Griffon

Griffon was a half-orc mercenary and a leading member of the Menagerie. He is a player character in The Menagerie, portrayed by Cody Bushee.

"There wasn't much of his mother in the boy, truth be told. Fairer skin, duller fangs, darker hair. His equipage was more orcish even than hers – bone armor, bone blade, animal leathers. What skin you could see was riddled with scars; not the kind the foe gives you, mind – the kind you give yourself. Those eyes, though. That's where you saw her – crystal blue as frigid water. There was a commander in that boy somewhere. The only question was whether or not she would see it."
– Beholder's Log

History

Born in 50 2A during the Night of Twenty Moons, Griffon was the son of Tchari Thrak, called Chimera, and an unknown human. Chimera was always secretive about the identity of his father, taking offense to any who would ask. All through his youth, Griffon was trained in the ways of war by both the orcs of his mother's qorhv and the mercenaries that gathered to besiege Aos. When the city was finally taken that year, his mother founded the Menagerie and began to travel the world.
Griffon grew up among the company, always seeking his mother's favor. While a distinguished warrior, he found it difficult to catch the Commander's eye. At some point during his early career, he underwent the Three Trials of Lycanthropy and, despite his human heritage, he overcame all his orcish competition to acquire the rite.

Character

Personality

Griffon lived most of his life in the shadow of his older brother. Though born only a year apart, Griffon struggled to earn the same acclaim and adoration Umber received from their mother, Chimera. More so than his brother, Griffon was bound by a strong sense of personal honor. He saw the company's success as his own and strived ever to improve its standing in the world. A threat to the safety of the troops or to his mother was a threat to his own person and he would gladly lay his life down to protect either.

Relationships

As Chimera's son and Umber's younger half-brother, Griffon always lived in the shadow of both. While his mother was harsh with him, Umber showed nothing but love and occasionally abrasive endearment for Griffon, often calling him "Griffy" affectionately. Like all members of the Commander's Tent, Griffon considered himself one of Mouse's surrogate parents, teaching the young kobold what they need to survive in the world. His relationship with Remorhaz is one of frosty respect; as sparring partners, they've sworn to kill one another someday, at the end of their long careers.
His mother never shown him the love and support he deserved but valued him as a worthy successor for years. Ever since she first joined the company during the Brigandia campaign, Griffon was suspicious of Strige . His suspicions proved correct, when she was revealed as a spy for Yorgos of Nyre. The ancient worg Harpy practically raised Griffon alongside Chimera and, in this light, Griffon was happy to take young Grawmor under his wing.

Abilities

Griffon was a slayer, an orcish tradition of beast-hunting. By scaring his body with ritualistic markings, he could enhance his own senses and fighting prowess. Beyond this, he was an excellent swordsman, rivaling even Remorhaz with his orcish zwharo.
He was somewhat wary of his lycanthropic abilities, fearful that his human nature would overcome his orcish one and that he'd become a ravening killing machine. As such, he rarely transformed and, even when he did, only barely, just enough to seize an extra edge in combat.

Campaign

The Menagerie

Griffon is one of four player characters and protagonists of the Menagerie.

• Vhakizla: In Qoza, Griffon reluctantly paid Yezri the bill the company accrued and helped thwart the assassins sent to kill his mother (Chapter 1). Before departing Qoza, Griffon wrote a mysterious letter. During the voyage to Vhakizla, he encouraged his mother and opposed the idea of spying on their employer for the Sixfold Faith. (Chapter 2) Before his duel, Griffon gave Remorhaz advice about Zelene Silvers' swordfighting stance. (Chapter 3) Despite his distrust of Stirge, Griffon nonetheless took point on the company's investigation of Izla and its Sanguine activities (Chapter 5 – 7) Griffon's tracking skills proved instrumental in rooting out the Sanguine's operation beneath the Old City's tenements and discovering their link to the Basins. (Chapter 9 – 10). During the confrontation with Tem and his blood elemental, Griffon dove to rescue his sword and vanished – into Caliphar II's clutches. (Chapter 11). Upon defeating the vampire lord, his company discovered him, weeks later, tortured within an inch of his life in the depths of the Summer Palace. (Chapter 16). As he convalesced over the following months, Griffon received a reply to his mysterious letter (Chapter 17).
• Khûm: En route to their next contract, Griffon recovered with Harpy ever by his side. He discovered the letter he received was sent in error and that Stirge was truly a double agent, working for an unknown competitor. When speaking to his mother, she drunkenly mistook him for Umber and let slip that she expected him to inherit the company one da (Chapter 1). Griffon's recovery continued apace, though he was haunted by Caliphar II's tortures, and vented his fury during sword-practice with Remorhaz. Upon arriving in Khûm, Griffon was subjected to a new indignity in the camp of the Ptsohu orcs, required to hold the thrak's hand all through the feasting (Chapter 3). In Truethrone, Griffon made an ally of Bekol Bracebow but kept his distance from the mercenaries of the Iron Word. (Chapter 3). At Stirge's urging, he agreed to a talk with Yorgos of Nyre and, after a mysterious confrontation, dropped his sword at the mercenary general's feet (Chapter 4). On the trail of Tyrodax the Wyrmling, Griffon was visited by more visions – this time of Stirge and her betrayal. In the battle with the frost worm, Griffon borrowed his brother's spear, still without a better weapon. (Chapter 5). When they fought the dragon, Griffon was unable to catch a ride and thus spent much of the battle chasing after Tyrodax – though he was the first to spot the approach of the enraged Zhoraska from afar (Chapter 7). As prisoners of the Mystriarchy, Griffon attempted to warn Father Yorad of his danger but did not account for dwarven ingenuity (Chapter 8). Following their escape, he bonded with the young Grawmor and argued against involving Yorgos in the queen's rescue (Chapter 9). Once reunited with the company, he attempted to recruit Harpy in his efforts to convert Stirge back to their side (Chapter 10). In Snowperch, it was Griffon who convinced Workmaster Qelha to swing her vote in favor of the Peer Council (Chapter 11). Once the Menagerie was invited into Snowperch, Griffon finally confronted Stirge on the parapets and, learning how deep her betrayal went, banished from the company (Chapter 12). He paid for his outrage later, when Remorhaz next confronted him during their sparring match and defeated him soundly (Chapter 13). Upon discovering Brother Sorav's involvement in poisoning Dûnya, Griffon threw the cleric from Snowperch, stole the cure from Thane Zazem and was prepared to face dwarven justice (Chapter 14). When he and Umber met Yorgos in his tent, he returned Griffon's sword to him, newly enchanted in Truethrone. After the meeting, Griffon finally admitted the truth to Umber – that Yorgos was his father. It was Griffon who ultimately convinced Chimera to speak with his father and, eavesdropping behind the tent, they overheard his pitch – fold the two companies together and leave Griffon in charge (Chapter 15). Speaking with Kothia in private, Griffon failed to convince her to turn her coat and spy for the Menagerie (Chapter 17). Before the battle with Zhoraska, Griffon spoke kind words to his mother and inspired her to give the troops a rousing speech. During the battle, he dealt what he believed to be the killing blow but Zhoraska proved not to easily killed (Chapter 18). After the battle, Chimera expressed her desire to retire to Griffon, much to his shock (Chapter 19). This was tested at Cloudfall when Chimera put him in charge of the army and, after his attempt to sneak into the ruined castle failed, he challenged Kuvna the Wealthy to personal combat (Chapter 20 – 21). His mother was ultimately disappointed with these results and decided to remain in control for the time being. As the company was departing Khûm, Griffon discovered Mouse's farewell note, confessed his parentage to the company and even convinced Khosava Bracebow to accompany them for a tour (Chapter 22).
• Cradle: Following the revelation about his parentage, Griffon found the company's reception to him frosty at best – particularly with Hook, the company's resident malcontent. In Ansk, it was Griffon who ran into Ozgar of Kinkan and agreed to honor the company's deal with Zelene Silvers. On Disaster, he clashed with the pirate queen about the nature of the favor and the compensation they were like to receive, as well as disentangled the lies of Dredgar Bracebow. (Chapter 1 – 2). During the attack on Fort Yarakir, Griffon led the charge into the fort and helped slay the banshee but, afterwards, was the most eager to locate the fort's hidden treasury. (Chapter 3 – 4). Following Yazram's murder of Dredgar, Griffon advocated for Yazram's death (Chapter 5).

Alias: Griffon
Ancestry: Half-Orc
Class: Slayer (Order of the Lycan)
Born: 50 2A (outside Aos, Auros)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Alignment: Lawful Good
First Appearance: Vhakizla – Chapter 1
Most Recent Appearance: Cradle – Chapter 4

Goals

• To complete one contract honorably and with reputation intact.
• To recover his full strength.
• To convince Stirge to stay loyal to the company. (Failed)
• To convince Umber to take on more responsibility in the company.
• To convince Kothia to stay loyal to the company (Failed)
• To boost Chimera's confidence
• To regain the company's trust

Secrets

• Yorgos of Nyre was his father.

Relationships:

• Chimera: Unfavored Son
• Stirge: Suspect
• Harpy: Guardian
• Grawmor: Brother
• Hook: Subordinate
• Zelene Silvers: Rival