Gargoyle
06/13/26
This is still under construction and the base lore I had in mind for Gargoyles. If you're interested in helping flesh out lore or even becoming a gargoyle yourself, please message me on the national discord (@Bluff) I will try to keep this updated as much as I can until I feel like I can hand it off and let people run with it.
~Bluff
Description
Gargoyles are any living creature or monster that has willfully and knowingly consumed petrichor - the blood of gargoyles. Their appearance's are as diverse as the imagination: If you can think of it, it can and will be a gargoyle should the living being decide to be.
The defining visual trait of a gargoyle is the stone skin. This can be of any color, shape, or size. Depending on the gargoyle, you may see a stream of water coming out of their mouths as well. Some gargoyles may choose to not open their mouths once becoming one and thus the water stops. Some may argue they are grotesque's at that point, but once a gargoyle, always a gargoyle, even if the water should stop.
If you happen across a gargoyle, you may also hear the sounds of bells or chimes. You see, most gargoyles gather around churches and cities because as the bells ring out, it keeps the stones moving from the vibrations. Seeing a gargoyle away from populated areas means there is usually a bell or chime is on them that is allowing them to move.
Petrichor
6/13/26: Nothing is being deleted until final drafts of lore and descriptions are complete, just as a means to hold onto what was written and maybe something was there that I would like to revisit in some manner.
Petrichor is the source of creation for Gargoyles. It smells like the air after a good rainstorm; a grey, swirling water. An odd substance; no gargoyle remembers exactly how they made it, but someone or something always comes in to give them a piece of the puzzle, allowing its creation. Once created successfully, the information about what happens after imbibing the petrichor floods into the potential gargoyle's head: You will gain flesh that will not break. You will gain life that lasts well beyond that of normal creatures. The cost is losing a huge part of your senses and a cracked memory. The petrichor only works if you willingly drink after being informed. The fledgling gargoyle blacks out and will rise some time later: It could be minutes, could be weeks, could be years or centuries. Once a bell tolls, the gargoyle will find new life in their stone body and make walk among the traditionally living once again.
Petrichor is the blood of gargoyles. Petrichor was first discovered long after the first stone dragon, Goji (Go-Gee), was found, captured, and beheaded and had their head placed atop a long forgotten cathedral. The blood was a grey liquid, specs of minerals scattered throughout to give a sparkle not unlike silver. The smell was very appealing, the same smell that would occur after a good rainstorm where the earth permeates your senses and you just feel connected to it.
Becoming a gargoyle is as simple as ingesting the petrichor, but two requirements must be met before it works: The gargoyle must consent to the blood being used in such a manner and the imbiber must agree to want to become a gargoyle. The two means of informed consent is the main reason why gargoyles are rare.
Lore: The Stone Dragon, Goji. (Still work in progress)
In the northern reaches, there was a land where a dragon existed, Goji (Go-Gee). Unlike the dragons you may be imagining, this dragon was different: It was made entirely out of stone. Instead of breathing fire, it drowned the local areas in floods and rainstorms whenever it was unable to find the peace it so desperately wanted or punishment for the hunts against it. It didn't want a horde, it just wanted to be left alone. The stories of immortality and perfect harvests from being able to hunt and kill this dragon for its blood and heart were spread across this land. Some rare few saw the blood, but those that did noticed the ground around the spots where Goji's blood dropped would grow into incredible plant life: trees, flowers, fruits, all were incredibly resilient to disease, immune to drought and yields were always astounding. There was truth to this story, but the lack of observations made it seem like just another tall tale.
As the centuries went on, humans would progress would eventually progress to the point where their weapons and tools would be good enough to capture Goji.
And so they did.
The call was put out to hunt Goji, the greed of men and the stories of old reaching a point where something could actually be done about it. The fight wasn't even a fight, it was an incredibly successful ambush. Goji was captured. Goji cursed the humans that its death would be the end of life as they knew it in this area. Paying no heed, a massive blade was dropped upon its neck. Goji's blood spilled upon the land around the guillotine, and the grass and soil would slowly turn to stone.
The human's felt lied to about their stories. The blood and heart of this dragon didn't do anything, it would just damage and destroy their fields and crops with no way to reverse it. Once they realized that, they quickly destroyed and dismantled the rest of Goji's body, while placing the head of Goji onto their cathedral.
Centuries pass.
The area where Goji was killed went through an even greater level of turmoil after Goji's death: The droughts seemed worse, the floods were greater than before, some started believing that Goji was trying to help people survive in the area, but never noticed because of assumptions. Some started to believe and worship the stone dragon as a protector of the land instead of the monster that it had been known for. This caused great issues between these people and the religions around. Wars would break out and the area surrounding the cathedral where Goji laid would be abandoned.
Centuries pass.
The land would slowly recover from the turmoil caused. Small groups of people found the abandoned ruins and would turn it into their home and try to live in the harsh conditions. They all wondered what was going on with the gargoyles placed atop the abandoned cathedral, but decided to just treat them as friendly watchers and kept water away from the building, part of why it held up for centuries long after anyone actively maintained the buildings.
Sometime later, a villager sat underneath the head of Goji, long worn by the time and rain, looked up, thanked the head of Goji and wished they could be as useful as the dragon's head. A drop of petrichor, created from the centuries of rain pooling inside the dragons mouth, dropped from Goji's mouth. The splash of water caused a flood of questions to race through this person's mind, screaming, louder than that of a lightning bolt, until one came forward.
"Thank you. Do you wish to be like me? It will not be an easy transformation."
The villager looked up, shocked, but without hesitation, said yes. Another drop fell from Goji's mouth and hit the villager on the head. The sensation of the earth swelled up inside this villager. It was suffocating, and immediately wished to be closer to Goji. They ascended the cathedral walls, no climbing gear, no footholds to speak up, their hands and feet just sunk into the stone and came out like nothing happened until this person was on the high roof next to Goji.
"You and I must rest now, fledgling, but thank you for continuing my purpose for these lands. May you find the Sets that I was never able to find."
The villager said nothing, the understanding slowly filling their brain, as they opened their mouth, closed their eyes and began to sleep.
Sets
Sets are a group of gargoyles. They are all chosen groups of gargoyles that have found their territory and place they wish to expand in and protect.
More coming soon.
The Grand Chimeras
Under Construction