Griffin

A Griffin is a type of Chimaera, an animal created from a magical fusion of other animals in order to fulfill a combat role. They were said to have been created by the ancient Storm King sorcerer, Balthazar of the Black Thorn. This was done through the use of Terramancy, combining features from a variety of animals--most notably a hunting bird of prey with a mountain lion, but also a variety of other characteristics taken from hunting hounds, horses, and possibly even a human brain. Griffins are considered the greatest and most useful of the chimaeras created by the folk of the west; their ability to fly and engage in aerial combat gave the Storm Kings a massive advantage in their endless wars with the Orcs, the Dwarves and the Elves.
Balthazar designed Griffins to be absolutely subservient to the Storm Kings they were bonded to, and those of the bloodline who possess sorcerous gifts are still able to ride them to this day so long as the Griffin is raised from the egg in captivity. After being laid, a Griffin egg takes 1 year to hatch; chicks grow very quickly in comparison to ordinary animals, and are often the size of a small horse by the time they are 3 years old, by which time they are able to be ridden and flown on--though they do not reach full maturity and power until they are nearly a decade old. The average lifespan of the chimaera is roughly 100 years. They have a very high level of animal intelligence and each has a very distinct personality. They also vary quite widely in apperance with their plumage. They are also sexually dimorphic; perhaps as a holdover from their Lion blood, She-Griffins are known to be larger and more physically imposing than the males. 
Griffins can reach great speeds in the air, comparable to the smaller and lighter Peregrine Falcon, with some measuring a top speed of 300 km/h. They are born with an innate combat ability, and attack primarily with their curved beaks and eagle-like front talons; both are known to be sharp enough to tear through steel plate. Griffins are known to be resistant to conventional weaponry made by human forging; there are reports of them flying through entire volleys of arrows without showing so much as a scratch. However they can be hurt by both magic, and anti-magic.
In the modern age, House Blackthorne, the descendants of Balthazar, are the only remaining true Storm King household, but as they lost their magic, they began to lose their ability to control Griffins. Agravain was the last rider of their number, and with his death, the last of the tamed Griffins went with him and the remaining population were the wild ones left in the Thunderclap Mountains. Arthur Blackthorne once tried to claim one of these Griffins, but as he had no magical gifts, the wild animal tore him apart. 
Over the course of the Blackthorne Royal Family's dynsaty, Griffins were reintroduced into the family, reared as both companions and as weapons in times of war. By 1086AE most of these tamed griffins are gone, but one is known to still live--Coriolinus, bonded to the former Crown-Princess, Gwenavere Blackthorne. He currently accompanies the exiled royal on her adventures with her bastard daughter Iris. Another Griffin that has not been confirmed as dead is Morrigan, the steed of the Dark Prince Edmund Blackthorne. The black She-Griffin went missing with its rider on an expedition to the East and has not yet been confirmed as dead. 
Name 	Rider 	Description 	
Nimue 	Jason Blackthorne 	A large (7-ft at the shoulder) She-Griffin with silvery-grey feathers and clear, calm blue eyes. Born at the same time as Jason, accompaying him through his entire life, and died at some point after 300AE. Showed a proud and curious temperament; rode with Jason against Vermithrax, encountered Divankul Dul-Sansiska several times, and submitted with some "catlike" chagrin to being played with by peasant children. 	
Tempest 	Gawain Blackthorne , Agravain Blackthorne	A dark-grey male griffin with yellow eyes, put to death by Jarvis Blackthorne; the last of the old domesticated griffins, and the last to be ridden by a Blackthorne for nearly 700 years. 	
Garahel 	? 	The first of the Blackthorne Royal Family Griffins, taken as an abandoned egg in 1016 and first ridden by the Monarch during the Aradian Civil War. A male with a smaller build, white plumage on his head and brown on his body, with blue eyes--depicted in the main page image above. He was called the "Father of Griffins" as all subsequent domesticated Griffins circulated within the royal family were his bred offspring, as he was often mated with wild she-griffins through the years. Showed a calm and compassionate temperament, and was beloved by his rider. Slain in 1070AE by King Ethelion III, in the opening salvos of The Brecilidian Rebellion	
Ydrasiil 	Alyssa Blackthorne, King Gordon I 	A white male griffin, the eldest issue of Garahel by one of his many mates. Had a pure snow-white plumage like a dove, with a pointy, narrow build and narrow blue eyes. Was given as a present to Alyssa along with his twin sister (below) for her 11th birthday in 1031AE. When Alyssa died in 1036AE he was passed to her younger brother, who rode him until the griffins death at the Battle at Motter's Spiral in 1051AE. Showed a melancholic and isolationist temperament, similar to both his riders. 	
Morrigan 	Valoria Blackthorne, Edmund Blackthorne 	Twin to Ydrasiil, gifted to Valoria and then passed to her son once she retired from combat. A She-Griffin of great size, 7ft at the shoulder, with pitch-black plumage and impassive black eyes. Described as similar in look to a carrion crow. Considered the most wild and difficult of all the Griffins to handle, known for biting and clawing even her allies; only its riders seem to have her complete trust. 	
? 	Theodor Blackthorne 	An issue born of Garahel's second roost and given to Theo in 1040AE. A small male griffin with blue eyes and unruly yellow feathers, which its rider used to joke looked like a "chicken." Had a mischievous temperment. Died during the 1077 Revolution. 	
? 	Ethan Blackthorne 	A She-Griffin bonded to Prince Ethan Blackthorne, gifted to him when he was only 5 years old in 1059AE. Died in 1070AE, torn to pieces by Morrigan in a fight between their two riders as part of the Brecilidian Rebellion. 	
Coriolinus	Gwenavere Blackthorne , Iris West 	Garahel's youngest offspring from his final roost before his death. Given to Gwen in 1061AE and has been practically inseparable since. A large and rotund male with tawny brown feathers and white on his undercoat. Known to have a playful, doglike temperament--easily excited, but equally stubborn. Often the subject of his rider exasperation, but is extremely protective of her daughter Iris.