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.