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Anonymous writes...

There's a red gargoyle on the opening credits of the show that looks kinda like Brooklyn. Although I won't asume anything (my headcanons will remain headcanons forever) I was wondering if there's something interesting you can tell us about said gargoyle :)

Greg responds...

It's been a while. So... no. Sorry. Not off the top of my head.

Response recorded on October 31, 2017

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Sara Rose writes...

Good afternoon!

I'm working on a paper for my interdisciplinary research class, and the focus is on medievalism in modern media, with topics of our own choosing. I couldn't turn down the opportunity to return to my childhood roots with "Gargoyles"! My topic focuses on why the medieval is used in the show (for instead, instead of antiquity, like Roman times), and how that particular era gave it such success in terms of audience and impact.

If it's no burden to answer, I was wondering:

1. Why was medieval Scotland chosen as the first setting and location for the original gargoyles?

2. Was there any specific appeal, personally or for the purpose of storytelling, that drew you to it?

3. Was it a conscious, debated decision to choose the medieval era and Scotland, or was it more of an intuitive decision that was there from the start?

4. How important has historical accuracy been between the show and comics (on a scale of unnecessary to absolute)?

Thank you in advance!

Warm regards,

Sara Rose

Greg responds...

1. A big part of the reason had to do with suspension of belief. We wanted the characters to speak English, so the audience could understand them. We wanted a European country, because Europe's where the classic tradition/image of Gargoyles sprang from. (We'd explore similar traditions in other countries later in the series.) So if we're looking at English speaking countries in Europe, that narrows it down considerably. Scotland felt like it was more in the hinterlands than England. A rougher/tougher tradition and location, which seemed to fit. Now, of course, I realize that no one was speaking modern English in medieval Scotland, but that's where the suspension comes in. It's just a bit easier to ignore this point in Scotland, then it would have been in, say, France.

2. I'm a Britophile. Love Shakespeare. King Arthur, etc.

3. The even "One Thousand Years Ago..." had it's appeal. The medieval setting and it's statuary seemed to make more sense, fit the tone better, than something classical, like ancient Greece or Rome. And again, the "classic" image of Gargoyles is on medieval churches and castles anyway.

4. Historical accuracy was initially not very important. But it wound up being EXTREMELY important. We found, while researching City of Stone, that - by accident or sheer dumb luck - we had not been inconsistent with the history. From that point on, we strove to be as accurate as possible.

Response recorded on June 30, 2017

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LooLoo writes...

Hi Greg, I have a question about traditional gargoyle culture and lifestyle--that is, their culture/lifestyle as it existed before being exposed to a ton of human interaction and influence. I realize these details likely vary from clan to clan and from century to century, but for instance, the Wyvern clan.

How might the Wyvern clan have lived prior to forming its alliance with the humans who then built the castle? We get some sense of this in the series: communal, leader and second, etc. But:

1. Aside from the rookery, would the area where the clan lived have contained some structures or shelter of any kind that the gargoyles built?

2. Would there be areas designated for certain functions (like, a place where food is prepared and cooked -- assuming they'd cook food), or would the area they occupied be more fluid in how they used it?

3. Did the clan always stay in a certain area, or would they move around at all to different areas, depending on time or year or something?

4. Aside from the leader and second, were there any other specific jobs within the clan, for instance people whose responsibility was the hunt, or would everyone sort of participate in all clan activities?

5. Related to this, in what ways did the clan's lifestyle/behaviors change after they formed the alliance and the castle was built? I imagine, even if the humans were at first very enthusiastic about their new gargoyles allies, there must have been some culture shock (on both of their parts) with having to share the same space and live together.

Thank you for your time!

Greg responds...

1. No.

2. Tend toward the fluid, I'd think. But I'm sure habits become traditions over time.

3. Clan life centered around Wyvern Hill, but they hunted, etc., all around the vicinity.

4. Warriors were also hunters. And every gargoyle was a warrior first, though some had other interests. Desdemona, for example, was spiritual, the closest thing they had to a Warrior-Priestess.

5. I think you can see most of this in our pilot.

Response recorded on June 15, 2017

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Chris writes...

After the Wyvern massacre, Goliath sees the remains of a gargoyle on the place where Demona usually perched and thinks its hers. Did another gargoyle take the place she usually took?

Greg responds...

Looks like it.

Response recorded on July 15, 2014

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Ageist writes...

====SPOILERS FROM CLAN-BUILDING 2====

A lot of new faces were seen in Demona's clan in CB2 - and it sounds like some interesting facts were given out about the whole clan's relationships to Wyvern clan members during this last Gathering. So a couple questions:

1) Were all of the Gargates seen in the cell that Demona's Second/True/etc were part of from the Wyvern Split clan?

2) What year were these Gargates born in?
a - Demona's Second's Mate/Sacrifice
b - "Bro" the red Gargoyle Brooklyn spoke with.
c - Brooklyn's bioBrother, seen behind Brook and "Bro"
d - the little Green gargoyle standing next to True.
e - Bronx's parents

3) Was Sacrifice related biologically to any other Gargoyle we've seen from Wyvern? If so which?

4) The little Blue Gargoyle from City of Stone was not seen here (that I found). Where was he?

Greg responds...

1. Yes.

2.
a. 918.
b. 958.
c. 938.
d. 978
e. 898

3. Don't know.

4. Another cell, probably.

Response recorded on January 11, 2010

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Kaitlan writes...

My question is in the City of Stone episodes during the Flashbacks with Macbeth and Demona. Demona is shown having her own little clan but where did the other Gargoyles come from if Princess Katharine and The Magus take all the eggs to Avalon?

Greg responds...

They came from other Scottish clans, including a clan that had relatively recently spun off from the Wyvern Clan.

Response recorded on September 18, 2008

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Tay writes...

If the whole Wyvern Clan survived the massacre and ended up in Manhattan, what would have you named the other members?

Greg responds...

Joe Hypothetical. Jane Hypothetical. Hypothetical Doe. Hypothetical Smith. Hypothetical Jones. Jon Hypothetical. Etc.

Response recorded on September 17, 2008

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DECEMBER 28

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

December 28th...

1065
Westminster Abbey, built by Edward the Confessor, is consecrated.

1994
David Xanatos, who is scheduled to be released from jail in one week, is contacted by Macbeth, who offers to rid the castle of gargoyles.

1995
Goliath and Tom the Guardian meet at Belvedere Castle in Central Park. Together with Elisa Maza and Bronx, they depart for Avalon, where they are introduced to the grown hatchlings of the Wyvern Clan, including Angela, Gabriel and Boudicca, and reunited with the Magus and Princess Katharine. Meanwhile, a recently transformed Archmage travels back in time...


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Matt writes...

Camelot Clan

1. Was the Camelot Clan founded before or after the Gargoyle Nation was established?

2. Was the Camelot Clan founded before or after the new Wyvern Clan?

Greg responds...

1. Not saying now.

2. Not saying now.

(I'm sensing a theme. Are you?)

Response recorded on December 19, 2007

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Matt writes...

New Wyvern Clan

1. Would the new Wyvern Clan be founded before or after the Gargoyle Nation was established?

2. Have we seen any characters in canon material that will become members of the new Wyvern Clan?

3. Was the new Wyvern Clan founded before or after the Camelot Clan?

Greg responds...

1. Not saying now.

2. Not saying now.

3. Not saying now.

Response recorded on December 19, 2007

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NOVEMBER 21

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

November 21st...

1995
Matt Bluestone meets with Martin Hacker and gets information about Mace Malone's stepson Jack Dane. Later, at the precinct house, Matt realizes that Elisa's lying to him about something. He gives her the opportunity to question Dane with him, but she passes. Meanwhile in Wyvern, Tom hikes to a nearby village and learns from the locals that the castle wasn't demolished, but taken apart and shipped, lock, stock & gargoyle, to Manhattan -- where it was placed at the top of a "skyscraper".


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tyler writes...

If there r 36 eggs in the avalon clan then how r there 80-100 in the wyvern clan wouldnt that mean that almost every female has to lay an egg. even the ones that have already had 3 eggs? (sorry if i missed something)

Greg responds...

Me too. I've answered this before. Check the archives or the comment room.

Response recorded on October 15, 2007

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OCTOBER 1

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

October 1st...

994
Just before dawn, Goliath and Hudson discover that they have been following only a small contingent of Vikings; the rest must be preparing to attack the castle. The two gargoyles turn to stone before they can get back. Simultaneously, Demona nearly warns Othello and Desdemona, but changes her mind as she sees the Vikings approach. Instead, she hides at the foot of Wyvern cliff, where she turns to stone as the sun rises. Hakon attacks. The archers' sabotaged bows are useless, and the Captain opens the main gate, allowing the Vikings to enter Castle Wyvern, which is sacked. The humans, including Katharine, the Magus, Mary and Tom are led away bound. Hakon then sets about to destroy the gargoyles, including Othello, Desdemona, Iago and Hyppolyta. The Captain is "unable" to stop him. When the sun goes down again, Demona awakens to discover that the Wyvern Clan have been massacred. When she sees Goliath and Hudson returning, she cannot face them and flees before they can discover the massacre. The only other survivors seem to be the Trio and Bronx, who were in the Rookery. The survivors head for the Viking camp to take their revenge. When Hakon and the Captain hear the gargoyles approaching, they take Katharine as a hostage. The Magus mistakenly assumes that the Princess is dead. Blaming the gargoyles, he casts a spell on all but Goliath putting them to sleep "until the castle rises above the clouds." Meanwhile, Goliath confronts the Captain and Hakon atop a cliff. He rescues the Princess, and the two villains fall to their deaths. But when Goliath discovers that the rest of his clan has been turned to stone, he asks the Princess to watch over the eggs in the Rookery and asks the Magus to cast his spell one more time. Goliath is turned to stone with the others and placed atop Castle Wyvern. Demona later returns to the castle to find Goliath frozen in stone. She watches the Magus, Tom and Princess Katharine removing the eggs from Wyvern. She departs for good. Katharine dubs Tom the Guardian of the Gargoyle Eggs. Katharine, the Magus, Tom, Mary and the rest of Wyvern's human inhabitants take the eggs and leave the cursed castle to live under the protection of Katharine's uncle, King Kenneth II. Seconds later, three time travelers arrive in 994: the Demona of 1995 has brought the Demona of 975 along with the Goliath of 1995 to see the results of the massacre. But the 1995 Demona fails to convince the 975 Demona to take up her evil cause. The time travelers depart, returning to 975.

1995
Xanatos proposes to Fox and gives her the Eye of Odin as an engagement gift. She accepts both his proposal and the Eye. Alexander Fox Xanatos is most likely conceived on this night.


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SEPTEMBER 29

This day in Gargoyles' Universe History....

September 29th...

500
Arthur is crowned King of Britain.

994
Hakon the Viking lays siege to Castle Wyvern, but is driven away by the Wyvern Clan of gargoyles. The Captain of the Guard invites Goliath and Demona to the celebratory feast. Princess Katharine is most seriously displeased. She demotes the Captain, declaring that from now on he will report to the Magus, who later prepares a spell to deal with the gargoyle clan, should they get out of hand. Seeing that Goliath will continue to tolerate human prejudice, Demona and the Captain find an excuse to temporarily lure the gargoyles away, so that the castle can be sacked and the humans taken away by Hakon, leaving Castle Wyvern to the gargoyles once more.

995
Michaelmas. Constantine III is so furious he initiates a plan to destroy all the gargoyles in Scotland.

1040
Macbeth is made High King of Scotland. He swears on the Stone of Destiny, to protect Scotland and serve her people. Macbeth names Demona and publicly rewards her and her gargoyles, welcoming them as his allies into his home and castle. Demona becomes his primary advisor. Thorfinn is rewarded with basic autonomy over Orkney, in practice if not in name.

1994
Xanatos inspects his castle atop the Eyrie Building. He wants everything to be perfect before he attempts to wake the gargoyles.


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Vaevictis Asmadi writes...

Question about the gargoyle clans

You have said the Wyvern Clan was about 80, before it split, when the last rookery was laid. Is that 80 adults, or 80 total members, including children?

The reason I ask is this: that last rookery was 36 eggs, which means there were 72 gargoyles and garg-beasts of egg-laying age. If 72 of the 80 clan members were of egg-laying age, then ALL the children and older gargoyles in the entire clan (like Hudson and the Trio) only added up to 8 at that time. This seems very strange to me. Did something happen to them?

I know that you don't like numbers questions, but this seems important.

Greg responds...

80 total members including children, but not including eggs. Having said that, it's really just a rough estimate that I will not be held to later. You're assuming that none of the 72 are dead. They ALL led a violent life in a dangerous time.

Response recorded on May 17, 2007

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dph_of_rules writes...

A few weeks ago, we had a discussion in the s8 cr about the size of gargoyle clans and what would/might constitute a full gargoyle clan.

1)Do you have a formal definition of what a full gargoyle clan is (in terms of size and/or egg laying capacity)?
1a)If so, would you share that definition with us?

Greg responds...

I have no fixed definition, as location and resources define the appropriate size of any clan. So the "definition" would differ from place to place.

I think I've said in the past, that in Wyvern in the tenth century, a normal clan ranges from about 40-80 individuals (not including eggs).

Response recorded on May 01, 2007

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Adam writes...

Hi Greg. It's great to see Gargoyles back. Anyway, I have a question about when the Wyvern Clan split between 988 and 994. What I would like to know is why didn't the departing Gargoyles take any of the eggs with them? The new clan would have missed out on an entire generation of the clan. Or did they do something like take more of Bronx's generation(978) with them? I guess that would make sense. Thanks.

Greg responds...

The why had to do with the difficulty of establishing a new rookery. Otherwise, I think you answered your own question.

Response recorded on April 30, 2007

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Wesley Nichols writes...

What happened to the young gargoyles that were of Bronx generation? were they killed in the massacer or did they survive?

An Ask Greg Helper responds...

Greg Weisman says:

There were a lot of gargoyles you didn't see. Kids. Females. Beasts. We couldn't show them all, and frankly, I don't think they would have let us show the kids. Eight year olds getting massacred is a pretty tough thing to put into an afternoon cartoon show. To be honest, that wasn't an envelope I even thought to push.

Response recorded on April 10, 2007

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Wesley Nichols writes...

You mentioned that the Wyvern Clan was created mostly from members of the Manhatten clan, who are themselves decended from the old Wyvern Clan. Does this mean that we would meet more survivors from the clan as the series progressed?

Greg responds...

No, that's not what it means.

Response recorded on April 05, 2007

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Wesley writes...

Where the young Gargoyles (Bronx's generation) of the Wyvern clan killed by Hakon and his vikings as well? Or did they somehow escape?

Greg responds...

All that were there were killed except the guys you know about.

Response recorded on March 09, 2007

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Zoma Dragon Friend writes...

I am new to the Gargoyle World and just have one question. Who are the named members of Wyvern Clan. (I told you I was new). I have been trying to get them all straight but there are relations and mates and...yeah...You have probably answered this question a million times, but I do not want to search 1,000 questions about them.

Greg responds...

Okay, so here I am, for some reason, rewarding your laziness...

The thing to keep in mind is that with the exception of Goliath, the Wyvern Clan had no names. But using names we NOW know them by...

Goliath
Demona
Hudson
Brooklyn
Lexington
Broadway
Bronx
Coldstone/Othello
Coldsteel/Iago
Coldfire/Desdemona

There are others of course that you can spot in footage whose names we still don't know.

The Wyvern Clan generated three other clans: the Manhattan Clan, the Avalon Clan and the Labyrinth Clan.

And in the future a new Wyvern Clan will be founded.

Response recorded on December 18, 2006

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Man Mountain writes...

Hey Greg!
Was the destruction of the other clans by humans, around the time of the Wyvern massacre, organized or just a "good" idea catching on?
I still get chills (and angry at Hakon and the Captain) when I watch that scene and hear the stone crumbling...
Thanks!

Greg responds...

Just to be clear, I never wanted to give the impression that all over the world clans were being destroyed at the exact same time. But the mid to late Middle Ages were a dangerous time for gargoyles. But I'm sure some clans were destroyed centuries before the Wyvern Massacre and some clans were destroyed centuries after, and as we know some clans survived.

Response recorded on November 25, 2006

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Hardwing writes...

1)Well based on the fact that Goliath rested on the highest tower of the castle and Demona, Hudson and a gargoyle I couldn't identify below him, I assume it was tradition that the gargoyles took their sleeping places after their status in the clan, correct?

2)Had the other gargoyle resting beside Demona(not Hudson) any special status in the clan? Or for Goliath?

Greg responds...

1. Generally. We tried not to be too anal about it though.

2. I'd have to look again.

Response recorded on October 05, 2005

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matt writes...

Wyvern

1. you mentioned a LONG time ago that Castle Wyvern was built so quickly (only four years, 971-975) because there was a lot of help from the Archmage and gargoyles, and because there was existing ruins on the site to build on. who built the structure that would become those ruins?

2. where the ruins the ruins of a castle or something else?

3. before Malcolm and Hudson formed their alliance, was there a rookery already existing under the ruins?

4. did the Wyvern Clan roost at these ruins before the alliance with Malcolm?

5. do the ruins have anything to do with all the artifacts, carvings and structures in the Archmage's cave?

6. both Demona and Angela discovered carvings of humans attacking gargoyles in the Archmage's cave. what did those carvings mean? why were they there? were they meant to be recorded images, like a history or were they prophetic...?

7. when the New Wyvern Clan is founded, where will they roost? will they rebuild a structure or just live on the cliffs or...?

thanks Greg!

Greg responds...

1. I'm not answering that at this time.

2. It depends on how you define castle.

3. Yes.

4. Yes.

5. Yes.

6. I'm not answering that at this time.

7. Rebuild a structure.

Response recorded on July 08, 2005

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Todd Jensen writes...

A question about the gargoyles' time living with the humans in Castle Wyvern between 971 and 994. In "Awakening" at the beginning, all the humans living in the castle, except for the Captain of the Guard (and Tom, but he wasn't a regular inhabitant) were, from what we can tell, hostile towards the gargoyles.

Now, since gargoyles and humans had been living side by side for 23 years, I found myself wondering a little about this. I know that prejudice can often take a very long time to overcome, but I still find it a matter of mild concern that after living with gargoyles for 23 years, with ample opportunity during all that time to see what they were really like, the humans would still be so hostile towards them. (Katharine did get conditioned to fear gargoyles due to Prince Malcolm's foolish use of them as bogeymen when she was a child, of course, so her attitude is believable.)

Of course, I suppose that it would require the entire "Dark Ages" series all the way down to the Wyvern Massacre to give a real answer to this question, but I did think that I'd comment on it. (And if after 23 years of sharing their home with the gargoyles, nearly all the humans still disliked them, I can see how it is that Demona is so cynical and pessimistic about peace between the two species. On the other hand, since Katharine and the Magus did abandon their old attitudes after the massacre and even dedicated the rest of their lives to looking after the orphaned eggs, there is hope.)

Greg responds...

There's always hope. I think the prejudice was subtle and on-going, because nothing had ever been done about it.

Most humans in the castle weren't looking to slaughter the Gargoyles or even kick them out. But they took the Gargoyles' defense of the cliffside for granted... enough years had passed that the camaradery of the great battles they shared had been -- not forgotten -- but dampened.

And the leader sets the tone, and for the reasons you listed above, Katharine was not sympathetic to or fond of the Gargoyles. So those Lords looking to curry favor would tend to being dismissive. I also think that the Gargoyles still represented a mental wildcard to the humans. A great force in their midst that they couldn't fully control. It was disturbing. And then there are the archers, who do their jobs well, but who may have had chips on their shoulders because they weren't sufficient to guard the castle... and because their own boss seemed to respect the Gargs more than his own men.

The idea was little things contributing to on-going tension ... and a leader who was part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Response recorded on March 09, 2005


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