Goatswood Gnome

Goatswood Gnomes are fictional creatures created by Ramsey Campbell in the story "Made in Goatswood", and later used by Chaosium for the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game. They are living statues that resemble malicious garden gnomes. 
== Overview ==
Found in many gardens across Europe, the British Isles, and North America, the garden gnome is thought to be a comic and endearing character, designed to liven up and decorate front and back yards. These stone or concrete-created “elves” are, in the main, inanimate; however, some are in fact ugly little creatures brought to life by magic and alien design. Some believe the Dark Mother with a Thousand Young, Shub-Niggurath, or her children imbue life into these vessels, which lie dormant during daylight hours but can spring to life at night to carry out vile and devious acts.
The awakening of these small, stone monsters may be linked to the cycles of the moon, and they may be able to function only at specific times such as full or new moons, with much depending on the magic used to enchant them or the source of that magic. Acting as scouts, with watchful eyes, or going forth to carry out strange or vile acts, these “Goatswood” gnomes bring nightmares and fear to the unwary who might see them about their business during darkness. Rumors tell of those witnessing the gnome’s antics as being marked, should they be seen by the gnomes, and liable to expect some form of revenge from the spiteful little folk. Such “revenge” may be minor but might also lead to a horrific death, should the gnomes deem their target to have seen “too much.”
Apart from some affinity to Shub-Niggurath, reports suggest that certain wizards and witches may have uncovered the necessary spell or spells to conjure life into such vessels for their own ends, using gnomes to carry out tasks and meter out harm as directed.
Known as Goatswood Gnomes (to those in the know), due to the fact that it was in the Goatswood area of the Severn Valley in England (to the east of Brichester)—where the mysterious Moon-Lens (a curious 50-foot/15 m metal pylon) is positioned in the center of the town square—where their appearance was first noted. 
==Summary==
Goatswood Gnomes are statues of small, ugly men animated through an unknown source possibly relating to Shub-Niggurath. They inhabit Goatswood and the surrounding area.
==Trivia==
*John Goodrich's short story "Tribute Band" features a metal band named the Goatswood Gnomes, whose frontman was obsessed with the Revelations of Gla'aki.
Category:Species Originating From Expanded Mythos Works
Category:Other Supernatural Beings