The Ecology of Short-Beaked Gryphons
oaring through the skies with Gryphonidae
S
.
Breverostrum Written by G. Quill, professor
of Arcanozoology at Cair Elden University.
This paper is devoted to my wife, Wiste. I
could never have done this without you.
Often seen as a symbol of courage and
strenght, the Gryphon is a much sought after
trophy and flying mount. The Short-Beaked Gryphon is
a species found in the Vleuric highlands, where it
thrives on both small- and large game.
Anatomy
The Short-Beaked Gryphon is perhaps the most
recognizable member of the Gryphonidae family. Its
telltale ‘ears’ and shorter beak have many reminiscing
of an owlbear’s visage, although differences in their
behaviours and hunting patterns suggest that this is
merely mimicry. Whether it is mimicry on the owlbear’s
or gryphon’s end is uncertain.
In appearance, the Short-Beaked Gryphon varies from
other species in its sturdier, shorter build, most
noticeably sporting more prominent front legs than
other members of its family, which aid it in navigating
the complex terrains of the Vleuric highlands. Their
coat of feathers and fur varies in colour between males
and females, with male specimens sporting brown &
black fur and feathers, the tips of which turn a golden
blonde during mating season, while the females have
subtler dark gray coats.
Its size being smaller than the more commonly seen
Oskar’s Gryphon, the Short-Beaked Gryphon’s overall
length varies between 6-9’ from beak to rump, with the
tail being additional 2-3’. The females generally tend to
be between 9-11’, while the males tend to be on the
smaller side, being 8-10’. An adult female weighs
around 1,200 lbs, while males tend to weigh around
1000 lbs. A fully-matured specimen can have a
wingspan of up to 27’, although 24’ is a more accurate
estimation for an average wingspan. Like many others
in its genus, its tail resembles that of a big cat, although
rather than sporting a tuft of fur at the tip, the gryphon
has a small number of tail feathers, which it uses to
steer and remain balanced while mid-air.
The Short-Beaked Gryphon’s front feet resemble that of
birds of prey, with sharp talons, their primary purpose
being to grab a firm hold of their prey- their secondary
purpose being to rend the flesh from their prey’s bones.
The Short-Beaked Gryphon’s hind legs are rarely used
as a means of offense or defense, although they can still
prove deadly when used as a last resort, each paw
equipped with four sharp claws which, while not as long
as their front legs, have amble length and sharpness to
tear into many a prey.
 
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature which aids the
Short-Beaked Gryphon the most in its hunts is its ability
to fly completely silently due to the shape of their
feathers. Contrary to owls, however, who posess this
same ability, they have no trouble flying in bad weather.
Behaviour
The Short-Beaked Gryphon’s behaviour varies vastly
from other subspecies in its family, which are observed
to be more aggressive. The Short-Beaked Gryphon
tends to be more elusive than its counterparts and tends
to avoid areas where signs of civilization are prominent.
Flying
As previously mentioned, the Short-Beaked Gryphon’s
feathers allow it to fly silently, its wings only producing
an audible sound when it is stationary. This makes the
animal difficult to notice during its hunts, which is one
of the few times it leaves its nest. The sturdier body plan
of the Short-Beaked Gryphon refrains it from
performing acrobatic maneuvers, although it can be
taught certain evasive maneuvers when trained under
the right circumstances. While not adept at acrobatics,
it is nevertheless a nimble flyer, with the remarkable
ability to remember even the most complex of terrains,
making it an excellent navigator. When intended to be
used as a flying mount, the gryphon as well as the rider
need to undergo rigorous training to attune to each
other.
Hunting
Both a nocturnal and opportunistic hunter, the Short-
Beaked Gryphon prefers to catch its prey off-guard,
mostly hunting diurnal prey. While being capable of
hunting flying prey, it much prefers a diet of ground-
based herd animals or small game. Short-Beaked
Gryphons have been known to sometimes make their
nests near farmsteads, as they provide an ample food
source.
There are three distinct stages of a Short-Beaked
Gryphon’s hunt: selecting a target, stunning the prey
and snatching it.
Selecting a Prey
Creatures and individuals with superb sight in darkness
might catch a glimpse of a Short-Beaked Gryphon flying
circles over the pastures of a farmstead in the darkest
hours of night at an altitude of roughly three hundred
feet. At this time, it will be observing the herd it is flying
over, carefully selecting a prey which, in its eyes, will
provide the easiest kill.
 
THE ECOLOGY OF SHORT-BEAKED
GRYPHONS 1
 Stunning the Prey
When it has selected a prey, the Short-Beaked Gryphon
will begin a rapid descent towards its prey, folding in its
wings to begin a dive which can reach speeds of up to
sixty miles per hour. Shortly before it reaches its prey,
the Gryphon will stretch out its front legs and unfurl its
talons. It will then use its powerful front legs to ‘punch’
its prey, stunning it and rendering it completely
defenseless. Noticeably, the Gryphon will only do this
when it perceives its prey as a potential threat.
Snatching the Prey
When its target is subdued, the Gryphon will turn
around and dig its sharp talons in the flesh of its prey,
which it uses to pick up its prey and carry it back to its
nest.
Diet
Obligate carnivores, the Short-Beaked Gryphon
depends on ample prey to survive. Anything that is
smaller than or as big as the Gryphon is a potential
prey, although their preference seems to go out to the
various cattle breeds that can be found in the Vleuric
Highlands. Remarkably, it does not share the same
taste for horseflesh as other species in its family. A fresh
kill, if big enough, can last a single Gryphon for up to a
week. Like other members of its family, the Short-
Beaked Gryphon is a remarkably proud animal, and it
will refuse to eat from carcasses that it did not kill itself,
nor will it hunt other Gryphons.
Family
The Short-Beaked Gryphon is monogamous and mates
for life; when a young adult first leaves its nest to find a
new mate, it can fly distances of up to two hundred
miles away from its nest in search of a mate. When
having found a mate, the new pair will begin to
construct a nest, which usually can be found on
mountaintops, the entrances of caverns and the ruins of
manmade structures. A Gryphon’s nest is made from
materials it finds nearby, such as branches, hay, leaves,
dirt and pebbles.
After having constructed a nest, the pair will begin a
mating ritual, after which the female will lay 2-3 brown-
spotted eggs, roughly ten times the size of a chicken’s
egg. The eggs weigh around 12-15 lbs, but gradually
lose a small portion of their weight over the incubation
period, which lasts for around 20 weeks. During this
period, the female will stay at the nest to watch over the
eggs as the male hunts for prey.
After an egg hatches, the male will start hunting
together, bringing back a fresh kill to the nest nearly
every day. The voracious hatchlings eat their own
weight in food every day for the first three months. As
hatchlings, they are the size of a large chicken.
THE ECOLOGY OF SHORT-BEAKED
2 GRYPHONS
During the first month of their lives, the hatchlings will  
grow to the size of large dogs. Around this point is also
when the hatchlings’ feathers will start developing.
When this occurs, the hatchlings have begun
transitioning into juveniles. At six months old, their coat
of feathers will have developed thoroughly enough for
their parents to teach them how to fly. At this point, they
will learn basic hunting tactics.
At around a year old, the juveniles with have grown into
a young adult. At this point, they will leave the safety of
their parents’ nest to find their own mate. The gryphons
will continue to mature further until they are around five
years old. Noticeably, after this time, their fur continues
to grow longer and thicker, which helps it fly at higher
altitudes, where the thick fur functions as an insulator
against the harsh cold. As the Gryphon ages, their
feathers transition from their original dark gray or
golden brown coats into lighter shades, eventually
leaving their feather coat entirely white.
Hatching
Eggs take around 20 weeks to hatch, during which they
are constantly guarded and kept warm by their mother.
If an individual has somehow gotten their hands on a
Short-Beaked Gryphon egg, they must keep it warm at
all times. Body temperature is usually sufficient if the
egg is kept near the torso. The hatchling inside will
imprint on the person holding the egg if kept warm this
way. Otherwise, placing it near a lit fireplace- a safe
distance away as to not overheat the egg, around 3 feet
from the source of the fire is a sound way to keep the
egg on a proper temperature.
Training
Short-Beaked Gryphons are fiercely loyal mounts who
will defend their caretaker with their life. A Gryphon
naturally commands respect, and some elite squadrons
of the Vleuric army are known to use Short-Beaked
Gryphons as mounts. They are, however, notoriously
difficult to train. Horses and their subspecies are, in
comparison, much easier to tame and train to obey their
rider. As with all gryphons, the Short-Beaked Gryphons
are much too proud to obey orders given by their rider
blindly, and may choose to follow its own instincts if it
feels there is a better course of action. As such, Short-
Beaked Gryphons and their riders take years developing
a close bond, learning to read each others’ every move
and complementing each others’ actions rather than
overriding them. Be mindful that a Gryphon will see its
caretaker as its equal, not its superior, and as such its
caretaker and the Gryphon should eat at the same time.
The Gryphon will not accept eating after its caretaker,
as this would be seen as the caretaker giving off a signal
of superiority over the Gryphon.
 
A Short-Beaked Gryphon must be raised from the egg
or taken before they reach 1 month of age. After this,
taming becomes virtually impossible. Only a handful of
accounts are known about gryphons being tamed after
this timeframe, and in those cases the gryphons were
noticeably more difficult to train than ones tamed before
they reached one month of age. When training the
Short-Beaked Gryphon hatchling, it is best practice to
immediately begin teaching it hunting tactics. Here, the
trainer’s outdoor skills are paramount to securing their
position as a capable caretaker in the Gryphon’s eyes. If
the caretaker fails to demonstrate they are capable of
hunting and general combat, the Gryphon might refuse
to listen to their caretaker. Flight is instinctual to the
Gryphon, and it will teach itself how to fly when it is old
enough to do so. However, it will not learn to use its
flight to hunt, and it must be coaxed into using aerial
hunting tactics by its caretaker.
Gameplay Information  
The following section includes information about the
costs that come with raising a Short-Beaked Gryphon,
as well as the specifics of hatching an egg and raising a
hatchling from the egg to an adult.
Hathing an Egg
Hatching a Short-Beaked Gryphon egg takes 3d10 (20)
weeks if kept at body temperature. However, certain
factors can influence the incubation time, which result
in the egg either taking longer or shorter to hatch.
Incubation Modifiers
Incubation
Egg is kept… Effect
…near a fire for a period of 3 hours. -1 day
…away from a sufficient heat source for a +2 days

Caretakers will find flying comes a lot less naturally to period of two hours, but is kept at room

them than it does to the Gryphon. The animal uses a temperature.

parabolic flight pattern, which will come as highly …away from a sufficient heat source for a The egg

unnaturally to the rider. The Gryphon will also need to period of longer than three hours and is kept at becomes

grow accustomed to having a saddle strapped to their a temperature at or below room temperature. nonviable.

backs, which is usually placed in front of the wings, …in the cold for longer than an hour. +1 week

closer to the Gryphon’s neck, or behind the wings, …in the cold for longer than two hours. The egg

which is more comparable to where one would place a becomes

saddle on a horse. The transition from flying nonviable.

unmounted to mounted is executed most smoothly by …at freezing temperature for longer than thirty The egg
minutes. becomes
teaching the Gryphon how to fly with a saddle strapped nonviable.
to its back prior to actually mounting the Gryphon. The
total length of this process may take as long as long as Incubation Effects’ Limits
three to four months. It has been noted that
communicating with the Gryphon through magical The incubation time of an egg can be increased or decreased

means- such as through the use of the Speak with
Animals spell- speeds up this process by a few weeks.
Gryphons are intelligent animals which comprehend
human speech and are capable of following complex
commands if taught properly.
When training a Short-Beaked Gryphon, its caretaker
should keep in mind that one can subdue its instincts
but not fully eradicate them. While not as prone to hunt
horses as other species in its family, a Short-Beak
a maximum number of weeks. The egg’s hatching time can
be increased or decreased a maximum of 1 month. If the
egg’s hatching time is increased to 1 month, the embryo
becomes eggbound. When eggbound, the player watching
over the egg must make a DC15 Medicine, Nature or Animal
Handling check (Player’s choice) to help the Gryphon hatch.
The player can repeat this check a maximum number of
times equal to their proficiency modifier. If the player fails the
check the maximum number of times their proficiency
modifier allows, the hatchling dies. It may be revived through
magical means, such as the revivify spell.

Gryphon will still need to be taught not to snap at them.

Consequentially, horses will need to be taught to not Costs
spook at the scent of Short-Beaked Gryphons if the two
are to be used within a singular adventuring party, or As the Gryphon matures, the cost of feeding it gradually
the horse might panic and flee from the Gryphon at the increases. See the chart below for examples.
nearest sign of danger. One should also be mindful that Gryphon Feed Cost
there are noticeable differences between Short-Beaked
Gryphon males and females- the males are generally Maturity Cost per Day Example
viewed as better mounts, both due to their smaller size Hatchling 1 sp 2 chickens, daily
and generally calmer attitudes. Females, in comparison, Juvenile 1 gp 1 goat, daily
are larger to the point where mounting and dismounting Adolescent 2 gp 1 pig, biweekly
might be a challenge, and tend to be more aggressive Adult 3 gp 1 cow, weekly
and assertive than males. Elder 3 gp 1 ox, weekly

 
THE ECOLOGY OF SHORT-BEAKED
GRYPHONS 3
 Random Behaviour Stat Blocks  
Chart Below are the stat blocks for the Short-Beaked
Below is a random behaviour chart for possible actions Gryphon’s stages of maturity.
the Gryphon could undertake at any time it isn’t
watched or paid attention to carefully. You can replace Hatchling Short-Beaked
some of the behaviours here with ones that are more Gryphon
unique to give your Gryphon a more defined personality,
or overwrite certain behaviours as the Gryphon matures Tiny Monstrosity, Unaligned

to reinforce the idea that the Gryphon is a maturing

animal undergoing active training. Alternatively, you can Armor Class 10
Hit Points 4(1d6)
reinforce the idea of the party neglecting the Gryphon’s Speed 15ft.
training by overwriting behaviours that are often
perceived as ‘good’ by ‘bad’ behaviours. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
6 (-2) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 4 (-3) 7 (-2) 8 (-1)

Random Behaviour Chart Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9

Challenge 0 (10 XP)
1d20  Behaviour
1  The worst possible situation for this scenario.
2  Finds a nearby spot to take a nap. Keen Sight. The Gryphon has advantage on Wisdom
3  Wanders or flies off (needs to be recalled). (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
4
5
 Eats something nearby.
 Urinates somewhere nearby.
Actions
6  Zoomies- knocks over nearby items. Snap. Melee Weapon Attack: -2 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
7  Looks for affection from the nearest party member. 2 (1d6 - 2) piercing damage.
8  Runs after a nearby creature.
9  Looks for something to drink. Scratch. Melee Weapon Attack: -2 to hit, reach 5ft., one target.
Hit 2 (1d6 - 2) slashing damage.
10  Fetches a low-value item.
11  Steals an unsecured item off an individual (PC or NPC).
12  Begs the nearest party member for food.
13  Growls at the nearest NPC (roll an intimidation check). Juvenile Short-Beaked
14  Licks the nearest NPC (roll a persuasion check).
15  Starts preening its feathers.
Gryphon
Small Monstrosity, Unaligned
16  Picks up a scent trail (could lead to an item, creature or
 NPC). Armor Class 12
17  Sits down. Hit Points 21(4d6+4)
18  Perches on a nearby vantage point. (Roll a perception Speed 25ft., fly 30ft.
 check.)
19  Finds the next clue for that moment, or persuades or STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
 intimidates the person the party are talking to to gain the 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 4 (-3) 10 (+0) 8 (-1)
 next clue.
20  The best possible situation for this scenario. Senses darkvision 150 ft., passive Perception 12, Stealth +1
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Below is an example scenario that makes use of the Keen Sight. The Gryphon has advantage on Wisdom
Random Behaviour Chart: (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Actions
Example Scenario
The party is talking to an important NPC and has a hatchling Snap. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
with them. The GM rolls on the Random Behaviour Chart to 4 (1d8) piercing damage.
determine what the hatchling does during conversation. .
They roll a 4. The DM describes the following situation: “As Scratch. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 to hit, reach 5ft., one target.
you are focused on the conversation at hand, you suddenly hear Hit 4 (1d8) slashing damage.
noise coming from your right. Around a corner, the hatchling
comes running towards you, chicken in their beak. Close behind
them is an angry farmer, chasing them.”
 

THE ECOLOGY OF SHORT-BEAKED

4 GRYPHONS
  
Adolescent Short-Beaked Elder Short-Beaked Gryphon
Gryphon Large Monstrosity, Unaligned

Medium Monstrosity, Unaligned Armor Class 18

Hit Points 126(12d10+36)
Armor Class 14 Speed 30ft., fly 80ft.
Hit Points 42(5d10+10)
Speed 30ft., fly 50ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) 5 (-3) 14 (+2) 8 (-1)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
14 (+2) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 5 (-3) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Senses darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 14, Stealth +3
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Senses darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 14, Stealth +3
Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Keen Sight. The Gryphon has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Keen Sight. The Gryphon has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight. Vice Grip The Gryphon has advantage on grapple checks when
Actions flying, and deals 1d6 piercing damage on a succesful grapple
checks.
Multiattack. The Gryphon makes two attacks: one with its Thick Fur The Gryphon has resistance against cold damage and
claws, and one with its beak. is acclimated to cold environments.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
7 (1d10 +2) piercing damage.
Actions
Multiattack. The Gryphon makes two attacks: one with its
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit claws, and one with its beak.
7 (1d10 + 2) slashing damage.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
12 (3d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Adult Short-Beaked Gryphon Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
Large Monstrosity, Unaligned 12 (3d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Armor Class 16
Hit Points 74(8d10+24) Credits
Speed 30ft., fly 80ft.
Christopher Kederich, Griffon Species
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA u/Bandit1990, Random Behaviour Chart
16 (+3) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 5 (-3) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Playtest Material
Senses darkvision 300 ft., passive Perception 14, Stealth +3 This content is playtest material and may be subject to
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
balancing changes. As such, the stat blocks provided in this
document may not be balanced properly.
Keen Sight. The Gryphon has advantage on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
 
Vice Grip The Gryphon has advantage on grapple checks when
flying, and deals 1d6 piercing damage on a succesful grapple
checks.

Actions
Multiattack. The Gryphon makes two attacks: one with its
claws, and one with its beak.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
10 (1d12 + 3) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit
10 (1d12 + 3) slashing damage.

THE ECOLOGY OF SHORT-BEAKED

GRYPHONS 5