Roleplay Information
The Townsfolk
These are all the remaining survivors from the town of Mirstone. After surviving the initial onslaught of the ghouls, the survivors got together and came up with a plan to try and reach the Castle outside of Mirstone. They hoped that, even if there was nothing there to aid them, that it might offer protection. So these are everyone who has survived up until this point. They don't know if the Ghouls are aware they've fled to the castle, but somehow they managed to make it to the castle without incident.
Up until now they didn't know that the Gargoyles did actually exist. Some might have completely dismissed the rumors, while others might have believed them, but none of them had confirmation until now. Not everyone has to like the Gargoyles either, but they may be their only hope.
These are just your normal, run of the mill humans. Everyday, ordinary people.
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The Gargoyles
These are the Gargoyles, the Protectors, of the Mirstone. Their clan has protected the Castle for generations, and has vowed to continue to do so even when there are no occupants. They have never really been viewed as owners of the castle, more so a part of it. Even they didn't try to live within the castle until the more recent years after it become clear that no humans were coming back to the castle.
The Gargoyles, which are known as the Mirstone Clan, named for their Location, have a variety of appearances. They all have the standard traits though: A pair of wings, a prehensile tail, brow crest and/or horns, and pointed ears. They are bipedal primarily, but are strong enough to move around on all fours, even able to run on them. They have four digited hands and feet, their hands having three fingers and one opposable thumb, all ending in sharp and powerful claws, whereas their feet are three forwards facing toes and a back claw. When bipedal they walk on their toes, but when transitioning to four legs, they use more of their foot, allowing them to run faster on all fours and get better traction. They have finger like claws on the apex of their wings that are capable of gripping, able to clasp their wings around them like cloaks. However, despite their more monstrous appearance, they do have an humanistic way about them. Majority of them have human like heads and bodies, though their hides are considerably more durable and thicker than human skin. They can have hair atop their heads, but do not have facial hair or body hair [think arms, back, and legs] like humans do. However, the hair they have can come in a variety of colors, even those viewed as unnatural.
For their wings they can be feathered or bat-like, and vary in appearance and size between gargates. Occasionally their wings can take the appearance more like that of a flying fox, where the wing membrane is stretched between their limbs. Their wings are used entirely for gliding, and are not capable of actual flight. Of course, there are both advantages and disadvantages to this. For one, their wings are incredibly prehensile and surprisingly durable. They are able to be used as weapons, while also being able to be maneuvered in ways ordinary wings cannot, such as draping around them like cloaks. However, it does mean they cannot simply take off from the ground or even get a running start. They must jump from a higher height in order for his wings to get enough air propelled into them to do anything.
Now for the sun, and the day. Gargoyles do turn to stone during the day, and is viewed as a form of hibernation as they cannot just wake from this. Which means from the moment the sun comes up, til the moment it dips below the horizon, the Gargoyles are all stone. However, the hibernation gives them great healing and rejuventation abilities, often finding they're completely healed once they reawaken. Of course, if a gargoyle is dead when it occurs, then it's too late, but if they're still alive when they turn to stone, they'll awake healed. Unfortunately for them, they are completely vulnerable during the day, able to be crushed when in stone form. This kills them, and they will never return to living form, but will remain as crumbled stone. Even if gargoyles are kept in dark place where the sun never gets in, the gargoyles will still turn to stone. Their stone forms are quite durable, as it's quite a feat to break them, but it is possible, you just need the right tools. It's important to know that there is no regenerative property to the sleep, things do not reattach once cut off, nor do they regrow. So if an arm or an eye is lost, they will remain lost.
Some other things to know. Their eyes glow a solid color as part of an adrenal response, so if they're excited, angered, etc. they'll glow whatever color it is for that gargoyle from white, red, green, etc. Gargoyles also lay eggs, and they're all kept in a rookery beneath the Castle. It takes about 6 months for the egg to be laid, and another 6 to 8 months to hatch. The eggs hatch into baby gargoyles who are slightly larger than your average human baby. Typically female gargoyles will lay their eggs around the same time if they can, and all the eggs in the rookery will typically hatch within a few days of each other. It's unknown why this is, but it's likely something evolutionary to aid in the raising of hatchlings. Unlike some renditions of gargoyles, these ones do have names given to them upon birth, and they do know who their parents are, and their families, etc.
Lifepsan wise, Gargoyles have elongated lifespans. About twice as long as humans, but that's about it. This is likely due to the fact that they only experience about half the day, and their aging stops during their periods as stone, so aging takes twice as long. However, they age like normal until they reach the age where they appear sometime in their twenties, and then it slows down to the norm mentioned above. Oddly enough, though, gargoyles rarely get sick, only a few illnesses actually affect them.
The Gargoyle Hierarchy
Clan Leader
This is the Gargoyle who leads the Clan. What he or she says is what goes. They're the one in charge, and they primarily make all of the decisions regarding the clan, though they often seek advisement from their Second and the Advisor. If the Clan Leader dies, the Second will take their place and choose a new Second. When a Clan Leader steps down, they take the role of Advisor. This rank can be challenged for if the Clan supports it.
Second in Command
This is the Gargoyle chosen by the Clan Leader to not only help them lead, but to replace them when the time comes. This is often a Gargoyle younger than the Lead by at least one generation. It can be either male or female, and occasionally it can even be the mate of the Leader instead of true successor. They are often well versed and trained in combat as well, and will absolutely lead battles when needed. This is not a rank challenged for, but chosen by the Lead.
Advisor
This is the Gargoyle that is typically the previous Clan Leader prior to the current. When the Clan Leader steps down, they take the role of Advisor to aid the clan leader in pretty much everything. As the Clan Leader ages and gains experience, they aren't as needed but they're still highly respected and viewed upon. The only time a Clan Leader doesn't take this title is when they were beaten in challenge, in that case the current Advisor will remain until later replaced or death.
Defenders
This is the primary mass of the Gargoyle clan, majority of them falling within this rank. They are the ones who defend the castle, or chase off would be pursuers. They can be male or female, but they are all adults.
Guardians
These are the few Gargoyles who, while still protectors, have a slightly different job. Instead of defending the Castle, they defend for and care for the rookery and the eggs within it. If there are no eggs, they'll join the defenders, but when there are they are the ones in charge of making sure the eggs remain unscathed and are tended to properly. There is typically one among them that is an unspoken "Lead Guardian" who takes the lead for them and ensures everyone is doing their jobs properly. But the Guardians ensure the eggs are kept at the right temperature and no one enters the rookery who isn't supposed to be there. When it comes time when eggs are hatching, a Guardian will retreive the parents for it.
Juveniles
These are all the young gargoyles from hatchlings up until they reach sexual maturity, which is about the age of 16, as their aging is sped up/normal, until in their twenties which is when it slows. They do not have specific roles or anything other than to learn and train.
Gargoyle Abilities:
+ Gliding: They Can Glide in Any Weather as Long as there are Air Currents to Ride. They cannot fly though, so if they are on the ground they have to move to a place where they can jump off to glide.
+ Enhanced Attributes: This includeds strength, speed, agility, reflexes, durability, and senses. They all have a basic baseline, but Gargoyles who are more lithe will have better agility and speed, whereas larger, brutish gargoyles will be stronger.
+ Climbing: Gargoyles have very sharp, strong, and hardy claws on their hands and feet, able to pierce and slice through even the strongest of stone without breaking or chipping. This means they can climb pretty much anything if they desire it.
+ Camoflauge/Stealth: Due to their natural affinity for night time, they are well adept at hiding and camoflauging within the shadows, as well as with other statues. For some reason, because of this affinity for the night, they are quite stealthy, and are even able to glide in absolute silence.
+ Dermal Armor: They are not bullet or inpenetrable, however their hide is naturally harder and more protective than human skin. So they do have a natural armor to them, but not by a whole lot.
+ Night Vision: Obviously, being night creatures, they can see at night, even with no light around. They can see as well at night as we can during the day.
And lastly....
The Ghouls
These malevolent, and vile creatures, the Vampiric Ghouls are nightmares unlike any other. During most of the year they lay dormant within their layers deep within the untouched wilderness. However, when the sun begins to spend less and less time out in the sky, they begin to awaken, driven by a hunger that claws at their throat.
They're demons, devils really, and an absolute plague when unleashed upon a town. There is little a town can do against them when they come calling, except for hiding, making as little noise as possible, and hoping they aren't found. They may stop hunting for short periods at a time, but while the sun is down, they won't go away. The only thing that has ever made them leave thus far is the arrival of the sun.
So every year, for rough 30 to 60 days a year, they find some small, unexpecting town, and absolutel ransack it, leaving it pulverized in their wake. Why has no one said or done anything? For one, there's never any survivors. Second, people thought little of it in a time when disease could ravage an entire town and leave no one left alive. It just isn't something many find out about, and when someone does, it's even less likely they'll look into it any.
These ghouls seem to be a combination of Vampire and Ghoul, hence while they're considered Vampiric Ghouls. They survive off the flesh and blood of humans, and animals but they find it gross, and cannot survive without it. They have skin that is on the paler side, seemingly drain of color, and even ashen in appearance at times. Their veins appear murky, thick black blood oozing through them, only looking redder after they've fed recently. In fact, the more they feed, the more "alive" they look.
The Ghouls aren't able to hide how they look, not able to conceal what they are, which is why they cannot try to assimilate into the natural world and act like humans. Their teeth are more predatory, somewhat reminiscent of a sharks, with the same ability to shed and replace them. Their sclera is usually heavily blood shot with veins that typically look dark at first, before transitioning to a more red color. The color of the whites is also a more yellow color, with the iris becoming unnaturally bright with a ring of red around not only the outside of the iris but the pupil as well.
Their Abilities Are As Follows:
1. Enhanced Physiology & Senses: They have heightened senses as well as physiology, so they're stronger, faster, more agile, etc. than humans. They also have better senses than any human, by like tenfold. They're about even in terms of physiology with Gargoyles, but their senses aren't as sharp. They Don't Have as Good Night Vision like Gargoyles do, and base heavily off of sound and smell.
2. Freshly Fed: A Ghoul is no stronger or faster than just after it's fed. They become more sluggish and dormant once they start to metabolize what they've eaten, but right after? It's like a temporary boost to them.
3. Extremely Durable: While it goes with Enhanced Physiology, it's important to note that Ghouls have extreme durability. Yes, they can be harmed easily, but it takes a lot to slow them down because they don't really process pain like normal, it more so enrages them. Their healing factor is also higher, and the more they feed, the faster they heal [though they metabolize their food faster too].
Now in terms of weaknesses, or how they can be killed. There isn't a whole lot to it. They're like enhanced humans, most things that kill humans will, at least eventually, kill them. There are definitely somethings that might kill a person that won't kill them, but that's because they're not humans anymore. So they don't get sick, they don't have allergic reactions, they do heal faster, and they don't process pain like humans. So while it's unlikely they'll die from bleeding out, it will, however, slow them down, and by a lot eventually. A starving ghoul is a slow ghoul.
Ghouls also can become mindless when enraged or starving. So if they haven't fed recently enough, or have been injured and lost a lot of blood, or spent all of it healing, or some combination, then they'll become absolutely mindless. There will be no thoughts or planning, they will simply attack.
Lastly. The Sun is their biggest weakness. They cannot survive in it even. A milisecond in the sun result in horrible, horrible burns that will never heal, and will always be painful. Often the pain is so agonizing that they die from it even if the wound isn't big, because they simply cannot take it.
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Now. I know you're wondering: How is that fair? Or going to work? Gargoyles have like... eight abilities,the Ghouls have Three.
Well for one, their durability and how they process pain. They don't slow down or stopped even with severe injuries, and can heal faster than Gargoyles, who normally heal in stone. Without it? They heal like normal humans. Which means they also get tired eventually too, the Ghouls won't. If they start to slow down, the can feed, get a boost, or let themselves heal enough, and then they're back to work. Whereas the Gargoyles have to eat, sleep, drink water, etc. like normal humans do since they can't go into their magical sleepy stone.
I assure you, I have thought this out, and it will all be balanced, and I will be ensuring it stays balanced too.
Fall 
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