Griffin

Name	Griffin
Race	Monster
Type	Chimeric
Faction	Independent
Premiere	Desideratum: Blood Bonds
Relative(s)	None Applicable

In folklore, a griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: γρύψ, grū́ps; Classical Latin: grȳps or grȳpus; Late and Medieval Latin: gryphes, grypho etc.; Old French: griffon) is a legendary creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion; the head and wings of an eagle; and sometimes an eagle's talons as its front feet. Because the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts, and the eagle the king of the birds, by the Middle Ages, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature. Since classical antiquity, griffins were known for guarding treasures and priceless possessions. This all coincides very well with reality. Griffons are a type of chimera creature that likes to be in high environments, often in mountainous regions. Like some birds, griffons are attracted to shiny objects, and they used to often raid treasure shipments for gems or gold, spiriting the valuables away to their nests, to attract mates.

Having been created by magic in the Age of Myths, they are a merging of feline and eagle. In some lands, like the Middle East, they are usually feathered with black plumes and have a tiger for the lower bodies. But, generally, they are half lion. They are predators, and as mentioned, liked treasure to the point that humans hunted them to near extinction. With natural selection, this meant the ones less likely to have treasure or stayed away from humans entirely were the most likely to survive and breed, and in the present world (while few in number) they still exist. They are as scared of humanity as a sparrow, and do their best to hide or flee at the first scent of a human. The Night Stalker, Absinthe Van Gothen, unknowingly scared several griffins roosting on Mount Hood when she was seeking Jacques Lombar. She never even laid eyes on the beasts as they avoided her with all their best efforts- and they survived for it.