Charondon (CHAR-on-don)

Basic Information

Anatomy

Charondons inherit the powerful muscular builds of their nightmare and hippogriff parents. This allows them to run at a significant speed, and also to fly whilst carrying the corpses of various different species. Charondons have very large hooked beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, and strong, muscular front legs with powerful talons.

Genetics and Reproduction

The interspecies fertility magic produces valid offspring, who can conceive naturally with other creatures that share the same parent species. As such, the charondon are able to sustain their population through natural mating.

Large numbers of hippogriffs and nightmares were used to ensure that the genetic pool would remain strong without interbreeding for generations and all of the charondon in existence today were born from a mating pair, without external assistance.

An expecting charondon will create a nest within the stone walls that surround the underground lava caverns beneath the city. A clutch will initially comprise two eggs. These charcoal-coloured eggs are rough to the touch, much like sandpaper, though a birthing sac lubricates the eggs when they are being laid to prevent injury to the mother. They also emit a powerful heat, one which the mother sustains by wrapping her flaming tail around the clutch when she isn't out feeding, during which time this role is taken over by the father.

After incubating for 4 months, the young charondon, called an ember, emerges from its egg and is able to walk within a few minutes. Shortly after the first hatched will normally turn on the second egg, breaking it apart with its hooved hind legs. Should the second ember survive the initial attack, the older sibling will continue attacking with its claws and beak until the second is dead.

Growth Rate & Stages

A charondons initial incubation period is 4 months. When they are born they have no feathers, but the skin of a nightmare, and emit no flames.
For the next 4 months, they are bound to the nest, mostly sleeping and eating. An ember is fed on regurgitated food from either parent. During this time, an ember will begin hovering and needs to have constant supervision lest it venture too far and fall from the nest. Its down has grown through at this stage, though it is a smoky grey rather than black.
An ember begins to eat solid meat at 5 months. Once an embers tail ignites, generally during its 6 month, it is then able to fly properly and begins to explore its environment. It will begin being taught social behaviours by the parents and intermingle with the other charondons of the inferno during this time.
A young charondon between the ages of 12 to 24 months is known as a flare and will begin accompanying their parents on flights and to search for food. At this age, the charondon is almost fully grown, and most if not all of the smoky grey down has been replaced by the adult black feathers.
Charondons have completely stopped growing at 6 years old and the oldest can live to almost 60 years.

Biological Cycle

An adult male is called an pyre and an adult female is called a blaze. A group of charondons is called an inferno.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The charondon has the keen eyesight of a hippogriff, which is bolstered by the darkvision it gets from the nightmare. Due to its equine hertiage, the charondon also has a heightened sense of smell and hearing, its ears being able to swivel almost 180 degrees to constantly remain aware of its surroundings.
It has also a unique ability called deathsense. The charondon can locate any dead or dying creature within a 1km radius. Most believe this to be a scent-based ability, though due to its magical heritage it may not use any of the five main senses at all.

Lifespan

up to 60 years

Average Height

1.8 - 2 m (5.9 - 6.6 ft.)

Average Weight

450kg (1000lbs)

Average Length

2.5 m (8 ft)

Charondon CR: 2

Large fiend, neutral evil

Armor Class: 13

Hit Points: 68hp (8d10+24) 8d10+24

Speed: 60 ft , fly: 85 ft

STR

18 +4

DEX

15 +2

CON

16 +3

INT

6 -2

WIS

13 +1

CHA

12 +1

Skills: Perception +5

Damage Immunities: Fire

Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16

Languages: Understands Abyssal, Common, and Infernal but cannot speak

Challenge Rating: 2

Confer Fire Resistance. The charondon can grant resistance to fire damage to anyone riding it.
Keen Sight. The charondon has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Illumination. The charondon sheds bright light in a 10- foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet.

Actions

Multiattack. The charondon makes two attacks: one with its beak and one with its claws.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit 1d20+5 , reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) 1d10+3 piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit 1d20+5 , reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) 2d6+3 slashing damage.

A monstrous creation of interspecies fertility magic, the charondon is the unnatural offspring of a Hippogriff and a Nightmare.

Created to cart the dead from the cities and suburbs into the underground, the Charondon is also fed on the dead who have not been claimed by any kin.

A mostly hippogriff-shaped creature, it is covered in black plumage that shifts gently from the heat of the fiery creature. Its head is horse-like, ending with a beak rather than a snout and it has the flaming tail of its nightmare parent.

They grow around 8 ft. (2.4 metres) long from beak to tail. Like nightmares, a charondon flew without wings, though shadowy outlines that flickered with streaks of fire could be seen if one looked hard enough. Phantom remnants of the hippogriff parent, and perhaps even the pegasus wings that once adorned the nightmare.