From: | Bull <chaos@*****.COM> |
---|---|
Subject: | Disney's Gargoyles in SR and Garg v2.2 Rules |
Date: | Thu, 3 Sep 1998 18:16:08 -0400 |
revision of the no longer produced Disney Cartoon, Gargoyles. It presents
a slightly alternate world, incorporating the Cartoon's history into the
6th World of Shadowrun. Gargoyles is a trademark of Disney, Inc, and
Shadowrun is a trademark of FASA, Inc. No infringement upon these
Copyrights is intended.
This also sets up a possible campaign setting using a unique group of
Gargoyles, a clan of their own, that settles in Seattle. This would
definately make for a very unique and different type of character to play
in the Shadowrun world.
((No, I don;t think this is necessary on the mailing list, but the entire
document is a work in progress for my website, so... :))
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It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear.
It was the age of Gargoyles.
Stone by day, warriors by night,
we were betrayed by the humans we had sworn to protect,
frozen in stone by a magic spell for a thousand years.
Now, here in Manhattan, the spell is broken, and we live again!
We are defenders of the night!
We are
GARGOYLES!
In the year 2030, an ancient Scottish Castle called Castle Wyvern was
brought over to the UCAS by a young and wealthy man named David Xanatos.
Xanatos had been fascinated by ancient myths and magics, and with the
Awakening of the 6th World, he became even more so. And written in the
margins of an ancient magical tome was the story of an ancient race of
beings called Gargoyles who had been frozen in stone by a spell. Xanatos
met the conditions of the spell and broke it, freeing the Gargoyles.
The Gargoyles struggled to adapt to their new world, but decided that
despite all the magical creatures and Awakened Races that existed, that
they shoudl remain hidden. They believed they were the last of their kind,
and so decided hiding would help preserve the race.
During the next 5 years, the Gagroyles discovered that they were not the
only Gargoyles to survive. England, Amazonia, and Japan all held small
Gargoyle Clans, and one of their own ancient clan had survived through
magic, the Gargoyle Sorceress named Demona. Demona had turned cruel and
evil during her years alone, hiding from a family that generation after
generation called themselves Hunters and had followed her around the globe.
Most surprisingly of all, though, was the fact that Gargoyle Clan's own
eggs had survived the destruction of the clan, when the eggs were taken to
the Mystical Island of Avalon, where time moves more slowly. The eggs have
hatched and reached maturity, and some of them have left the island to
explore the world.
In 2058 a small group of Gargoyles left Avalon to live among the outside
world. They stayed with Goliath and his Clan, learning what they could
about the World and about becoming protectors. Then, in 2060, this group
became their own clan and moved to Seattle to make it their own protectorate.
It is now 2060, and those Gargoyles are living in Seattle. Those
gargoyles
are you...
Welcome to the 6th World. Welcome to the world of Gargoyles.
Optional Metatypes Rules: Gargoyles v2.2
Patterson's Guide to Paranormal Animals
Entry #30173
Author's note: Gargoyles are still a subject of dispute among
scientists
around the world. Some refuse to even believe they are anything more than
myth, despite numerous reportings and photos. No one is sure exactly where
they come from, though the general consensus is that they are not a
"goblinized" form of human like Orks, trolls, Elves and Dwarves are, nor
are they an awakened form of animal, like the basilisk or the hell-hound.
Theories connect the Gargoyles with the gargoyles from North America and
Europe presented in Previous Patterson's Guides, but no solid connection
has been made, as several traits are missing between the two, such as
intelligence and the Stone Hibernation.
I've had the chance to talk with several Gargoyles from the New York
area,
so I know they do exist. There are several interesting traits that almost
seem racial, rather than based on their society.
Gargoyles are very territorial, for one thing. They will "adopt" an area
to be their home. Most Gargoyles consider themselves to be Protectors of
their homes, and have a strong sense of right and wrong, and of honor. One
Gargoyle did admit that their are Rogues out there that have no honor, but
these are considered Clanless and to be outcasts, and the enemies of
"Normal" gargoyles.
They also have a strong sense of Family, and Clan. Most Gargoyles live
with their clan their entire life, with very few exceptions. When a clan
grows too large, it will split into two clans, each clan having strong ties
to each other. All Gargoyles consider each other family, with the
exception of the Rogues, and clans can often call upon each other for help.
Gargoyles can wield magic with ease. However, there are no
indications of Physical Adepts among the gargoyles, and most gargoyles
consider cyberware to be an abomination, and from what I understood,
cyberware and bioware is not compatible with the Gargoyles Stone Sleep.
Another note is a distinct dislike in modern weapons. Gargoyles have
natural claws, and will often use ancient weapons, such as swords and
staves if they wield a weapon at all. Rarely do gargoyles wield guns.
Identification: While Gargoyles vary vastly in size and in shape, There
are primarily two types of Gargoyle.
One is a Canine like Gargoyle. they re fairly intelligent and strong,
but
not as intelligent as a human and lacking any sort of speech capability.
It weighs around 300 pounds in it's flesh form, is quick, very strong, and
very loyal to it's "clan" of Gargoyles.
The second is the more common and Humanoid Gargoyle. These always
stand upright, like a human, and possess a pair of wings that enable it to
glide, despite it's bulk. However, for whatever reason, the appearance and
placement of the Gargoyle wings can vary greatly.
The more common appearances for a Gargoyle is a semi-demonic looking
face, sometimes with horns. The wings are often leathery in appearance,
similar to Dragon Wings, though these as well vary, and are sometimes
membranes between the arm and torso of the gargoyle, or even feathered and
bird like.
Tails are a common trait of Gargoyles, though not every gargoyle has
them. Skin color also varies wildly, though is usually a darker color. Deep
reds, blues and gray's are common, though almost every color has been
reported.
They have a variable number of teeth, ranging from 20 to 48, with fairly
sharp and slightly elongated canines.
Most have hair like humans, but this too is variable, as are most
characteristic. Some are hairless, while others are covered in fur, or
even feathers.
Their hands and feet end in three fingers and three toed claws. These
claws are strong, and often capable totearing into stone and even steel.
Most gargoyles do not use their claws as weapons, though considering this
dishonorable. The most common use for the claws is climbing, where their
strength allows them to dig furrows and hand holds into the sides of stone
and plasticrete building, letting them climb up to gliding heights. One
interesting note was that one of the Gargoyles sighted in Amazonia did not
have legs. Rather, it was serpentine, and have a snakelike lower body,
though it still possesed arms and wings.
The Humanoid Gargoyles range in size from several feet tall, to seven
feet
tall, with substantial bulk do to their muscle mass. Despite rumors,
however, they re not made of stone, at least not at night. During the
daylight hours, however, they transform into a stone-like substance that is
very much like granite.
Another interesting note is that the Gargoyles overall appearance is
often regional, resembling creatures of myth. The Japanese gargoyles are
reported to have a very oriental look to them, their shape and horns
resembling traditional Samurai armor or oriental goblins. The English
gargoyles resembled Unicorns, Griffons, and Lions. The reason for this is
unknown, but along with the Awakened Paranormal Animals, Gargoyles may also
be partly responsible for many regional myths and legends.
Habitat: Gargoyles most often prefer to "sleep" in their stone form on
rooftops, looking much like their namesakes, the traditional Gargoyle
Statue. However, during the night, in their flesh form, they can reside
almost anywhere, though they do prefer large, open structures, usually on
the top of large buildings.
Habits: As noted above, Gargoyles are active during the night only. From
sun-up to sundown, they are trapped in a Stone Hibernation. This
transformation is not reliant on being in sunlight, as even gargoyles
underground away from any sunlight still transforms. This has led
scientists to believe the transformation is magical in nature.
Their life span is, as of yet, unverified, though it is estimated to be
slightly longer than a normal human lifespan, from 100 to 120 years. This
is possibly due to their stone hibernation, and that they may not age while
theya re stone..
Gargoyles lay eggs, which take around 10 years to hatch.
Young: Female Gargoyles can lay between 1 and 8 eggs, though the average
is three. Puberty occurs when the gargoyle is around 18 to 20 years.
Commentary: Gargoyles appeared around 30 years ago in New York.
Since then, there have been scattered, rumored sighting around the world,
with most recent sightings placing a clan in Seattle. Gargoyles are rare, and
according to the gargoyle I interviewed, they were almost wiped out during
the dark ages.
GAME STATS:
There are 3 playable types of Gargoyles: The Small, Medium, and Large
Gargoyle. Each has different advantages and disadvantages to them, so I'll
cover them in turn. The Canine Gargoyle is not a playable character, but
can make an interesting NPC. Canine Gargoyles are not pets, and no
Gargoyle would consider them as such. They are simply a different type of
gargoyle, slightly less intelligant than a metahuman, but still possessing
a sentiance beyond any animal.
Small Gargoyles -- These are the Smallest and weakest of the Gargoyles.
however, they are also the fastest and the smartest of the gargoyles. Most
Gargoyle Mages come from this category. These gargoyles are usually
between 3 and 5 feet tall.
Advantages: +2d6 initiative, +2 Quickness, +1 Intelligence, +1 Charisma,
Low light vision, Gliding WIngs, Claws
Disadvantages: -1 Strength, Stone Hibernation, Bioware/Cyberware
Restrictions.
Medium Gargoyles: This is where the majority of Gargoyles fit in. These
are usually between 5 and 6 feet tall.
Advantages: +2d6 Initiative, +2 Body, +1 Strength, +1 Quickness, Lowlight
Vision, Gliding WIngs, Claws
Disadvantages: Stone Hibernation, Bioware/Cyberware restrictions.
Large Gargoyles: These are the rarest of all the gargoyles. They are also
usually the leaders of their clans, and are powerful warriors.
Advantages: +1d6 Initiative, +3 Body, +3 Strength, Lowlight Vision,
Gliding Wings, Claws
Disadvantages: -1 Quickness, -1 Intelligence, Stone Hibernation, Bio/Cyber
Restrictions.
POWERS:
Gliding Wings: Gargoyles can fly, after a manner, by gliding on air
currents. They cannot actually fly, though, so must launch themselves from
above the ground, usually off a building or such. While flying, their
Quickness multiplier is 5. Minimum height for gliding is 15` off the ground.
Claws: The claws allow the Gargoyles to make shallow cuts and grooves in
even the hardest materials like steel and stone. If used in combat, they
deal (Strength)M Damage. Keep in mind that most Gargoyles will not resort
to using their natrural claws as weapons, though.
Stone Hibernation: Wherever they are in the world, gargoyles will
transform into stone from as soon as the sun rises to just when it sets.
This transformation is not dependant on sunlight, and will occur even if
the Gargoyle is somewhere that Sunlight can not penetrate. This is a
magical transformation, and cannot be prevented except through magical
means (i.e., the enchanted amulets Worn by the gargoyles in the Amazon in
one episode).
Stone Hibernation has the added benefit of healing almost any wound the
gargoyle may suffer.
The Stone that the gargoyles turn into is very resilient and tough. Treat
it as having a barrier rating of 6.
Bioware/Cyberware Restrictions: Gargoyles are very magical in nature, and
because of this, combined with their transformation into stone each day,
they are unable to alter their body structure in anyway, as the new body
part will not transform, and can cause problems, especially in the case of
Bioware.
(NOTE: In case someone wants to bring it up, Coldstone was a special case.
he was built from the remains of three shattered gargoyles and brought
back to life with magic. In essence, he was Cybermanced with Blood Magic.
He doesn't count.
NOTE 2: Yes, I know that in the "Future Tense" episode of Gargoyles, Lex
had some cybernetics. <shrug> As of now, no one has figured out a way to
cybernetically enhance a Gargoyle.)
Magic Note: Gargoyles can be magicians, and are almost always Hermetic in
tradition, though not always. Phys Ad powers are VERY rare in Gargoyles
and should not be allowed in PC Gargoyles, as combined with their already
powerful natural abilities (Especially the natural Initiative bonuses),
they can be quite abusive. this is also the main reason for disallowing
Cyberware.
The gargoyle can be a powerful Character, and as with all my Optional
Metatypes, should only be allowed into a game with care. They can present
a terrific new flavor to a game, and can be great fun to role-play.
However, they can easily be abused by the local Munchkins (Though one dork
with a hammer can take care of them during the day:)), so use them with
care...:]
PLAYING A GARGOYLE PC:
Gargoyles have far more benifits than penalties, so using the point cost
generator from the companion, they cost 20 points instead of 10 for a
normal Metahuman. If using the Priority System from SR3, they are priority
A. Full Gagroyle Mages must take Magic for Priority B, and Aspected
Magicians and Adepts take Magic at Priority C.
CROSSOVER INFO:
The events from the first 2 (and a half) seasons of the show happen in
2030, instead of 1994 (or whatever the show date was :)). David Xanatos
runs a AA Corporation that so far has been strong enough to avoid being
bought out by the AAA Corps. It is based in New York, and Xanatos
Enterprises has worked on several occasions with Ares Macrotechnology.
Rumor has it that Ares is an ally of Xanatos Enterprises, and that the
Megacorp has aided Xanatos in avoiding a takeover. Xanatos Enterprises
most often bumps heads with Aztechnology and Saeder Krupp.
The Children of Oberon are all unique free spirits from a Metaplane called
Avalon. Avalon physically borders the real world, and as such there is an
entrance on Earth to the metaplane. However, the entrance seems to be
mobile, so that you don't find Avalon unless it wants to be found. Most
beings that find Avalon simply think of it as a magic island rather than a
metaplane.
Goliath's clan currently resides in New York, and recently a second
generation of Gargoyles from Avalon have made their way into the outside
world.
Despite the appearance of Awakened Beings (Elves, Dwarves, Orks, Trolls,
Dragons, etc), the Gargoyles are still leary of letting the outside world
know they exist, and as such are still hiding and protecting in the
shadows. The very existance of all the other Races and Creatures in the
Shadowrun World, though, has helped keep the secret, because they shock
Metahumans much less than they would (and do) in the show. Thus Gargoyles
are often dismissed as Trolls with a Jetpack or Hang Glider or the
Unintelligent version of the creatures from the Paranormal Animals of North
America and Europe books.
In my home campign (Note to all my players here :)), I will be using bits
and pieces from Net Fan Fic, most notably Christine Morgan's fan fiction.
Be sure to read up on those at some point, though I'm not sure how much
will be used right away. Christine's Fan Fic can e found at:
http://www.eskimo.com/~vecna/garg_fan_fiction.html
--
Bull -- The Best Ork Decker You Never Met
chaos@*****.com ===== bull22@***********.com
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3604
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= Order is Illusion! Chaos is Bliss! Got any Fours? =
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"Can the Gummi Worms really live in peace with the Marshmallow Chicks?"
-- Pinky, "Pinky and the Brain"