Gryph

The Gryphs are an impressive race of winged humanoids, standing up to seven feet tall with wingspans exceeding twenty-four feet. Their bodies are covered in thick feathery down, typically brilliant red or orange, and they possess hawk-like visages with piercing eyes.

Origins and Ancestry

The first inhabitants of Tamaranth, Gryphs claim descent from an ancient race of avians who migrated to Talislanta following The Great Disaster.

• Aeriad Kinship: They share a common ancestry with the Aeriad of the Seven Kingdoms, though Gryphs have not suffered from the "devolution" that affected their western cousins.

The Eyries

Gryph clans live in settlements built in the tops of the tallest span-oaks, often at altitudes exceeding one hundred feet.

• Dwellings: Their homes resemble massive bird's nests constructed of woven vines and roofed with leafy boughs.
• Settlements: A typical community may include forty eyries. Larger settlements feature "Council Eyries" that span multiple trees.

Temperament and Honor

Known as the "Winged Folk," Gryphs are independent, strong-willed, and prize freedom above all else.

• Honorable Nature: A Gryph’s word is their bond; they are renowned for never breaking a promise.
• Stryx Rivalry: Gryphs despise the Stryx, viewing them as a "living plague." They will go to great lengths to avoid or cleanse any contact with these creatures. [^1]
• Claustrophobia: Gryphs are extremely uncomfortable in enclosed spaces and cannot survive long in captivity.

Gryph Characters

• Skills: Language (Avian - native), Language (Low Talislan - fluent), Cultures (Gryph) +5, Cultures (Ariane) +2.
• Special Abilities: May converse with all avian species. Talons inflict DR 3 (+ STR).
• Quirks: Aerial Combat, Acute Vision, Phobia (underground). [^2]

Relations and Religion

• Allies: They maintain close ties with the Ariane and, to a lesser extent, the Blue Aeriad of Vardune.
• Faith: They revere the Creator, depicted as a winged warrior.
• Lore: They believe in the "Tree of Life," the legendary ancestral home of the original avian race.
• Burial: The dead are borne aloft and laid to rest on a bower of branches atop the tallest span-oaks.

Language and Names

• Tongue: Gryphs speak Avian and Talislan. Their names often sound like forceful bird calls (e.g., Rawk, Kyaa, Kree).
• Style: Unlike the Aeriad, Gryphs do not stutter, though they pronounce "ch" and "k" sounds with great force.

[^1]: Weapons used to kill Stryx are scoured with sand and water to remove the "taint." [^2]: Gryph characters never receive armor from Path selection but may replace Path weapons with a duar.