Re-work of the Gargoyle

By Matt Moore (mmoore@nermal.santarosa.edu) (6 Jan 1995)

Description

Gargoyles themselves are not kindred. They cannot propagate, no matter how much of their blood they pump into a mortal, even if the mortal is drained. They also cannot create ghouls.

Gargoyles are fixed with the following stats:

Willpower: 2

Humanity: 4 (starting, may go up, see later)

Visceratika: Max level

Fortitude/Potence/Celerity: level 5

Visceratika is a natural ability to the Gargoyle. Even without training, they will develop the fullest extent of the ability over a period of time (effectively, all have it now). They cannot teach this Discipline to anyone. They also cannot learn any of the other disciplines other than the natural ability types. Auspex comes from Visceratika, as well as their version of Obfuscate. See the ST:Handbook for details.

The Gargoyles were created as servants, and thus, their character should reflect this.

They can never have higher than a 3 in any Social or Mental trait.

Automatic merits and flaws

Merits:
Acute Vision
Pitable
Inoffensive to animals


Flaws:

Low self image
weakwilled
Magic susceptability
Monstrous

Blessings

Blessings are powers Gargoyles develop when they guard Holy Ground. After a Gargoyle guards Holy Ground for no other reason than a desire to protect it (i.e. no alterior motives) it will get benefits.

If the Gargoyle is in stone form, and sees an intruder that will do harm to a church member on church property, or sees a person destroying or defacing church property, it has the ability to move during broad daylight. This has to be an automatic response of the Gargoyle, and cannot be pre-meditated. Example: The gargoyle leaps off the building ignoring the fact that it's daytime, caring only to protect the church. While it is defending the church, it will induce a delerium similar to the garou, only it will be invisible. Victims will simply look like they are having heart attacks or something.

The gargoyle also gain a special obfuscation. After a time of sitting on a church, it will blend into the surroundings. Its stone form will look and feel like whatever the building is made out of, or a similar material. A person can go to the extent of chiseling off a piece of the gargoyle, and all tests will show that it is pure stone. It will also be invisible to all forms of detection, through Auspex, other gargoyles, etc.

My idea behind this is that they were created to protect. I've geared all gargoyles towards this idea. They also have weaknesses to suggest control by their masters. The idea behind the Blessings is that the Gargoyles, due to their looks, origins etc. feel in general that they are hideous monsters (rightfully so) and that by guarding a church, perhaps they can atone for whatever sins they committed that put them in their predicament.

The mechanics behind the blessings are up to the ST. They can be from God, or other power, or perhaps they are simply the power that is in everyone, if they have a strong enough will. Either way, this adds some dimension to the Gargoyles.