Gargylen FAQ

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The Gargoyles
?What are your names??
?We don?t have names.?
?How do you tell each other apart, then??
?We look different.?
?But what do you call each other??
?Friend.?
Gargoyles


In the early days of the Middle Ages, the newly founded Tremere line was in grave danger. Hounded from all sides by agents of the Inconnu for the Diablerie practised on the Salubri, even the power of the newly-created Circle of Seven did not seem to be enough to save the line from extinction. Though they were individually mighty, the Tremere simply did not have the hordes of lesser shock troops that they needed to fend off their enemies.

It was Goratrix himself who thought of a solution. Deep in the Transylvanian Alps, at the Chantry of Coeris in 1167, Tremere and his Circle gathered around a smoking cauldron and enacted perhaps the most base act of their careers. Throwing a captured Gangrel, Tzimisce and Nosferatu into the bubbling pot and adding several handfuls of rock, stone and other ? more eldritch ? substances to add strength and endurance to their creation, the Warlocks used their extensive alchemical knowledge to synthesise a new race of Vampires, one which would serve the Tremere. Deep beneath the Carpathians, the first Gargoyle ? Primax the Sireless, a creature of rippling muscle and dark grey, stony skin and glowing eyes - rose from the steaming ichor of their cauldron. In a mocking parody of the Bible they commanded it ?Go forth and multiply?.

And go forth Primax did, rapidly creating swarms of Progeny from the terrified peasantry and leading them against the Inconnu. It was largely due to the terrible strength of the Gargoyles that the line of the Tremere survived their first great battles.

For centuries, the Gargoyles served the Tremere with great loyalty, despite the numerous abused heaped upon them by their masters. But soon this grew too much for even their dull spirits to tolerate and the Gargoyles began to exhibit signs of a growing consciousness. Some say this was the result of the unrelentingly harsh treatment shown to them by their masters. Knowing that they would have the element of surprise, they waited for an opportunity to strike back. The first rebellion against a Tremere Chantry was lead by Quartz and Mica, Childe and Grandchilde of Primax, and left all the magi dead or gravely wounded. Like wildfire, a general Gargoyle uprising resulted in the deaths of many Vampires ? Tremere and Gargoyle alike. The surviving Gargoyles, hopelessly outmatched by their former masters, fled to the mountains in packs, or hid out in large cities such as Paris or Hamburg. Many rumours have been told about the Gargoyles? activities since that time, not the least of which is the claim that they have learned how to reproduce naturally by means of egg-laying.

A number of Gargoyles have adapted to life with other Vampires, acting as guards, sentinels and servants for other Kindred, Magi and others ? in fact anyone who can pay their price in gold and vitae. It is rumoured that Marius Dax, the Toreador Justicar, has a deal with the Gargoyles of Notre Dame in Paris. They keep an eye on the Inquisition Cenaculum in the Cathedral, and he offers them his protection and friendship.


Sobriquet: Statues.
Appearance: Gargoyles resemble statues, with stony skin and features that seem to be carved from living stone. There seem to be as many different types of Gargoyles are there are stone to make statues from, and each seems to have its own particular abilities and shortcomings. Most Gargoyles are hideously ugly, with foul, demonic visages. All Gargoyles have a pair of stony wings which sprout from their shoulders ? these are usually bat-like, but some Gargoyles have been known to have eagle-like, angelic wings. The appearance of a Gargoyle does not seem to be governed by the appearance of her Sire, and some of the most hideous Gargoyles have Sired some of the most human-looking Childer. As Gargoyles age, their skin becomes thicker and tougher, often growing strange protrusions and bumps, and their wings enlarge.


Haven: Gargoyles greatly prefer interior or underground areas with lots of stone and earth to manipulate. Abandoned buildings (particularly tall ones, where they can sit at night), warehouses, sewers, caves and the like are ideal.


Background: Gargoyles reproduce only rarely, and then for their own twisted reasons. As Gargoyles are a composite and artificial race once a victim is chosen her mind becomes sublimated in the wash of magic and memories already ingrained in the Sire?s vitae, and she almost forgets her prior life. Therefore, Gargoyles can come from any background. Although Communities of Gargoyles (see Organisation below) do exist, they are founded on post-Embrace lives, and not on their previous existences.


Character Creation: Gargoyles are rather complex to create, as ? in addition to choosing Attributes, Abilities, Merits and Flaws and so forth, one must also choose an Aspect. This is the kind of stone that the Gargoyle is made from. See Aspects for details. Physical Attributes and Talents are usually Primary. Gargoyles ? if they wish to be able to fly with any degree of skill ? must purchase the Secondary Talent of Flight. This is purchased as normal for a Secondary Talent, and is raised in exactly the same way as any other Ability. It is attached ? if the Storyteller uses the rules for attached Abilities ? to Athletics. See the section on Visceratika for details.


Bloodline Disciplines: Fortitude, Potence, Visceratika.


Weaknesses: Gargoyles are hideously ugly and have an Appearance of zero, and may not increase it above this number. They can never ? short of using Obfuscate ? pass themselves off as human. Also, as they were created to be a race of slaves all Gargoyles are unusually susceptible to magic and mind-control. Their Willpower is treated as being two lower when resisting mind-control spells or Domination. They may not take any Merits or other benefits which make them more resistant to Domination or mind-control (such as the Merit Iron Will.)


Special Rules: Gargoyles are creatures of stone and the night, and have some interesting aspects to their nature because of this. As soon as the sunlight reaches the longitude where the Gargoyle is standing then she begins to petrify. The Gargoyle must stop moving and stand stock-still or she risks cracking her stony flesh as she exerts herself.


Each turn a Gargoyle wishes to be active during the day, she must make a Strength + Fortitude roll (Potence adds to the pool, but does not give automatic successes). The difficulty of the roll is four, but rises by one each turn after the sun has first risen (thus, after forty seconds ? eight turns ? the Gargoyle cannot move). If the roll is made then the Gargoyle can move for that turn. If the roll is failed, then she takes one level of Aggravated damage as cracks appear in her body. If the roll is botched then the Gargoyle crumbles into rubble and suffers Final Death (except for Sandstone Gargoyles, see Aspects, below).


When a Gargoyle turns to stone, all her personal possessions also petrify. Her soak value is doubled with respect to everything except sunlight. Fire does not damage her in the normal sense ? only prolonged heating will expand the stone at uneven rates and result in cracking. If the Gargoyle makes her roll to stay awake during the day, she may view everything she can see as normal. However, she may not move herself or her eyes. If the Gargoyle does not possess the Visceratika power Dark Statue then she will take normal damage from sunlight if it comes into contact with her. Even if she does possess this power, she must still roll to avoid entering the Rotschreck upon sighting the sun (difficulty 8, need to accumulate seven successes). Failure on any turn will result in an instinctive fleeing to a ?safe? place. The appropriate Strength + Fortitude roll must be made in order to determine in this is possible or if the Gargoyle takes damage. By the eighth round the Gargoyle will be fully petrified and so will be safe ? if she is still alive. When the sun rises again, a Gargoyle will reassume their ?flesh? form.


Any Gargoyle (except Sandstone Gargoyles) knocked into Torpor will assume the stone form automatically and instantly. Any physical damage done to the stone form is considered to be Aggravated as major cracks appear in the stone, and may not be healed until the Gargoyle is once again flesh. In addition to assuming the stone form during the day, a Gargoyle with the power of Dark Statue may assume the form at any time and may maintain it from night to night. See the power?s description for details.


The blood of Gargoyles is a hot, lava-like liquid, and any creature not a Gargoyle drinking it will have to make a soak roll (difficulty eight) to soak one level of Aggravated damage per Blood Point drunk in a single turn. Vampires still gain sustenance from the blood. If the blood is allowed to cool, it solidifies and becomes worthless.


Combat Manoeuvres: Gargoyles are equipped with claws on their fingertips and feet, and also long, lashing tails. They may therefore use the Claw manoeuvre (difficulty 6, Strength +1 damage), the Raking Kick (difficulty 7, Strength + 2 damage) and the Tail Lash (difficulty 7, Strength +1 damage, may be used to the Gargoyle?s rear). These manoeuvres do not do aggravated damage.


Aspects: There are eight Aspects of Gargoyles, and a player must choose one for her character at creation. The Aspect is written next to the Clan in the appropriate place on the character sheet. Each Aspect has its own particular appearance, style and special rules. The aspect of the Sire or parents does not in any way determine the Aspect of the Childe. Primax was a Granite Gargoyle and his Childer were from all the Aspects.
Granite: Granite Gargoyles are grey, stony, gritty-looking creatures. They are hideous to look upon, and are the commonest type of Gargoyle. Primax himself was a Granite Gargoyle. They have no special advantages or disadvantages.


Marble: Marble Gargoyles are smooth-skinned, often being white or very pale grey. They are generally more-human looking than most other Gargoyles and are the most-likely Gargoyles to have angelic-eagle wings. They are quite slim and look more fragile than other Gargoyles. The Childe and mate of Quartz, Mica, is a Marble Gargoyle.


A Marble Gargoyle may place one point (maximum, even with Freebies) into Appearance at character creation, giving her an Appearance of one. The character may then increase Appearance at double the Experience Point cost (i.e. current rating x 8) from then on. A Marble Gargoyle, owing to her fragile nature, takes double the damage from fire and sunlight (double the damage dice before soak).


Obsidian: Obsidian Gargoyles are very strange creatures indeed ? shiny, black and angular, these creatures of volcanic glass are partially immune to the effects of flame and sunlight. With this, however, comes a heavy price. In addition to the difficulty they have healing their wounds, Obsidian Gargoyles are untrustworthy and are closely watched by those in the know. The classic example of an Obsidian Gargoyle is the traitor Demona.


An Obsidian Gargoyle?s soak rolls against fire and sunlight are at ?1 difficulty owing to their reflective bodies. However, the complexity and density of their bodies is their undoing, and they have to spend 3 Blood Points to heal 2 Health Levels. Aggravated wounds cost 7 Blood Points per Health Level to heal.


Basalt: Basalt Gargoyles are huge, hulking, heavy black monstrosities whom it is almost impossible to stop or destroy. However, with this solidity comes emotional detachment and a fast-loss of Humanity. Quartz, leader of the Gargoyle rebellion, is a Basalt Gargoyle, and it said that he stood for fully five hours and drove back an onrushing tide of Tremere Ghouls and Magi before he was forced to retreat during the final nights of the rebellion.


A Basalt Gargoyle?s soak rolls against physical damage (but not fire or sunlight) are at ?1 difficulty. She may never have a Conscience (or equivalent Virtue) over two, and must pay double the Experience Point cost to raise Humanity or Path of Enlightenment ratings.


Brimstone: The Brimstone Gargoyles are perhaps the most evil-looking Gargoyles of all, despite their relatively human outlook. They are black, demonic monsters, resembling slimmer Basalt Gargoyles, with a reddish tinge to their skin and glowing, fiery eyes. They stink of sulphur and the Pit, and their flesh is boiling hot to the touch. Shale is a Brimstone Gargoyle.


A Brimstone Gargoyle may ? if she so wishes ? expend one Blood Point and raise the temperature of her flesh to such a degree that all her Brawling attacks do Aggravated damage. In addition, any character struck by the Gargoyle must make a Willpower roll (difficulty 6) to act next turn. Those who fail the roll are incapacitated by agony as the fire seems to burn through their bodies.


The sheer heat of the Brimstone Gargoyles is often as dangerous to them as it is to their enemies. Each turn that they exert themselves greatly (using Celerity, running, flying, in combat etc.) then they must make a Stamina + Fortitude roll. The difficulty depends on the level of activity ? running or flying would be difficulty 5, while using Celerity in combat would be an eight or nine. If this roll is failed, then the Gargoyle takes one level of Aggravated damage as her boiling Vitae sears even her flesh. If the roll is botched, she takes three levels Aggravated damage.


Other Gargoyles must make the roll made by non-Gargoyles when they drink Brimstone Gargoyle Vitae, and those who are not Gargoyles do not get a soak roll at all.


Limestone: Limestone Gargoyles are a pale yellow-grey colour, and look gentle and delicate. They are rather fragile, but have interesting powers and abilities which more than make up for this.


A Limestone Gargoyle taking three or more Health Levels after soak in one blow must make a Stamina + Fortitude roll (difficulty 7). Failure means that the Gargoyle?s body crumbles and she takes an extra level of Aggravated damage. A botch means Final Death.


A Limestone Gargoyle may ? upon contact with a running source of water ? dissolve her body into it and flow away, to deposit herself further down the stream. Use of this power requires contact with the running water, three turns and the expenditure of three Blood Points. After this, the Gargoyle has dissolved into the water and cannot be harmed.


In order to re-deposit herself, the Gargoyle must first wait for the water bearing her body to make its way to the place she wishes to reform and then find a place where the water is sufficiently slowed to allow this (i.e. not moving in an torrent) and expend five Blood Points. Reformation takes five turns. If the water stream is split before the Gargoyle reforms, then the result is hideous and generally fatal. There is no effect if the water stream is diluted, but major disturbance of the water (such as going over a waterfall) will mean the Gargoyle is disorientated and may take longer or more Blood Points to reform.


Sandstone: Sandstone Gargoyles are gritty yellow in colour and always look weathered and tired. They are generally kind and welcoming. Some have been known to have an Egyptian aspect to their physical forms. These forms are ? like Limestone Gargoyles? ? more fragile than most.


A Sandstone Gargoyle taking three or more Health Levels after soak in one blow must make a Stamina + Fortitude roll (difficulty 7). Failure means that the Gargoyle?s body crumbles and she takes an extra level of Aggravated damage. A botch means complete destruction of the body (see below).


A Sandstone Gargoyle knocked into Torpor or ?destroyed? by aggravated damage does not die, but rather crumbles into a pile of sand. The Gargoyle can only be killed by ?slagging? ? the melting or sun-baking of the remains (for this reason, suffering aggravated wounds from fire or sunlight will result in death). The scattering of the sand will not work, although the Gargoyle?s mind is dormant when she is a pile of sand, and all the sand must be in one place to reform. If some sand has been lost, normal sand may be used, but the Gargoyle will be weaker.


To reform requires 50 points of Gargoyle blood to be poured onto the sand. The Gargoyle then reforms, taking ten turns to do so. For every 10% of the sand that is not from the Gargoyle, the reformed Vampire looses one point from a Physical and a Mental Attribute. She also looses one Discipline point. If any Attributes fall to zero as a result of this, then the Gargoyle does not reform successfully. If sand from two Gargoyles is mixed together then the resulting creature has Physical Attributes, Abilities and Disciplines each formed from the higher of the two ?parents??. The resulting Gargoyle is quite schizophrenic, and has the Merit Dual Nature and the Derangement Schizophrenia.


Slate: Slate Gargoyles are dark-grey, smooth skinned creatures with weird, buzzing voices and twitchy mannerisms. They are exceedingly quick in all things, but with this speed comes a nervous disorder ? if stones have nerves. Many Slate Gargoyles resemble giant humanoid flies, with multifaceted eyes and semi-transparent wings.


Slate Gargoyles are inhumanly fast, even without the Discipline of Celerity. For the cost of a Willpower point per turn, a Slate Gargoyle can take an extra action per turn for no penalty. The speed and nervous twitches of a Slate Gargoyle mean that all Virtue rolls are at +1 difficulty. This makes them far more likely to Frenzy or enter the Rotschreck.


Organisation: Gargoyles generally live lonely, secluded lives far from those who might hunt them. Some of them find employment working as guards, sentinels or warriors for the Sabbat, Camarilla or independents ? in fact any who can pay their price in gold and Vitae. Certain groups of Gargoyles have taken to living in groups known as Communities which live in and around large buildings (Cathedrals, skyscrapers and the like). Both Notre Dame in Paris and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona are rumoured to be the home of Communities of Gargoyles. Gotham Cathedral would be the perfect site for Gargoyles, but ? of course ? no-one knows the truth of this, for nothing comes from the Third City to Cainite ears.


The Community of Notre Dame is rumoured to be lead by Quartz and Mica, the leaders of the Gargoyle revolt, although this has never been confirmed. What is certain, however, is that certain Kindred investigating the Cathedral have mysteriously disappeared. Carried off, some say, to feed the Gargoyles? chicks . . .


Gargoyle Reproduction: Gargoyles can reproduce in the same way as other Kindred, by Siring Childer, or they can lay eggs which hatch like birds? or reptiles?. In order to do this a male and female Gargoyle must mate. The female will then lay a clutch of eggs (varying in number from one to five) which hatch after a year and a day. The eggs look and feel like solid spheres of stone (the Aspect of the Chick inside them can be determined by the type of stone they resemble). If the eggs are broken, then they will appear to be perfectly solid, even up to the minute before they hatch. When they do hatch, a miniature, ravenous version of the parents appears and will immediately demand Kindred Vitae in order to survive. If fed Kindred Vitae, the Chick will grow into a mature Gargoyle (at about age twenty) when it will be fully-grown and can start learning Disciplines. The Generation of a Gargoyle chick is the same as if the parent with the higher Generation had Sired her.


Quote: ?You intrude upon my master?s territory. I will count to ten ? you will leave or I will feed the earth with your entrails. One . . . ten.?


Stereotypes
Assamites: Yeah boys, you were never slaves, but we got out with our asses un-hexed.

Brujah: Rebels? Rebels? Erm, against what, exactly?

Gangrel: They got little bat wings ? they?re cute.

Giovanni: Crypts ? okay. Corpses ? bleugh.

Lasombra: Shadows. Night. Spain ? Barcelona ? Cathedrals ? see where this is heading?

Malkavian: Just because they are crazy does not mean they are stupid ? be careful.

Nosferatu: Hey, at least we look like something.

Ravnos: A Ravnos once tried to steal a Gargoyle?s diamond eyes ? quite amazing how small they will scrunch up.

Settites: There are two things to remember about being a snake; one, it sucks big time, and two, fangs don?t penetrate stone.

Toreador: They make great architecture ? nice Cathedrals, you effete bastards.

Tremere: Where?!?

Tzimisce: They told us to, okay? We hate them as well.

Ventrue: Some of my best skyscrapers are Ventrue. Even Blue Bloods ? especially Blue Bloods ? need bodyguards.

The Camarilla: Is the largest sect of Vampires in the world. What, you want more?

The Sabbat: I wouldn?t call it a career . . .

Lupines: Provided they don?t cock their leg on us, we?re cool with ?em.
Mages: These guys pay well ? just watch your ass around them. Crap hours, crap job ? good perks.
Inconnu: Hey, you guys need a sentry? No? Ah, well ? worth a try.

Inquisition: And where do you think I live? Exactly ? we?re part of the same tenant?s association.

Wraiths: Look, man ? we know a bit about this ? we tend to hang out in the same locales. Thing is, the Ghosts aren?t in the living world. We?re not talking bed linen with chains and insomnia here, man ? it?s all Hamlet?s dad and Truly, Madly, Deeply. Pretentious dead bastards.

Faeries: Little gossamer wings? Wrong dig, Tink.
 
Hab ich zugeschickt bekommen... irgendwo aus dem Netz aber ich find die gar nicht mal so dumm und in Ermangelung wirklich erschöpfender Infos nehme ich jeden Fitzel dankbar an!
 
Oder "Kompendium für Erzähler" (VAW 2.) oder "Geheimnisse des Erzählers" (VAW 1.) oder "Camarilla-Handbuch" oder "Storytellers handbook" (2. Edi.)...
 
Lustiger Weise stimmt die Diszikombination ja nur für V:tM (3.)... 2. Edi war sie anders, ebenso wie im DA. :)
 
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