Hippogriffs are flying monsters that have an equal likelihood to be predator, prey, or steed.
The hippogriff is a monstrous hybrid of eagle and equine features. It has the ears, neck, mane, torso, and hind legs of a horse.
The wings, forelegs, and face are those of an eagle. It is about the
size of a light riding horse. A hippogriff may be colored russet,
golden tan, or a variety of browns. The feathers are usually a
different shade than the hide. The beak is ivory or golden yellow.
Habitat/Society.
Hippogriffs prefer the desolate sections of the
temperate and tropic regions, especially rolling hills that enable
them to get quickly airborne.
Hippogriffs are territorial. They have a preferred grazing and
hunting area that covers 1d4 x 10 square miles. Somewhere in
this territory is a naturally protected site that serves as the hippogriff nest. Here is where the young hippogriffs stay. The nest is
always guarded.
The typical hippogriff herd includes 1-3 adult males, an equal
number of mares, and the rest are immature young. There is a
25% chance that one or more of the mares is pregnant. Gestation
takes 10 months. During the first five months, this occurs within
the mare. Then she lays an egg that hatches in another five
months. Twin births are rare (1% chance).
The foal is able to walk upon hatching. Its beak remains soft
for the first two weeks; this enables the foal to nurse. Then its
beak hardens and the hippogriff switches to regurgitated food
from its mother. The colts learn to eat solid meat at four months,
although they are clumsy killers (-4 penalty to attack rolls and
damage). At six months they can fly (18, class D) and fight with a
-2 penalty to attack rolls and damage. Yearlings are identical to
adults, although they are unable to breed until they are three
years old.
Wild hippogriffs are omnivorous. They feed on whatever is
available, whether greenery, fruits, or wildlife. Hippogriffs are
able to attack fairly large prey, such as bison, but they do not
prey on carnivores. The exception is humanoids. Hippogriffs
may, in the absence of other meat, attack small groups of people.
Bodies are then carried back to the nest to feed the others; this is
where the victim’s possessions usually spill out. Hippogriffs are
clean monsters; they dispose of carcasses and other debris by carrying them downhill. They like clear, sparkly things like glass,
crystals, and precious gems. Males may amass a small trove kept
covered by brush. As a mating ritual, he arranges these in a display to entice mares.
Ecology
Hippogriffs are closely related to griffons, Just as griffons are the result of crossing an eagle with a lion, hippogriffs
resulted from the crossing of an eagle with a hone. Hippogriffs
may have been created as a natural prey for the griffons. Fortunately for the hippogriff, its own formidable weapons give it a
fighting chance. To make up for the griffon‘s superiority, hippogriffs gather in larger groups.
Hippogriffs are also related to pegasi. Because the hippogriffs
eat meat, pegasi avoid their company.
Hippogriffs make excellent flying mounts. The maneuverability decreases to Class D, but their speed is unimpaired. They are
less likely to eat the rider than a griffon is.
If a hippogriff is captured while still very young (under four
months), it can be domesticated and trained to serve as a steed.
Hippogriff eggs sell for 1.000 gp, young hippogriffs for 2,000-
3,000 gp. It will probably have to be taught to fly. Domestic hippogriffs are also taught to recognize a limited number of species
as food; humanoids of course are not on that list, Hippogriffs
have difficulty breeding in captivity. Like flying, the wild hippogriff has to be captured before such skills are learned. Mature
hippogriffs may be persuaded to voluntarily assist riders who can
provide them with ample food or protection.
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