Gargoyles
Contents
Introduction
The Tremere unveiled the Gargoyle bloodline in AD 1167, and the Slaves have been a steady, if infrequent, part of Kindred society ever since. Gargoyles might, in fact, be one reason that the Tremere weren’t exterminated entirely in their first few centuries of existence. These odd quasi-Kindred often look like their stone namesakes — rocky-skinned, ugly, winged creatures that exist only to serve their masters.
Or such was the case for several hundred years. Recently, though, many of the Slaves have thrown off their chains and joined the Camarilla. Why the Gargoyles choose to ally themselves with the Sect that also protects their former masters is anyone’s guess. One of the going theories is that it’s a slap in the Warlocks’ collective face, but most Kindred don’t give the Gargoyles credit for being that sophisticated. More likely, the Rockheads simply realize that in the Camarilla, their talents will be recognized and no one will try and order them around (at least not directly).
Gargoyles are created out of other Kindred, and this ugly fact makes their creation a seldom-discussed topic in polite vampiric society. The Tremere start with a Gangrel, Nosferatu, or Tzimisce vampire and perform obscene, bloody rituals using its blood, heart, and skin. Vitae from another vampire (from one of the other two Clans) is used to provoke a violent mutation, with the result that some Gargoyles look purely hideous (Nosferatu base), some look feral (Gangrel base), and some look fleshy and sport bony protrusions (Tzimisce base). No Gargoyle can pass for human.
The Tremere tolerate the Gargoyles’ presence in the Camarilla as best they can — it’s not as though they can easily re-enslave them, after all. But relations are obviously strained. The Gargoyles’ revolt and induction into the Camarilla has all but doomed the remaining slave Gargoyles, as their masters now monitor them ruthlessly for any sign of betrayal. The Tremere also aren’t above planting hypnotic suggestions in their Slaves’ minds, so that if they ever do rebel, they still serve a function for the Clan.
Originally, all Gargoyles were created using the blood of three different clans: the Gangrel, the Nosferatu, and the Tzimisce. The blood was combined to form three specific types of Gargoyle: scouts (Gangrel-Nosferatu), warriors (Gangrel-Tzimisce), and sentinels (Nosferatu-Tzimisce). Eventually they evolved into a full-fledged bloodline and became somewhat independent of the Tremere and their blood magic. Those Gargoyles created via the original ritual differ from those that have been Embraced into the bloodline in several ways. For example, Visceratika is an out-of clan discipline for them. While rare since the Montmartre Pact, some of the old variants survive.[5]
Scouts
- Disciplines: Auspex, Flight, Protean
Scouts were originally created to advance into enemy territory. They were designed to turn to stone if heavily damaged so that the Tremere or other Scouts could retrieve them later to claim any information they were unable to report back. When a Scout Gargoyle is wounded, the flesh around it turns to stone, doubling any wound penalties. The flesh turns normal again when the Gargoyle has fully regenerated.
Sentinels
- Disciplines: Flight, Fortitude, Potence
Sentinels are created as protectors, a sentiment that they extend to their fellow Gargoyles. As the most social of the original variants, Sentinels are a lot more friendlier than most would assume. When alone or without a person they trust, Sentinel Gargoyles find themselves confused and all dice pools halved.
Warriors
- Disciplines: Flight, Fortitude, Protean
The Warriors were created for the single purpose of defending House and Clan from its numerous enemies. Inspired by the szlachta of the Tzimisce, they were built to win battles through fear, intimidation, and physical punishment. Whenever a Warrior Gargoyle frenzies, a part of their body turns to stone. Any associated activity with the petrified body part is considered an automatic failure until the next evening.
Nickname: Traditionally Slaves, though free Gargoyles have been known to crack heads over it. Other common nicknames are Rockheads, Runaways, Freemen, and Grotesques.
Sect: Gargoyles usually join the Camarilla. It’s not impossible for a Slave to join the Sabbat, but the bloodline as a whole frowns on this.
Appearance: Not all Gargoyles look like the stone grotesques found spitting rainwater over old buildings, but all are nightmarish. Some have tufts of hair protruding randomly over their bodies, or odd, galloping walks. Most Gargoyles have gray, rock-like skin. All Gargoyles have wings. These grow as the character’s Flight (see p. 447) increases.
Haven: Slave Gargoyles sleep wherever their masters allow them — closets, basements, crypts, cells. Free Gargoyles prefer sleeping in havens high above the ground. Bell towers and disused high-rises are favorites. Gargoyles are often muscle for other Kindred, sometimes in exchange for a bare-bones haven.
Background: Gargoyles creation rarely shows a discernible pattern. The Change tortures the new Gargoyle’s body, as bones elongate and split to form the wings. The face warps, leaving nothing to recognize the mortal or vampire by. They rarely remember their unlife or mortal existence.
Character Creation: Created to be slaves, Gargoyles specialize in Physical Attributes, Talents, and a few select Skills (Melee, for instance). All Gargoyles start with a free dot of the Flight Discipline. Appearance is always zero. Gargoyles created by the Tremere are at the same Generation as the Kindred that act as their “base.”
Clan Disciplines: Flight, Fortitude, Potence, Visceratika
Weakness: The Slaves are hideous. That grotesquery takes different forms, but always results in an Appearance of zero. They are also highly susceptible to mind control from any source. A Gargoyle’s Willpower score (current or permanent) is considered two points lower when used to resist such powers.
Organization: Gargoyles have a strong sense of community. They often keep communal havens. Sometimes Gargoyles petition the Prince for the release of slave Gargoyles, but more often they just tear slave owners to pieces. With no community, Gargoyles are likely to Embrace and build their own.
Quote: Master. Why did you burn her? She only wanted to fly free for one night...
yes, master. I obey.
The Gargoyle Revolt
During the mid-15th-century occurred the uprising in which the bulk of the Gargoyle slaves of Clan Tremere liberated themselves from their masters. The creation of new Gargoyles was outlawed in 1489 by the Montmartre Pact, although the impetus behind the Pact seems to have been the appeasement of the other clans in preparation for the formation of the Camarilla rather than as any sort of overture to the Gargoyles, although doubtless the Tremere used it that way. The Revolt ended around 1497.
Dark Ages
The bloodline was first created via Thaumaturgical ritual in 1167[1][2] (or 1121 according to other sources[3]). For the first several centuries after their creation, all their "powers" were in the form of rituals cast upon them by their Tremere masters, and during those early nights, the original gargoyles came into being only in three variants made to fill different roles for their Tremere masters.
Victorian Age
Gargoyle: Victorian Age Nicknames Guardians Faction Indentured: Tremere Free: Nominally Camarilla At this point in their history, Gargoyles have "evolved" beyond the need for Tremere rituals, instead having developed their own special Discipline, called Visceratika. Escaped Victorian Gargoyles are uncommon. They find the world baffling and dangerous. Their monstrous looks do not allow them to pass through the throng of kine easily, and if recaptured they are inevitably destroyed by their captors.
While travel from Europe to the Americas was not impossible, the logistics of such a task was not easy, and the few Gargoyles who made the crossing found themselves in a world more alien than the one they left behind.
Final Nights
Gargoyle: Final Nights Nicknames Slaves, Rockheads, Runaways, Freemen, Grotesques Faction Indentured: Tremere Free: Nominally Camarilla In the Final Nights, Gargoyle populations seem to be booming; this is largely because older, free Gargoyles are coming out of hiding to join the Camarilla, because more indentured Gargoyles break free from the clutches of the Tremere, and because the free Gargoyles have also begun to Embrace more mortals on their own.
6th Generation
- -- Rock Lord
7th Generation
- -- Teufel -- Elder Gargoyle of the Dallas Sabbat.
- -- Ublo-Satha -- Guardian of the Chicago chantry
8th Generation
- -- Khaar -- Duc of the Paris Gargoyles
9th Generation
10th Generation
- -- Grimlock - Gargoyle Chantry Guardian of London (missing)
11th Generation
12th Generation
- -- Camilla -- Progeny of Erinyi, Antitribu and Scholar of the Arcane. {The Coven of Librarians}
- -- Gérald -- Progeny of Erinyi, Antitribu and Sabbat Philosopher. {The Coven of Librarians}
- -- Verbruch -- Guardian of the Tremere of Quebec City
