Guardgoyle [Gargoyle]

A guardgoyle is a construct roughly 2 feet in height or length, cut from dense stone such as basalt or granite in the shape of a modified gargoyle or some reptile. Its small size lets it hide among its maker's things as a statuette or paperweight. Some have wings and some do not, but all can fly.

Its size imposes a -3 penalty on opponents' surprise rolls. Its claws and bite do little, but the fangs carry poison: save vs. poison at -1 or die in 1d4+1 rounds. It holds enough for two bites, after which its owner must refill it; any poison can be substituted for the usual lethal one.

It can also shriek loudly enough to be heard half a mile off, summoning the watch or setting off prepared traps and spells. The scream lasts up to 6 rounds, even while it attacks, and stops any spellcasting within 20 feet.

Not being alive, it ignores poison, charm, hold and all mind-affecting magic. Fire and cold spells do half damage and electricity none. A stone shape spell fully repairs it, while earthquake, stone to flesh or transmute rock to mud aimed at it destroys it outright with no save.

A secretive cabal of wizards first made guardgoyles to protect their treasures, homes, families and hidden places. They act only on instructions given beforehand, attack anyone except their owner and up to five named others, and can follow plain orders like "Guard this room" or "Let no one in but me," but nothing complex, such as carrying messages.

Making one requires a block of stone of at least 4 cubic feet shaped with stone shape, followed by spells known only to that cabal that animate it and grant it a glimmer of mind. The cost of 1,000 to 2,000 gp goes mostly to the stone and the spell components. A guardgoyle lasts as long as its owner, then becomes a mere statue; if sold or given away first, its life binds to the new owner instead. After 50 years the animating magic fades, and it can be renewed at the original cost by the same process.

It wants nothing but to serve, never eats or sleeps, and never stops watching. Depending on whether it is kept indoors or out, it may need occasional repair by stone shape. Well kept, it is a simple, inexpensive guardian.

This larger, tougher model stands 4 to 6 feet tall, moves at 9, and can neither fly nor gain the surprise bonus. Its mass requires a wish or limited wish to animate, and the stone and extra magic can push the cost to 10,000 gp. Only the mightiest mages can build one, and few know how.