Statistics and genetic info: count how many tame ones are/were ever alive, list their typical lifespans, growth rates, number of eggs per breeding, list exactly which natural colours/marks they can be found in.

As of today, 28 Scythians are alive and living among domestic flocks in Imistor. A total of 31 citizens have ever been recorded. They are the Xth most popular breed.

History

The Scythian is one of the oldest breeds of griffin, and its origin is unfortunately unknown. Its type was widespread across the ancient world, from Greece to Anatolia and far north into ancient Scythia. The earliest Imisto collectors named them after Scythia, in honour of the particularly fine golden jewellery and ornaments imported from the region. Many neckpieces, bracelets and helmets were adorned with tiny, lifelike sculptures of the griffins hunting prey.

These griffins were little more than common pests similar to leopards and lions, preying on travellers, merchants and whoever was unwary enough to cross their path. No civilisation desired to claim them. There are some depictions of them pulling chariots, but modern Imisto historians and ancient travellers alike have never reported – or imagined – such uses. The griffins' temperament has always been utterly wild.

Despite completely vanishing from historical records by the 9th century, it is thought that this breed did not die out. Instead it may have migrated west into central and western Europe, and evolved into the Rampant type so commonly depicted in medieval times. Its short spiky feathers, large beak and curved wings are immediately recognisable. It's unknown how that breed's aggressive nature and sexual dimorphism could have became so extreme, with males losing wings and gaining horns – the spikes down the back of the Scythian's neck, while prominent, couldn't have evolved so quickly. Those ancestors may have crossed with some other native European breed, lost to history.

Anatomy

The Scythian shape is very distinctive. The body is that of a muscled cat, leaner than a lion but no less powerful. The claws and paws are large, with prominent dewclaws used for grabbing prey. The side and rear are smooth, with short fur, and the tail is long and even, like that of a leopard. Females have feathers around the face, neck and down the back, while males have bare, well-muscled necks. Both sexes have crests of hard bone spikes jutting out of the back of the skull and neck, with webbed membrane between them. Their ears are positioned high on the head, long and thin like horses', and usually upright unless the griffin is in an extremely bad mood, in which case they may be lowered and pointed back. Below the eyes and jaw is a triangular bunch of feathers.

Scythians have unusually long, curved wings, whose secondary feathers are small while the primaries, particularly the flights, are enormous and elongated like scythes. Ancient Scythians may once have had fuller wings and been capable of flight, but Imistor’s population certainly isn't. The wings do not help at all with leaping or hunting; they're completely useless, but not a hindrance either. The griffins clearly find them attractive, selecting mates partially based on elaborate displays involving stretching and splaying their wings, and so the unusual shape has endured.

The breed is surprisingly quiet – Imisto Masters may never hear one sound during a Scythian's lifetime, even though its voice is perfectly fine, if croaky and unattractive. This griffin has only been heard to cry out in moments of sudden pain or surprise, such as a parent returning to a nest and finding the cubs killed.

Reproduction

Pairs of cubs are usually raised in dirt dens dug out of hillsides, or small caves. Nests are grouped closely together so that many pairs of parents can share guarding and feeding duties. There have been cases in which large caverns and miners' tunnels were completely taken over by several families. (need to write more about the parenting, growth process)

Sustenance

The Scythian is an omnivore, although it much prefers meat. The breed hunts in packs, sprinting and stalking for hours with great stamina. Like lions, their traditional prey included gazelles, deer of every kind, and even elephants and buffalo, on the great plains of the ancient world.

Unlike lions, Scythian packs have no hierarchy or sex differentiation. All members will crowd around for the feast, and even strangers are tolerated. There's little sense of territorialism or stability; packs meet, mix, disperse and reform freely, and fights are very rare, only breaking out during breeding season. The only firm ties are those between temporary mates, who stay close during the annual breeding season and actively raise cubs together.

Scythians are known, from ancient times, as lovers of gold. Even today they will dig for nuggets and hoard them in dens like tiny eggs, brooding over them with delight. Back in the Underworld, tales and warnings swirled about unfortunate Arimaspian miners who were injured trying to retrieve gold from possessive griffins. Many survivors lost limbs and had their faces scratched in the vicious fights, leading to a popular stereotype of 'the one-eyed tribe'.

This breed can eat the following foods:

Domestic

Modern Scythians are among the easiest griffins to keep. Over the last millennium, Imisto breeders and rangers have managed to tone down the aggression, so much that confident travellers and merchant caravans are often able to ride through wild packs' territories without incident - it's recommended to bring some meat along just in case they are feeling peckish. Catching a wild individual is best done outside the breeding season, and fairly straightforward. After feeding and luring away from the pack, reaching out with the (name?) spell shouldn't be hard. Your explorer shouldn't always expect a fight when approaching; on the contrary you might dress them in flashy gold trappings and ask them to prance around, mesmerising the target while your voice does its work.

Domestic Scythians can get a little chasey and bitey if teased with food; otherwise they are a relaxed breed and will tolerate a range of environments. As long as there is sufficient food and they have space to roam, these griffins will mostly be content, needing minimal care and fending for themselves well. The only conditions they struggle with are cold and wet, as they lack much fur or fat. They do not naturally know how to swim, and most will avoid getting in water unless trained to enjoy it. Cleaning of fur and feathers is usually achieved by rolling in sand or rubbing themselves against surfaces. You may of course arrange for your servants to wipe, brush or massage them.

Due to their typically small size, like that of a lion, most cannot be ridden, nor are they good at carrying heavy loads. Scythians are mainly employed for hunting, guarding and carrying messages. Their great stamina and light build allows them to jump, sprint, climb, stalk, and trek many miles.

In Imistor today, Scythians are less possessive of gold, but still enjoy digging for it. Their large, hard claws are more than up to the task. Trained griffins can help miners in detecting veins and seams of gold, and can readily tell it apart from other ores. Their heightened vision can detect even the finest particles, and they are used especially by assayers and dealers in metals as quality assurance.

The natural attraction to gold has another useful effect. These griffins can be easily paired with other creatures with golden markings, horns or armour. Both at home and in the wilderness they happily produce hybrids with Minoans - you might actually need to keep them apart, or they'll breed like rabbits - and helplessly enamoured wild ones are often seen wandering around deserts, attempting to court radiant Marliks. The poor things haven't been very successful; no offspring of such a union has been seen yet.

Masters should not be surprised nor alarmed if local Scythians begin following and displaying themselves to gold-bedecked explorers. They can be safely dismissed without a fight - unless you are indeed interested in obtaining a half-wild hybrid egg.

Ability

load of html about battle moves, breed stats etc

Features

Three random Scythians:

name Lightninggift, aid 848name Sapphire, aid 22name Budfalling, aid 477

Scythian griffin

Statistics