Gargoyle, Bloodstone

Family: Gargoyle

Large elemental, chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 72 (8d10 + 28)
Speed 40 ft., fly 80 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	11 (+0)	18 (+4)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	7 (-2)

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren’t adamantine
Damage Immunities poison
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6
Condition Immunities exhaustion, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Languages Terran, understands Common but can’t speak, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 5 (2,300 XP)

SPECIAL TRAITS

• False Appearance. While the bloodstone gargoyle remains motionless, it is indistinguishable from an inanimate statue.

ACTIONS

• Multiattack. The bloodstone gargoyle makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
• Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. The target’s hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken, and the bloodstone gargoyle regains hit points equal to that amount. The reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain in this way and then buried in the ground rises the following night as a vampire spawn under the bloodstone gargoyle’s control.
• Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
• Fiendish Charm. The bloodstone gargoyle’s eyes sparkle with crimson light as it targets one humanoid it can see within 60 feet of it. If the target can see the bloodstone gargoyle, the target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the bloodstone gargoyle. The charmed target regards the bloodstone gargoyle as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn’t under the bloodstone gargoyle’s control, it takes the gargoyle’s requests or actions in the most favorable way it can, and it is a willing target for the gargoyle’s bite attack. Each time the gargoyle or the gargoyle’s companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the gargoyle is destroyed, is on a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a bonus action to end the effect.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The bloodstone gargoyle can take one legendary action, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The bloodstone gargoyle regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Detect. The bloodstone gargoyle makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
• Hurl Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 40/120 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

LAIR

Bloodstone gargoyles serve as sleepless sentinels of a crumbling mountain temple where they perch upon ebon steeples.

REGIONAL EFFECTS

The craggy region surrounding the bloodstone gargoyle’s lair has been corrupted by its unnatural presence, creating the following effects:

• There’s a noticeable increase in the population of bats in the region.
• Plants within 1,000 feet of the lair are withered, and their stems and branches have become twisted and thorny.
• Shadows cast within 1,000 feet of the lair seem abnormally gaunt and sometimes move as though alive. If the bloodstone gargoyle is destroyed, these effects end after 3d6 days.

ABOUT

A hulking effigy carved from solid bloodstone clings to the sanctuary steeple. A closer look reveals a sinister winged creature of elemental earth that bears the loathsome likeness of a demonic statue with long, curving horns and a prodigiously wicked grin. The sound of grinding stone and the blinking of two luminous crimson eyes precede the gargoyle’s lightning-swift assault.

Evil to the Core. An accursed gemstone known as the heliotrope heart is buried deep within the bloodstone gargoyle’s stony chest. This magical orb can only be retrieved if the gargoyle is slain, at which point the rest of the earthen creature crumbles to dust.

Elemental Nature. The bloodstone gargoyle doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep.