The Crystal Griffin

The Crystal Griffin is the titular object whose pieces Mario must collect in order to prevent Crescent Island and - by extension - the world from falling into corruption and despair. Throughout the main game, the Crystal Griffin has been split into three parts (The Amber Orb included), and Mario and his partners must collect and assemble them back together into its original form in order to at least restore the Crystal Griffin back into its original state

## Purpose

### The Crystal Griffin

The Crystal Griffin's purpose is to bring mostly peace to all of the world. However, its magic is extremely fickle and should it fall into the wrong hands then it will turn into its corrupted state and bring chaos and darkness to all the world. The only way to currently fix it is for the Amber Orb to find someone of a pure heart, revert the Crystal Griffin pieces and put them back together.

### The Amber Orb

Created during the Crystal Griffin's reign of corruption, the Amber Orb serves to track down the Crystal Griffin pieces and give the holder the ability to merge the pieces back together. The Amber Orb was later placed in the Crystal Griffin's grasp so that if anyone with mal intent were to grab hold on the Crystal Griffin, then the Amber Orb would activate, shattering the Crystal Griffin and flinging itself to a place it knows has a person that has done good and pure deeds.

## **History (Before the Game)**

Below is an extensive history of the Crystal Griffin. The history of its creation and how to stop its corruption can be read in Vanilla Dome University's Library, whilst the way how it got corrupted and how to corrupt it is told in the Castle of Soul's Memory Lane. The spells used to create the Crystal Griffin and the Amber Orb can be found by talking to the magicians in Knight Light Kingdom's Castle. Other casual flavour text also hint at the Crystal Griffin's past.

### **Creation of the Crystal Griffin**

Long ago, far before the creation of most civilisations (apart from the Hourly Empire, and a few ancient civilisations in other parts of the world) and life, a large civilisation named the Solstis Magicians inhabited the Knogho Isles in peace and tranquillity. Seeing how beautiful the world was in eternal peace, the civilisation wanted to keep that way and decided to create a special object that could maintain peace throughout the whole world and hence began the creation of the Crystal Griffin. They decided that once this object was created that they would seal it away should it potentially go into the wrong hands.

Firstly, a glass vessel would need to be created: this vessel would need to store an extremely high dose of magic (which was necessary to maintain the world's peace) whilst being compact and small in order to seal it away. Secondly, the Solstis Magicians would need to store an extremely large quantity of pure, raw magic and it was eventually decided that a large ball of magic would seal the deal (and specifically required raw magic as it is the most stable and easy to store magic out of all the magic they had). Once this was done, they would prepare a special day where the two objects would be merged into one. Whilst this merging would take place, they would additionally place a Spell of Peace into the concoction so that the Crystal Griffin's purpose could be fulfilled.

Whilst certain Solstis Magicians spent their days hard at work trying to create the perfect glass vessel, others began to dedicate their lives to building up large sums of magic in underground spell rooms, ready for the day that the glass vessel and magic would merge together. Every day more magic would be added to the ball until it grew into a size 20x larger than the Solstis Magicians themselves, to at that point they had felt like it was suffice enough. Other Solstis Magicians practiced the Spell of Peace until they had it nailed it perfectly as they were extremely concerned about the dangers the Crystal Griffin could pose should it accidentally be fed the wrong spell during its fusion.

### **The Solis Magician**

Of all the Solstis Magician's, one eventually started growing tired of their constant desire for peace, and that was the Solis Magician. It started with them initially believing that a world just purely full of peace would be dull and boring, and that if there was a balance between peace and darkness then the world would be as perfect as it was. They tried suggesting this idea to the others, but they turned him down on the idea and believed it to be rubbish.

After many times of trying and many times of being rejected, the Solis Magicians began to start despising his own kind and, by extension, their ideals. As he drove deeper into his resentment, the idea of peace being in the world stopped being something of his consideration altogether. He started using his magical capabilities to create spells that would create disharmony instead of harmony such as the Spell of Chaos. His resentment led him to believing in a world full of darkness and chaos, and the very concept made him extremely happy as it was the very thing the Solstis Magicians were against, and he ultimately decided to carry out this plan by sabotaging the fusion ceremony at the very last minute, believing that the Spell of Chaos would overpower the Spell of Peace.

Additionally, as the Solis Magician started diving deeper and deeper into the world of darkness, they began to change their form. However, realising this and being fully aware that it might affect his attempted sabotage, he started covering up in order to not make the other Magicians suspicious of him. In the weeks before the fusion ceremony, he 'stopped' his obsession with darkness in order to start getting accepted by the other Magicians. At first, it seemed odd to them, but they eventually brushed it off believing that he had just gone through a phase and was back to their beliefs and traditions.

### **The Fusion Ceremony and the Sabotage**

After decades of hard work, the day finally came where the Solstis Magicians would finally place their ball of magic into their perfectly crafted glass vessel, and just as they had finished casting the Spell of Peace and were beginning to fuse the two objects together the Solis Magician, who was in the crowd, suddenly cast out the Spell of Chaos onto the Crystal Griffin. Before the Solstis Magicians could even react, the Crystal Griffin, the raw pure magic, and the two spells had become one.

At first, it seemed fine, but all of a sudden the Crystal Griffin began to take on a more dastardly appearance similar to the Solis Magician's undercover visage. The Solis Magician immediately snatched the Crystal Griffin and fled away into Crescent Island, triumphant that he had succeeded.

### **Era of Corruption**

At first, the darkness spread over Crescent Island and within a matter of weeks the whole area was covered in darkness. This darkness, accompanied by the growing power of the Crystal Griffin after the magic had begun to properly settle in, shot out to the whole work and so began an extensive era of chaos and destruction.

Back in the Solstis Magician's civilisation, the Magicians had been split into two different civilisations: those who were born before the darkness, and those born after the darkness. Although some born after the darkness believed in peace, there were many others that stopped believing in the concept of such a thing and converted into darkness. Some would eventually begin forming a tribe dedicated to darkness, whilst others took on more shadowy forms and went on to terrorise many lands and cities.

Amongst all of the chaos and negativity, the Peace Magicians remained strong and devised a way to try and retrieve the Crystal Griffin back from within the clutches of the Solis Magician. They decided that they would do something similar as they did with the Crystal Griffin: create an empty vessel, and a bunch of magic, and merge them into one. However, despite the fact that this would be more risky, they decided that instead of raw, pure magic they would instead compile various spells into one another and merge it immediately with the empty vessel before the magic gets out of control in its open state. At first, they tried thinking of a vessel with a complex structure, but after consideration decided to just use a simple circle in order to get the corruption to stop as soon as possible.

For the next few years (although much shorter than the time they took to make the Crystal Griffin as they had more experience) they worked on the Amber Orb in secret whilst ensuring that they do not seem suspicious to the Dark Magicians. They devised different spell combinations, possibilities, trials and solutions). Eventually, a general idea was conceived and the ingredients used were: Crystal Griffin Essences, Spells of Tracking, Breaking, Peace, and Mending (Advanced). The magic was split into two separate magic spells before being combined into the empty vessel when all was said and done:

* **Crystal Griffin Essence:** This includes remnants from previous Crystal Griffin models, or bits of scrap that were left behind after creating the finalised Crystal Griffin vessel.

* **Crystal Griffin Essence + Spells of Tracking + Spells of Breaking:** The first half of the spell. The Crystal Griffin Essence would help activate the other two spells. The Spell of Tracking, with the Crystal Griffin essence, would help the Magicians in finding the Crystal Griffin's whereabouts by projecting it in the vessel. The Spell of Breaking, wit the Crystal Griffin essence, would break the Crystal Griffin into parts that would scatter across Crescent Island. Although unsure if it would 100% work, the Magicians hoped that by collecting the separate pieces they could quickly reverse the Spell of Chaos in each individual piece as opposed to spending a longer amount of time trying to take away the Crystal Griffin whilst its heavily guarded and then having to use a great dose of magic to attempt reversing the Spell of Chaos whilst having to fight off the Solis Magician's growing power.
* **Crystal Griffin Essence + Spells of Tracking + Spells of Mending (Advanced):** The second half of the Spell, it will only activate after the first part has activated. The Crystal Griffin Essence and Spells of Tracking will hunt down the Crystal Griffin parts and once found, if there is another Crystal Griffin piece that can attach itself to the current piece, they will both stick together. The plan is to restore the individual pieces first before sticking them together in the hopes that good will overweigh the bad.

The Magicians had no idea if the plan would actually work, only knowing that the Amber Orb could have enough strength to shatter the Crystal Griffin. But they decided to go through with the plan anyway

### **The Amber Orb and the Road to Redemption**

The day came when the two spells would be placed within the Amber Orb. With greater security, the spells were successfully and quickly placed into the Amber Orb. After a few days of letting the magic settle in, the Solistis Magicians set out to find the Solis Magician's whereabouts. Upon the Amber Orb catching sight of the Crystal Griffin when they were finally in reach and had found his hiding, it immediately began to react and before long the Crystal Griffin had shattered and scattered all across Crescent Island. The race was now on to find the missing pieces and hopefully revert the chaos that had spread out across the world.

Thanks to the Amber Orb's tracking spells, the Solstis Magicians soon found themselves uncovering the first Crystal Griffin piece. However, upon touching it it they realised that it immediately reverted back into its uncorrupted spell. This breakthrough excited the Magicians as they now knew that a person with a desire for peace will be able to revert the spell back to normal, and set off to find the other pieces in order to piece the Griffin back together. In the meantime, they had to constantly fight of the Solis Magician's followers (the Dark Magicians) and the Solis Magician themselves as they went back and forth with the Crystal Griffin pieces.

### **Return to Peace and the Crystal Griffin's Seal**

After a long fight, at last the Solstis Magicians had gotten the upper hand and had gotten all of the Crystal Griffin pieces. Upon the last piece being uncorrupted and reunited with the statue, the Griffin lifted up into the air and shot out a bright beam of light across the Earth, slowly removing all of the corruption and chaos that was initially cast upon the land. The Solis Magician and his followers, now beings of darkness instead of their former selves, are greatly harmed by the immense amount of peace magic and decide to flee for the time being.

The Solstis Magicians initially celebrate about the achievement and prepare to take the Crystal Griffin back until someone mentions the fact that the Spell of Chaos is still in the Crystal Griffin and that if they could touch the Crystal Griffin and revert its spell back into the Spell of Peace, then should one of the followers of the Solis Magicians acquire the Crystal Griffin then the Spell of Peace would be repelled by the Spell of Chaos.

The Solstis Magicians then spent their next few months creating magic barriers involving the Spells of Peace in order to ward off the Solis Magician from ever returning, and managed to seal away the Crystal Griffin deep below the Altar where they imagined the Solis Magician would never get to.

### **The Aftermath**

Over time, the Solstis Magicians began to slowly dwindle in population, even moreso than they used to (as in the past before the Crystal Griffin, some Magicians would leave on their own terms for their own reasons). Some Magicians moved into Crescent Island in order to start new lives and move on from their past, whilst others decided to travel to other parts of the world and start off their own magic branches. Eventually only the most dedicated Solstis Magicians remained on the island, continuing to strengthen and maintain that the Spell of Peace (later mixed with the Spell of Repel, which would detract people from coming close) would be enough to ward away the Solstis Magician for as long as time itself. However, eventually they would not last, but before they left the earth they ensured that they would give their last magic contributions their all, and used their strongest versions of the Spell of Peace and Spell of Repel. Knogho Islands would remain undisturbed in time for many, many long centuries, but over time its magic began to dwindle little by little.

The Solsis Magicians had accepted that, for the timebeing, that the Crystal Griffin would mostly bring peace to the world. They knew that the Spell of Chaos that lay within the Griffin itself would mean that the Crystal Griffin would not bring complete peace to the world and that some wars and disasters may ring out, but overall peace would be the greater deal. But should that be upturned then history would repeat itself. After their success with the Amber Orb, they decided that it would be best to place the Amber Orb alongside the Crystal Griffin so that should it once again be brought into corruption then the Amber Orb could guide whoever it chooses to entrust itself with (being a person of pure heart similar to the Solstis Magicians) to each of the pieces, restoring the Crystal Griffin back to its original state.

#### **Re-treading Old Grounds and Impending Doom**

Eventually, the Solis Magician returned long after all the Solstis Magicians had disappeared. Despite the fact that the magic barrier warded him off from a great distance, he trudged around the open ground and analysed the Altar and Knogho Islands from afar. He knew that one day the barrier would soon grow weak and it would be enough for his magic to penetrate through, and so he would dedicate his life to waiting until that day arrived.

#### **Questions by Scholars**

It seems that the history of the Crystal Griffin has brought about many topics of discussion and debates by various scholars with the main one being about who actually won the battle over the Crystal Griffin: although the Solis Magician eventually scrapped the idea, he initially wanted a world balanced between both peace and darkness. The Solstis Magicians initially saved the world from full corruption but in the end their want to make the world a place of pure peace was not achieved. So who won in the end, the Solstis Magician or the Solis Magician?

## **Relevancy in the Game**

### **Main Game**

Before the game starts, on the title screen it is shown that the Solis Magicians and a handful of his newer followers, the Puppeted Soles, have penetrated the significantly weakened magic barrier and approach the Crystal Griffin's Altar. Performing the spell that his former siblings had used frequently to seal things away, he brings the Crystal Griffin from its underground home and begins corrupting it. After it does so, it corrupted form rises into the air and proceeds to shatter, its parts and the Amber Orb scattering across Crescent Island. The title screen cutscene ends there.

When Mario comes to his senses after being knocked unconscious at sea, the Crystal Griffin - now corrupted - has already begun its early stages of corruption on Crescent Island. He and Dr. Kyorito discover the Amber Orb moments laterThroughout the game Mario and his partners must collect the Crystal Griffin parts during its early stages of corruption in order to ensure that history does not repeat itself like it once did in the past. All whilst the Solis Magician actively tries to prevent Mario from progressing by either creating his own minions or manipulating others crucial to the story.

When the Crystal Griffin had been completely restored after Mario obtained its Heart Piece in the middle of the final battle (right after Bowser, Peach, and Luigi distract the Solis Magician), its full form shot out an aura of the Spell of Peace, significantly weakening the Solis Magician. This will also grant Mario with a new skill that will allow him to defeat the Solis Magician with better ease (although he can still take the Solis Magician down with his other moves). After defeating the Solis Magician, it retreats from the Castle of Soul and causes the entire castle to begin collapsing. The Crystal Griffin, after a while of powering itself, then teleports the Main Four and Mario's partners out of the Underground.

When everyone returns outside the Altar, the Crystal Griffin remains in a place. It is then when the others from the cruise ship manage to catch up to the others and discover the Crystal Griffin. The magicians from Knight Light Kingdom reminisce on how their great ancestors used to obsess over that object, and had heard that the Spell of Peace and Spell of Repel is used to repel them from the Great Evil. They then decide that they may try and continue what their ancestors had done in order to ensure that the corruption does not occur again in the future, much less affect the entire world.

### **Post Game**

In the post game, it is shown that near the Altar are some small houses. Upon walking into these houses it is revealed that some of the Knight Light Kingdom's magicians had decided to make permanent stay in Knogho Islands as now the pathway to the Altar has been discovered. They have decided to follow their ancestors and are doing their best to secure the Crystal Griffin as much as they possibly can. They seemed to have received help from other characters from previous games who have had ancestral relations to the Solstis Magicians as well.

The Crystal Griffin itself is laid into a deep slumber as it once was before, making sure to spread as much peace as possible throughout the world.

## Parts

Throughout the main game, Mario and his partners will need to collect all the necessary Crystal Griffin parts and restore them to their former selves. Each part obtained reflects the bosses that Mario has defeated in some way.

* **Amber Orb:** Obtained after spotting it in Vanilla Dome University's man-made stream fountains.

* **Horns:** The Crystal Griffin's horns, obtained after defeating the Crexagon in Chapter 1.
* **Torso:** The Crystal Griffin's torso (minus the middle piece, which is broken in a heart-like shape), obtained after defeating Goosti and Choompa in Chapter 2.
* **Hands:** The Crystal Griffin's hands and arms, obtained after defeating both Lucy and Ricky in Chapter 3.
* **Legs:** The Crystal Griffin's legs, obtained after defeating Enveed in Chapter 4.
* **Wings:** The Crystal Griffin's wings, obtained after defeating Pride and Wrath in Chapter 5.
* **Head:** The Crystal Griffin's head, obtained after defeating The Pathogem in Chapter 6.
* **Tail:** The Crystal Griffin's tail, obtained after defeating The Thieving Three in Chapter 7.
* **Heart:** The Crystal Griffin's 'heart', obtained after snatching it back from The Solis Magician in Chapter 8.
	+ It is said that the 'heart' contains the most magic in power, so even if all the other pieces are obtained and restored the corruption could still spread out greatly as the 'heart' has not yet been retrieved

## Trivia

* Up until 2019, the Crystal Griffin was initially 'The Sacred Crystal', and so was the original namesake. However, the premise was still the same, being that Mario and his partners had to re-piece the Sacred Crystal back together.
	+ Concept art was made of the Sacred Crystal, but when it was decided that The Sacred Crystal wouldn't work then it was slowly rebranded into the Crystal Griffin.
* The Crystal Griffin's intended texture is based off of a variety of different coloured glass.