Gargoyle, Gargoyle GuardianThe stone statue of a menacing fiend crouches here, as though ready to spring to life and devour innocent passersby. Then it moves—to do just that.Gargoyle Guardian CR 8Source Pathfinder #48: Shadows of Gallowspire pg. 84
XP 4,800
N Large construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +0DefenseAC 22, touch 11, flat-footed 20 (+2 Dex, +11 natural, –1 size)
hp 90 (11d10+30)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +3
DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traitsOffenseSpeed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (poor)
Melee 1 bite +16 (1d8+6), 2 claw +16 (1d6+6)
Space 10 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks snatchStatisticsStr 22, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1
Base Atk +11; CMB +18; CMD 30
Skills Stealth +2; Racial Modifiers +6 Stealth in stony environs
SQ freezeEcologyEnvironment any land
Organization solitary or wing (2–8)
Treasure noneSpecial AbilitiesFreeze (Ex) A gargoyle guardian can hold itself so still that it appears to be a statue. A gargoyle guardian that uses freeze can take 20 on Stealth checks to hide in plain sight as a stone statue.
Snatch (Ex) A gargoyle guardian can start a grapple when it hits with both claw attacks, as though it had the grab ability. If it grapples a creature of size Medium or smaller, it squeezes each round for automatic claw damage with a successful grapple check. A gargoyle guardian can fly while holding a creature that weighs 350 pounds or less. It cannot throw creatures it is carrying, but can drop them as a free action.DescriptionMany races adorn their buildings and structures with carved gargoyles to make them look more fearsome, to ward off evil spirits, or in the hope of making real gargoyles think another tribe is already occupying the area. Many magic-users also create constructs in the shapes and forms of gargoyles, emulating those creatures’ ability to blend in with stone structures and taking advantage of the pervasiveness of sculpted gargoyles to create stealthy protectors and watchdogs.
Many spellcasters construct gargoyle guardians that have special abilities, making them even more capable and vigilant sentinels.
Gargoyle Sentry (+0 CR): These gargoyle guardians are created with eyes of citrine linked to a 1-footdiameter orb of the same stone. The orb always displays what the gargoyle guardian sees, though without the construct’s darkvision or low-light vision. If the gargoyle sentry is destroyed, its eyes and the linked orb shatter into worthless dust.ConstructionA gargoyle guardian’s body is made from 1,000 pounds of dense stone-typically of the colors and designs of the structure or memorial it is meant to guard-and treated with 1,000 gp worth of rare minerals and precious filigree.Gargoyle GuardianCL 10th; Price 30,000 gp; 50,000 gp (sentry)
Requirements Craft Construct, animate objects, stone shape, geas/quest; Cost 15,000 gp; 25,000 gp (sentry)Creatures in "Gargoyle" CategorySource Classic Horrors Revisited pg. 17
Sinister hunters of living stone, gargoyles perch high on the rooftops of towns and cities, appearing for all the world like harmless stone sculptures, carved in the likeness of demons, devils, or other hideous humanoid creatures. As still as statues, they patiently wait through the daylight hours, watching the city come to life and hungrily eyeing the unwitting passersby below. When dusk falls, the statues come alive and fly into the night sky, silently soaring above the darkened streets on stony wings looking for prey, snatching up unsuspecting walkers, never to be seen again.
Variant GargoylesSource Classic Horrors Revisited pg. 19
In addition to the aquatic kapoacinth, several other varieties of gargoyle exist that have adapted to their surroundings.
Arctic Gargoyle: In cold, northern climes, some gargoyles have adapted to hunt the icy glaciers and snowfields. The skin of arctic gargoyles looks like weathered rock with scattered white patches that helps them hide among the snowy mountains. They gain a +6 racial modifier on Stealth checks made in stony or snowy environs and have cold resistance 5. (CR +0)
Forest Gargoyle: These strange gargoyles prefer the tall trees of forests and jungles to the rocky spires of mountains. Their skin has the appearance of bark, granting them a +6 racial modifier on Stealth checks in wooded areas (this replaces the normal gargoyle's modifier in stony areas). Forest gargoyles lose the normal gargoyle's freeze ability, but gain the following spell-like ability: 3/day—warp wood. (CR +0)
Gemstone Gargoyle: Rarely, an individual gargoyle is born with skin with the luster and appearance of a valuable gemstone. Amethyst, opal, sapphire, and topaz are most common, but legends also tell of diamond, emerald, and ruby gargoyles. Gemstone gargoyles are usually smarter and stronger than other gargoyles, and often rise to positions of leadership within tribes or wings. Gemstone gargoyles have the advanced creature template and usually have class levels, typically in barbarian or fighter. They have DR 10/adamantine (instead of the normal gargoyle DR), SR 14, and resistance 10 to acid, cold, electricity, or fire. (CR +1 plus advanced creature template and class levels)
Obsidian Gargoyle: Creatures at home in the searing heat of volcanoes and lava fields, obsidian gargoyles have the dark, glassy appearance of polished obsidian. The razor-sharp edges of their claws and teeth increase the damage of their natural attacks by one step, and anyone attacking an obsidian gargoyle with unarmed or natural attacks takes 1d4 points of damage from the gargoyle's jagged glass spikes. Obsidian gargoyles also have fire resistance 10. (CR +0)
Sandstone Gargoyle: Sandstone gargoyles inhabit wide beaches and deserts, or anywhere with a large amount of sand or loose dirt. They have a rough, granulated appearance, and small bits of debris constantly fall from their bodies. Sandstone gargoyles have a burrow speed of 10 feet, though only through sand or loose soil. They can also bury themselves in sand, erupting forth to attack with surprise. This counts as a charge, except the gargoyle can only move its speed (not twice its speed). (CR +0)
Waterspout Gargoyle: These creatures have adapted to life in a magical city, and may be the descendents of a wizard's team of modified gargoyle guards and spies. They can cling to buildings with ease and have a climb speed of 20 feet. Waterspout gargoyles have a breath weapon in the form of a stream of high-velocity water 20 feet long and 1 foot wide which expels about 30 gallons of water. The force of this geyser deals 1d4 points of damage to a single target and the gargoyle can use this ability to trip or bull rush the target as a free action (if the attempt fails, the gargoyle cannot be tripped or bull rushed in return). The breath weapon is usable every 1d4 rounds and is a supernatural ability. In addition, particularly daring gargoyles can reduce their stream to a trickle in order to pass themselves off as ornamental fountains. (CR +0)
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