Velosian Gryphon
Velosian gryphons are essentially domesticated gryphons originating in city of Velos within the Kingdom of Veldera as a means to allow more birdkin to connect with gryphons. Gryphons from different tribes were brought into birdkin households to be raised in their culture. Velosian gryphons can be considered as the classic gryphon species.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Velosian gryphons share most of the same characteristics as tribal gryphons with a few key differences. First, they have lost their elemental energy. Secondly, they have much greater variation in genetic traits. Certain ornamental features which facilitate elemental use and adaptations to specific environments are eliminated. Because of these genetic changes, Velosian gryphons as a whole display more traditional gryphon traits than their respective ancestors.
Biological Traits
Traits of Velosian gryphons are generally more varied than those of tribal gryphons by way of having more opportunities to interbreed with different ancestries. Most traits are shared with the tribal gryphons though Velosian gryphons possess adaptations for civilized living in place of elemental adaptations.
Genetics and Reproduction
Velosian gryphons share the same reproductive methods as tribal gryphons, but since they now live in the birdkin society, mate selection is more open and may take place at any time. Velderan gryphons can breed with tribal gryphons as well as their own kind, producing offspring with elemental abilities. At least one of the partners needs to have developed their elemental energy usage in order for their offspring to be an elemental gryphon. The only instance where no elemental abilities are passed on is when Velosian gryphons breed among themselves. Velosian gryphons are also able to produce more offspring than tribal gryphons due to the lack of natural birth control provided by the elemental energy, though only up to one half of the local birdkin birth rate due to having a higher resources requirement.
Growth Rate & Stages
Biologically, Velosian gryphons share the same life stages as tribal gryphons albeit slightly condensed due to a shorter lifespan. They maintain their culture as much as possible, though their obligations shift to the birdkin community rather than to a gryphon clan. Young adult Velosian gryphons spend more time in their various jobs and duties while the gryphlings are looked after by other birdkin. Gryphlings have much more opportunity to socialize with others due to the higher density of gryphons and adults form social groups with other gryphons and birdkin.
Ecology and Habitats
By nature, most Velosian gryphons live in a birdkin household and raised within the birdkin culture, learning their language and customs, but also maintain tribal gryphon culture through local populations. As such they spend more time performing chores and other tasks than with hunting and consume significantly more agricultural products. They are still allowed to hunt in order to maintain their natural behavior and to provide extra food for the birdkin. They receive education in both birdkin and gryphon subjects and can hold jobs, receiving payment either in coin, material goods, or services which they can also trade with others. Common occupations for Velosian gryphons include guards, soldiers, couriers, cart-pullers, and companions. They also handle a lot of the other occupations that serve gryphons. Velosian gryphons hold significantly more possessions than tribal gryphons and become skilled at using birdkin technology. These gryphons typically have their own enclosed living area as part of an birdkin dwelling which can vary from a section of a house to a separate barn. Many birdkin structures are built to accommodate the size and shape of their gryphons; examples include larger sunken baths, nest-like bedding, larger doors and wider hallways, and upper level landing pads and perches. Velosian gryphons are not segregated by apparent species though certain ancestries are more present in certain areas.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The primary difference between Velosian gryphons and tribal gryphons is that hunting is no longer strictly necessary. Though Velosian gryphons do hunt occasionally to provide extra food and to lessen dependence on farmers, agriculture provides the bulk of their diet. They obtain their food either through the birdkin they live with or they purchase it themselves; some gryphons work in the fields as plows or help with orchards and vineyards. Velosian gryphons eat more grains, beans/nuts, and produce than tribal gryphons as a result, as well as dairy, desserts, and drink products not obtainable by their ancestors. Meat, however, is still a large part of their diet although it is typically cooked. Certain food-related peculiarities have developed; for example, chocolate has the same effect on a gryphon as alcohol does to a human, and certain individuals are known to have developed a taste for peanut butter. Food is generally stored using birdkin methods such as iceboxes and preservation techniques (including jars, cans, bags, and other containers) in their individual residences.
Biological Cycle
Velosian gryphons share the same biological cycles as tribal gryphons but do not follow the same societal cycles. Hunting is more evenly distributed during the warmer months and there is no defined mating season.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Velosian gryphons are closely tied to the birdkin households they live with and participate in the same social structure, though the two races are segregated as much as necessary to maintain their identities and culture. Most gryphons share living space with birdkin, though some are in gryphon-only neighborhoods. Velosian gryphons have a voice in Velderan government and affairs but they don't hold public office, instead having their own organizations to handle their affairs. Velosian gryphon society varies depending on location.
Velosian gryphons become part of a birdkin household through being born from the birdkin's gryphon, or through distribution. Many Velosian gryphons are born from breeders who raise gryphons for the purpose of making offspring for others, generally in larger numbers than regular families. As the number of gryphons is still limited, only birdkin with certain status and wealth are able to acquire them. From this group of potential birdkin, the gryphon has the final say in which birdkin they are adopted by. Gryphons are distributed during their fledgling stage.
Domestication
Velosian gryphons are the domesticated form of tribal gryphons bred in order for the rapidly increasing population of birdkin to have gryphons of their own. As gryphons do not have high reproductive rates, the birdkin developed a technology which increased fertility in the gryphons, though the offspring resulting from this did not possess the ability to utilize elemental energy. These new gryphons adapted to live in birdkin society by spending a lot more time in birdkin settlements than in gryphon territories. By doing this from their hatching and across multiple generations, the gryphons adopted the social structure of their birdkin households.
Velosian gryphons maintain their intelligence though they are more docile and more dependent on other races than the tribal gryphons are. Most of the behavioral differences come from being raised in a different culture, living among a much larger and more diverse population of races, and the shift from hunting to occupations. Though they retain some of their natural behaviors, they are not as efficient as before. Instincts that were tied to elemental energy were lost (including the special connection between gryphons and elemental energy) and natural instincts did not take their place, so the gryphons are no longer able to depend on their elemental abilities for daily living tasks. The traits that carried over are the ability to speak, the ability to learn, flight, physical strength and abilities, and natural resistances.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Kingdom of Veldera though some have moved back into tribal gryphon territories
Average Intelligence
Velosian gryphons are highly intelligent, on the same level as the birdkin they live with.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Velosian gryphons share the same natural capabilites of tribal gryphons though they do not posses elemental abilities or the highly specialized adaptations for certain environments. They do possess a resistance to elemental energy from the outside as a side effect of how they were originally bred.
Civilization and Culture
History
Velosian gryphons were meant to support the birdkin, to serve as their companions, and to protect them. They were not originally intended to be slaves or weapons and were bred with the consent of the tribal gryphons at first. However, like any other species that lives in close interaction with another over time, there are differing relationships between birdkin and Velosian gryphon. Some birdkin treat Velosian gryphons as family and as equals, others treat them as they would a common pet, while others make them into slaves. Some gryphons get separated from their households and live on their own, though in tougher conditions. Once the Gryphon Persecution occurs, Velosian gryphons become further separated from tribal gryphons and become more assimilated into birdkin society.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Gryphon Bonds and Family Structure
Though most Velosian gryphons live with birdkin, a select few of them form closer bonds with the anthros though not as strong as the bonds practiced by the original tribal gryphons and birdkin in Veldera and continued in Tarith. These bonds add another layer of complexity to the birdkin-gryphon social structure, especially as family members find mates and/or move out. The rule for gryphon inheritance is that the bond between birdkin and gryphon takes priority of the bond between gryphon mates. This means that the standard arrangement in Veldera is that mated gryphons do not live with each other but close enough so they can mate. This also means that all offspring stay with the mother until adulthood though the father can visit. In order to keep gryphon families together, male gryphons bond to male birdkin and female gryphons bond to female gryphons so that when two birdkin mate, their gryphons would become mates as well. If the gryphons do not want to become mates, the previous arrangement applies.
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
6' for adult males and 5.5' for adult females for most Velderan gryphons, ones used for heavier jobs and transport average around 8'
Average Weight
200 lbs for most, ones used for heavier jobs and transport average around 300 lbs
Average Length
9' including tail
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