Griffon (Spirit of the Wild)

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. According to her shaman, she is strongest when her flock begins its winter migration.

Biography

Early years

As the natural embodiment of all griffons, 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.

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.

Personal story

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.

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.

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

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.

Rituals

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.

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

Followers

Historical

• Festive Griffon Shaman

Trivia

• According to Beigarth the Smith and Eir Stegalkin during Out of the Skies, the great owl griffon Windshear had the qualities of strength and courage as well as the power to invoke fear and turn animals into feral, vicious versions of themselves. It is unknown if Griffon herself has the same qualities and abilities, however.

References

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Religions of Guild Wars 2