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Untamed Feather Milk
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The Gaudian Bible claims the Gargoyle race began long ago, when a Greater Daemon rebelled against the Daemon Prince of the third circle of hell. The Daemon and his followers crawled their way up from hell and emerged onto the plains of Alt, free from the tyranny and injustice of their dark, dismal home. The Greater Daemon took the new name Gaud, and gifted his loyal followers the gift of mortality, allowing them to live amongst the races of Alt as equals. This creation myth has a lot of holes in it, however. The few Daemons still alive that witnessed the Ascension of Gaud say that he became the prince of the third circle himself, and that the Daemons that followed him were not made mortal, but given baronies in the third circle for their service. This does not dissuade the Gargoyles from embracing their alleged heritage, though.
Physically, Gargoyles stand at just above 6 feet and weight between 290-350 on average. Females tend to be slightly shorter and lighter than the males. Gargoyles are completely hairless, save for their eyelashes, which bot males and females groom meticulously. Gargoyle have sturdy torsos, powerful limbs, and thick layers of fat to protect them from the elements. at the ends of each arm and leg are 4 incredibly strong talons, which are powerful enough to dig into solid rock. their talons, thick muscular tail, and special muscles in their legs, all allow them to "perch" from various vantage points. whatever use this has to Gargoyles seems lost in their modern culture, but the habit of perching on ledges and walls when bored is pretty common for Gargoyles, especially teenagers and young adults who have nothing better to do.
Makeup is very important to Gargoyle fashion. most Gargoyles, male and female, spend a lot of time during their morning ritual applying this makeup, and to be seen around town completely naked in the face would be a social foix pas. in contrast, Gargoyle clothing is quite spartan. Gargoyles tend to wear plain shirts and pants, undyed and often made from simple raw canvas, with a long leather coat worn on top to combat the damp cold of their homelands.
Gaudians believe that the greatest good is the destruction of evil. Evil takes the form of Tyranny, injustice, greed, and hedonism. Their distaste for worldly pleasure in all forms leads other races to view them as stuffy or humorless, with which Gargoyles proudly agree. Gaud also teaches the virtues of charity and compassion, leading to many of those same people mocking the Gargoyle lifestyle while depending on it for food and shelter.
The center of Gargoyle life is the church, and so similarly the center of a Gargoyle burg is the Cathedral district. The Cathedral normally serves the entire town and so must be built to accommodate several thousand people at once. The Cathedral is surrounded by church dormitories and services, which allow the clergy and laypersons to tend to the massive building without having to leave the premises for food or lodging. The Burgermaster is commonly a member of the clergy, and so rarely does a burg have a town hall or office of any kind. The Burgermaster simply takes meetings in his or her dormitory.
Life in a Gargoyle burg is usually quiet. Rarely do Gargoyles build their cities near the border due to the cost of constructing and maintaining the massive cathedral, so incursions are a rarity. Most goyle industry involves the cultivation and refinement of ores and jewels, along with a bustling brewing industry (although few people other than other Gargoyles would dare drink most Goyle drinks). Gargoyle jewel cutters and Smiths are legendary amongst craftspersons for their consistent quality and attention to detail.
Gargoyles take to Crawling less commonly than other races, due to their stoicism and sedentary nature, but the ones that choose to become Crawlers are most commonly Gaudian missionaries. Gaud has a very aggressive doctrine when it comes to spreading the gospel, and missionaries take full advantage of the freedom of movement afforded to Crawlers in order to advertise their faith to as many prospective learners as they can.
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