Griffon

The griffon is a hybrid of half-eagle, half-lion and are the most common griffons in Centurion.
They‘re the best flying mounts and are bred in the Avi/White Mountain Kingdom called Wyndia among other sub-griffons.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Head of an eagle, torso of a lion, front feet are talons of an eagle, ears of a cat, wings of an eagle, hind legs and tail of a lion.

Genetics and Reproduction

They mate like lions but they lay eggs. 8 eggs per pregnancy maximum. Their pregnancy phase takes 6 months. Each egg is about as big as an ostrich egg.

Growth Rate & Stages

When they are hatched, they are as big as human babies, with their eyes being closed, fur and feathers very thin and they chirp as bird hatchlings usually do. After 3 weeks, they open their eyes for the first time, also that‘s the part where their baby feathers and fur get very fluffy. Once they learn how to walk and run, they would be 1 month old, as big as a toddler too. With 5 or 6 months they‘re able to jump and fly for a short period of time, that‘s because their wings aren‘t big and strong enough, with the size of a pre-schooler child. With 9 months they have grown enough to fly properly and they lost all of their baby feathers and baby fur after that. But with the height of an average 10-year-old, they‘re not big enough to carry adult humans. In that stage they serve as mounts for very young beginners. At that age they can learn to listen to commands, short commands but still. Once they reach the age of 7 and grow as big as normal sized horses or bigger, they are considered to be adults and used as a mount fully. They can live for 60-75 years.

Ecology and Habitats

High mountains with nests built as big as a human prison cell. They like to live especially on high mountains close to the ocean, waterfall or lakes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Griffons prefer to fish and eat fish, but they also hunt for small animals like rabbits and weasels for example.

Biological Cycle

Wild griffons prepare for the winter by building an igloo made out of sticks, leaves, stones, whatever makes it strong and solid. They eat a lot and store everything that doesn‘t rot fast underneath their ground and then hibernate. In summer they shed their winter feathers and winter fur and take down their igloo to shape it back into a regular looking nest.

Additional Information

Domestication

The griffons are bred to become mounts like horses. But as intelligent animals, they choose to stay with the breeders if they seem friendly and caring enough or not. Luckily a lot of griffons find living in a breeding community a good alternative as long as they have enough room and freedom to move and fly around.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Griffons, as mentioned before, are used as flying mounts.

Facial characteristics

Griffins can‘t express emotions but the tone of their voice and screeches can help defining how they feel.

Average Intelligence

100-125 IQ

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Griffons can hear well and they are very intelligent. They learn languages easily but they cannot speak themselves. Their wings are big enough to fly and they are strong as well. With their talons they can carry a creature 1,5 * of their size while flying. Griffons are also known for reading other animals‘ and people‘s emotions and expressions and adapt accordingly.

Genetic Descendants

• Avi

Origin/Ancestry

Avian-feline hybrid

Lifespan

60 years to 75 years

Conservation Status

This species is being bred as a mount for soldiers, knights and anyone with enough money to afford it.

Average Height

1,7m to 2 meters maximum in shoulder height.

Average Weight

90-125 kg

Average Length

2-2,5m

Average Physique

Strong and average muscular build

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The beak and talons are yellow, the feathers are white and the fur is orange-brown for the average griffon. But many come in other colors too.