Gryphon


WoC: Reference: Nexus Nightquill

Rarity:
Rare mount
Price range: 35-45
Customs are created by Brissinge
 
Custom import requirements: Player prestige 45+

CLASSIFICATION
Species: Gryphon (gryphonae)
Subspecies: King's gryphon
Breed: eagle, owl

 

DESCRIBTION AND ABILITIES

General for both gryphon breeds:
Lifespan: 25-35yo
Life cycle: hatchling to 8 weeks, nursing cub till 3 months, flies at 1 year, at 5-6 years adult, senior 20+
Breeding details: Chance for twins (owl) 80+, (eagle) 99+, no more than two cubs at once
Extra pictures for propper offspring growth: Mother with nest before egg hatch, picture of one of parents learning cub how to fly
 
(On pic from left: cavern gargoyle, owl griffie, cawing hippogryf, eaglehead gryphon)
 
History:
Both breeds have same ancestry comming from Kelepha. Creation of species is since begginig fully under control of Blackmine dwarven clan, that had both ancestral species in their clan territory. One side if ancestry are owl griffies, smaller, quiter and less fearsome type of gryphons from Kelephan woods. They are too small even for dwarves to use as mount. Second half of ancesstry are eaglehead gryphons, which are large, very dangerous and extremely hard to tame and mount. Juthug Featherbeard, blackmine explorer, noticed that occasionally there is a narutal crossbreeding amongst eagleheads and griffies, which produces hybrid of size about right to be used as mount. He captured few speciemens and breeding could start. That took place in early years of dwarven kingdoms, roughly in second half of first era. Result of breeding was shortbeaked gryphon, that was bearing signs of both ancestors, but was tamable and fairly obedient. Rising demand for battleborn gryphons on brim of first era was start of breed separation. Shortbeaks were animals mostly for travel, and their fighting abilities weren't great, so eagle gryphons happened and as side result breed of owl gryphons formed.
Fire war with dragons was huge hit into breeding, as gryphons were used in fights with dragons and great numbers of them died, which weakened the genofond. Rests of eagle gryphons and owl gryphons breed were re-integrated with owl griffies and eaglehead gryphons, so the genofond could become stronger. Final result so far is what you can see below.

 

EAGLE


Excelent speed
 air agil.
             
Strong -
               
Neutral endurance
jumping
strength dreadness
courage




Weakest ground agil
intellect
obedienc
 resistance          
Non existant -
               
Special abilities -
Danger -
Height and build: 150-160cm, wingspan 7-8,5m
Habitat: large mountains, sea cliffs, wastelands
Feed: meat, fish

Behavior:
Since wild gryphons are domesticated ones who went back into wilderness, lets talk about behavior in generall. Eagle gryphons are day creatures which inhabit large territories, often traveling 250km in one day searching for sufficient prey to feed their flock, that is created by male, female and their cubs. Once they find prey they hunt it down and eat. They aim for animals that are same size or larger than them. Hunter is always male eagle and his flock is usually nearby on ground awaiting his call. They have such a meal roughly once in two days and they devour it on spot. After meal eagles usually don't fly and they rest instead.
If hunting some larger prey, such as wyvern, or communicating, they use short sounds similar to meows. All gryphons purr.
For hunting eagle uses his front claws and most the time hunts from air, when it swoops down on target in high speed and lifts it from ground. Sometimes is hunt performed specifficly near cliffs and prey is realeased to fall to it's death. If prey struggles and cannot be lifted up, gryphon fights it on a ground while using back legs to kick and beak to tear through preys throat. Same goes for airborn fights. Usually front claws hold the prey and backlegs try to claw through chest. Air fights need to be performed in great heights, because fighters sooner or later start to fall during fight. Once the ground is close, eagle lets loose and chases it's prey.
Social structure of eagle gryphons can be described as patriarchal with dominant male - father of the flock. Gryphons form families consising on parenting pair and their offsprings. Once offspring is adult, it continues to travel with family even if it finds partner. The family cares about it's members and potential mate of any offspring has to be accepted by flock father. Once offpsring mates with it's accepted partner and the cubs are able to fly, they all separate from parents and find their own territory. 
Eagle gryphons have 1 partner for life and in wilderness there's barely any promiscuity. In captivity where family system is corrupted it works differently.
The nesting happens on spring mostly. Eagle hen hides her eggs in pile of shed fur, feathers and keeps them warm with her own body. When eggs are layed it takes them two weeks to hatch. Hatchlings are naked, helpless, blind, their beak is soft (they use actually claws to open the egg) and mother feeds them mother milk next three months, then they switch to the meaty diet.
Domestic behavior:
Keeping eagles is very tricky, since they need to fly a lot.They need either a very large voliere or very often "walks" to keep the requirements met. Domestic eagle will have two modes, which can be described as 'cat vs eagle'. Cat phase is when it walks and jumps around in enclosed voliere, resting and sometimes getting very bored and annoying. Eagle phase kicks in the moment you clunk with tack and open volier. 
When it comes to lloyality, eagles aren't really that lloyal. If they are offered better conditions, they will leave.
When it comes to mating in captivity, male gryphons usually either aren't interested in females at all, or try to mate with every willing female they see. Those are called 'ancestrals' and are very valued as they keep the breed fertile.
Stable requirements:
Large voliere with enough of clibming space, flight space and resting space. Same as cats, gryphons like to climb and rest on high places. Some keepers use long ropes and have volieres open atop, so gryphons can fly, but it is not preffered technique, as the rope can get tangled and hurt the gryphon.
 

OWL


Excelent endurance
air agility
             
Strong speed                
Neutral jumping
elegance
intellect





Weakest ground agil.
water agil.
strength
 dreadness obedience
courage
 resistance    
Non existant Air agility                
Special abilities -
Danger -
Height and build: 140-150cm, wingspan 6-7m
Habitat: lowland hills, forest hills, nearby lakes and rivers
Feed: fish, meat, insects

Behavior:
Owls don't travel that much and are more interested is smaller area with denser foliage and higher population of smaller creatures. The prey will most likely be fish, smaller mamalles, bats, other bird owls. They also are mostly nocturnal, which makes their daytime usage tricky, but it is possible to reverse their sleep schedule.
Social structure of flock is basically non existant, and owl live separately except for mating (at autumn) and nesting season, which starts in early spring. Nest is build in dense treetops and consist of shed fur, feathers, leaves, small branches. The mother protects and warms up her eggs. 
 
Domestic behavior:
Unlike their eagle cousins, owl gryphons are tamer, a bit easier to breed, and generally more loyal. They are also much cuddlier than eagles and calmer. Unless nesting mother. Don't cross the nesting mother. 
 
Stable requirements:
The volier is good choice, but not necessary, if your owl is well trained. There should be some cozy den, where gryphon can sleep and rest. The scratching post is also a good thing, if you don't want gryphon to destroy stuff.
 
 



TRIVIA
- originally were gryphons suggested and added by FartingVampirePirate later on were take on by Brissinge.
- first breed sheets had third kind of gryphon, the spoon bill gryphon, which was considered slightly goofy and there is only one import ever created.
- in 2017 were gryphons revisited and integrated more into overall style of WoC.

VISUAL REFERENCES
King's Gryphons - Reference sheet