Let's Explore Skyrim's Gargoyles

In this Skyrim video we explore Gargoyles and the theories and mysteries behind their true origin, unique powers and more!
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[@poilboiler]

Serana's mother had a gargoyle crafting studio with some stone slabs that looked partially worked into the shape of gargoyles. Just before the room with all the alchemy stuff and the portal to the Soul Cairn.

[@Caithris85]

Came here to make this same comment and you've already taken care of it. I was quite surprised this wasn't mentioned in the video.

[@molagsballs]

Also when asked about Gargoyles Serana says "My mother had a thing for magical constructs". It seems they're just magical constructs vampires can create.

[@FudgeMuppet]

Even more evidence! I put a picture of it here for those interested :) twitter.com/OldBerryChew/status/1600942019068985344

[@poilboiler]

@@molagsballs "Not what you're thinking." :D

[@molagsballs]

@@poilboiler ;3

[@donutlovingwerewolf8837]

Gargoyles might be statues constructed to imitate Vampire Lords, and they are given life via Vampiric magic and used as defenses and traps.

[@drazzytime9353]

It makes sense considering the extreme similarities between the two now that I think about it. Good shout.

[@maxb3248]

Sounds about right

[@drazzytime9353]

Lmao at the fact you comment this 4 minutes after it was posted and so hadnt seen yet that this was in the video

[@Blackstonelegion]

In Elder scrolls online we see one vampire actually turn into a Gargoyle granted less stony and more fleshy, so the theory makes sense At the same time we also see Gargoyles in areas not related to vampires so idk if I can explain that

[@thepissedoffwhitedude969]

I more so believe them as the European mythos where they've been around forever and just kinda hang around waiting for a victim, and the vampires just found them and put them on their castles with the agreement that they feed the gargoyles any scraps or even cattle they don't want

[@vi6618]

Considering gargoyles in traditional myths are basically golems, I always assumed they were golems made by vampires in the game. It was a natural conclusion.

[@tarponpet]

Thats canon, check UESP, pretty straightforward lol

[@creolekolbytv1252]

My 13 yr old logic even assumed that. Nice to see it

[@Blackstonelegion]

7:14 Correction, Vampire lords can take to the sky, in Elderscrolls Online(Primarily the greymoor DLC) many of the Vampire lords you fight will fly all over the place

[@vonfaustien3957]

The ones in skyrim are obviously just being respectful of the imperial ban on levitation and flight magic. Such nice lawful blood suckers

[@badluck5647]

I guess the Grey Host have a different bloodline than the Volkihar.

[@Blackstonelegion]

@@badluck5647 I think its because you can actually be a Vampire lord in skyrim so Bethesda didn't want you to be able to fly around skyrim and getting to places you shouldn't get , while in ESO you cant take on the form of the Vampire lord(You get a wingless Verson called scion form) so the actual Vampire lords can fly

[@badluck5647]

@@Blackstonelegion Obviously the difference is gameplay limitations. It like when the vampire is the base ESO game transforms into a gargoyle. The loremaster says it is due to a different bloodline, when everyone knows it is because the artists couldn't bother to make a custom vampire lord asset for a rather forgettable quest.

[@Blackstonelegion]

@@badluck5647 that too

[@furiouskaiser9914]

Gargoyles... a most underrated Disney show from the 90s.

[@KtulmChildOfOberon]

Yeah. Imagine playing a 90s gargoyle in skyrim. Im pretty sure gliding wouldn't be imbalanced. We have waterbrwathing Argonians.😊

[@clockworx7689]

In ESO’s Greymoor expansion we learn that it’s possible to pull a soul from coldharbour and give it physical form by incubating it in a stone husk, this could possibly mean that gargoyles come from Oblivion in some way Notably, gargoyles are also found in eso, where they are found in vampiric castles, but also yokudan ruins

[@bray2964]

My bet is that the gargoyles in the Elder Scrolls are statues infused with a daedric spirit. The knowledge on how to perform such a binding probably comes from Molag Bal, since it's the vampires who directly worship him that tend to use them. Gargoyles created in Coldharbour can be conjured to Nirn by powerful vampires and followers of Molag Bal.

[@ovidiufarcau243]

my ideea exactly

[@Serge_Jackson]

What if they're another type of Deidra that exist in tamrial as stone til someone gets close

[@Longshanks1690]

I always assumed that they were summoned from elsewhere like daedra and frozen in place to act as guards by vampires, rather than being initially crafted from rock in the first place.

[@musabbirallennoor2377]

Same. I thought they were originally daedra from cold harbor (Molag Bal’s realm ), and told to act as statue guards.

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

Molag bal contracted stone atronachs that are so picky they need a physical form to be contorted into upon summon?

[@____________838]

Serena’s mom’s crafting station would refute this.

[@Wulfjager]

They're kind of a half and half blend of atronach and rune

[@Scaluu]

Serana definitely has "vampiric grip"

[@Flesh_Wizard]

_🤨_

[@badluck5647]

Gargoyles - Kings of Jump Scares

[@JadeMythriil]

No problem. just use aura whisper to see which is fake.

[@luciusvoldaren]

@@JadeMythriil I just shot every one of them to be safe. If you hit them, some of them will reveal themselves. Not always, but usually.

[@tiacool7978]

I hadn't played Skyrim in years, and forgot they were even a thing. Walked into a dungeon a while ago, and one bust out the stone. Scared me half to death, and he was so freaking quick too.

[@feyfolken1655]

@@luciusvoldaren same... I also do this with draugr.

[@luciusvoldaren]

@@feyfolken1655 Any enemy that I know can “play dead” I’ll shoot it just in case lol.

[@LaylaSpellwind]

If you were to ask a nord, what monster lies in wait for the next victim to enter it's lair.... They'd say Sybille Stentor, of course. Thanks, my first of your videos. Was well made and you have a lovely voice. ^_^

[@krimsonentertainment4717]

A mix of irl legends and specualtion here: vampires often have a container or fill their coffins with soil from their birthplace. It is said they have a connection to the world so they can remain immortal. Perhaps a vampire is spiritually connected to earth and can thus control stone by infusing a soul to it and molding it in the likeness of a demon. For Elder Scrolls it looks somewhat like Molag Baal's overall visage. Only Molag would be interested in worship of himself in the form of a destructive creature. A gargoyle is just a tool of both veneration and carnage.

[@Sanguivore]

And, if controlled by Vampires, inherently a tool of subjugation as well!-and Molag loves subjugation.

[@elliotbishop231]

I believe gargoyles are some kind of amalgam of stone, daedric magic and vampiric blood magic. I think their resemblance to molag bal is purposeful to hint at their origins. Perhaps they’re some kind of corruption and imitation of stone itself in a way similar to how the vampire was a corruption of mortals. Perhaps molag bal gifts them as guardians to his loyal vampire followers, and teaches the powerful elder vampires he favours most to construct them with blood magic rituals corrupting stone itself.

[@Sanguivore]

Worth noting that the “Bal” in Molag Bal’s name literally means “stone” too. So you might be onto something!

[@legacyirene832]

In DnD lore gargoyles are elementals, so I'm inclined to think that in TES they could be some kind of lesser daedra that vampires summon to fight and protect places, like atronachs

[@luciusvoldaren]

Basically yes, when you get into deep TeS lore

[@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

I also assumed this. I was thinking stone elementals imbued with daedric essence of some sort (or even full-blooded vampire blood, so tied to Molag Bal).

[@robertcain7630]

interestingly, the word gargoyle comes from the french 'gargouille' and literally means a waterspout projecting from a roof of a stone building, most usually a stone church and was intended to stop rainwater from running down the side of the building and damaging and discolouring the stone. For decorative sake they are usually shaped like the head of a strange and ugly creature. There is an abbey in Scotland that during some restoration work had some spouts replaced, one of the new ones bears a strong resemblance to H.R. Giger’s Xenomorph from the Alien franchise!

[@KalebCorvid]

I actually grew up near the town you're talking about, in Scotland. It's so cool that someone else mentions it.

[@luckyjedi429]

Love these lore deep-dives and investigation videos.

[@tiredman99]

The DawnGuard dlc was such an amazing dlc. From the Soul Carin to the DawnGuard castle/keep to the monsters such as the gargoyles to the shades in the Soul Carin.

[@johanbockey]

I always felt like gargoyles were the mystery creatures of Skyrim but I am glad to see some light finally shed on these vampiric type beasts! Great work boys!

[@hacker4chn841]

Gargoyles are not exclusively in vampire related locations. I've been attacked by them in random placed in skyrim like outside of Riften.

[@drazzytime9353]

Yes but that’s because of the Vampire outbreak that the DLC is about

[@prozoomy3588]

I got jumped by two of them at level 8. I was over in the marshes...

[@HypercomboProduction]

I found two behind Darklit Tower on my first playthrough.

[@snowcloudshinobi]

it was in the reach for me.

[@hacker4chn841]

@@snowcloudshinobi yeah. I got jumped by two right outside of Riften

[@theelderscrolls_area]

your videos are simply amazing and very enjoyable to watch! ✨✨✨✨

[@johnnymcgeez5647]

All Harkon needed to do in order to win was to be a little more subtle with his plans. He could have pretended that he cares for Serana and that he doesnt care about prophecy anymore. After some time everyone would lose their suspicions and then he could have taken her. But no, he was letting everyone know what he plans to do from the start.

[@christophertaylor9100]

They seem closely associated with vampires, for sure. Valerica almost certainly is involved in their creation using alchemy

[@crandleberrysadie]

Another video? I feel positively spoiled! Thanks guys!!

[@mjrtaurus2714]

"You can't get blood from a stone!" Ah, but you can put blood *in* a stone...

[@panic7586]

I love these videos and all things Skyrim. Thank you FudgeMuppet

[@nemosthebandit]

The way you edit these videos makes an already Astounding game look better.

[@darkslayer1161]

I always thought they were vampires that couldn't take a vampire lords blood and became trapped between their "human" form, and Vampire Lord transformation.

[@Stranger69in]

Points for creativity but there is literally 0 evidence to point to this. They are clearely chissled and somehow animated

[@dianslabbert504]

I have no evidence backing it up and is just conjecture on my part, but I like to think the reason why Gargoyles have ores and and jewels as loot in Skyrim is because since they seem to created from stone the ores could their "bones". To make them be strong yet malleable in some way and maybe also to strengthen their claws. The strongest variants can have Ebony Ore on them at times. The jewels could be used to make their eyes.

[@Sage-uq6em]

15:49 OMG THAT'S A COOL FRAME... Molag Bal standing behind the vampire is absolutely wicked-looking.

[@dragonzord_reptar]

I also made the connection with how much they look like a vampire lord and thought they could be a failed experament by Molag Bol to create vampires, but you've presented some pretty compelling arguments so I like your explanation better

[@ovidiufarcau243]

yes but that could be the deadra gargoyle and the carved stone the body to bind it to our realm from Coldharbor !

[@kingtaco258]

Man, it has been far too long since I had the time to enjoy a fudge muppet video. Makes me feel old.😅

[@UGNAvalon]

Seeing all those similarities btwn Gargoyles & Vampire Lords makes me think of a scenario…. “Mother, I would like to have a Vampire Lord within my service!” “Oh, sweetie. We already have plenty of Vampire Lords in our Hold!” The Vampire Lords at the Hold:

[@1Surge]

At this point I believe bethesda watches mudgepuppet to understand the lore.

[@finnirbjrneklo1246]

Do you know how long ive been waiting for a video explaining gargoyles in the elder scrolls. Since 2012

[@Tx-qk3zj]

They are statues that are animated and can look however the creater wants, you see a half built one in Castlr Volkihar, they are also not exclusive to Vampires, Ra Gada ruins in Hammerfell are also full of them.

[@DannyCapM8]

For every Elder Scrolls Video I watch, the more I want to find a up-to-date timeline video.

[@neilchristiancalajate5615]

That's brutal! The ferryman's life is on the line just by sailing there so paying 500 septims is just normal.

[@gerbenvanegmond4007]

This subject was way more interesting than I could've guessed beforehand

[@geoffreyzwegers3711]

Perhaps blood is actually the miasma of a distant ancient oblivion realm, inhabited by original gargoyles and powering blood magic across the universe. Gargoyles are then ... Blood elementals?

[@doom1787]

This theory is metal asf lmao. I like it

[@Wargulpartal]

Castle Volkihar has strong castlevania vibe. Actually, they nailed! It is exactly how I would imagine a castlevania in 3D HD.

[@badluck5647]

Unfortunately, ZeniMax wants to use blood magic to make gargoyle shaped like horses and senche to sell in the Crowns Store.

[@yagizsahin_]

lmao right...

[@matthewjohnson8556]

The Lord of donation demise a vampire worthy to walk Tumbrel once again, for a price, in gargoyle from.

[@venkelos6996]

While it doesn't cover all the alternatives I wasn't entirely aware of, for the Gargoyles of Skyrim, who served Clan Volkahar, I honestly just assumed that at least some of them were formed from the very stone of Coldharbour, and imbued with some of Molag Bal's essence, or, even better, may have been earlier, or less important, efforts on his part to imbue his essence into people. When he just does it, maybe we get Gargoyles, but when he cares, or is rewarding someone of actual value to hjs schemes, we get a more typical Vampire Lord. I'd like to imagine it didn't work perfectly the first time, or every time since, and maybe some lesser souls became more bestial, and less nuanced; perfect servants for the more perfected, "Chosen" Lords who serve Molag Bal.

[@fredgt45]

Your game looks beautiful!!

[@kinghazythethird]

Have you made a video on wisp mothers yet? They always intrigued me

[@munkithestoopid]

Pretty sure they already have one in the channel

[@badluck5647]

Here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnTXlmWwoM55Z7s

[@WileyCatOFFICIAL]

the enth apple did go check it out trust its a good one

[@kinghazythethird]

Thank you

[@FudgeMuppet]

Sure have ! Here you go kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnTXlmWwoM55Z7s

[@agacyvieira9691]

This is my favorite channel, for my favorite games. Thank you fudgemuppet!, you three have given us amazing content over the years!

[@Aetrion]

It's probably lore osmosis from World of Darkness where gargoyles are creatures that are created from vampires through specific blood magic rituals.

[@ashleejones586]

But wait, isn’t there a loading screen text that says they are creatures that develop a stone-like skin coating when they sit still for a long time?

[@cllew5383]

They’re honestly just an extension of the vampiric powers giving by molang bol

[@chip6169]

This is an interesting creature to fight in game and is one of my fav designs. Haven’t seen much explored with the Gargoyles of Elder Scrolls on KZbin much. Very excited to continue on with the video

[@snowcloudshinobi]

survival mode and getting chased out after one of these jump scared me was terrifying. i hope the next elder scrolls game has more scary monsters.

[@chriswonder2747]

VIDEO IDEA: In Skyrim Who gets your soul? Assuming you are a completionist who says yes to everyone everywhere. And by those rules what about the other heroes in each elder scrolls game?

[@conk9990]

In relation to the Gargoyles being made then imbued. During quest where you and Serana explore the older parts of the castle there's a room where Gargoyles are being masoned or carved out. And in said room 2 of the finished products will wake up and choose violence.

[@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

I just love the idea of something bursting into existence knowing absolutely nothing about life, death, the world they find themselves in, or their surroundings, but seeing two strangers they suddenly rationalize "...rage? Rage."

[@conk9990]

@@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger Exactly.

[@SilverFang2789]

The real life lore behind gargoyles seems to be mostly malevolent with some stories portraying them as guardians of the night and protectors of humanity from that which haunts the shadows. Gargoyles are an often overlooked creature and maybe deserve more attention than they get.

[@dd11111]

It does remind me of what I have been told of the Gargoyles carved into churches and old buildings of our own world. Thats why they look so scary, to ward off and intimidate anything that you might think could be lurking in the night. (Btw, I think you mean Benevolent, Malevolent means something has bad intentions.)

[@michaelwautraets7126]

One thing bothers me about Castle Volkihar. Its been there for thousands of years and nobody ever thought of sending an entire group of soldiers there to check it out ?

[@owensoto1373]

They probably did many times but stopped when no one returned alive

[@ThomasWarhammer]

They're probably just daedra from Molag Bal's realm

[@SenketsuFi]

I blame Mr Thanatos for the gargoyle problems in the big apple

[@realzachfluke1]

Thanks, Michael! I really enjoyed this, and I very much appreciate the work you do on this channel, dude!!! 🤜🤛

[@fernmiranda]

Still making new Skyrim content? You are a master bard!

[@Jimboman2187]

So i know this video is 5 months old, but it's the first time I really noticed how fantastic some of the clips look. Do you guys have a mod list somewhere for the graphics mods you use? Also I'm a fairly new fan of your channel and I'm really enjoying these lore dives. It's the first time I've dived this deep into TES lore.

[@dairydregone7146]

What a Great video

[@-cody_]

not gonna lie been waiting for this one!

[@totally_not_a_commie1140]

It's December and Christmas approaches closer and closer, with each passing day. I think he should make a build based on Santa Claus. It just makes sense, doesn't it?

[@K_30]

its crazy how i had the same thought on these creatures

[@RWNetworkEX]

Hey Michael, do you and Scott plan on making more Elder Scrolls what if vids? Id love to see a video on what if Nerevar was never killed or what if the night of tears never occurred. Just a thought. Love your vids ❤

[@dankusoonyt7473]

There is a mod where their is a Gargoyle Lair with the Goblin King boss as part of the Castle Volkihar Redux mod pack.

[@yes.elevens3688]

Statue got so mad it started morbin I guess

[@mikeharrison6039]

Fun fact Lawrence Schick was a writer for dungeons and dragons in the 70s-80s

[@Sanguivore]

And he wrote one of my favorite dungeons of all time, White Plume Mountain!

[@mikeharrison6039]

@@Sanguivore legendary module I ran it a few weeks ago

[@Sanguivore]

@@mikeharrison6039 I couldn't agree more! It deserves a ton of praise. I'm actually thinking about revisiting it soon with a new group.

[@JerichoJack]

im a simple folk, i see fudgemuppet upload, i click.

[@LICENFIREFEAR]

They are so intheresting and cool i like them

[@Thecircustapes]

So we know serana's mother knew how to make them and likely did make them. We also know that she's a daughter of coldharbour and blessed with a lot of dark power from molag bal. So maybe they're created via molag bal's daedric power infused with vampiric magic of some kind?

[@epmcgee]

"A mod that makes gargoyles look more aesthetic overall,: The mod: Lemme be cliché.

[@DickyReeves]

I feel as a good deal of people do, that the Gargoyle is a type of Atronoch that is empowered by the undead or those with that specific type of magical conjurative power.

[@lupuslycos88]

What texture/lighting mods do you use for your vids guys? Been wanting to go back for another play though but it doesn't look anywhere as sharp as it does in your vids :D.

[@sk8legendz]

ah shit. a fudgemuppet video covering lore I haven't listened to 30+ times while brushing my teeth I genuinely am pleased. *side note* you ought to start covering some of the in game books. many have very enjoyable stories that I am certain 70% or more of the player base misses out on. could make for a plethora or good content.

[@Frenchy_47]

If it doesn't make sense in fantasy then just assume magic.

[@prototype102010]

For some reason, I always forget to do the Dawnguard DLC when playing Skyrim... maybe this time I'll actually do it!

[@jamesedwards1164]

I have a pet theory that gargoyles started as a Yokudan thing - the Yokudans being known for practicing "stone magic" and gargoyles having a strong presence in Hammerfell despite there otherwise not being a notable vampire presence there. I think they might have been introduced to vampire culture specifically via Rada al-Saram as a weapon for the Gray Host & then spread to other vampire clans from there.

[@bhaskarhaldar1080]

Please make a video about the vestige

[@xthelone]

Gargoyles always reminded me of Ash Spawn.

[@kingmasterlord]

I always thought they were a type of atronach/golem from Coldharbor

[@mishanuketheus2570]

Gargoyles in skyrim are a callback to vampire the masquerade where gargoyles are a bloodline of clan Tremere.

[@Falkriim]

Very interesting

[@justintorres83]

What mods do you use and what mods are recommended for xbox one because I been looking and my game keeps freezing and having bugs ??

[@bigredwolf6]

My theory is that the original/progenitor gargoyle is a creation of Malog Bal in oblivion. And as a vampire lord, you’re summoning the original gargoyles from oblivion. However, Bal probably taught his minions to build gargoyles in Tamriel. Some of the random gargoyles that are about and not in vampire related locations are probably either failed experiments performed by curious wizards, or accidentally summoned by curious wizards. Either they found a journal or Malog Bal whispered the process to them in their sleep. (Like how the chaos gods do in 40k)

[@Herrshwarz]

what about hel ra citadel, where gargoyles fight with stone warriors which you mentioned are not created by blood magic against us

[@isobarkley]

god, you’d be a great dungeon master

[@NemFX]

I imagine they are a golem class. Like, say a flame autronach, but for stone.

[@edwardmoreno60]

I thought he found that wierd creature I found. It was something else that was in the mountains not far from a ork stronghold. It was like this canine red chupacapra looking thing that breath fire. I was messing around trying to go over the boundaries of the mountains to the east and saw it roaming. It was strong, if it weren't for my cheat armor I would've died

[@jessemorris744]

Slightly irrelevant but I thought of a cool thing, if you disenchant the blade of woe and destroy it Astrid's ghost appears "HOW DARE YOU" and tries to kill your character

[@mikeynth7919]

How about the bonewalkers from Morrowind? They don't seem quite a zombie, so are they golems of a sort?

[@Rob17Cotton]

Ahhh new fudgemuppet video just after I watched camel works latest video bonus 😁

[@howardhavardramberg7160]

I believe Molag also shaped the gargoyles in ancient times, but it’s possible they can be formed differently too.

[@vinnydaskinny7793]

vampire lord bit a giant goblin and bam gargoyle

[@MarkoHolic]

mate did you voiced Morvran Voorhis in witcher 3?

[@tylosaur1133]

Like gargoyles guarding castles lol come to life suddenly make scared real quick for second lol

[@boldbearings]

Another masterpiece 👌🔥 Muppet Team putting in the work.💯

[@noneyabidness9644]

It is weird that I don't remember any gargoyles...I did the vampire quests. Man, my memory has really tanked.

[@angelfoot6426]

They could also be magical constructs. Depending on the culture and/or magic system that the elder scrolls use for inspiration they can be very similar to make as golems or even considered the same thing so it’s not that far of a stretch. Usually golems are made from stone mud or clay. While magical constructs are usually made with metals powered by magical gem stones. With the gargoyles dropping metal ores and gems it is a good argument for the magical construct but as stated before in some cultural lore/magical systems they can be one and the same. I will admit to not playing as a mage or ushering magic much in Skyrim so I can’t make a more informed guess but I thought it was an interesting note to make.

[@ctdaniels7049]

Elder Scrolls Online is funny in that it would guaranteed be a great game if it wasn't monetized to hell and back. The grindy level system, the obnoxious randos, the always-open quest/raid system that breaks any immersion you may have had.. all that lore is swimming around in a game that would be really good, if it wasn't buried under a subscription system, paid DLC, in-game shop and so on.