Griffin

Biology

Griffons are a vicious bird of prey, made more powerful by their cat-like instincts, hearing, and, perhaps most importantly, biology. These beasts have the hind legs and tail of a big cat, while their head resembles a great and powerful eagle. Their long and powerful wings are built for long-distance but slow flight. When hunting, they will often fly up high and tuck in their wings, quickly dive bombing their prey. They have two front talons perfect for capturing prey while their hind legs tear into its vulnerable flesh. The griffon's feathers range from its head to its tail, there blending in with the fur of its hind area.

Habitat

Griffons are native to the Notbee Mountains, in the far northern region of Everoth. They live high in the peaks in caves and outcroppings. Due to this the griffon's only natural predator are dragons, but the latter have made a pact with the Empire to not hunt the creatures.
Due to the widespread domestication of griffons, there is now a subspecies known as the Royal Griffin, the symbol of Armanthin, a city in Everoth. Wild griffons are therefore found in the mountains bordering Forndole and Everoth as well, though this is not their native habitat.

Social Life

Griffons are known to the peoples of Thaecia as one of the most intelligent non-folk species. Due to this, they form intricate tribes and hierarchies. One rises through the ranks by challenging the griffin that holds the role that they seek to a duel to the death. This was also an evolutionary method of maintaining population control before the Duran and Ever people began to domesticate them, leading to a sharp decline in wild populations. This meant that the traditional death duels became problematic in a species that was already facing wild population declination.

Culture

The Empire had adopted griffons as a symbol of their power, as they use them for communication, reconnaissance, and conflict. They are revered as majestic and powerful beasts, feared by their opponents. People can sometimes see griffons soaring in the sky above them as the beasts fly on missions for the government and the wealthy enough to buy them.