Griffins

== What are Griffins? ==
Griffins are an incredibly rare species native to the mountain ranges of Southern Valendor. Their front half appears to be that of an eagle or hawk, with wings, talons, and it's head. It's back half and torso however appear more like that of a lion of Southern Duat. Their range is incredibly limited by a number of factors, and their population is fairly small, putting them at risk of going extinct in the future if conservation efforts are lacking.
== Biology and Ecology ==
Griffins are very fickle creatures, with a very specific set of environmental conditions required for them to live healthy lives. They live in the upper elevations of the mountains of Southern Valendor, where it is fairly temperate, just below the snow caps of the mountains. They snatch freshwater fish out of the mountain streams with their barbed beaks, and are known to also hunt small rodents like rabbits, as well as reptiles, bobcats, and other birds if they must. Not only that, but they are technically omnivorous despite their mostly meat based diet, and will when able also snatch fruit from trees.
Griffins are fairly lean for their size, only really packing on weight right before winter, so they can hibernate in the caves lower down the mountain ranges where they live. To further aid in their flight, Griffins like many birds have hollow pneumatized bones with air sacks attached to the hollow potions that can be filled with air. The insides of these bones are laced with 'supports' to prevent them from being too brittle, but they are still more fragile than an actual lion's bones.
You can tell a Griffin's gender by the underside of its wings. If the wings are a solid color, then the Griffin is Male. If the underside bears lighter white spots, then it is female. Otherwise, both genders appear identical in size and posture.
== Limited Range ==
The range of Griffins is limited dramatically by several factors. Firstly is climate, Griffins are only healthy in their native environment. Go too far North, and it becomes too cold for them. Go too far South, and it is too hot and humid. Then there is their need to take a break from flying every hour or two, which prevents them from crossing the oceans. The mountain ranges separating Northern Valendor from the Dark Lands might be a hospitable climate for them, however the mountains from Faust to the Mirrored Peaks are stalked by giant bat-like creatures that hunt anyone foolish enough to attempt to climb- or fly- over them, and they are more than capable of taking down an adult Griffin.
Finally, and most importantly, is their nesting grounds. Griffins mate and brood exclusively in the Floating Isles of Faltavius, just north of Ascension Academy over the mountains. These Isles were launched into the sky over 2000 years ago by the Great Pulse, and because they sit above an intersection of two Ley Lines they remain there, suspended in the air. The Griffins return to their Brooding Isles every 3-5 years to lay their eggs and watch their young. Faltavius Institute was originally founded to study both the properties of the Floating Isles and to observe the Griffins, however it later developed into a full-fledged Academy of its own.
== Interactions with People ==
Griffins are wild and intelligent, comparable to Corvids or house cats. Because of this, they can not really be domesticated per se, but they can be acquainted with people. They actually exhibit some interesting behaviors in this regard that I’ll touch on a bit.
If you stumble across a Griffin in the wild, immediately bow your head, keep your hands at your sides, and walk backwards slowly without turning away, until you are around 15 meters away from them. At this point they may approach, if their wings are spread they see you as a threat, and you should continue to keep your hands at your side, your head bowed, and walk backwards much further until you are safely away. If their wings are folded, stay still. They will circle you to inspect you to decide if you are trustworthy. If yes, they will stand in front of you and bow their heads, and then wander back to whatever they were doing. At this point, you have essentially been taken under the Griffin’s charge, and they will protect you so long as you remain under their charge. Even other Griffins will respect this, though if you at any point act out of turn and lose the Griffin’s trust, they will attack you.
If a Griffin attacks you, you are in a great deal of danger. It is recommended you try to keep your arms at your sides- they see raised arms as a threat as it increases your size, and Griffins extend their own wings when angered, which is what they interpret the pose as. Griffins will spread their wings wide to their sides to try and prevent their target from circling around their sides. They will stand on their hind legs to get as much reach with their front talons as possible. The only realistic option to disengage from a Griffin fight is to keep your hands at your side and run. If you can get far enough away from wherever they consider their territory, and into a tight space that they can’t fit into, they will eventually lose interest and leave.
==Trivia==
* The Griffins that Faltavius loaned to Ascension Academy for the Tournament Ball in Year 3 were experienced flying and were fairly old, making them more docile. They are typically used to train new Griffin Riders, which is why they were picked for the Griffin Flight activity at the Ball.
==Gallery==
AA Griffins (1).png
AA Griffins (2).png
AA Griffins (3).png
Category:Ascension Lore
Category:Monsters