Gryphon rider

Gryphon riders (also spelled gryphonrider and gryphon-riders)Day of the Dragon are windriders who serve as air support in the armies of the Alliance's nations. Most of them are dwarves of the Wildhammer clan, known to wield deadly stormhammers and to have a special bond with their gryphon mounts, but recently Ironforge dwarves and humans alike have started deploying gryphon riders of their own.
A group of gryphon riders is called a gryphon wing.Honorable Bearing They are often under the guidance of a wing commander, which is sometimes stationed on the ground near their target area.Wing Commander Dabir'ee, Zeth'Gor Must Burn! (Alliance)
Gryphon riders typically need an harness to properly control their mount. A saddle is preferred though optional, as some dwarves are known to ride without.The Last Guardian, chapter 3
==First War==
At the times of the First War, dwarves had trained and loaned out two gryphons to Medivh, who himself expertly used the beasts in his Guardian duties.The Last Guardian, chapter 4 A dwarven gryphon rider was also known to reach the tower of Karazhan twice a week to act as a courier between the mage and the outside world.The Last Guardian, chapter 5
During the assault against Karazhan, no less than six flights of gryphon riders departed from Stormwind Keep, among which were Khadgar, Garona, Anduin Lothar and some of his men. Khadgar was unaware that there were this many trained gryphons in the world, much less Stormwind, and surmised that Lothar had talked with the dwarves.The Last Guardian, chapter 15
==Second War==
From the ominous and foreboding peaks of Northeron came the dwarven gryphon riders. Mounted upon their legendary beasts and wielding the mystic stormhammers forged deep within the secret chambers of their aviaries, these feral dwarves feared no enemy - and relied upon no friend. They had allied themselves only with the elves of Quel'Thalas, distrusting both their dwarven cousins and the humans alike. When the call to battle was sounded, however, they could be counted upon to fight alongside any who opposed the Horde.Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness manual, Alliance Air Units, Gryphon Rider
File:HumanGryphon.gif|Gryphon rider unit in Warcraft II.
File:Stormhammer Warcraft II.png|Sprite of the gryphon rider unit's stormhammer attack in flight.
File:Gryphonrider.JPG|Gryphon rider from the Second War sinking a Horde oil tanker.
File:Dragon WC2 wallpaper.jpg|Gryphon rider from the Second War fighting a dragon.
File:Gryphonrider2.JPG|Gryphon rider from the Second War.
File:HeroKurdranWC2.gif|Kurdran gryphon rider hero in Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal.
==Third War==
The daring dwarves of the Wildhammer clan had responded once again to the call and brought the mighty gryphons of the Aerie Peaks to aid the Alliance in its time of need. Armed with their trusty, lightning-powered stormhammers, the fearless wilddwarves sought to keep the skies of Lordaeron free from enemy forces. The proud gryphons shared their riders' implacable resolve and stood as noble symbols of the Alliance's fortitude.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos manual, Human Units, Gryphon Rider
WC3GryphonRider.gif|Gryphon rider unit in Warcraft III.
BTNGryphonRider-Reforged.png|Reforged unit icon.
Gryphon Rider Reforged.png|Gryphon rider unit in Reforged.
==World of Warcraft==
Though gryphon rider characters already existed in the original release of World of Warcraft, it is only with the The Burning Crusade expansion pack that flying mounts and the mechanics for flying NPCs were added. Special town guards able to counter flying adventurers also had to be created. In Outland, all of the Alliance villages were protected by the same Gryphon Rider Guards from the Wildhammer clan.
The Roughnecks are human gryphon tamers and riders on Kul Tiras that are taught and led by Boss Tak, a Wildhammer dwarf. The Roughnecks provide all gryphon mounts for Kul Tiras.The Roughnecks
During the Fourth War, Wildhammer gryphon riders patrolled Darrowmere River.Mounted Resistance
==Notable==
* Kurdran Wildhammer
* Falstad Wildhammer
* Gryphon Master Talonaxe
* Rhapsody Shindigger (formerly)
* Wing Commander Vipore - Alterac Valley
* Wing Commander Slidore - Alterac Valley
* Wing Commander Ichman - Alterac Valley
* Wing Commander Dabir'ee - Hellfire Peninsula 
* Wing Commander Gryphongar - Hellfire Peninsula 
* Gryphoneer Leafbeard - Hellfire Peninsula 
* Gryphoneer Windbellow - Hellfire Peninsula 
* Wing Commander Nuainn - Shadowmoon Valley 
* Gryphonrider Kieran - Shadowmoon Valley 
* Gryphonrider Nordin - Shadowmoon Valley
* Gryphon Commander Urik - Dragonblight 
* "Wyrmbait" - Dragonblight 
* Thordun Hammerblow - Twilight Highlands 
* Iain Firebeard - Twilight Highlands 
* Keeland Doyle - Twilight Highlands 
* Sergeant Parker 
* Commander Stevens 
* Marshal Fallows 
* 2nd Lieutenant Wansworth 
*Tupan 
*Molok 
*Glodin 
*Beathan 
*Dermid 
*Farand 
*Fergun 
*Iomhar 
*Kardan 
*Keers 
*Mozza 
*Lieren 
*Maz Drachrip 
==Types==
* Gryphon Rider Guard - Outland 
*Honor Hold Gryphon Rider - Hellfire Peninsula 
*Aldor Gryphon Guard - Shattrath City 
* Wildhammer Gryphon Rider - Shadowmoon Valley 
*Scarlet Gryphon Rider - Plaguelands: The Scarlet Enclave 
*Valgarde Gryphon Rider - Howling Fjord 
*Wintergarde Gryphon Rider - Dragonblight 
*Fordragon Gryphon Rider - Dragonblight 
* Risen Gryphon Rider - Dragonblight 
*Forgotten Captain - Dragonblight 
*Onslaught Gryphon Rider - Icecrown 
* Stormwind Gryphon Rider - Stormwind City 
* Ironforge Gryphon Rider - Ironforge 
*Wildhammer Mercenary - Southern Barrens 
*Victor's Point Wildhammer - Twilight Highlands 
*Wildhammer Hellion - Twilight Highlands 
*Doyle Gryphon Rider - Twilight Highlands 
*Firebeard Gryphon Rider - Twilight Highlands 
*Moore Gryphon Rider - Twilight Highlands 
*Mullan Gryphon Rider - Twilight Highlands 
*Thundermar Gryphon Rider - Twilight Highlands 
*Shieldwall Gryphon Rider - Krasarang Wilds 
*Wildhammer Gryphon Rider - Dun Morogh 
*Alliance Gryphon Rider - Broken Shore 
*Skyfire Gryphon Rider - Stormwind City 
* Stromgarde Gryphon Rider - Stromgarde Keep 
==In the RPG==
Gryphon riders are the air power of the Alliance, the men who fly through the air and risk their lives in an aerial blitzkrieg. To a man (or woman), they describe their job as the most exhilarating in the Alliance. Wearing a breastplate and a jaunty leather cap, the stout, friendly Wildhammer dwarf stays close to his steed. In combat, the gryphon rider's tactics are surprisingly similar to those of normal cavalry; they charge in, strike a blow, and get out before the opponent can launch a counterattack. As one gryphon rider puts it: "If they've got no spellcasters or missile troops, battle's a picnic." They usually use an axe as a weapon, and they are never without their stormhammers.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 187
Gryphon riders are usually of the windrider and windwarrior classes.
==Gallery==
Chronicle2 Invasion of Draenor.jpg|In the Invasion of Draenor. 
Gryphon and Wyvern WoW Classic.jpg|Key art for Classic.
Dwarvewindrider.jpg|Gryphon rider art.
Wildhammer dwarf.jpg|Gryphon rider in flight.
Windwarrior.jpg|Windwarrior from the Alliance Player's Guide RPG book.
Windwarrior Gryphonmail.jpg|Windwarrior wearing gryphonmail.
Typical Wildhammer Dwarf Gryphon Rider.jpg|Alliance Player's Guide typical gryphon rider.
Falstad HotS.jpg|Falstad from Heroes of the Storm.
Statue GryphonRider Pose.png|Gryphon rider in Warcraft Arclight Rumble.
==References==
 
Category:Gryphons
Category:NPC occupations
es:Jinete de grifos
fr:Chevaucheur de Gryphon