Ecology of the Hippogriff
O h, the towers? Those aren't for invaders or the such. No, they're for the nasty bird-horse bastards. - Gnomish Guard Captain
Introduction
Hippogriffs are closely related to and but often overlooked in favor of Griffons. In an effort to recover our destroyed records, I am re-examining these magnificent yet deadly beasts. The Gnomish community has had an uptake in abductions/killings and desires our attention as well. A better understanding of handling a Hippogriff nest nearby can save many lives as they are aggressive and competent predators.
Origins
Like their cousins, the Griffons, Hippogriffs are part of a line that fuses avian and mammalian traits. Fossil records haven't been accurate enough to account for this theory; thus, most subscribe to divine influence. However, the merely physical attributes and the close relations between similar creatures such as Griffons point to a more biological and possible origin. Convergent evolution is usually the case, rather than magic. Like many such creatures, stories, legends, and early paintings put Hippogriffs as ancient as our own civilizations. Today they survive in the wilds between towns.
Hippogriff Physiology
Identifying a Hippogriff
Hippogriffs are large avian creatures that seem to be fused with the back half of a horse. Their necks are longer and more hores like in structure, giving them a full range of motion downward if standing on flat ground. Hippogriffs are built for air and land speed with the front of an avian and the back half of a running mammal. The hind legs and flanks are similar to a horse, with fused feet like a hoof for better running. Their colorations can widely vary depending on their variations but mostly keep to muted colors to blend in with environments. Precisely to blend in from prey on the ground. Like sharks, they can appear white on their underbellies or even blue.
Speed in the Air and on the Ground
Hippogriffs are lightly boned like birds but not completely hollow their bones are more perforated to reduce weight but keep some strength. Their leg bones are the thickest ones, though, in order to take the impact of running. This lighter weight for their size enables them to fly, but they still need large wings. To take off, Hippogriffs either need a steep incline to gain speed or a long stretch of ground in which they can run fast enough. They can run just as fast as a horse on the ground and, if winds are in their favor, more quickly. Using their wings as a sail to catch the wind, they will allow high winds to push them to greater speeds and run down prey. Unlike Pegasus or other equine flyers, when flying, don't gallop in the air but instead fully fold their limbs inward and tucked underneath themselves like that of a bird. When flying, they can reach near 70 mph, making them some of the fastest flyers for their size.
Thrill of the Hunt
First and foremost, Hippogriffs are predators. They are exclusively carnivores, aside from the occasional plant consumed for either digestion or boredom. When hunting, they circle their territories looking for prey, which they favor horses of all things. Prey can be anything from larger rodents or badgers to creatures close to their own size, like equines. Once a target is spotted, they dive down and pull up at the last second into a run for boosted speed. They often line their heads up to the broadside of prey and align their necks to serve as a battering ram. Once they strike their game often, they are rolled over or stunned enough for the beak and fore-claws to finish the job. They are specially adapted to finding prey who like to graze in fields then flee into the woods for safety like deer. Hippogriffs spot their game in the open and quickly dive in, usually chasing prey into the forest where they would be safe from other sky predators most of the time.
They are not incredibly picky when it comes to what meats they consume. However, they are very fond of gnomes for some reason and even will occasionally attack Gnomeish settlements when that would usually be too dangerous to bother with.
Poor Eyes for a Flier
Hippogriffs, unlike Griffons or other flying predators, don't have the binocular vision usually required to spot prey from high above. Instead, they have eyes more adapted to spotting movement and quickly swoop in on potential prey. Their high aggression is an adaptation to catch even deadly targets off-guard. They could find themselves up against a hearty foe at times without a discerning eye. Unlike many other animals, they see in full color, making things just a little easier on them when spotting prey.
Habitat and Home
Hippogriffs have to live in warmer or temperate climates to maintain enough food for their high-energy lifestyle. They also require specific environments or dwellings that they don't have to compete with larger predators in the air like Griffons or Rocs. Thus they stick to copses of trees near fields or even, in some cases, dense forests.
A Hippogriff nest is large enough to fit 2 Hippogriffs and their hatchlings. This makes for huge nests usually seen on forests' outskirts or copses of trees midway into the canopy. Be prepared for a fight if you spot a nest; they are highly territorial and aggressive.
Life Cycle
Hippogriffs are not quick breeding and only can produce 2 young every 2 years. In their 30 to 35 year lifespans, they may only produce 10 young total, and even then, statistically, only 4 will survive to create their own young. It takes 2 years to raise young from their first whinny after hatching. Parents will lay 2 eggs at a time and raise both Hippogriff colts until full adult-hood.
Young Hippogriffs cannot fly for the first few months and rely entirely on their parents to bring them food. They are carefully watched by a parent close-by while the other hunts for the whole family during this time. Once able to fly, they stay close to the adult Hippogriffs and only join in feeding once the fight is clearly finished. Usually, they circle above like vultures waiting for any confrontation to finish. Unfortunately, this leaves them vulnerable to other sky predators, like griffons.
Interactions with other Creatures
Griffons
Hippogriffs and Griffons may be distantly related as both are what I like to refer to as amalgamations, but that doesn't mean they get along. Griffons are usually much larger and stronger; thus, they tend to prey upon Hippogriffs. While one on one, a Hippogriff can't fight a Griffon, a wing can. Usually, the Griffon is wise enough to avoid a full wing of them, but if the opportunity arises, such as colts circling above, a quick and easy kill can be worth it.
Humanoids
Aside from the uncommonly domesticated Hippogriffs, almost all humanoids are seen as a food source to Hippogriffs. Being a flying predator, a horse's size can be a good cause for any traveler's concerns. Even druids who can actively speak with them under the right circumstances have trouble keeping off a Hippogriffs list of viable prey.
Gnomes
As mentioned, Gnomes are a particular desired prey for Hippogriffs. The cause seems unknown other than they can quickly identify a Gnome by smell. While Hippogriffs aren't known for an exceptional or keen sense of smell, just the whiff of even old clothes can send these avian-horse hybrids into a slobbering mess. Parties beware if you have Gnomes, don't cross into Hippogriff territory.
Larger Predators
While Hippogriffs are apt to accidentally attack even something as large as Bullette, they avoid larger creatures. Dragons, Rocs, and other giant fliers are avoided altogether and even fled from. In a confrontation, a whole wing would rather flee than aid a Hippogriff being chased by a Roc.
On the ground, if they can recognize the foe as incredibly difficult, often it is ignored entirely. This is why despite being fiercely territorial about hunting grounds with most other creatures, something substantial like a hydra can actually be found in their territory with little to no sign from the Hippogriffs.
Variations
Cloud Strikers
The most commonly known Hippogriffs are Cloud Strikers. Standing around 6 to 7 feet tall, they soar the plains of temperate areas living in the small forests and copses of trees. Their underbellies are a splotched white resembling lazy clouds on sunny days with their top feathers mottled white and black, looking like dark branches underneath a canopy to those above it.
Cloud Strikers are also known for having excellent displays darting in and out of the clouds in play, looking as if they are hunting the fluffy white water for fun. They have loud shrill yet deep sounding eagle-like screeches.
Storm Chasers
While not always found in the wake of a storm, Storm Chasers often migrate with a thunderstorm using the booming of lighting and roar of the rain to surprise prey. When not in a storm, they most often can be found on coasts waiting for such a large storm to fly inland once again. On the beach, they fish by diving into the water only a few feet deep.
Standing between 7 and 9 feet tall, they are a larger breed that can easily pick off pack animals that hunker down in storms like bovines and larger herbivores. Given their tactic and love for thunderstorms, they rarely encounter any resistance unless something disturbs a coastal nest.
Their coloration is usually dark greys or blacks with streaks of white or light grey running down their sides. This effect helps them camouflage in the rain. When fishing, they have little advantage in ways of camouflage and rely purely on their diving speed and quick reflexes to catch prey.
Ash Runners
In areas of heavy volcanic activity and ash commonly falls, these black and grey mottled Hippogriffs pick off prey in the cover of soot. They often nest in trees still standing around the volcanos or close enough by. Ash Runners can withstand incredible heat but are incredibly susceptible to any kind of cold.
They stand around 5 to 7 feet tall. Sometimes they are mistaken for Nightmares due to their colorations and habitat but still indeed have very avian features, unlike the undead horses.
Domesticated Hippogriffs
Only a select stock of Hippogriffs, all found under Elven breeding programs, have been domesticated. They are not easy mounts to tame even with all the training they have. While most commonly they come from Cloud Striker origins, it seems they have a now extinct line of Hippogriffs in their blood as well, with traits no other Hippogriffs possess.
Larger in size than other Hippogriffs, they can be up to 10 feet tall. They are agile and adept fliers able to out-maneuver any different flying mount type but can only ever carry 1 rider comfortably. Their colorations are whites, golds, and yellows, giving them a very distinct and often exotic look.
Night Divers
These Hippogriffs are the most visually distinctive with dark blue, teal, purple feathers. Their eyes are massive in comparison to other Hippogriff proportions for spotting prey at night. This also gives them much better eye-sight than that of other Hippogriffs. However, Night Divers are only 3 to 4 feet tall and can't hunt as large of prey. They have shrill high-pitch calls but rarely use them outside of direct and open confrontation.
Night Divers tend to live in Cloud Striker climates and even around wings of Cloud Strikers. Some like to think of Night Divers simply as the same Cloud Striker family who work the midnight shift. They rarely interact and may not even notice each other unless their nests are accidentally discovered by one another.
DM Notes
Hippogriffs are not a monster I have commonly used myself. While they pose a threat for a challenging fight, I feel their best use is to surprise parties who might think of the common logic is to take cover in the trees from a threat in the sky. Otherwise, they are a pretty straight forward fight without some DM creativity.
As for mounts, Hippogriffs aren't a terrible choice, but as with most exotic creatures, they could cause more problems than your basic horse. In my world, they are a very rare mount to the more favored Pegasus or even the occasional Griffon.
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