Winged Lion

The Winged Lion is a species of extinct animals that held a place of cultural significance to the people of the Menedynn Empire. It had a muscular, broad-chested body; a pair of feathered wings emerging from its shoulderblades; and sharp, ossified cartilage protrusions at the end of its tail, called ḫangāru. Unlike lions, females and males were of equal size, and both had manes; males had one to three ḫangāru, while females had three to five.
Winged lions were a highly social species; individual lions commonly belonged to a multi-layered network of cooperative and distinct social groups. Within those networks emerged a variety of values, social norms, traditions, and two independent languages. Winged lions were able to learn languages from other intelligent species, but not as well as humanoids.
Although less agile and maneuverable, the winged lion was apparently quite the equal and possibly even the superior of the pegasus's flight speed, lending credence to tales of winged lions hunting pegasi. Winged lions were known to fly as play and had a large variety of games with clear, established rules.

Additional Information

Average Intelligence

Winged lions were very intelligent and were on par with humanoids, and took great interest in epistemology and ethics; they developed an elaborate system of beliefs, which they shared and argued over with the Menedynn. They were seemingly disinterested in metaphysics or cosmogony, and despite their fondness for philosophy and reasoning, several Menedynn writings describe them as "insistent on remaining unconvinced", "biologically incapable of grasping logic", and as "capricious as gods, if gods were any more capricious".

Civilization and Culture

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Winged lions enjoyed the company of humans, and some chose to dwell within the palaces of Menedynn high nobility and royalty, where they were accepted as a somewhere between an honorable guest and a pet. Winged lions despised manticores and found them to be revolting; it is unknown whether this was due to their supposed common ancestry, or despite it.

EXTINCT

Average Height

1.7 - 1.9 meters at the shoulder.

Average Weight

260 - 438 kg.

Average Length

5 - 5.3 meters;
1 - 1.6 meters (tail).

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Blue-tinged coat and feathers with golden mane; feathers turning gold with old age.

A winged lion, based on contemporary descriptions and drawings.