Gryphon Gryphons ( aka griffins ) are a mighty and proud race originating from the Aerie Peak . They have always aided the Alliance in times of need , and more importantly the Wildhammer dwarves . These proud creatures stand as noble symbols of the Alliance ' s fortitude . In addition to conveying important documents between the Human , Dwarven , and Gnomish leaders in the regions surrounding Stormwind and Ironforge , the gryphons have also been harnessed for paid transportation along routes throughout Alliance controlled territories . In order to travel by gryphon , you must first speak to a Gryphon Master at the destination point . Upon doing so , the location will be added to your list of known Flight Path s . Each gryphon ride costs a varying amount of coin . In " " , Armored Gryphons are the epic flying mount of choice for the Alliance in Outland . In " " , they will also be available for the Alliance in the planet of Azeroth Gryphons have a long history of participation in Alliance military maneuvers . In The Burning Crusade expansion , players can participate in bombing quests atop an armored gryphon provided to them for that purpose . Description . This mighty beast ’ s forequarters — including head , forelegs , and tremendous wings — resemble a great eagle , while its hindquarters are that of a mighty lion . The gryphon is the symbol of resolve and fortitude among the wild dwarves of Aerie Peak . From the tip of its powerful beak to the back of its swishing tail , a gryphon can reach lengths of 9 feet . Its wings can span up to 30 feet , and are powerful enough to launch the beast into flight from a standing position . Gryphons are intelligent and loyal , suppressing their natural aggression and territorial behavior to assist the wild dwarves who share their mountain homes . They are , however , partial to horse flesh and unless closely watched indulge their taste to the detriment of nearby cavalry . In recent times , the troll s of the Witherbark tribe in the southern Hinterlands have been capturing gryphons to attempt to train their own windwarrior s . They have thus far been unsuccessful , but it is conceivable that the trolls will eventually find a way to duplicate the success of the Wildhammer clan and produce gryphon rider s of their own . In combat , a gryphon attempts to swoop down on its prey , attacking from above . Gryphons are intelligent enough to avoid fighting in situations in which they cannot make their attack at an advantage . Flying Mounts . The Wildhammer dwarves of Aerie Peak are renowned for training gryphons as mounts . See Gryphon ( mounts ) . Gryphon eggs . The sale of gryphon eggs is considered a crime in most human and dwarf holdings , but black market eggs can be had for prices at around 2 to 3 times less than the amount of a fully trained gryphon . Myth . The origin of the Griffin is unknown . Greek sources from the Hellenistic ( 300s BC ) period tell of where the creatures might be found , but the imagery is far older . The Mycenaean civilization , which dates to around the 1000s BC , feature Griffins and lions on what little artwork survive from the period . The even older Minoan civilization , who were contemporaries to Ancient Egypt , used Griffin imagery in their palaces and temples . Creatures that could be called Griffins are common motifs in Persian and Assyrian art , although these beasts are technically Cherubim , not griffins . A beast that has been loosely translated to " Griffin " is referenced in Egyptian papyri , although the term " hieracosphinx " is becoming more popular . It has been suggested that Gryphon imagery originated with early discoveries of . Ancient observers would have seen an aquiline head on a leonine body .