Gryphon

a wild Gryphon

### Diet

Carnivorous, larger creatures such as elk and dire wolves in adulthood, game such as rabbits, squirrels and foxes in their juvenile ages.

### Habitat

Forests and Jungles, depending on specific phenotype.

### Range

Entire continent of Apheon, northern reaches of Sonorya

**Gryphons** are large, avian-mammalian creatures native to the continent of Apheon. They possess many distinct phenotypes and subspecies, and have, as such, grown to cover the entire continent, despite the differences in climate on such a large landmass. Gryphons are especially valuable to the noble houses of Apheon due to their great speed and size, as well as their sonic scream ability, which mimics dragon fire in its destructive capabilities. They live between 150 and 200 years, though the oldest recorded gryphon neared 300 years.

## Biology

### Anatomy

Gryphons are an anomaly among known species. They uniquely possess qualities of both avian creatures such as eagles or owls and mammals such as lions or, in extremely rare cases, wolves. Despite this, they take much more strongly after the avian side, with massive wings and the ability to fly. Addtionally, their front limbs are those of an eagle or other bird.

They possess feathers across most of their body, though mostly in their wings and along their necks and heads. These feathers are metallic in composition and behavior, but do not grow back when removed. They are extremely durable, able to bear blows from heavy blades or arrow fire. They also possess a degree of heat resistance, though this is mild at best. Their mammalian half possesses no feathers, and no special protection.

Gryphons vary greatly in coloration. Their fur is always the same color as one or both of its parents, but the feathers have seemingly random colors, especially considering regional subspecies. A gryphon's color is unknown until the time of its hatching, as gryphon eggs, elegant as they are, never betray the true appearance of their spark of life.

Gryphons start life small, being no bigger than a cat upon their hatching. They grow slowly, taking roughly five years to reach a size whereupon they can be ridden. This factor, however, can be influenced by their nutrition. The best fed gryphons tend to grow faster than those which eat infrequently. Given enough time and enough food, however, gryphons can reach truly monstrous sizes. The largest gryphon in recorded history, Santiana of House Theanos, reached an astounding 90 feet before her death. The specially-designed saddle she bore with her riders has since remained unused, as no living gryphon matches her size.

### Reproduction

Gryphons are born of breeding pairs, a pair of gryphons which bond and mate for life, until one member of the pair dies. A breeding pair will produce roughly 10 eggs in a lifetime, as their reproduction slows as they grow bigger. Beyond that, they nurture their young personally, teaching them to hunt and eventually to fly. Wild gryphons are especially diligent in this, and not only teach the young how to live, but also fight tooth and nail to keep them alive. It is said that it is wiser to leap off of a cliff than it is to approach a gryphon nurturing young.

The eggs themselves will only hatch under specific conditions. Among the many species of gryphon, each has a preferred climate, which it will rarely, if ever, leave. These include the frigid northern reaches, the tropical southerlands of the Lun, and the many temperate forests which dot Apheon. The prevalance of the last aforementioned climate across the continent has lead to the dominance of one species of gryphon, the Conqueror Gryphon. Regardless, the eggs of each species will only hatch under the temperature conditions of its preferred climate. The so-called Rain Gryphons of the south will only hatch under great humidity and temperature, the Snow Griffins of the north will only hatch in great cold. The eggs of the Conqueror Gryphons hatch most commonly, as the continent of Apheon is mostly their preferred climate.

Gryphon eggs usually gestate for around a year before hatching. This is, again, due to the immense size and potential for growth that gryphons possess. Greater energy is dedicated to growing, so development is slow.

### Sonic Scream

It is said that the lungs of a gryphon are stronger than any fortress of man. Gryphons possess a unique sonic scream ability, similar in principle to the fire-breathing of dragons. Gryphons are able to release a great deal of energy with their breaths, which when done, causes air to move with great pressure and power. With the oldest of gryphons, they are capable of blowing away small armies and entire fortresses with this ability, but even the youngest can cause untampered destruction with the ability. Gryphons are not capable of this sonic scream until they are in their juvenile ages, around fifteen years old.

Specific effects can vary between gryphon species. The Conqueror Gryphon's scream is only capable of the wind pressure effect. However, those who have survived or witnessed the scream of the Snow Gryphon, for instance, report that its scream is accompanied by frosty air, and freezes all that it does not blow away. The Rain Gryphons, on the other hand, are said to have a scream which drowns all in its path, rendering the air so humid it is unbreathable.

## Known Gryphons

This list is in no particular order.

* Newbeak, first gryphon of King Luken I of House Theanos
* Santiana, second gryphon of King Luken I of House Theanos
* Meola, gryphon of King Raigon I of House Theanos
* Anagon, gryphon of Princess Veryn of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Princess Saea of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Prince Ytrin of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Prince Baltaen of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Princess Jaella of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Princess Aeryn of House Theanos
* Sunbeak, gryphon of Queen Zerua I of House Theanos
* Shaeya, gryphon of King Abathon I of House Theanos
* Yso, gryphon of Queen Zerua II of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Prince Acath of House Theanos
* Haera, gryphon of Prince Toril of House Theanos
* Temel, gryphon of King Zaedan I of House Theanos
* Highwing, gryphon of Queen Zerua III of House Theanos (later belonged to Sanya I)
* Lightwing, gryphon of Prince Keron of House Theanos
* Zeruon, gryphon of King Zaedan II of House Theanos.
* Vama, gryphon of Princess Hannah of House Theanos
* Bamera, gryphon of Princess Vanha of House Theanos
* Cynfri, gryphon of Queen Annie I of House Theanos (later belonged to Sanya II and then Zaecan I)
* Salance, gryphon of Queen Zera I of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Prince Gwyn of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Prince Atramon of House Theanos
* Sy, gryphon of King Abel I of House Theanos
* Unnamed gryphon, belonging to Princess Jaenna of House Theanos
* Abathon, gryphon of King Gwyn I of House Theanos