Threats

Unique and fantastical creatures are found across all of Noctus. Many that twolegs call monsters are prey to gryphons. However, there are some that can harm and kill gryphons in some circumstances. This page details threats by territory.

They are ranked on a scale of one star to five. The more stars next to the creature means the more difficult it is to kill. As a reminder, warriors are typically in charge of hunting and killing threats three stars and over while hunters can usually handle threats two stars and under.

There are two threats that are Noctus-wide:

☆☆☆☆☆☆ Dragons

All clans must fear dragons! They are extremely rare, but appear from time to time from the North. Most of them are thrice the size of gryphons, hungry for blood and impossible to defeat. 

Dragons in Noctus do not have fire-breath or anything of the sort, but the ones that visit Noctus are earthy-colored, venomous, and gigantic. They can only be taken down by a group of three warriors or more and death is likely in the party.

☆☆ Twolegs 

The dreaded twolegs! The smartest creatures in Noctus (other than centaurs and Andromeda), these crafty creatures are always on the prowl for gryphons. They are the most eager to kill them for their precious hide, talons, and taxidermy potential. Many will have weapons! They are most commonly found in the northern half of Noctus, but some have been found coming to the beaches at the south end using giant vessels in the water.

☆☆☆☆☆ Manticore - This creature has the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon, and the face of one, too. They are cousins of the sphinx but are much more dangerous with their armored bodies and stinging tail. They are twice the size of most gryphons and are unable to communicate with them. They usually stick to their roost, but are extremely aggressive and territorial.

☆☆☆ Jackalope - Jackalopes have long, branching antlers, longer claws, and dagger-like fangs fit for a predator that has evolved past its rabbit predecessor. They are slightly larger than a gryphon and hunt in the warm months.

☆ Harpy - Harpies are twolegs with wings for arms and eagle-like talons for feet. They are closely related to sirens and behave like them, too, being extremely vicious to any creature they meet. However, they are rather easy to kill unless they are in a swarm.

☆☆ Karkadann - Located in the savannah of SunKin territory, karkadann appear to be a cross between an antelope and a rhinoceros. They are easily startled and battle anything they see.

☆☆☆☆  Sand Worm - A gryphon crossing the Wild Dunes may feel a vibration beneath their paws. Unless they get out of the way, they will be chomped by a worm with a mouth as wide as an eagle gryphon's wingspan and rows of sharp teeth. Sand worm fangs and hide is treasured for its sturdiness on armor but the worms are incredibly rare and hard to catch, faster than most recorded creatures in Noctus.

☆ Chupacabra -  Chupacabra thrive in the Sunbathing Hills, where they mainly hunt cattle and goats in small packs. They are similar to hyenas, but much larger and less furry. Their ears are batlike and their eyes are wide and dark, both fit for nighttime hunting.

☆☆ Kelpie - Kelpie may look like horses, but they have an aquatic bottom half and sharp teeth. They are dark in color and blend in well with the marshlands of the shared RainKin and SunKin territory. They are most often found in the Verdant Lake. They are not hard to kill if you bite the right spot, but the fin on their back and arms are tipped with venomous spikes that make gryphons itchy.

☆☆☆☆  Bunyip - Bunyips are scraggly, furred crocodile-looking creatures with rows of teeth, paired with long canines. They are an even match for gryphons, being slightly larger but slower than them. Their hide makes excellent armor if you can puncture it at all. The SunKin and RainKin have argued for many moons over who the Bunyip Den belongs to.

☆☆☆ Pegasi - Though pegasi are normally prey, they can definitely hold their own. They are larger than normal horses and possess wings bigger than most gryphons'. A kick from them can easily kill a gryphon.

☆☆ Kirin - Kirin are thought to be a variation of unicorn. They have one horn that branches off like an antler and lion-like tails, usually colored deeper colors to blend in with the forest. They are very well-built, larger than a horse, and nimble. Because of their horn, they can be dangerous like unicorns but are typically gentle giants with just as tasty meat.

☆ Popobawa - In the ravine, there are many lizards, bats, and other creatures, but the small population of popobawa are the most interesting. They are twoleg-sized bats with one large, beady eye and gigantic wings. They have a thirst for blood and are nocturnal.

☆ Sirens - Sirens are harpies that are much more deadly and more honed for fishing, with massive talons and fangs. More of their body are bird-like and they are larger. They usually roost in the Gulf of Shards and are territorial, swarming any creature that comes near. They hunt at Mermaid Beach, especially because of the amount of tyros that train at that clearing. If there is one, there is many. (Note - One siren by itself is one star, but a group can become five stars easily.)

☆☆☆ Carcohl snails - These snails are triple the size of a gryphon and eat mostly anything. They are easy to avoid due to their slow pace and may be tempting prey, but their slimy flesh is poisonous. Their shells could make for good armor.

☆☆☆ Lorelei - Lorelei are a category of mermaid that are more fit for shallow river waters. They have thick hair, webbed hands, fish tails, and are short in length. They are typically not aggressive, but, like piranhas, they will attack what they consider food in their rivers. Their tails are very delicious, though!

☆☆☆☆☆ Girallon - Take a silverback gorilla. Double its size. Give it another set of arms. Congratulations, you've got a girallon! Girallon are a more advanced version of their gorilla counterpart, but are much more territorial. While the girallon itself lacks in goodies, their bands are typically protecting food stashes that brave hunters and warriors can try to snatch from. They are commonly found in the western jungle.

☆☆ Kelpie - Kelpie may look like horses, but they have an aquatic bottom half and sharp teeth. They are dark in color and blend in well with the marshlands of the shared RainKin and SunKin territory. They are most often found in the Verdant Lake. They are not hard to kill if you bite the right spot, but the fin on their back and arms are tipped with venomous spikes that make gryphons itchy.

☆☆☆☆  Bunyip - Bunyips are scraggly, furred crocodile-looking creatures with rows of teeth, paired with long canines. They are an even match for gryphons, being slightly larger but slower than them. Their hide makes excellent armor if you can puncture it at all. The SunKin and RainKin have argued for many moons over who the Bunyip Den belongs to.

? Chimera - The Chimera is likely a legend, but the bay southwards of RainKin camp is a suspicious contender as a Chimera den. Not much is known about it other than whatever goes into the cove never comes out.

☆☆☆☆☆ Centaurs - Centaurs are one of the biggest threats to gryphons. They are half-horse, half-man, and stand taller than most gryphons, donned in heavy armor and using twoleg weapons beyond the capabilities of gryphon. They typically ignore gryphons unless they try to steal their food or get too close to their camp, Shiredin.

☆ Kappa - Kappa are smart and evil turtle-twolegs that go out of their way to gruesomely kill any creature they catch near Kappa Bay. The water around them is fresh because of their filtration system, so their home is a popular hunting spot.

☆☆ Unicorns - Unicorns' long, pointed horn is a great weapon against predators, but they have some of the best meat of any prey in Noctus and that same horn is commonly used in armor for gryphons.

☆☆☆ Basilisks - Basilisks are the worst enemy of twolegs, but a treat for gryphons. They are three wing-span long serpents that usually stay to their marsh but often go southwards to the Gulf of Shards, a territory shared with the RainKin. They are too fast for twolegs, but a gryphon can match its speed if they are well trained.

☆☆☆☆ Minotaur - Minotaur are very rare, but they can be found throughout all of SkyKin territory. Centaurs can be seen with them on occasion, so it is suspected they have a sort of truce. They are twice the height of gryphons and twice as aggressive, swinging with their axes or charging with their horns at any gryphon they see.

☆ Harpy - Harpies are twolegs with wings for arms and eagle-like talons for feet. They are closely related to sirens and behave like them, too, being extremely vicious to any creature they meet. However, they are rather easy to kill unless they are in a swarm.

☆☆☆ Owlbear - Despite having an owl face, the owlbear can not communicate with gryphons, thought to be primitive "cousins" of the species. They are bears with owl heads. Their claws are sharp and their hides are tough, but their beaks can also be used as prosthetics for other gryphons in need of repairing.

☆ Fairies - Fairies are tiny twolegs with goat hooves, claws, horns, and wings. They are very familiar with the land, creating farms and clearing areas of trees with the sheer will of hundreds of fairies working together. They are not particularly dangerous, but they work well together and can take down a gryphon as a group. They usually allow gryphons into their territories, namely the Unicorn Clearing.

☆☆☆☆ Gorgon - A creature with a snake head and tail and a humanoid body. Gorgons spray a fluid from slots under their eyes that cause the muscles to seize, numbness, and lethargy if introduced inside the body. They are most often found in the southern parts of the SkyKin territory.