Created centuries ago by magic to be guards and sentinels for fortress cities of evil wizards, many gargoyles have since abandoned their posts and developed their own unique cultures. Each subrace of gargoyle is affected to some degree by the Stone Curse; when touched by the rays of the sun, they become extremely lethargic, or (in the case of Askar, Erosti, and Ko’l) revert to actual stone statues until the following night.
Askar
More intelligent and less prone to evil than their gargoyle cousins, the Askar were bred as obedient soldiers in ancient times, hailing from far off lands now known as Drakengard. Those that have migrated acorss the Aqua Munda to Solidar Minor tend toward lawful alignments, and form clans along the northwestern coastal mountain ranges. The largest community of which has sworn fealty to Jorgun Tivan the Grayheart, and serve as his personal retinue. In their natural form, they do not resemble stonework at all, but are affected more profoundly by the Stone Curse than their kin. As the sun rises, they are petrified, helpless until the next sunset. Some elite Askar of the Grayheart have developed magical means to suppress this effect, but activity during the day still leaves them sluggish and weakened. Likewise, some Askar have learned to tap into their innate connection to earth magic, donning a stone carapace for battle.
Erosti
Foul creatures from below the earth, the origins of the Erosti are unclear. Some sages speculate that these may be the prototype race from which the other gargoyles were crafted, while others say that these are the castoffs that escaped the original experiments, fled deep below the earth, and were changed by the radiations of the Underdark. Whatever the case, Erosti are the most vicious of their kin, taking sadistic delight in torture and dismemberment. In their natural form they look like demonic humanoids hewn from unworked stone, but if they spend significant time around architecture, like their Qasr cousins, will begin to match its look and style for camouflage (although at a considerably faster rate; the process rarely takes more than a few weeks). Although some bare the wings of their kin, most prefer to lair underground or in dungeons to avoid The Stone Curse. If they forcefully rouse themselves while under its influence, their statue facades break off like a thick shell, revealing the jagged earthen body beneath. Like a shed skin, when first removed it leaves them raw and more vulnerable, and may take weeks for them to regrow their statue-like “camouflage” hide. Although not known for intelligence above malicious cunning, some Erosti display a natural aptitude for strange dark magics.
Ko’l
Aquatic gargoyles, the Ko’l were originally the creations of Sihr’Qelp wizards during the height of their power. After that empire fell beneath the waves, they remained behind among the ruins and adapted, making its empty submerged halls their own kingdom. Now they harrow ships across the Munda Aqua, and occasionally make raids on Solidar Minor’s Western shores. They typically lurk in the aphotic zone, only surfacing at night. One favored tactic of theirs is to leap at and grapple sailors, knocking them overboard and dragging them quickly to watery deaths. Another is launching themselves high in the air during daytime attacks on ships, allowing the Stone Curse to affect them in mid air, becoming giant cannonballs of stone as they crush those below.
Qasr
Found anywhere from castle ruins to city cathedrals, these are the common gargoyles most adventurers are accustomed to encounter. Treacherous, petty, and vindictive, Qasr prefer a solitary lifestyle, but occasionally form “wings” to terrorize a specific area. They tend toward obsessive compulsive behavior, and have been known to collect all many of strange things in their lofty aeries. Through a subtle process that can take months or even years, their physical appearance slowly takes on that of the architectural style of the places they make their lairs; while they remain still, they are nearly imperceptible as anything other than gruesome statues. The Stone Curse puts these gargoyles into a deep torpor, from which they can only awaken for brief periods (such as if they are in direct physical danger), and even then they are groggy, slow, and weakened. However, as they rest in sunlight, they quickly heal from even the most grievous wounds, awakening the next night completely whole.
