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Gryphon

Gryphons are a race magically created by the legendary Archmage Urtho. They have the head and legs of a bird of prey, usually with characteristics of eagles, hawks or falcons, a body reminiscent of a great cat, and the wings of a raptor. They are known to be intelligent, clever, and brave. They also may possess Mind-magic, and some are mages in their own right.

They are also as good at detecting lies as vrondi, and do so instinctively, without need to resort to something like the Truth Spell.[1]

Urtho considered gryphons to be both his children and his greatest accomplishment. When he was finished designing them, Urtho had vague plans to help them found small aeries in the wilder areas of the nearby mountains, allowing them to develop their own society. However, this notion was disrupted by the onset of the Mage Wars.[2]

There is a list of gryphons.

Biology[]

Urtho and his hundreds of assistants and staff[3] created the gryphons and eventually developed over fifty different type lines.[4] Each line shares the unique characteristics of a corresponding type of bird-of-prey, such as wing structure and coloration. Some examples include rufous broadwings (a hawk type), of which Aubri was an example, gos-type which had the blue coloration and red eyes of goshawks, compact body suntails, and eagle types, such as Skandranon. Zhaneel and Kechara were based on an unrealized falcon type with pointed wings, almost human-like hands, and malar markings similar to a falcon.

Subsequent generations show much more variation as the lines interbred, and are larger. Treyvan and Hydona, for example, display characteristics of broadwing and eagle type gryphons, but have malar markings that would have been derived from a falcon type.

Much of gryphon biology and behavior is similar to the raptors from which they are derived. Certain traits, such as the females being larger than the males, keen eyesight, and shared parental care, are examples. Females are also more drably colored than males, and enjoy painting and dying their feathers, sometimes in very gaudy combinations.

Gryphons have a "naturally spicy musky scent" which most humans enjoy.[5]

Gryphons are sustained by magic, which they cannot live without. Their entire biology is dependent upon magic, and they have special organs that convert its energy into a form they can use. Magic is "collected" by the feathers and channeled into these organs--therefore, if a gryphon loses too many feathers, it will die. Their flight is partially facilitated by magic--after the Mage Storms when magic was more evenly spread over Velgarth, many gryphons found it much easier to fly.[6]

"The lift that gave gryphons their ability to fly was in their bones, and it was a discipline to try and hover solely by mental control without moving any air by wings."[6]

As with all magical constructs, gryphons are not perfectly made and therefore suffer some problems. One such problem is either the complete lack of a preening gland at the base of the tail, or the presence of a dysfunctional one. They are unable to produce the oils they need to keep their feathers in good condition and need outside help to oil their feathers-usually the help of a specialized caretaker called a trondi'irn.

Due to their beaks, gryphons tend to speak sibilantly, and will often trill their r's and hiss their s's. This will become more apparent as a gryphon becomes more stressed or angry.

Iftel vs k'Leshya Gryphons[]

Gryphons from Iftel are distinct compared to those from k'Leshya. Iftel gryphons are of just one eagle type, with a heavier build, and are typically uniform in color: dark brown with subtle barring. Iftel was founded by the stranded Third Army, and apparently their fighting Wing of gryphons was of a single type. This would explain why their descendents are all the same type.

The rest of the gryphons evacuated from Urtho's Tower through the same Gate series to a special destination. Thus, the k'Leshya gryphons are of every type that was created. They are extremely varied in shape and form, from broadwing to gryfalcon types to everything in between, and often show a combination of traits from different lines. They are much more colorful than Iftel gryphons, and have variegation or barring, often on the wings, or malar markings on the head like falcons.

It should be noted that some gryphons live wild, especially around areas like north Valdemar and Lake Evendim. (Healer Devan told Talia that the "griffins" in northwest Valdemar could be deadly: "I've hunted them, once; they're hard to kill and impossible to catch, and dangerous."[7]) (Elspeth muses, "Heralds had seen [gryphons] in the sky north of Valdemar"[8]) Not much is known about the wild gryphons, and they do not seem to fit any set type. They tend to only form small family groups consisting of a mated pair and gryphlets, and abhor contact with humans.[reference sought]

Reproduction[]

Gryphlet

A gryphlet by Larry Dixon

When Urtho created the gryphons, he specifically designed them so it would be difficult for them to breed without his help, for he had seen too many inadequate parents raise miserable children and he didn't want his gryphons to have the same start in life as these wretched youngsters. He drew from snow tigers deep in the north when creating the male gryphons; only when they were in cold conditions did they become sexually active. The females had to be stuffed full of food before they became sexually receptive. Cinnabar and Tamsin broke into Urtho's files to discover the secrets of gryphon reproduction for Skandranon. Along with physical preparations, it came down to a simple spell that lowered the male's body temperature. This allowed the species to continue and prosper after Urtho's death.

Young are born alive, "with a reasonable set of fluff-feathers and fur,"[9] usually as a set of twins.[reference sought] Their eyes open on the first or second day.[9] Both gryphon parents participate in care of the young, like raptors. The young take several years to fledge and mature. They are fed meat, and may eat three times their body weight a day.[10]

Appearances[]

The Mage Wars[]

Gryphons played an important part in the fight against Ma'ar. In addition to scouting and aerial surveys, they stole behind enemy lines and handled weapons. Ma'ar developed a deep hatred for gryphons, and captured gryphons were subjected to prolonged torture before their deaths. He even created a species to fight gryphons in the air: the Makaar.

Skandranon Rashkae, The Black Gryphon, is the most famous gryphon in the history of the race. Skandranon, also known as Skan, was the ally of Urtho and his feats have never been matched in history. It was his discovery of fertility spells that enabled the gryphons to reproduce, and he founded White Gryphon after the Cataclysm. Other notable gryphons from this time included his mate Zhaneel, his son Tadrith, fighter Aubri, and the beloved Kechara.

Mage Winds Trilogy[]

The gryphons Treyvan and Hydona came to reside in the ruins near the k'Sheyna Vale as an advance party for the k'Leshya clan. These adventurers established an agreement with the k'Sheyna to stay in the ruins in exchange for guarding that border of the Vale. Treyvan and Hydona befriended the young Darkwind and became substitute parents for him following the tragic loss of his mother and the estrangement of his father, Starblade.

Treyvan and Hydona are parents to the gryphlets Jervan and Lytha. Their existence madly enraged Mornelithe Falconsbane, an incarnation of Ma'ar, and they were key elements in efforts to defeat him. The gryphons assist in training Darkwind and Elspeth as well as Heralds with mage abilities. Now, as ambassadors to Valdemar, they represent their race, Clan k'Leysha, and other nonhuman species in Tayledras lands.

Mage Storms Trilogy[]

A wing of twenty-one gryphons, led by Tashiketh, was sent from Iftel to Hardorn to aid Duke Tremane in his fight against the Mage Storms.

In addition, Treyvan and Hydona, still acting as ambassadors in Valdemar and teachers of mages, also assisted in lessening the effects of the Storms and the eventual actions taken to stop them.

Darian's Tale[]

The gryphon Kelvren was a major player in the events that unfolded around Errold's Grove.

Gryphon Kelvren[]

Without authorization, Kelvren leaped into Valdemar's defense against Farragur Elm's faux secession, with remarkable consequences.

Kelvren's adventures are expected to continue at Lake Evendim.

In the series[]

Gallery[]

References[]

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