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Griffons were intelligent beasts with the body of a lion and the wings, forelegs, and head of an eagle.[3]

Description[]

A griffon had the body of a lion with the head and wings of an eagle. The forelimbs of the griffon were often like those of an eagle, ending in sharp talons, but this was not always the case. Just as lions and eagles had varying physical characteristics based on where in the world they are found, so too did griffons. An adult griffon was about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long, with a wingspan of 25 feet (7.6 meters). The average griffon weighed about 500 lb (230,000 g).[3] Expectedly, griffons, and their lairs exuded a mix of two smells: a musky odor of great cats and the scent of falconer's mews.[6]

Behavior[]

Griffons were known to be somewhat intelligent creatures, though had a penchant for aggression. Young griffons were generally not combative.[3][5]

Ecology[]

Young griffons were known as fledglings.[5] They were considered fully grown after three years.[7] A griffon could fly 72 miles in a day, broken up into three sets of three hour flights with one hour rests in between.[8]

Diet[]

Griffons were carnivorous creatures. Their favorite animal to prey upon was horses. They would often attack them when within sight or smelling distance.[5]

Homelands[]

Griffons typically made their nests in homes in high rocky places like cliffs,[5] as well as open caverns set in hills and mountain regions,[9] such as the Storm Horns in Cormyr.[10]

When acquainted with humans, they were usually stabled in airy, doorless stone halls, vaguely resembling their lairs.[9]

In the Unapproachable East, they nested at the highest reaches of the Tannath mountains and Umbergoth.[11] They could also be found around the coastal regions and interior uplands of Aglarond.[12]

Relationships[]

When tamed and raised at a young age they could become very loyal and fierce mounts. Because of this they were highly sought after, with eggs fetching prices of around 2,000 gp and fledglings for around 5,000 gp.[5]

Mounts[]

Griffons were commonly found as mounts throughout the Realms. Some notable examples:

Notable griffons[]

Appendix[]

See also[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Novels & Short Stories

Comics

Gamebooks

Video Games

Board Games

Card Games

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

Further Reading[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 174. ISBN 978-0786965614.
  2. Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 147. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 139–140. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 178. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  6. Richard Lee Byers (June 2000). “Shamur's Wager”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #273 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 57.
  7. Christopher Perkins (September 2020). Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 163. ISBN 978-0786966981.
  8. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Richard Lee Byers (April 2007). Unclean. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 35. ISBN 978-0-7869-4258-9.
  10. MicroMagic (1993). Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
  11. Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-0786901395.
  12. Aglarond Encounters Charts included in Anthony Pryor (June 1995). Spellbound. Edited by Michele Carter, Doug Stewart. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0786901395.
  13. J. Robert King (November 1997). “When Even Sky Cities Fall”. In Brian Thomsen ed. Realms of the Arcane (TSR), chap. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0647-2.
  14. Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  15. Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 167. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
  16. Richard Lee Byers (May 2010). The Captive Flame. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786953969.

True Felines
Mundane felines: CheetahHouse catJaguarLeopardLionMountain lionOcelotPantherRed tigerSaber-toothed tigerSand catSnow leopardSnow tigerSpotted lionTiger
Giant felines: Dire lionDire tigerGiant lynx
Magical felines: Cath sheeCrag catElven catJaguar lordJana-nimrJana-qitatLuck eaterSabu lordSwamplight lynxTressymWater cat
Planar felines: Fey pantherSpectral panther

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