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ID: 1257
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Submitted:
October 29, 2005, 11:26 pm
Updated:
July 21, 2006, 9:46 am


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Gargoyles!!!
By: MoonHunter

gar·goyle Pronunciation Key (gär goil)  n.
1) A roof spout in the form of a grotesque or fantastic creature projecting from a gutter to carry rainwater clear of the wall.
2) A grotesque ornamental figure or projection.
3) A person of bizarre or grotesque appearance.
4) In a fantasy world, these are more than projections. They are animated. They could be constructs, spirit forms, or an actual species.

In architecture, gargoyles, or gurgoyles (from the French gargouille, originally the throat or gullet, cf. Latin gurgulio, gula, and similar words derived from root gar, to swallow, the word representing the gurgling sound of water; Ital. doccione; Ger. Ausguss), are the carved terminations to a spout which conveys water away from the gutters. Gargoyles are mostly grotesque figures.

The term gargoyle is applied most often to medieval work, but throughout all ages some means of throwing the water off roofs, when not conveyed in gutters, was adopted. Yet, gargoyles have been found in Egypt, Greece, and other older cultures. Everywhere to the modern day.

Cargoyles, or more precisely chimerae, were used as decoration on 19th and early 20th century buildings in cities such as New York (where the Chrysler Building’s aluminum gargoyles are celebrated), and Chicago.

Statues representing gargoyle-like creatures are popular sales items, particularly in goth and New Age retail stores.

Gargoyles as a distinct race have featured in several works of fantasy fiction, such as Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. Lets not forget Disney’s animated series, Gargoyles.

In a fantasy world, these are more than projections. They are animated. They could be constructs, spirit forms, or an actual species.

Some scholar types say there are seven types of phenomena that share this “heading”.

Give me your write up…. Share with me your ideas (originally or credited copies) ... embrace the flying ugly creature.



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Suggested Submissions
Gharjoy - A type of Gargoyle By: MoonHunter
Lifeforms » Ethereal » City/ Ruin

Gharjoy are one of the seven things that are called Gargoyle. They may be the origin of all things Gargoyle.

Grolen - A type of Winged Gargoyles By: MoonHunter
Lifeforms » Fauna » Mountains

There are seven or so types of lifeforms considered Gargoyles by the less informed. This is one.

Grolen are another semi-sentient creature which is called a Gargoyle in popular parlance.

The Stayers - a type of Gargoyle By: MoonHunter
Lifeforms » Constructed » Any

There are seven or so types of lifeforms considered Gargoyles by the less informed. This is one.

Stayers are classic stone gargoyles, big gothic, bat wings, claws, fang, and so on. They are quite variable in their appearance, but they tend to keep this in common. They are also the defenders of Wizardry - Great Magics.

Winged Geomorphs - A type of Gargoyle By: MoonHunter
Lifeforms » Ethereal » City/ Ruin

There are seven or so types of lifeforms considered Gargoyles by the less informed. This is one.

Geomorphs are related to Earth Elementals in structure and form, but these creatures have more in common with ectomorphs (spirit forms) than true Fey or Elementals. They may be a distant offshoot of spirit dragons.

Comments ( 8 )
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Voted Ancient Gamer
2005-11-09 12:36 PM
0xp
I salute your initiative MoonHunter! While I know I have dissed gargoyles at some point in time, that ARE effective and cool, and they ALWAYS get the players suspicious! (Are these gargoyles of the animated kind, or are they just ornamental statues)
MoonHunter
2005-11-09 02:33 PM
0xp
Both and Any. There are a lot of things that get the nomenclature "Gargoyle" without being an animated statue. Some are stone creatures, natural magical things; others are animated statues that you despise; yet others are things with intense patience that have qualities like these kinds of creatures. Thus there are a number of cool critters under this category.
Ancient Gamer
2005-11-09 03:01 PM
0xp
Heh. Thanks. I really meant to envision how the players thought, but I realize now it looked more like a question. Nice answer in any case.
MoonHunter
2005-11-13 06:00 PM
0xp
Updated: Changed some formatting
KendraHeart
2005-11-19 11:58 PM
0xp
I am going to have to read all of these later. If there are seven types, why do we only have four write ups?
MoonHunter
2006-03-23 06:07 PM
0xp
I was kind of hoping others might help out, but I will do them soon.
Voted Drackler
2006-04-03 08:46 PM
0xp
This is great MoonHunter, I agree with Ancient Gamer.
MoonHunter
2006-04-04 02:15 AM
0xp
There are many things which have been called Gargoyles. The animated statues is actually the least common of them. Most animated statues are of the Tomb Guardian nature, protecting its charge over the course of time. Most of them are normally either "warriors" of the classic type for the tomb or hideous demonic things (classic for their religion). Thus the whole winged statue part did not come into play until well after the 15th century when Gargoyles were added to Cathedrals.

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