Griffon
A griffon is a large magical beasts with a lion's body, an eagle's head and claws, and feathered wings. They are intelligent creatures, and while unable to speak can understand most languages spoken by the humanoids living close to them. The name of this magical beast has a couple of variant spellings, namely griffin and gryphon.
Appearance
Most griffons are found in Zimea and are large creatures with the hindquarters of lions and the wing forequarters of brown-and-white eagles, but certain populations are known to resemble different types of birds and felines. Desert-dwelling griffons often resemble tawny or black hawks and mountain lions, while those found in jungles combine the bodies of tigers and panthers with those of colorful parrots. In addition, a wingless type of griffon called the alce also exists. These are born when griffon eggs are brooded by their father rather than their mother. While flightless, alces are swifter runners than winged griffons and are often used as mounts in Zimea by the wealthiest of knights.Ecology
Griffons are predators, and are particularly fond of horse meat; they also hunt and eat hippogriffs. Male griffons attempt to impress females by bringing them gifts of meat and fruit, and thereafter through a complex aerial dance where the prospective mates engage in difficult aerial acrobatics. Griffons mate for life, and both mates rear the young; females typically brood the eggs while the males hunt to bring back prey to their mate and offspring, but on occasion, males can be the ones to brood the clutch. In these occasions, the chicks hatch as wingless alces instead of winged griffons.
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