Griffon

by Gordon Johnson

You've all seen a griffon, with their lion-like bodies and bird-like heads. And no doubt you're thinking that it's a magical mix of eagle and lion. The resemblance, though, is almost completely superficial and the griffon is in fact a giant eagle, with a few lion genes thrown in. Even the majestic golden hair and ruff are actually feathers that mimic mammalian fur.

Griffons are powerful fliers, their small size belying their aerial strength and are able to carry a single human for over an hour without pause. On top of this, because they were designed and bred for riding, their lion-like bodies are relatively comfortable if care is taken with their saddle.

Griffin by Imojen Faith Hancock

Griffons were used even more extensively used to travel before the domestication of dragons. And of course, if you're a keen dragon rider, you'll be wondering why people ever domesticated the wild Gryphus regiis, but the truth is Gryphus regiis was created in the dawn of history by a long-forgotten king, hence the species name of regiis. Almost certainly due to said king's insistence that he was the One True King, and since then so many other rulers have taken the same appellation that it's hard to know which is which. Anyway, griffons were bred to transport, and some escaped into the wild while Gryphus domesticus became smaller and less aggressive as their diet changed to include more fish and less red meat.

The other truth is dragons are dangerous. Even more dangerous than griffons. And it's not just the size or the quantity of meat needed to sustain a dragon, it's the fact that they'll manipulate your emotions as soon as look at you. But you can discover more about dragons and their so-called domestication in either of the articles below:

The Griffon Sickness

Griffons are famous for causing motion sickness, it's just like sea sickness, but those who are vulnerable to such things are adamant that it's worse. And it's no wonder, Griffons are always plummeting, soaring and swirling, with one individual describing every wing-beat as a roller-coaster.

So, like with any other sea journey please bring your favoured medication. We promise you, it's all you need for a swift and pleasant journey.

(Witches, apothecaries and herbalists please note an advertising space is available here at 1 silver piece, or the equivalent in gold)

Why Griffons are preferable to hippogriffs, unicorns, flying carpets, pegasi, sphinxes..

by Roger délivrant Angélique

Yes, there are a lot of flying species to choose from for your flying transport, but the truth is most of these creatures are either too rare, or too expensive to keep. Take the unicorn with it's habit of disemboweling their riders. Or the hippogriff that despite being designed for flying transport by melding a griffon with a horse, look closer and you'll discover it has the benefits of neither. It's bigger than a griffon, can still only take one rider for any length of time (note how the rescued maiden is about to fall off only minutes after take off), is a bugger to feed and when fully laden will fly for less than an hour, preferring to run as it's wings are barely sufficient to carry itself. While a griffon will scoop fish out of the water (often while being ridden) the hippogriff expects a mountain of food laid on for it. It's kept by flashy people who pretend their flying horse is fast when in every fair competition a griffon will beat a hippogriff every time.

Scientific Classification

Accipitriformes Accipitridae Gryphus domesticus

The Griffon Eyrie

Griffons are kept in what are colloquially called Griffon Eyries. Once upon a time these were a grand affair only seen in palaces, but most eyries are now little more than straw-strewn barns on the tops of buildings. It's this easy-keep aspect that still makes griffons popular today. That and the food thing mentioned earlier. People prefer animals who don't eat them, or gore them to death. The griffons will happily lay their eggs in these eyries. Up to three in a clutch, although rarely do they manage to raise more than two to maturity.

Caring for a Baby Griffon—

DON'T

As in do not go anywhere near the eggs or chicks of griffons. The adults will tear you apart, and then the chicks will eat you.

Lemmie was a big man, thought he could take whatever he wanted, and so one day he came to rob our griffon nest. Well, we saw him go in, and heard the ruckus, but he never left. Next day, all that was left was a scrap of clothing and half an old boot.

Any griffon trainer will tell you the trick is to wait until the chicks have been thrown out of the nest. Then, quietly come and pick it up, give it some food and either take it to a griffon trainer, or spend every waking minute with it until it can fly successfully.

Food and Water

Even though Gryphus domesticus is partial to fish, it requires a more varied diet. Rats and mice and other raw meat, but also grain and most foodscraps will not be wasted with this ravenous creature. For some reason it's also partial to corn cobs. The whole cob, silk and all. And while Gryphus domesticus can drink sea water, or lake water, if you're keeping two griffon inland be aware that they can chew through your average salt-lick at about the same rate as a herd of cattle—up to 2kg of salt a week is not unusual, but if the intake is higher, please consult a wise woman, healer or animal specialist.