Shadow-Griffon

Gryphus umbralis / “Silent Death” / “The Bone-Wing”

“Didn’t hear it. Didn’t see it. Just talons through my partner’s chest, and he was gone. Up into clouds, screaming. Never found the body.”
—Survivor testimony

Quick Reference

Shadow-Griffon - Silent Death from Above

Description

Shadow-griffons are corrupted aerial predators—skeletal, bat-winged horrors that combine the worst aspects of griffons (strength, hunting skill) with the Rot’s transformative corruption. They are silent hunters that dive from above without warning, strike with bone-crushing force, and carry victims away to nests where fates worse than death await. They are the reason pilots scan the skies constantly and why no one travels alone in corrupted zones.

The creatures retain the basic griffon form—lion body, eagle head—but corruption has stripped away flesh, leaving exposed black bones covered in patches of rotting fur and feathers. Their wings are tattered membranes stretched between elongated finger-bones, like bats but larger and more horrible. Their eyes glow red in darkness, and their beaks are serrated nightmares designed for tearing.

What makes shadow-griffons particularly deadly is their silent flight. Normal birds make noise—wing beats, calls, movement through air. Shadow-griffons make none. They glide on thermal currents with wings that don’t flap, approach from above where victims don’t look, and strike without warning. The first indication of their presence is often talons through your back and the ground falling away as you’re carried into the sky.

Physical Characteristics

Anatomy

Body (Lion-like): - Skeletal (visible bones) - Patches of rotting fur (black, matted) - Exposed muscle (dark red, wrong texture) - Ribcage visible - Corruption oozes from joints

Head (Eagle-like): - Skeletal skull - Serrated beak (bone, sharp) - Glowing red eyes (no pupils) - Tattered feathers (black, falling out) - Neck: Too long, flexible

Wings: - Bat-like membranes - Stretched between bone fingers - Tattered (holes, tears) - Wingspan: 4 meters - Silent (no sound when flapping)

Limbs: - Four legs (lion-like) - Skeletal but strong - Talons: 15cm long, curved, sharp - Can grasp and carry human - Corruption drips from claws

Tail: - Long, whip-like - Tufted (rotting fur) - Used for balance - Can strike (weapon)

Behavior and Hunting

Hunting Tactics

Ambush from Above: - Perch on high ruins - Watch for prey below - Dive silently - Strike without warning - Victim often doesn’t see it coming

The Grab-and-Fly: - Talons through torso - Lift victim - Fly to nest - Victim alive (usually) - Screaming all the way

The Drop: - Carry victim high - Drop from altitude - Impact kills - Scavenge body later - Cruel but effective

Pack Hunting (Rare): - Multiple griffons coordinate - One distracts, others strike - Sophisticated tactics - Suggests intelligence

Prey Selection

Preferences: - Humans (primary target) - Cloud-hoppers (snack) - Aether-fish (easy prey) - Other Rot-Beasts (competition)

Avoids: - Large groups (too risky) - Well-armed parties (learned from experience) - Fire (instinctive fear) - Daylight (prefers twilight/darkness)

Territorial Behavior

Nesting Sites: - High ruins (towers, cliffs) - Defensible positions - Multiple escape routes - Overlook hunting grounds

Territory Size: - 5-10km radius - Defends aggressively - Attacks intruders - Marks boundaries (corpses)

Territorial Displays: - Screeching (rare—usually silent) - Aerial acrobatics - Dropping bones - Warning to others

The Nests

Location and Structure

Typical Nest: - High ruins (20-50m up) - Sheltered (overhangs, towers) - Multiple chambers - Littered with bones

Contents: - Bones (previous victims, hundreds) - Corruption pools (black fluid) - Rotting flesh (recent kills) - Treasures (victim’s possessions) - Eggs? (Never confirmed)

Atmosphere: - Stench (overwhelming) - Darkness (little light) - Sounds (dripping, rustling, whispers) - Corruption (intense)

What Happens to Victims

If Carried to Nest: - Dropped in center - Injured, terrified - Griffon feeds slowly - Or leaves to ripen - Death takes hours or days

The Lucky Ones: - Killed quickly - Eaten - Death is release

The Unlucky Ones: - Kept alive - Fed to young? (If eggs exist) - Transformed by corruption - Become something else

Rescue: - Theoretically possible - Practically: Suicide mission - Few attempts - Fewer successes

Combat and Tactics

Fighting Shadow-Griffons

Challenges: - Silent approach (no warning) - Aerial superiority (three-dimensional combat) - Speed (fast in air) - Strength (can carry humans) - Corruption (touch = infection)

Effective Tactics: - Watch the skies (constant vigilance) - Travel in groups (safety in numbers) - Carry fire (they fear it) - Ranged weapons (engage before it closes) - Don’t let it grab you (critical)

If Grabbed: - Struggle (break grip) - Weapon strikes (target wings) - Call for help - Pray - Accept you’re probably dead

Killing One (Legendary)

Requirements: - Multiple fighters - Ranged weapons (crossbows, harpoons) - Fire (essential) - Coordination - Luck

Strategy: - Lure to ground (difficult) - Disable wings (prevent flight) - Sustained fire - Prevent regeneration - Finish quickly

Success Rate: Low (most attempts fail)

Reward: Legendary status, valuable materials, bragging rights

Materials (If Killed)

Scales/Bones

Value: 100-500 coins per piece Uses: Armor (light, strong), decoration, trophies Rarity: Extreme (few killed)

Corruption Samples

Value: 200+ coins to alchemists Uses: Research (understanding Rot) Danger: Handling risk

Feathers

Value: 50 coins each Uses: Alchemical, decorative Rarity: Moderate (shed naturally)

Cultural Impact

In Stories

Horror Tales: - Children’s nightmares - Cautionary stories - “Don’t wander alone” - Effective deterrent

Hero Tales: - Legendary hunters who killed griffons - Exaggerated (probably) - Inspiring (definitely) - Cultural touchstones

Symbolism

Silent Death: - Represents unexpected disaster - “Like shadow-griffon” (sudden, deadly) - Used in warnings

Corruption’s Reach: - Even sky isn’t safe - Rot transforms everything - Nowhere is truly secure

Related Topics

• The Hollow - Common habitat
• The Periphery - Nesting areas
• Rot-Beasts - Category
• The Rot - Corruption source
• Stage 3 Corruption - Transformation level

In-World Documents

Hunter’s Guide

SHADOW-GRIFFON SURVIVAL

Prevention: - Watch the skies (always) - Travel in groups - Avoid ruins at dusk - Carry fire

If Attacked: - Don’t let it grab you (critical) - Target wings (disable flight) - Use fire (they fear it) - Call for help

If Grabbed: - Struggle (break grip) - Strike eyes (vulnerable) - Cut wings (desperate) - Pray

If Carried Away: - You’re probably dead - Sorry

Survivor’s Account

It came from above. Silent. No warning.

Talons through Mira’s chest. She screamed. It lifted her.

We shot at it. Hit it. Didn’t matter. It flew away with her.

We heard her screaming. For minutes. Getting fainter.

Then silence.

We found the nest three days later. Bones. So many bones.

Mira’s among them.

We burned the nest. Killed the griffon. Took two days, five people, all our fire.

Was it worth it? Revenge for Mira?

I don’t know. She’s still dead.

But at least it won’t kill anyone else.

“Shadow-griffons are the Rot’s answer to humanity’s mastery of the air. We thought we owned the skies. We were wrong. They do. They’re faster, stronger, more adapted to aerial combat than we’ll ever be. They hunt us like we hunt aether-fish—efficiently, remorselessly, successfully. The only reason we survive is that they’re rare. If there were more of them, we’d be extinct. Remember that when you fly through ruins. Watch the skies. Because they’re watching you.”
—From Bestiary of Horrors