Indigofeathered Royalgryphon

Basic Information

Anatomy

Similar to that of Royalgryphons, the creature has a body and internal structure similar to that of a large predator cats, but with talons, wings and a birds head. This accompanied by large muscles and dense bones makes the creature a deadly predator.
The Indigofeathered Royalgryphon however, has some differences from most other royalgryphons. It is a smaller species that carries a shorter beak than most, making it a bit weaker than the others. The advantage of strong organs, especially kidneys, which enables them to resist diseases and poisons easier than most. They also preserve water better than any other gryphon, which allows them to dominate in the Golden dunes.

Genetics and Reproduction

Unlike their catlike ancestry, these creatures stick together in families and mate by two factors. The male who can create the best nest, or the one who carries the strongest most powerful colours.

Growth Rate & Stages

The creatures grow rather swiftly. They remain eggs for about a couple of months before hatching.
Once hatched, the hatchlings take about ten years before they are adolescent. Until this moment, the hatchlings does not fly however, and will require their flock to watch over them from the skies.
At the age of twenty, they are fully mature.

Ecology and Habitats

Unlike most other gryphons and even birds, the Indigofeathered one survives and thrives in the deserts. They are masters at hunting prey in the sands and their colourful feathers help them to hide away in the shadows.
They also tend to create nests close to the shores where there is a lot of water and fish, to make it an easier time for the hatchlings to grow up.

Dietary Needs and Habits

This gryphon eats almost anything it can get it’s beak on, but mostly big insects and fish. They hunt by soaring high above the sands, often close to sources of water, then they strike and swallow prey whole.
It’s not too uncommon for them to group up though, and go up against larger prey, even dragons if a desperate situations demands it. To beat such a large apex, they do require to communicate with their song, and focus their talons on the weaker parts.
Then, they will drag the carcase back to the nests, which has perplexed many naturalists, that the Indigofeathered Royalgryphon is but one of two gryphons that are not viciously territorial and will rather ignore most creatures in their area, so long as they don’t try anything sneaky with the eggs.

Biological Cycle

Eight times a year, they will shed their feathers to make room for new ones. This is twice as many times as normal Royalgryphons and is due to their desert nature. The heat makes it important that they have feathers, but absolutely not to many of them.

Additional Information

Domestication

Even as it’s seen as holy, the creature is almost domesticated by its own nature and therefore serve the Barrkadian Royalgryphon regiment as companions and valuable, loyal beasts of high standing.
Due to this they are often let to breed inside Barrkadian walls and there are several great aviaries to keep them inside.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Loyal companions isn’t all that they are good for though, the feathers they shed are excellent both for arrows, and quills all over the world. Being exotic also gives them collectors value and an asset for a lot of decorative furniture, not to mention, it is the sigil of the high mysticians order.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

While most of the creatures make their home close to the shores of Barrkad, a lot of them can be found all over the Dragonriver and around the city of Arcebuus. They can also rarely be found about anywhere on the Golden dunes, while also natural to the cursed desert on the new lands, albeit almost extinct. A few also makes their home in the jungles of Zarawak.

Average Intelligence

As for the intelligence of the creature, it’s fully capable of communicating with the rest of its species and even understand a few human phrases.
They are even smart enough to understand basic physics and realize that the image in a mirror is a reflection of themselves, and not another individual

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

True to a birds senses, the creature is an expert at hunting, with eyes that can trace the slightest movements in the ground, from a mile’s distance.
The excellent sight of a bird isn’t the only gifted sense the creature has, as it’s ears are far from compensated for. The royalgryphon can hear sounds at much longer ranges than humans, and at lower frequencies as well, which allows them to hear both prey and dangers from even longer ranges than dragons.
Even their smell is well developed, though, it’s still not close to that of a bloodhounds.

Scientific Name

Khaur'us magnificus et Passerina

Origin/Ancestry

Gryphon

Lifespan

70 years

Conservation Status

The animal is protected heavily by Barrkad as they see the creature as a symbol for it's beautiful colours that match the crest of their barony. To aid their survival, the creatures are free to roam all over the kingdom and the penalty for harming or hunting the gryphon is punished with the removal of the dominant hands fingers.
The creatures are often well fed and taken care of by the public that see them as holy.

Average Height

1.4m

Average Weight

210kg

Average Length

2m

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Seen as one of the most beautiful gryphons to exist, the Indigofeathered Royalgryphon is indeed, the colour of indigo almost all over the body, that is entirely covered in feathers, part from the legs and down.
The forehead however takes a more dark blue hue, as the legs and talons are dark blue and black.