Griffon Ecology
Ye dolts! Ya can't be askin' fer a fleet of em'! Ain't got enough soldiers fer it." - Dwarven Griffon breeder Axle GrissleBrow
Introduction
Griffons are magnificent creatures that have long existed. While not mysterious by any stretch, and some cultures are quite familiar with these seemingly cross-breeds. Our records are still in recovery from the loss in the fire. Yet there is always more to learn when you look deeper.
Griffon Physiology
Origins
There are many reasons as to why the roots of Griffons have become obscured. Many cultures, both modern and ancient, have references and reverence for Griffons. The earliest accounts we have of Griffons aren't from a culture that usually holds them in high esteem though. Orcs carvings depicting either war or large skirmish between ancient elves and Orcs are the first accounts we have. The elves in the carvings are riding Griffons as mounts, which isn't uncommon, however, only a few Griffons are seen.
Despite having early accounts from Orc, Elven, Dwarven, Halfling, and Human cultures Griffons are simply there and not discussed as to how they came to be. Biologically they seem to be some distant link between both the mammalian and bird kingdoms that we know of. With all available evidence pointing to the creature either existing before written knowledge or at the same time, with no fossil evidence of a predecessor we can only guess as to how the 2 branches have fused.
There is hope for this idea of a fused branch though as several creatures such as Manticores, Chimeras, and other winged creatures often with bird and mammalian traits can be found.
While I firmly still disagree with the notion of the Gods creating life themselves, I do believe that life can be altered by the divine beings. Griffons and other amalgamation animals are strong evidence as to such a theory. Especially when adopting the concept of Occam's Razor.
Physical Attributes
Griffons are large creatures resembling an eagle in the front half of their bodies with the back half of that of a mammal, usually a lion. The eagle portion has a wider and heavier look that most eagles with the heads being slightly proportionately larger. Connecting where the tail should begin for the bird of prey is the mammalian portion of the body. This usually is the back half of a lion or another large cat-like mammal. Although, outside of a Smilodon, no such large cat comes close to this size.
It's important to note that the midsection or where bird transitions to mammal aesthetically and skeletally are different. The mammalian spine reaches until it curves up into the head. This gives a longer body than the bird portion could give and a stronger support.
Incredibly built for flight
Birds, as we know, have hollow skeletons as to keep their weight down enough to fly efficiently and with as minimal effort as possible. Griffons while are extremely light for a creature standing their immense 7-foot tall size, are still a much heavier creature when we talk about flight. What they lack in aerodynamics they make up for in sheer power.
A Griffon's bones are interestingly not precisely hollow but instead heavily perforated. This creates a mix of both strength and lean design. This is true for all of the bones in the skeleton excluding the vertebrae that make up the tail. I theorize that this indicates a vestigial leftover from their past more than any practical reason.
As a general rule of thumb the smaller the wingspan the less power, however, the more maneuverability. Griffons have a larger wingspan ratio that supports more strength of flying than tricky maneuvers. While they are very powerful fliers they are far more powerful than their bodies would need to be. This gives them the ability to turn faster and harder than a creature of their size in flight should be able to do. This ability is, however, decreased with any rider or load they carry such as food. This unfortunately also makes them short distance fliers. They often lack stamina and thus can only keep territories of only a few miles around their nests.
Territorial Carnivores
Griffons often are raised by and cooperate with many races, especially Elves. However, they are very aggressive and assertive carnivores. If not properly trained, fed, and even given enough attention, even a domesticated griffon can rip apart a horse quicker than you can notice them getting out of hand. Griffons can be boisterous and energetic, but when that energy isn't properly handled and utilized trouble can ensue.
In the wild their diet mainly consists of larger prey, such as deer, horses, or even humanoids, if given the opportunity. A Griffon hunts much like an eagle soaring about and diving down to catch prey. Unlink eagles, they land on their prey and pin them more akin to a lion. They use their size and strength to their advantage. When that isn't enough, they use their sharp talons and beak to finish the job.
Griffons seem to be wasteful eaters. While they are highly territorial, fighting more than just other griffons for hunting grounds, they only eat about half of a horse in a kill. To find a partially eaten kill has mis-lead many inexperienced trackers to believe something scared off the Griffon from its kill. This is just normal behavior. In truth the corpse attracts scavengers which make for another easy kill.
Habitat and Home
Griffons make their homes in a wide range of climates and habitats around the world. Most common species such as the Eagle/Lion make their homes in moderate to cooler climate prairies and grasslands, forests, and swamps too. This, of course, is with the absence of natural enemies. less common varieties Griffons can be found in warmer climates or even out-right hostile living conditions, such as volcanic areas.
Griffons like eagles, make a large nest in a large tree. These nests are often hidden in foliage, however, much more exposed in cooler climates with deciduous trees that lose their leaves. Their nests are often made of both thick branches, small twigs, dried grasses, and other natural materials woven together to make a strong structure. It must be built to carry all of the eggs and both parents.
Life Cycle
From hatching to death, Griffons can live as long as 70 years. This is similar to other birds. As Griffons mate for a lifetime, they can produce as many as 20 clutches of eggs. While this may sound like a large population boom, the average survival of Griffon is closer to 25 years. They are not creatures of peace, often picking fights that may end their lives.
When hatching a Griffon will be under the care of their parents for around 6 months alongside their up to 5 other siblings. This point in their life is actually the safest for survival. Griffons are excellent parents when it comes to protecting their children. It's once they get into the wild that their chances of survival severely decrease. With predators such as Perytons, Manticores, and other highly dangerous adversaries every day can be a struggle for survival.
Due to such aggressive behavior between Griffons they can not be pinned, stalled, or kept in sight of each other. This is why many domesticated Griffons wear blindfolds and/or blinders when at rest. Hearing another Griffon often doesn't seem to be a problem as they are rarely vocal. However, if a fight does occur in a large stable their victory cry can cause quite a stir.
Interactions with Other Creatures
Domestication
As with many animals, especially carnivores, Griffons are still animals despite their comfortability with humanoids. While in the wild Griffons may often attack humanoids as a potential food source, domesticated ones generally are harmless.
However, there are a few rules that must always be followed. Unless their bonded rider is a child or smaller humanoid such as a halfling they are not to be trusted with smaller beings. It seems they rarely care to distinguish prey from children. They must always be well-fed, otherwise, they will eat whatever comes their way. This is rarely their rider of course, but it's not unheard of. They must be regularly exercised or entertained. When restless they can become more aggressive with their playfulness to a rider and can accidentally harm them.
Griffons must be raised from hatching by their rider or else they will likely not bond very well. Selling older Griffons is usually a scam as the Griffon will attack the new master and return to the old one. If raised by their rider the bond is very strong outside of a few fringe cases or bad treatment. They can be extremely loyal companions that will risk everything to aid and protect their bonded rider.
Other creatures that are not bonded with the Griffon can ride them if they know they are a friend of the rider. While Griffons are not overly intelligent they can read vibes from their rider regarding other humanoids. Often if a rider doesn't even notice they don't like someone just from subtle signs a Griffon can pick up on that and be unkind to a person.
Owlbears
Griffons and Owlbears are not friends, ever. I suspect this a result of evolutionary niches at odds. While Griffons won't attack an Owlbear on site they do become more agitated and nervous around them. When a Griffon even if domesticated fights an Owlbear they will shriek in victory as if they had fought a rival Griffon. This behavior is exclusive to Owlbears and Griffons for some reason.
Bullets
Griffons and Bullets both tend to inhabit the same areas. While Griffons often tolerate the presence of a Bullet in the area they are highly aggressive to them in the wild much further away from their nest than any other animal. This may be that Griffons have enough experience with a bullet to know their tactics and more easily predict where a bullet can re-surface.
Bullets often end up knocking down the trees that Griffons call home in an attempt to get at their eggs. Thus when a Bullet is found in their territory they are closely watched. Griffons usually only end up driving away Bullets as they won't surface long enough to become seriously injured.
Prey
Griffons are hunters that enjoy fresh meat. Thus many creatures such as deer, livestock, or any other larger animal can be a target when hunting. Wild Griffons have no trouble attacking a group of travelers for their horses. Anything that can be quikly killed is considered prey. This is why domestication is so difficult even from hatching as the instinct to kill quickly is hard to unlearn.
When not hungry prey is simply ignored. This is why keeping them fed is key when having a Griffon around. Ancient civilizations with smaller populations that could have been preyed upon by Griffons offered tributes to the majestic creatures. This may also how the domestication started long ago.
Battle Tactics
Griffons are beings of short bursts of incredible power. While they can fly for hours if a fight breaks out most likely they will have to land from unable to fly while fighting. This is why many elves still prefer Pegasi than Griffons, well among many reasons.
Griffons attack with an explosion of action and claws. Often diving ontop of grounded opponents or crashing midair into flying foes. They are very aggressive and close-range combatants that seem to have no fear. While they have a healthy respect for larger foes such as Dragons, Rocs, and Manticores, that respect can be tossed aside in a second. However, they are able to curb their aggressive tendencies if calmed by a rider, assuming they are domesticated.
A common insult between dragons is to be slain by a Griffon, but it does happen.
Variations
Griffons are odd in that they are composite animals. All known Griffons are a combination of what seems to be a bird of prey and a wild cat. Thus their naming conventions and climates tend to follow those inherited traits.
Eagle/Lion
By far the most common and widely known variety of Griffon is the Eagle/Lion. With their large size and decent weather protection from their large bodies and feathers, they inhabit moderate to cooler climates. Most often they resemble that of a white-headed eagle with dark brown feathers to the unmistakable tan hindquarters of a lion and tufted tail.
Owl/Panther
While not as large as their more common relatives, these nocturnal predators can still be up to 10 feet long and 5 feet tall. Their Owl like bodies taking up the majority of their height and the panther taking the length. Owl/Panthers tend to live in warmer forests and leap between branches with their wings assisting rather than full flight. They can, however, fly just any other Griffon. The Owl portions tend to be a cobalt blue and the panther body a jet black. This coloration often camoflagues their true nature; makes them seem merely large owls.
Stork/Tigers
This is probably the oddest variety living deep in heavy bogs. They are also the most varied as they can both resemble white storks with orange tiger rears or pink flamingoes with white tiger back ends. Stork/Tigers are primarily gator and large fish hunters. They can be a staggering 10 feet tall and 20 feet long nesting in large willow trees. They are largely in tropical swamps.
Raven/Cougars
The smallest of the Griffon kind is the Raven/Cougar. They will only reach 3 feet tall and 6 feet long at their largest sizes. Mostly following fish and smaller animals up in mountainous areas away from many civilizations. They are also the most skittish of all Griffons and are too small to bear any riders.
DM's Notes
Griffons are a fun and quick encounter for wild attackers. A challenging fight that could result in a surprise attack. However, they can also be used in great roleplaying situations such as dealing with a testy riding companion of an ally or even raising one for a PC. While they can be a very powerful ally with great power comes great responsibility.
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