Summary

A Gryphon is a ferocious avian hybrid creature, that resembles the upper half of an Eagle and the bottom half of a Lion. Gryphons often have an Eagle's head, talons and a majestic set of tawny brown wings. With a Lions hind legs, body and tail. Gryphons have spectacularly good vision and a famously piercing screech. Two tufts of feathers spring from the heads of Gryphons, these are suspected to be the remnants of where lion ears would have been.

Life Cycle
The Gestation period of a Gryphon egg takes around 6 months. It must be kept warm at all times, preferably at human body temperature. Gryphon eggs are extremely fragile, making them rare and expensive. Gryphons raised in captivity from eggs have been known to become loyal and hardy mounts. However, they maintain their craving for Horse meat.

 

After hatching, a Gryphon spends over 6 months in its infant stage, it is known as a chick in this stage. In this stage, Gryphons requires excessive nutrients for growth. Feathers will often appear thin and fragile, with a tint of yellow. The fur on the lion half of the body is also nonexistent at this point. Talons and claws have yet to grow and strengthen. For one year after this initial 6 month period, the chick begins to develop further. This is the key period that Gryphon trainers wait for, as it is here, that a Gryphon can begin being tamed. Talons begin to grow into sharp claws, along with the beak hardening into a piercing point.

The next 20 years of a Gryphons life is known as adolescence. during this time, a Gryphons brain develops more complex behaviours. Skeletal structures grow and become more agile and strong to fly and catch prey. The beak begins to change in males, becoming more curved and sharp when compared to a females beak. Vocal cords become more durable, allowing for the famous high pitched screech of a Gryphon. Eyesight begins to focus, giving the Gryphon the keen set of eyes they are known for. Sexual organs become active in Gryphons at this point.

For the rest of a Gryphons life, it is considered an adult. Brain growth halts, along with skeletal and muscular growth. Feathers and fur maintain a similar permanent colour, and eyesight becomes as keen as it can. An adult Gryphon in the wild can live to around 800 years old; while Gryphons living in captivity have been known to live to up to 1200!

Diet
Gryphons are known to toy with their prey, preferring to eat live herd animals such as Cattle, Goats and Sheep. The preferred prey of a Gryphon. however, is a Horse. Gryphons are notoriously dissuaded by dead meat and carcasses, they are therefore not scavengers, opting to never eat meat from a dead animal even when starving. Gryphons do not often attack humanoids unless provoked, often sparing horse riders that do not put up a fight to save their mount.

Habitat
Gryphons often live in temperate, isolated, high up environments. It is not uncommon to find Gryphon nests in mountains, clifftops or even old abandoned buildings that are high enough to remain out of reach from intruders. Although they prefer temperate and high environments, Gryphons are well adaptable. They are known to be able to survive in most weather conditions and climates, being flexible enough to even fly upside down in strong winds.

Behaviour
Gryphons are notoriously territorial and aggressive when it comes to protecting their food, nesting grounds, mates and young. They often give multiple warnings to intruders before striking, though when Gryphons do strike, they are relentless, fighting to the death in most cases. Gryphons often swoop from the sky, raking their talons along the ground to puncture their prey, allowing them to bleed to death to conserve energy. A high pitched screech can also temporarily deafen a foe, even knocking some off balance!
Gryphons are strong and speedy flyers, and just as dangerous on the ground. Although what they possess in strength and speed, they lack in intellect.
Gryphons often live in a small pride of between 2-6 and alert each other to food or danger using their famous high pitched screech. They hardly ever allow interaction with other creatures, preferring to live in isolated communities.
They are paragons of virtue and monogamy, mating for life and never taking another mate even if the other dies. Many believe this is why domesticated Gryphon mounts only ever allow one master in their lifetime. Domesticated Gryphons also show respect and chivalry to almost all who offer it the same amount of respect.
Males are often more aggressive than females, also taking the main role in staking out areas suitable for nesting. Whereas female Gryphons are much more maternal, however, females have been known to enact revenge against foes with more fire and aggression.
Gryphon communities often have an alpha male and female, that lead the pride and maintain the flow of food and safety of the pride and its young.

Vulnerabilities
Gryphon Oil

Basilisk Venom

Snake Venom

Useful Loot
Gryphon Feathers
Gryphon Claws
Gryphon Eggs
Gryphon Meat
Gryphon Blood
Gryphon Eyes

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Other Facts

Sometimes depicted as having a long snake for a tail. This is purely fictional however as Gryphons hate Basilisks, Wyverns, Dragons and other Serpentine and Draconic creatures due to the potential toxicity of such creatures.

Gryphon claws turn a dark tar colour in the presence of toxins, hence why many nobles use them on cups, to detect the presence of poisons.

Gryphons are often used as heraldic symbols due to their regal nature and chivalrous nature.

Gryphons are said to be royal creatures, with some even claiming them to be blessed by the Gods.

Variations
Common Gryphons - This common varient of Gryphon is the most populous across Urf, It sees the head, wings and frontal talons of a bald eagle, with the hind legs and rear of a lion. Its feathers are a tawny bird brown, with a golden lion coat. Its talons change colour in the presence of substances that are toxic to it. 

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Arch Gryphons - The same size as the common Gryphon, though different in colour. Instead of the tawny brown colour of a common Gryphon, an Arch Gryphon sees a fleshy pink colour to its feathers and fur. A mane can also be seen on an Arch Gryphon, similar to a Royal Gryphon, however, this mane is always grey or black. Arch Gryphons have also developed an immunity to fire, and have even been known to spit stomach acid at its prey.

Royal Gryphons - A Royal Gryphon is almost identical to the common Gryphon, although, it is considerably larger and has a longer wingspan than the common Griffon. A Royal Griffon also sees a lions mane below its head feathers, giving it a more majestic appearance.

Opinicus - This variation of Gryphon, differs only in the fact that instead of having Eagle like talons for forelegs, it has lion claws instead. This variation is extremely rare and is suggested to be a more primitive evolution of Gryphon, as it has no ability to detect the presence of toxins without its colour changing talons.

Micro Gryphon - This particular kind of Gryphon only ever grows to the size of a common Gryphon chick. Once at this size, the Micro Gryphon develops as normal, with one differing factor... it doesn't grow larger than its childlike size!

Keythong - Once considered a completely unique species, it has recently been confirmed that a Keythong is, in fact, a variation of a Gryphon! The only difference between a Keythong and a common Gryphon is that in place of the magnificent eaglelike wings, there is nothing but boney white spines. These spines are rather sharp and can be used as a defence mechanism. It has been speculated that a Keythong is actually just a common Gryphon with growing complications, as the wings do not form properly during infancy, but still see bone protrusions and growth along the back where the wings would usually be.