Gargoyle
Gargoyle (CR 9)
Gargoyles are a strange class of humanoids that are widely but thinly distributed. Gargoyles are nearly ubiquitous, and come in a dizzying variety of tribes, which are called wings.
Gargoyles are secretive and have amazing stealth abilities, and as a result no one really knows how widely distributed they are, or even how many of them there are.
Of the various monstrous humanoids, Gargoyles are perhaps the most alien. Their motives are strange to most races. Their penchant for freezing themselves and waiting for days, weeks, months, or even years and decades, is a behavior that is nearly incomprehensible to other races, but Gargoyles treat it as an obsessive pastime.
GENERAL
CR 9 Hit Dice 14
XP 6,400
LE, Medium, Humanoid
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft. when animate, tremorsense 60 ft. when in Stoney Form, Perception +14
DEFENSE
AC 28, touch 18, flat-footed 22 (+5 armor, +6 dex, +5 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 160
Fort +12, Ref +8, Will +8
Aura: -
SR: -
Special Defenses:
- DR 5/- and ER 10/- when in animate form
- DR 25/- and ER 25/- and Fast Healing 3 when in Stoney Form
Immunities: -
Weaknesses: -
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., Fly 60 ft
Space / Reach: 5 ft. / 5 ft.
Single Melee Stoney Bite +15 (2d8+1/x2)
Full Melee Stoney Bite +15 (2d8+1/x2), 2x Stoney Claws +15 (2d6/x2)
Ranged None, but see Avalanche Attack
Special Attacks Avalanche Attack
Action Points 0
STATISTICS
Str 21, Dex 17, Con 17, Int 5, Wis 17, Cha 17
Base Atk +9; CMB +15; CMD 26
Feats -
Skills Stealth +14
Languages Terran, Issshh
SPECIAL ABILITIES
- Stoney Form (Su)
As a standard action, a gargoyle may transform itself into a stone statue. Its appearance changes to become that of a statue, which may or may not match its appearance as a gargoyle. In areas where there is other statuary, a gargoyle may, if unobserved, roll a Stealth Check and take 20 on the die, in order to conceal itself.
While in Stoney Form, the gargoyle gains DR 25/- , ER 25/- and fast healing 3. It loses use of all senses except tremorsense and may not take any action other than dropping Stoney Form, which is a swift action.
- Avalanche Attack (Ex)
Once per encounter, while animate, the Gargoyle may fly up to its Fly speed and make a Stoney Claw attack at any point along that flight. This is a move action for the Gargoyle and the movement must end adjacent to the enemy attacked. This ability can provoke attacks of opportunity as normal. If the Avalanche Attack hits, the attacked foe is knocked Prone. After using Avalanche Attack, the Gargoyle may make another attack if it still has an action to do so, against either the target of Avalanche Attack or any other foe the Gargoyle can reach.
TREASURE
sell value of approximately 4,000 gp
COMBAT TACTICS
Gargoyles are opportunists. If they have not been set as guardians, a gargoyle will be perfectly content to let a strong foe go by without troubling it. In their Stoney Form they have a 34 Stealth roll to hide themselves, so it is quite possible for a Wing of Gargoyles to remain hidden for a very long time, especially since they tend to 'statue up' in places where it's difficult to get a good, close look at them.
If they are hungry, or merely want some excitement, Gargoyles will swoop to the attack. They will animate themselves using a swift action, use Avalanche Attack to close into melee, and then start attacking. Aside from this admittedly devastating surprise strike, Gargoyles are not very good tacticians and if presented with a strong foe will seek to flee, break line of sight, and use their Stoney Form ability to hide.
If the Gargoyles have been compelled as guardians, they attack as before but will fight to destruction without hesitation.