Old Griffons: Difference between revisions
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| country_of_origin = [[Griffon's_Aerie]] | | country_of_origin = [[Griffon's_Aerie]] | ||
| significant_populations = | | significant_populations = | ||
| language1 = | | language1 = Common | ||
| language2 = | | language2 = Written: pictographic griffon glyphs, human phonetic script, | ||
| language3 = | | language3 = Spoken: ancient language of bird cries, blend of Vallarian and dryad, ancient (near-dead) griffon tongue | ||
| religion1 = | | religion1 = [[Lilism]] | ||
| religion2 = | | religion2 = | ||
| religion3 = | | religion3 = | ||
| related_races = | | related_races = | ||
}} | }} | ||
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Recent years have seen an invigoration of interest in the Sqree, however, and a handful of griffons with university connections have been brave enough to live among them. Papers on these tribes are pending publication. | Recent years have seen an invigoration of interest in the Sqree, however, and a handful of griffons with university connections have been brave enough to live among them. Papers on these tribes are pending publication. | ||
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A griffon learns to transform as a kit with a great deal of training. | A griffon learns to transform as a kit with a great deal of training. | ||
Between hundreds of years possessing the ability to change forms and hundreds of years of exposure to human cultures, Aerie griffons are exceedingly comfortable in their more human skins. Indeed, griffonesses are known to amass great collections of fancy clothing to suit their "angel" forms (with well-concealed slits in the back for wings, of course). This also makes griffon-human romantic relations rather commonplace. | |||
Conversely, some griffons have contended in recent years that true griffons would never parade about in a groundling's shape. And it is not uncommon for the humans who make their homes in Griffon's Aerie to treat with distrust and even disdain the non-griffon winged beings they may encounter outside the Aerie. | |||
[[Category: Races]] | [[Category: Races]] | ||
Revision as of 14:40, 2 May 2013
| Griffon | |
|---|---|
| Racial Characteristics | |
| Average Height: | 6-8' at the shoulder, 10-15' wingspan |
| Average Weight: | 250lbs. |
| Hair Color: | Wide variety and patterns of fur and feathers |
| Eye Color: | Brown, yellow, red, blue are common but any is possible |
| Other Information | |
| Country of Origin: | Griffon's_Aerie |
| Languages: | Common Written: pictographic griffon glyphs, human phonetic script, Spoken: ancient language of bird cries, blend of Vallarian and dryad, ancient (near-dead) griffon tongue |
| Major Religion: | Lilism |
Race Origins
Small settlements of griffons descended from those who wanted nothing to do with the Vallarian kingdom and its human ways still exist in the Lunit Mountains. Willfully unacquainted with the Lil, these populations, known as the Sqree, are viewed by the Aerie at large as frightening, aboriginal, unenlightened shaman-warriors. Little is known about their culture beyond the understanding that they are accomplished hunters, and a rumor that Sqreeish homes are still bare nests in the treetops.
Along with the Orcs, the Sqree are favored villains in spooky stories. More than one griffonkit has been frightened into good behavior by the belief that Sqree tribes descend from the mountains to kit-nap the recalcitrant young and boil them alive. This is based on the fact that Lilist missionaries who venture into the mountains never return.
Recent years have seen an invigoration of interest in the Sqree, however, and a handful of griffons with university connections have been brave enough to live among them. Papers on these tribes are pending publication.
Culture
The traditional griffon home is built in the branches of a tree, and this architecture is reflected in the Aerie Inn located in the woods to the north of the capital. But many griffons have adopted houses similar to those of the humans of the Aerie. Of course, griffons sleep in carefully crafted nests wherever they build their homes.
Griffons are known for eating horse meat. The most damning insult you can hurl at a griffon is "hippogriff" -- that is, a cross between a griffon and a horse. Their customary drink is grifola, which does have intoxicating qualities. They are also known to make wine from the saps of trees, especially (but not limited to) elm and maple. Presenting wine distilled from the sap of one's own tree is one of the most valued gifts in griffon society.
Griffon courtship is initiated by the male; if he is successful, his conquest will invite him into her nest. A male invited to share a griffoness' nest becomes indelibly marked with the griffoness' scent. Human-griffon matings are not unusual; half-griffons can still adopt griffon form, but quarter-griffons cannot.
Griffons are hatched from eggs. Not only are they naturally fiercely protective of their young, but griffon law has extraordinarily strict penalties for those who abandon their kits. As etiquette and cultural history are of eminent importance, a kit will be thoroughly educated in these matters in his early years, no matter his social status. Following this, a fledgling kit pursues education as far as his connections allow, per religion, social class, and cult. Griffonkits at play engage in such games as "winged willow."
Griffon funerals involve the Song of the Matria and the Dance of the Arbor, through which the deceased is returned "to the roots of life" and fused with his or her dryad. The dryad of the deceased is herself present at these events and conducts many of the proceedings.
Typical Racial Characteristics
"Griffon" technically refers to the male of the species; a "griffoness" is a female, and a "griffonkit" is a child. The griffons of Griffon's Aerie are sentient creatures with plumage that comes in a wide variety of (sometimes mixed) colors. Naturally, they have the head, talons, wings and breast of an eagle and the hindquarters of a lion. A griffon's tail is feather-tipped; griffons sometimes treat the feathers to be razor-sharp for use in whipping. Griffons generally stand six to eight feet at the shoulder, with a ten to fifteen foot wingspan; griffonesses are slightly smaller. Their vision is piercing and they are formidable in combat. However, this is not the only form they will take, thanks to their relationships with dryads.
Griffons are highly resistant to magic of any sort, although they are vulnerable to psionics, and magic may be used indirectly upon griffons (for example, in flinging objects at them). Only the most formidable of spell casters stand a chance of their arcana affecting a griffon. With their extreme magic resistance, griffon mages are unheard of. Instead, griffons enjoy scientific pursuits; indeed, griffon engineering is extremely advanced, and their medicine is also quite sophisticated. This is how the foul wizard Rewop was able to temporarily seize power in Griffon's Aerie in the year 443. He used his study of the black arts to find ways of bypassing the ordinary Griffon resistance to magic. He was able to kidnap the King and Queen and in the initial panic and confusion caused by his surprise attack on the royal entourage.
Each griffon is bound to a tree, or, more accurately, a dryad, from hatching. The relationship between griffon and dryad is somewhat, but not totally, symbiotic. To keep their health and the health of their dryads, griffons commune with their trees frequently (no fewer times than once a month) and protect them with their lives. In the relative peace of the kingdom of Griffon's Aerie, dryads and their trees have little to fear.
The most striking effect of this relationship is the ability the dryad confers on the griffon to change forms. By calling upon his dryad, a griffon is able to change shape into a "half" or "mixed" form -- he will appear as an eagle-eyed human graced with a large pair of wings. Griffons can also take a completely human form, although they do not do this often; they cannot hold full human form for long, continuous periods of time. Naturally, each transformation is somewhat taxing for a dryad in poor health.
Were his dryad to die, a griffon would not die himself, but become rather ill and demonstrate advanced aging. He would also be trapped, temporarily, in whatever form he held at the time of the dryad's death. Dryads are, however, regenerating creatures. Once one is killed, it is replanted in the The Grove and eventually grows back. The new dryad would not be completely the same as her previous incarnation, but she would retain some of the memories that all of her predecessors had. Thus the knowledge of the dryads can be quite vast.
The period of time from a dryad's death to the time that she was once again able to step from her tree could be quite considerable -- anywhere from one to five years. As the sapling grows, the griffon gains very limited powers to change, but taxes the sapling and impedes her growth every time he does so, as well as taxing himself.
A griffon learns to transform as a kit with a great deal of training.
Between hundreds of years possessing the ability to change forms and hundreds of years of exposure to human cultures, Aerie griffons are exceedingly comfortable in their more human skins. Indeed, griffonesses are known to amass great collections of fancy clothing to suit their "angel" forms (with well-concealed slits in the back for wings, of course). This also makes griffon-human romantic relations rather commonplace.
Conversely, some griffons have contended in recent years that true griffons would never parade about in a groundling's shape. And it is not uncommon for the humans who make their homes in Griffon's Aerie to treat with distrust and even disdain the non-griffon winged beings they may encounter outside the Aerie.