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Gargoyles
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One thousand years ago superstition and the sword ruled. It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear. It was the age of Gargoyles.
Gargoyles was a Disney animated series aired from 1994 to 1997. It was syndicated at first and thus able to get past many standards and practice issues that would have later kept some of the darker elements out (there was more than one instance of blood and guns!) It is probably one of the darkest animated series Disney has ever done and has a large fan following still with its own convention held every year. There is also a comic continuation now, done by the show's original writers. If you are interested in catching up with this series, you can find most all of it on YouTube. It also shows on Toon Disney late at night, and the first season and first half of the second season can be bought on DvD.
World
History
In the year 994 A.D., Castle Wyvern in Scotland was under attack from a band of vikings that had followed a group of refugees they'd given shelter to. Fortunately for them, the attack had been made near sunset, and as night came the stone statues among the parapets came to life, revealing them to be actual winged demons who easily sent the Vikings running for their lives with promises to return. These creatures were gargoyles, stone by day and alive at night. Their duty was to protect the castle, and they'd had a longstanding pact with its rulers.
The current head of the castle, Princess Katherine, despised the gargoyles, however. Her feelings were only encouraged by her adviser, the Magus (as he was secretly in love with her and wanted nothing more than to please her). The way they refused to acknowledge the gargoyles' assistance with thanks angered the Captain of the Guard, who was good friends with the clan, as well as the mate of Goliath (the clan leader). Together, they plotted to let the vikings sack the castle when they returned, luring the gargoyles away beforehand so that they would be safe. Unfortunately, when Goliath's mate urged him to take the whole clan after the vikings Goliath insisted it wasn't necessary, taking only the clan elder. The viking's attacked again come dawn and, helped from within by the Captain of the Guard, the castle was easily taken. Not willing to take any unnecessary risks, Hakon the viking leader went about destroying the gargoyles while they slept in stone, with the Captain unable to stop him. When Goliath and the elder returned, they found the castle in ruins, every gargoyle apparently killed aside from a trio of teenage clan members and their guard dog (a more beast-like gargoyle) who had been sent to the Rookery earlier the previous night for misbehaving. Seeking revenge, the group set off after the vikings and their prisoners.
Hakon and the Captain planned to ransom the Princess and the Magus to Katherine's uncle, the king. Thus they had kept them, and many others, alive for the time being. When the remaining gargoyles attacked, the two of them took the Princess and fled, intending to kill her. The Magus was left tied and unable to follow. He didn't know that Goliath had managed to come to her rescue (saving her at the cost of dealing the killing blow to both Hakon and the Captain, who fell to their deaths) and, mad with grief, he cast a spell on the other gargoyles to keep them in their stone sleep "until the castle rose above the clouds." When Katharine appeared with Goliath at her side he was immediately remorseful, but there was no counterspell - Hakon having ripped several pages from the Magus's spellbook as he taunted them earlier. Thinking he was truly alone at this point, Goliath returned the stone forms of his clan to the castle parapets and asked the Princess and the Magus to take care of the clan's eggs. Then he asked for the spell to be cast again - on him. (Essentially committing suicide, as the castle rising above the clouds seemed an impossibility.)
One thousand years later, in the year 1994, billionaire industrialist David Xanatos purchased the castle and had it flown brick by brick to the top of his skyscraper in Manhattan - just above the clouds. The spell was broken, and the clan found themselves waking to whole new world...
--- more to come ---
Physical Characteristics of Gargoyles
Gargoyles are usually winged, unless they are of the beast sort such as Bronx and Boudicca. Their wings can have anything from a simple hook on the end to hands with three or more fingers. The horns and crests, if they exist, are unique to each gargoyle. Some, like Brooklyn, have beak-like mouths. They can have hair and facial hair similar to a human, though rarely will there be hair anywhere else because of their thick skin. Their strength is far greater than a human's, and their claws can tear through stone and steel, allowing them to climb many buildings, ledges, etc. at fully vertical angles. Gargoyles don't actually fly - rather they are adept at gliding on the wind currents. Thus, their wings are practically useless indoors or underground. When angered, the eyes of a gargoyle become brightly lit - white on males, red on females. (The exception to this is clones.) They have only four digits on each hand and foot.
As gargoyles are stone during the day, they actually age at half the rate of humans. It is the guess of Dr. Sevarius that they gather solar energy while in this form to help provide for the high energy needs a creature their size would require and this has never been disputed. In Greg Weisman's "Ask Greg" site online, the writer has also gone on to add that it's not magic that causes them to turn to stone - it's a biological process and the stone itself is really an organic material that the gargoyle produces. (Of course he's also admitted to making this up just to answer the question, but since just about anything out of Greg's mouth about the series is considered canon we can count this too.)
Though seemingly mammals on some accounts, gargoyles are born through eggs. Only one egg is usually laid at a time, and they take about ten years to hatch - hence why most clans have a "Rookery" to keep them safe in.
Characters/Groups
--- coming ---
Culture
(Specifically the culture of Gargoyles as a race)
Gargoyles exist in clans, though in the modern age there are very few clans left and most contain only a handful of members. They generally have one leader and one second in command to stand in when the leader is killed/unavailable. Since it it the nature of a gargoyle to protect, each clan usually has an area that they watch over - even if the humans there are unaware of their presence or even fear them. There have been rare instances where clans have grown to despise humans and thus fended only for themselves, but even then the chance that they will return to their protective nature is great. Most clans have at least a couple humans that keep watch over them during the day while they are vulnerable. There is an old saying, quoted by Hudson on many occasions: "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." Goliath goes on to add later "Gargoyles protect. It is our nature - our purpose. To lose this is to become corrupt. Empty. Lifeless."
Long ago, such as the time when Goliath's clan originally lived, gargoyles didn't give themselves names. It was something that separated them from humankind. They found no need for them, as a simple "brother" or "friend" would suffice. Those with names usually only had them because humans had named them - Goliath and Demona, for example. The fact that the trio and Hudson named themselves was something very different from the norm. It seems that in modern times, however, all clans have taken to giving their members names. There were no gargoyles that Goliath, Eliza, Angela, and Bronx met on their "Avalon World Tour" that were unnamed, and Princess Katherine, the Magus, and Tom named all the ones under their care (so these gargoyles were unaware that it was unusual to begin with).
Gargoyles normally walk on two legs, but when they are all out running they will fall to all fours. There are a few other habits such as these that distinguish gargoyles from humans in the way they act. For example, gargoyles don't kiss. Instead, they include more petting and stroking of the hair. Their equivalent of a handshake is also more of a simple grasping of wrists more often than not. (There are exceptions to this when dealing with humans.)
Powers
(currently incomplete - some will be moved to the "world" section later)
Gargoyles
A gargoyle has no more natural magical ability than a human does and, like humans, can be taught to harness the abililty to cast spells and use magical items.
Oberon's Children (The Third Race)
The children of Oberon are the magical creatures of the world. Any story you've ever heard about a legendary person or monster is likely true in the Gargoyles world. In fact, one of the Weird Sisters actually says this at one point: "All things are true." From Coyote the trickster to the Banshee of Ireland, all are members of the third race. In the episode The Mirror Goliath describes them best: "The Scotsman called them the Fairfolk. The vikings called them Dark Elves. They are changlings, shapeshifters. Creatures of pure magic."
Oberon's children are immensely powerful, though they have some limits and can be worn out by exerting large amounts of power. They are very vulnerable to iron, often being restrained by being bound in iron chains. The sound of an iron bell, in fact, will bring Oberon himself to his knees (and could potentially kill him).
Magical Objects
There are a handful of magical items introduced and reused in the series.
THE EYE OF ODIN - a talisman that transforms the wearer into a reflection of their innermost self - with a twist towards the inner evil. In Fox's case, she became a sort of werefox - completely beastial. In Goliath's case he became an even stronger protector who could control the weather and no longer needed to turn to stone at night. However, he did all in his power - even to the detriment of his friends - to be able to keep it even after he no longer needed it. It doesn't want to be removed from the one bearing it. The eye was eventually returned to Odin himself.
THE PHOENIX GATE - a talisman that allows the user to travel to any place in time just by thinking of it. The Gate is currently lost in time without a mind to control it.
TITANIA'S MIRROR - a mirror belonging to the queen of the third race. It has many uses, from enhancing spells to summoning other children of Oberon.
THE GRIMORUM ARCANORUM - Unlike the previously listed objects, which were created on Avalon, the Grimorum is a book of human sorcery. It was with this book that the Magus cursed the gargoyles originally. He also wrote their story in its pages. Numerous spells from it are used throughout the series until it is destroyed on Avalon along with the Archmage. (At least it's assumed that it is.)
One thousand years ago superstition and the sword ruled. It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear. It was the age of Gargoyles.
Gargoyles was a Disney animated series aired from 1994 to 1997. It was syndicated at first and thus able to get past many standards and practice issues that would have later kept some of the darker elements out (there was more than one instance of blood and guns!) It is probably one of the darkest animated series Disney has ever done and has a large fan following still with its own convention held every year. There is also a comic continuation now, done by the show's original writers. If you are interested in catching up with this series, you can find most all of it on YouTube. It also shows on Toon Disney late at night, and the first season and first half of the second season can be bought on DvD.
World
History
In the year 994 A.D., Castle Wyvern in Scotland was under attack from a band of vikings that had followed a group of refugees they'd given shelter to. Fortunately for them, the attack had been made near sunset, and as night came the stone statues among the parapets came to life, revealing them to be actual winged demons who easily sent the Vikings running for their lives with promises to return. These creatures were gargoyles, stone by day and alive at night. Their duty was to protect the castle, and they'd had a longstanding pact with its rulers.
The current head of the castle, Princess Katherine, despised the gargoyles, however. Her feelings were only encouraged by her adviser, the Magus (as he was secretly in love with her and wanted nothing more than to please her). The way they refused to acknowledge the gargoyles' assistance with thanks angered the Captain of the Guard, who was good friends with the clan, as well as the mate of Goliath (the clan leader). Together, they plotted to let the vikings sack the castle when they returned, luring the gargoyles away beforehand so that they would be safe. Unfortunately, when Goliath's mate urged him to take the whole clan after the vikings Goliath insisted it wasn't necessary, taking only the clan elder. The viking's attacked again come dawn and, helped from within by the Captain of the Guard, the castle was easily taken. Not willing to take any unnecessary risks, Hakon the viking leader went about destroying the gargoyles while they slept in stone, with the Captain unable to stop him. When Goliath and the elder returned, they found the castle in ruins, every gargoyle apparently killed aside from a trio of teenage clan members and their guard dog (a more beast-like gargoyle) who had been sent to the Rookery earlier the previous night for misbehaving. Seeking revenge, the group set off after the vikings and their prisoners.
Hakon and the Captain planned to ransom the Princess and the Magus to Katherine's uncle, the king. Thus they had kept them, and many others, alive for the time being. When the remaining gargoyles attacked, the two of them took the Princess and fled, intending to kill her. The Magus was left tied and unable to follow. He didn't know that Goliath had managed to come to her rescue (saving her at the cost of dealing the killing blow to both Hakon and the Captain, who fell to their deaths) and, mad with grief, he cast a spell on the other gargoyles to keep them in their stone sleep "until the castle rose above the clouds." When Katharine appeared with Goliath at her side he was immediately remorseful, but there was no counterspell - Hakon having ripped several pages from the Magus's spellbook as he taunted them earlier. Thinking he was truly alone at this point, Goliath returned the stone forms of his clan to the castle parapets and asked the Princess and the Magus to take care of the clan's eggs. Then he asked for the spell to be cast again - on him. (Essentially committing suicide, as the castle rising above the clouds seemed an impossibility.)
One thousand years later, in the year 1994, billionaire industrialist David Xanatos purchased the castle and had it flown brick by brick to the top of his skyscraper in Manhattan - just above the clouds. The spell was broken, and the clan found themselves waking to whole new world...
--- more to come ---
Physical Characteristics of Gargoyles
Gargoyles are usually winged, unless they are of the beast sort such as Bronx and Boudicca. Their wings can have anything from a simple hook on the end to hands with three or more fingers. The horns and crests, if they exist, are unique to each gargoyle. Some, like Brooklyn, have beak-like mouths. They can have hair and facial hair similar to a human, though rarely will there be hair anywhere else because of their thick skin. Their strength is far greater than a human's, and their claws can tear through stone and steel, allowing them to climb many buildings, ledges, etc. at fully vertical angles. Gargoyles don't actually fly - rather they are adept at gliding on the wind currents. Thus, their wings are practically useless indoors or underground. When angered, the eyes of a gargoyle become brightly lit - white on males, red on females. (The exception to this is clones.) They have only four digits on each hand and foot.
As gargoyles are stone during the day, they actually age at half the rate of humans. It is the guess of Dr. Sevarius that they gather solar energy while in this form to help provide for the high energy needs a creature their size would require and this has never been disputed. In Greg Weisman's "Ask Greg" site online, the writer has also gone on to add that it's not magic that causes them to turn to stone - it's a biological process and the stone itself is really an organic material that the gargoyle produces. (Of course he's also admitted to making this up just to answer the question, but since just about anything out of Greg's mouth about the series is considered canon we can count this too.)
Though seemingly mammals on some accounts, gargoyles are born through eggs. Only one egg is usually laid at a time, and they take about ten years to hatch - hence why most clans have a "Rookery" to keep them safe in.
Characters/Groups
--- coming ---
Culture
(Specifically the culture of Gargoyles as a race)
Gargoyles exist in clans, though in the modern age there are very few clans left and most contain only a handful of members. They generally have one leader and one second in command to stand in when the leader is killed/unavailable. Since it it the nature of a gargoyle to protect, each clan usually has an area that they watch over - even if the humans there are unaware of their presence or even fear them. There have been rare instances where clans have grown to despise humans and thus fended only for themselves, but even then the chance that they will return to their protective nature is great. Most clans have at least a couple humans that keep watch over them during the day while they are vulnerable. There is an old saying, quoted by Hudson on many occasions: "A gargoyle can no more stop protecting the castle than breathing the air." Goliath goes on to add later "Gargoyles protect. It is our nature - our purpose. To lose this is to become corrupt. Empty. Lifeless."
Long ago, such as the time when Goliath's clan originally lived, gargoyles didn't give themselves names. It was something that separated them from humankind. They found no need for them, as a simple "brother" or "friend" would suffice. Those with names usually only had them because humans had named them - Goliath and Demona, for example. The fact that the trio and Hudson named themselves was something very different from the norm. It seems that in modern times, however, all clans have taken to giving their members names. There were no gargoyles that Goliath, Eliza, Angela, and Bronx met on their "Avalon World Tour" that were unnamed, and Princess Katherine, the Magus, and Tom named all the ones under their care (so these gargoyles were unaware that it was unusual to begin with).
Gargoyles normally walk on two legs, but when they are all out running they will fall to all fours. There are a few other habits such as these that distinguish gargoyles from humans in the way they act. For example, gargoyles don't kiss. Instead, they include more petting and stroking of the hair. Their equivalent of a handshake is also more of a simple grasping of wrists more often than not. (There are exceptions to this when dealing with humans.)
Powers
(currently incomplete - some will be moved to the "world" section later)
Gargoyles
A gargoyle has no more natural magical ability than a human does and, like humans, can be taught to harness the abililty to cast spells and use magical items.
Oberon's Children (The Third Race)
The children of Oberon are the magical creatures of the world. Any story you've ever heard about a legendary person or monster is likely true in the Gargoyles world. In fact, one of the Weird Sisters actually says this at one point: "All things are true." From Coyote the trickster to the Banshee of Ireland, all are members of the third race. In the episode The Mirror Goliath describes them best: "The Scotsman called them the Fairfolk. The vikings called them Dark Elves. They are changlings, shapeshifters. Creatures of pure magic."
Oberon's children are immensely powerful, though they have some limits and can be worn out by exerting large amounts of power. They are very vulnerable to iron, often being restrained by being bound in iron chains. The sound of an iron bell, in fact, will bring Oberon himself to his knees (and could potentially kill him).
Magical Objects
There are a handful of magical items introduced and reused in the series.
THE EYE OF ODIN - a talisman that transforms the wearer into a reflection of their innermost self - with a twist towards the inner evil. In Fox's case, she became a sort of werefox - completely beastial. In Goliath's case he became an even stronger protector who could control the weather and no longer needed to turn to stone at night. However, he did all in his power - even to the detriment of his friends - to be able to keep it even after he no longer needed it. It doesn't want to be removed from the one bearing it. The eye was eventually returned to Odin himself.
THE PHOENIX GATE - a talisman that allows the user to travel to any place in time just by thinking of it. The Gate is currently lost in time without a mind to control it.
TITANIA'S MIRROR - a mirror belonging to the queen of the third race. It has many uses, from enhancing spells to summoning other children of Oberon.
THE GRIMORUM ARCANORUM - Unlike the previously listed objects, which were created on Avalon, the Grimorum is a book of human sorcery. It was with this book that the Magus cursed the gargoyles originally. He also wrote their story in its pages. Numerous spells from it are used throughout the series until it is destroyed on Avalon along with the Archmage. (At least it's assumed that it is.)
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Latest page update: made by sandcoffin
, Jan 18 2008, 1:09 PM EST
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