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Description
The creatures known as Gargoyles spend their natural lives in more southern areas. Environments that are wet and hot provide excellent habitats for this species. Gargoyles stay mainly in the water, dwelling in lakes and rivers. Though they prefer a somewhat aquatic lifestyle, they are not restricted to the water. Gargoyles possess both gills and a rudimentary set of lungs, which allows them to breathe both air and water. This amphibious nature of theirs make them adaptable to a number of situations that would doom a purely aquatic creature. In times of drought or extreme heat, they can escape shrinking pools and find a wetter, more stable, place to live. This also allows them to escape aquatic predators or terrestrial hunters, fleeing into whatever area the other cannot travel in. Being omnivores also helps with their adaptability, allowing them to consume almost anything they stumble upon. When traveling, they are opportunistic feeders, eating anything that crosses their path that looks edible. When in the water, or on muddy banks, they prefer ambush methods. They will slither into the mud and silt, and wait for prey to come by. Using their large, fleshy fins, they will surge forth with a mighty flap of their wing-like fins and swallow the prey. Their second pair of tentacle-like fins can also be used to snag fleeing prey or pick up objects they wish to taste.

When faced by predators they cannot outrun or lose in a rapid change of environment, Gargoyles have multiple defenses. The first is their thick scales that act like armor, which protects them from tooth and claw. Then is their own set of nasty teeth, which can snap at attackers or large prey that they wish to take down. Lastly, if around water, they can suck in a mouthful of liquid and spit it at the predator with pinpoint precision. These jets of water are aimed for eyes and face, so that the attacker is disoriented enough for them to escape. This same water blast can also be used to knock prey out of tree limbs that overhang the water, or to slow down fleeing targets on the shore. With all these tactics and abilities, it is easy to see why Gargoyles are effective organisms that can quickly adapt to any situation.

Perhaps the most legendary of all their tricks (and the reason for their name) is their statue morphs. In some regions, long periods of heat and drought can set in, removing all water sources for the Gargoyle. With no place to flee, the organism faces death by desiccation. To avoid this, Gargoyles will go into a form of hibernation using a specialized cocoon. Secreting a special kind of mucus, they will mix this slime with wet mud and coat themselves in the substance. Once fully coated with the wet, sticky earth, they will expose themselves to the sun, so that it dries out and hardens. What is left is a serpent like formation of harden mud that can be mistaken for a crude statue. In fact, long ago, some cultures mistook them as real statues and believed there was some ancient society of sentient reptiles that had created them! This statue, though, is just a cocoon, one that will allow them to survive until the rains return. Inside of it, the Gargoyle is covered in a thin layer of mucus and have gone into a form of hibernation. Their body functions have slowed down dramatically, allowing it to survive for months with little food, water or even air. On the outside, the mud and mucus have hardened into an extremely tough shell, that predators will find difficult to crack. Tooth and claw cannot penetrate the earthen armor, keeping the Gargoyle safe until the rains return. Though immune to physical damage, the cocoons will break down when exposed to large amounts of water. The torrential rains of the spring storms will strike the cocoon and douse it in water, which will slowly cause it to slough off. The presence of water and wetness will awaken the Gargoyle, and it will recover from its hibernated state. After a few minutes, the Gargoyle will be back to its normal self and will head back to the nearest water source.

Their adaptability and methods of hibernation have made them famous in the lands they are native to. The term "hardy as a Gargoyle" is used to speak of a person's ability to survive extreme situations, and is quite a compliment. I have actually received that compliment multiple times, and I must say, it is quite flattering! The most interesting case, though, is when Gargoyles are trained and used as guardians. The species is extremely long lived, with them able to survive until they are over a hundred years old, especially when using their cocoons. To go with that, Gargoyles never seem to stop growing, and those who are exposed to high amounts of food can grow to crazy sizes! I have heard of some reaching the size of lindworms! Of course these would never occur in the wild, as they could not possibly find enough food to reach that size so fast. When domesticated by sentients, though,they can become large and trained for security purposes. When a Gargoyle has reached the right size and has been trained properly, it will be taken to the place they are intended to guard. Many can be found in hidden temples or tombs, protecting sacred burial grounds or ancient treasures. They are then provided with large quantities of mud so that they can form a cocoon. Using torches or fire spells, the trainers will increase the heat around it, which will encourage the trained beast to go into a cocoon. It will do so, and the people will aid in drying out the shell so that it is in perfect hibernation. In this state, the Gargoyle can live for an extremely long time, especially if they have been fattened up by their owners. With them locked away in a dry temple, they will never feel the rain that will awaken them. The only way for them to break out is if an intruder or grave robber appears. If the trespasser is careless, they will set off a mechanism that will release large amounts of water onto the cocoons. This will awaken the Gargoyles, and they will emerge from their melting shells. Trained to attack intruders, or in some cases they are just hungry, the Gargoyles will throw themselves at the trespasser. Teeth, tentacles, thick coils and water blasts can be used to take down the intruder, and the Gargoyles will feed on them. The only way to stop an attack of a Gargoyle is to know the command word that the trainers used. Since the beasts need to be trained, there are secret commands they are taught to obey. This is especially needed when the owners return to either reset the cocoons or to feed the Gargoyles if they have been cocooned for a couple of decades. Those who learn these commands can stop them with a word, and then use that time to high tail it out of there. Because sometimes the Gargoyles are hungry enough that they won't listen to orders for very long. So bring a spare goat with you if you try that method!

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------

This one took me awhile to come up with. Was trying to come up with an idea for a natural gargoyle, and the lungfish eventually presented itself to me!

Description
The creatures known as Gargoyles spend their natural lives in more southern areas. Environments that are wet and hot provide excellent habitats for this species. Gargoyles stay mainly in the water, dwelling in lakes and rivers. Though they prefer a somewhat aquatic lifestyle, they are not restricted to the water. Gargoyles possess both gills and a rudimentary set of lungs, which allows them to breathe both air and water. This amphibious nature of theirs make them adaptable to a number of situations that would doom a purely aquatic creature. In times of drought or extreme heat, they can escape shrinking pools and find a wetter, more stable, place to live. This also allows them to escape aquatic predators or terrestrial hunters, fleeing into whatever area the other cannot travel in. Being omnivores also helps with their adaptability, allowing them to consume almost anything they stumble upon. When traveling, they are opportunistic feeders, eating anything that crosses their path that looks edible. When in the water, or on muddy banks, they prefer ambush methods. They will slither into the mud and silt, and wait for prey to come by. Using their large, fleshy fins, they will surge forth with a mighty flap of their wing-like fins and swallow the prey. Their second pair of tentacle-like fins can also be used to snag fleeing prey or pick up objects they wish to taste.

When faced by predators they cannot outrun or lose in a rapid change of environment, Gargoyles have multiple defenses. The first is their thick scales that act like armor, which protects them from tooth and claw. Then is their own set of nasty teeth, which can snap at attackers or large prey that they wish to take down. Lastly, if around water, they can suck in a mouthful of liquid and spit it at the predator with pinpoint precision. These jets of water are aimed for eyes and face, so that the attacker is disoriented enough for them to escape. This same water blast can also be used to knock prey out of tree limbs that overhang the water, or to slow down fleeing targets on the shore. With all these tactics and abilities, it is easy to see why Gargoyles are effective organisms that can quickly adapt to any situation.

Perhaps the most legendary of all their tricks (and the reason for their name) is their statue morphs. In some regions, long periods of heat and drought can set in, removing all water sources for the Gargoyle. With no place to flee, the organism faces death by desiccation. To avoid this, Gargoyles will go into a form of hibernation using a specialized cocoon. Secreting a special kind of mucus, they will mix this slime with wet mud and coat themselves in the substance. Once fully coated with the wet, sticky earth, they will expose themselves to the sun, so that it dries out and hardens. What is left is a serpent like formation of harden mud that can be mistaken for a crude statue. In fact, long ago, some cultures mistook them as real statues and believed there was some ancient society of sentient reptiles that had created them! This statue, though, is just a cocoon, one that will allow them to survive until the rains return. Inside of it, the Gargoyle is covered in a thin layer of mucus and have gone into a form of hibernation. Their body functions have slowed down dramatically, allowing it to survive for months with little food, water or even air. On the outside, the mud and mucus have hardened into an extremely tough shell, that predators will find difficult to crack. Tooth and claw cannot penetrate the earthen armor, keeping the Gargoyle safe until the rains return. Though immune to physical damage, the cocoons will break down when exposed to large amounts of water. The torrential rains of the spring storms will strike the cocoon and douse it in water, which will slowly cause it to slough off. The presence of water and wetness will awaken the Gargoyle, and it will recover from its hibernated state. After a few minutes, the Gargoyle will be back to its normal self and will head back to the nearest water source.

Their adaptability and methods of hibernation have made them famous in the lands they are native to. The term "hardy as a Gargoyle" is used to speak of a person's ability to survive extreme situations, and is quite a compliment. I have actually received that compliment multiple times, and I must say, it is quite flattering! The most interesting case, though, is when Gargoyles are trained and used as guardians. The species is extremely long lived, with them able to survive until they are over a hundred years old, especially when using their cocoons. To go with that, Gargoyles never seem to stop growing, and those who are exposed to high amounts of food can grow to crazy sizes! I have heard of some reaching the size of lindworms! Of course these would never occur in the wild, as they could not possibly find enough food to reach that size so fast. When domesticated by sentients, though,they can become large and trained for security purposes. When a Gargoyle has reached the right size and has been trained properly, it will be taken to the place they are intended to guard. Many can be found in hidden temples or tombs, protecting sacred burial grounds or ancient treasures. They are then provided with large quantities of mud so that they can form a cocoon. Using torches or fire spells, the trainers will increase the heat around it, which will encourage the trained beast to go into a cocoon. It will do so, and the people will aid in drying out the shell so that it is in perfect hibernation. In this state, the Gargoyle can live for an extremely long time, especially if they have been fattened up by their owners. With them locked away in a dry temple, they will never feel the rain that will awaken them. The only way for them to break out is if an intruder or grave robber appears. If the trespasser is careless, they will set off a mechanism that will release large amounts of water onto the cocoons. This will awaken the Gargoyles, and they will emerge from their melting shells. Trained to attack intruders, or in some cases they are just hungry, the Gargoyles will throw themselves at the trespasser. Teeth, tentacles, thick coils and water blasts can be used to take down the intruder, and the Gargoyles will feed on them. The only way to stop an attack of a Gargoyle is to know the command word that the trainers used. Since the beasts need to be trained, there are secret commands they are taught to obey. This is especially needed when the owners return to either reset the cocoons or to feed the Gargoyles if they have been cocooned for a couple of decades. Those who learn these commands can stop them with a word, and then use that time to high tail it out of there. Because sometimes the Gargoyles are hungry enough that they won't listen to orders for very long. So bring a spare goat with you if you try that method!

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

-------------------------------------------

This one took me awhile to come up with. Was trying to come up with an idea for a natural gargoyle, and the lungfish eventually presented itself to me!