Gryphus

Art by SkyOfNewMoon

### Diet

Various seeds, fruits, veggies, nuts, fish, mammals, insects, birds, and reptiles

The Gryphus is one of the few creatures that can be found on every continent in Hireath. Mighty and magnificent, they have existed across the world for centuries, though it is only recently that the equines of the world have begun to interact with them and keep them as familiars.

## Lifecycle and Biology

Highly independent and intelligent, the gryphus is also considered one of Hireath’s most adaptable creatures. Able to survive and thrive anywhere in the world, their diet of fruits,vegetables, nuts, seeds, and small birds, reptiles, mammals, fish, or insects  adapt easily to whichever part of the world they live in, as do their hunting patterns and behaviors.

Gryphus are typically incredibly territorial and solitary creatures, spending most of their lives alone. They tend to only spend time with other gryphus when mating or raising children. Though it has been noted in rare circumstances that a  pair will bond and choose to live out their days together.

Female gryphus often lay between one and two eggs in the early spring. These eggs are a soft pink in color and are about the size of a watermelon; They will usually hatch 64 days after being laid. The mother will watch over her nest carefully, entering a period of slowed metabolism similar to hibernation which allows her to guard her nest non-stop until the eggs hatch.

Young gryphus, typically called gryphlings, stay with their mother until they are between three and five years old, learning how to fly and hunt. Once they are capable, they leave their mother and find their own territories to claim.

Gryphus tend to build their nests in high places such as mountains, cliff sides, or in high treetops, preferring the vantage and safety they provide, though when in a pinch they will make due with a large  dry cave or hole in the ground. Their hunting territories typically range a few miles, and will occasionally overlap with others of their species, causing violent squabbles between them.

## Abilities

Apart from their ability to adapt to all across Hireath and fly, they haven’t been discovered to have any further abilities - at least not yet.

## As Familiars

The gryphus is a difficult creature to keep as a familiar. Most gryphus familiars are born in captivity or caught young, making them easier to manage, as socializing them into equine society from a young age makes them possible to tame.  That said, they still possess a strong independent streak and need a lot of enrichment and care to maintain healthy, happy lives. Trying to

keep an adult, wild born gryphus as a familiar is almost impossible. Even after being uplifted, they typically feel no strong loyalty to their equine partner and will often just leave if they grow bored or frustrated.

Gryphus familiars will almost always be wary or even aggressive towards other gryphus - even others that are kept as familiars at times.

## Creation Notes:

### The Gryphus will always:

* Have flighted wings
* Have a bird "front" and cat "back"
* Be between 12 and 18 hands tall when mature (About the size of an equine)
* Be an omnivore

### The Gryphus can:

* Be found anywhere in Hireath
* Have stray or "extra" feathers on their body, including "false tails".
* Have ears (either feathered or traditional “cat” ears)
* Be made from any type of flighted bird and wildcat, though both creatures must be from the same ecosystem
* Be any mixture of colors/patterns found naturally in either of their halves (Ex. a gryphus with a blue bird half could also have a blue cat half.)

### The Gryphus can not:

* Have other mythical or rare  familiar parts (such as the Phoenix, Thunderbird, or the Nekomata)
* Be any combination of creatures other than a bird and cat
* Have cat paws in the front