Griffon (Spirit of the Wild)

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Disambig icon.png This article is about the Spirit of the Wild. For other uses, see Griffon (disambiguation).

Griffon is one of the lesser Spirits of the Wild and the natural embodiment of all griffons.[1] According to her shaman, she is strongest when her flock begins its winter migration.

Biography[edit]

Early years[edit]

As the natural embodiment of all griffons,[1] Griffon was revered as one of the Spirits of the Wild among the norn. Hunters would invoke her name whenever they slew griffons which had been worthy prey.[2]

After the Elder Dragon Jormag's rise and the norn exodus in 1165 AE, all Spirits became aware of a prophecy involving a chosen norn who would either slay or fall to Jormag after cracking the Fang of the Serpent.[3]

Personal story[edit]

In 1325 AE, Eir Stegalkin and the Slayer of Issormir were given a choice to assist Beigarth in forging a weapon that would help them defeat the jotun leader Korag who was drawing power from Jormag's corruption. Beigarth promised to provide the pair with an unmatched axe although it would have to be tempered in the blood of a mighty beast to stand a chance against Korag. The smith suggested that the pair hunt down the great griffon Windshear, Griffon's "son", to get the blood from the beast's heart which would enchant the axe's Deldrimor steel with the griffon's speed, strength, and savagery.[4]

Eir and the Slayer tracked down Windshear to Gaerta's Summit where the great griffon was already on the hunt and was using his magical powers to drive local wildlife into a frenzy. The pair fought through the maddened animals and ultimately confronted Windshear himself, besting the griffon after a fierce battle. The Slayer invoked Griffon's name while plunging the weapon into Windshear's heart, praising Windshear as worthy prey whose blood would honor the steel which the Slayer wielded in turn.[2]

After the pair had returned to Beigarth with the enchanted steel, the smith forged a mighty axe for them. The pair used the improved weapon to defeat Korag and prevent more jotun from the tribe from falling prey to Jormag's corruption.

The Icebrood Saga[edit]

In 1333 AE, Braham Eirsson tried to invoke the Great Spirits of Bear, Raven, Snow Leopard, and Wolf to open the enchanted door to the Sanctum of the Wild, an ancient place of power in the Drizzlewood Coast where the norn had first encountered the Spirits of the Wild. When the Great Spirits remained silent, Braham resorted to reaching out to the Lesser Spirits to invoke their power instead as the door would only open if several Spirits worked together.

As the Lesser Spirits did not know Braham, he had to prove his worth as the norn of prophecy. Several Lesser Spirits, including Griffon, collectively spoke through Braham and presented a riddle which they expected Braham and his companions, including the Pact Commander, to solve as a test. The Spirits ultimately helped open the door with their spiritual energy once Braham and the Commander had successfully solved the riddle by placing notable Spirits' statues on their pedestals in a specific order.[5]

Rituals[edit]

It is common for norn who hunt griffons to invoke Griffon and the prey's name with respect after a successful kill such as when the Slayer of Issormir slew the great Windshear, Griffon's "son", to empower an axe with his blood in 1325 AE.[2]

According to Griffon's shamans, one can encourage Griffon with offerings of food and drink.

Followers[edit]

Historical

Trivia[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Skuld
  2. ^ a b c Out of the Skies
    Eir Stegalkin: Claim your prize, Slayer. Plunge this steel into Windshear's heart.
    <Character name>: Hear me, spirit of Griffon! Your son, Windshear, was worthy prey. His heart's blood honors my steel.
  3. ^ Still Waters Speaking
    Wolf Spirit: The kodan ignore our voices. They cannot speak to Ox, Eagle, or Wolverine. But Braham can.
    Braham Eirsson: Why me?
    Wolf Spirit: You cracked the Fang of the Serpent. Fate now decrees you will either slay Jormag or fall to Jormag.
    Wolf Spirit: All Spirits know this. Even when taken and corrupted. You must go to their shrines. Demand their power. [...]
    Wolf Spirit: You are a norn of prophecy, but you are not yet true norn. Any can wear the wolf, but only true norn can become the wolf.
  4. ^ Echoes of Ages Past
    Beigarth: I prefer something more solid! You need a worthy weapon to crush Korag. With a bit more effort, I can make the Deldrimor weapon we started mighty enough to topple a giant-king!
    Beigarth: It will require tempering in the heart's blood of a mighty beast. There's a griffon named Windshear—if you can track and defeat him, the weapon will be unmatched. [...]
    <Character name>: I want to know more about the griffon Windshear.
    Beigarth: He's dominated local predators of the food chain for years. His heart's blood will imbue the steel with the griffon's speed, strength, and savagery.
  5. ^ Pantheon of the Wild
    Braham Eirsson: This place was built to honor all the Spirits. The door can only open if enough of them are working together.
    Braham Eirsson: The Great Spirits aren't talking, so we need the other Spirits to help. I can feel them. Hare, Otter, Griffon... [...]
    Braham Eirsson: The Lesser Spirits don't know me. I need to prove I'm worthy, like I did to the others. [...]
    Crecia Stoneglow: Just about ready! Braham, do we have it?
    Braham Eirsson: I think so. I have the Lesser Spirits' power, now we just need...
    Braham Eirsson: Ox. There's Eagle. And Wolverine! That's it! That's—