Griffins

With the head, wings, and talons of an eagle and the body, back limbs, and tail of a big cat, griffins have a regal visage befitting the mount of chivalrous knights. These predatory creatures feed on horses and hippogriffs in the wild, but will subsist on most kinds of meat when tamed. Roughly the size of large horses, with broad wingspans and powerful limbs accustomed to lifting their prey, they can easily carry an armored warrior and saddle into battle. They can have an array of colors and patterns, and while their feathers and fur tend to share coloration, this is not always the case.

Additional Information

Domestication

Though not capable of speech, they can be trained to understand complex commands and carry out various aerial maneuvers in conjunction with their rider. Though they can live up to forty years, they typically see battle between the ages of three and twenty before they start to slow down and their joints begin to deteriorate. Still, older griffins make excellent guardians and can fly into battle unladen for a time longer to fight on their own. Short of a dragon, one could hardly find a more loyal and capable partner to roam the skies.

Lifespan

40 years