untrue.
The only legend with any truth to it involves sunlight, and according to legend gargoyles move only during the night because sunlight turns them to stone.
In truth, the gargoyles feed by photosynthesis, they need sunlight to survive. Though they never turn to stone, the skin of a gargoyle is rough like a rhinoceros and is easily mistaken for rock. The reason gargoyles stay still in sunlight is because they are asleep, it is makes their feeding process much easier. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security at the sight of a sleeping gargoyle - they can and will act if alarmed.
Almost all remaining gargoyles are of the winged variety, since the wingless type were more easily hunted down by humans. Gargoyles are few in number - less than 200 are known by the Bureau to exist. Most of them reside in Central and South America now, living in abandoned Inca and Aztec cities in groups of 25-40. Some still reside in Europe disguised as castle decorations, though not many (since children tend to try to write on them with paint and crayons). Gargoyles tend to live in secluded areas where there is plentiful sunlight. Each hour spent in sunlight allows an hour of normal activity for the gargoyles, more extreme activity uses up their energy faster and exhausted gargoyles collapse into a comatose state until they have spent some time in sunlight (artificial UV light works just as well).
Gargoyles need water just like other animals and can eat fruits and vegetables if they need more energy, but do not gain much energy from meat.
The gargoyles may have once had a language of their own but if so, it has been lost in antiquity. Most gargoyles use the languages of their current homelands, one of the greatest problems modern gargoyles have is the language barrier that they have allowed to form between their small groups.
Gargoyles live approximately 50 years and reproduce through egg laying, usually 2-3 eggs per clutch, of which 1 usually survives to adulthood. Their thick hides protect gargoyles from most forms of natural danger (treat as Stony Hide on page 138 of B13:STNF), and their dense muscle tissue gives them incredible strength and endurance. They have little resistance to poisons and germs, however, which do penetrate into their systems (+25% damage from poisons and +1 level of severity to viruses/diseases).
All gargoyles have access to Geomancy and the winged variety also have access to Aeromancy (see Terror Watch issues 2 &3 ). Gargoyles cast White or Gray spells, although a few twisted members can use Black Magic. Winged gargoyles can fly because of their magical nature but flight counts as heavy exertion and burns their accumulated energy twice as fast as normal.
Most gargoyles are suspicious of mankind but they remember that mages created them and gave them their powers, and so are often willing to give the benefit of a doubt to a magically adept character.
Typical Adult Gargoyle Stats:
| STR = 40 | INT = 10 | THR = 32 | HPT =170 |
| CON = 25 | WIS = 10 | DOD = 26 | SNS = 03 |
| DEX = 12 | LCK = 08 | ACC = 16 | MRE = 02 |
| AGL = 12 | CRZ = 03 | STB = 60 | PIE = 01 |
| MCD = 11 | WKM = 125 |
| Geomancy | 12 (White or Gray only) |
| Aeromancy | 12 (White or Gray only) |
| Special Resistances : | Natural Forces |
| Bane : | none |
| Size: | 6-7 feet in height |
| Weight : | 200-300 pounds |
| Special Attacks : | Claws (4 :2 hand and 2 feet) 1d6+2 each, Bite - 1d4+3 |
