Where does Korvosa get its hippogriffs? Could one theoretically raise baby hippogriffs on a ranch? Do we know when they first came into use in Korvosa? The early marines arrived on a ship, not by air, but I'm not sure at what point since then they made the switch.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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I would surmise they come from the foothills of the Fenwall Mountains to the northwest or the the Mindspin Mountains to the south and east. Perhpas the Dwarves of Janderhoff introduced them to the beasts. The dwarves probably just saw them as nuisances???
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Given their uncanny resemblance to winged Owlbears on the cover of Guide to Korvosa, I'm going with the assumption that the Academae first produced them via magical experimentation, Owlbears being failed attempts at producing Hippogriffs, or the first step to learning how to produce them, and now supply the Sable Company each year with the produce of their highest ranking students.
I like this idea, because it anchors them to the setting, and puts a definite Pathfinder spin on an otherwise familiar creature concept.
According to myth, hippogriffs are the offspring of a gryphon and a horse.
In D&D, I'm pretty sure that they're a true-breeding, separate species.
I'd assume that the original Sable Company Marines had some hippogriffs for reconnaisance when they came to Korvosa (or were entirely mounted, since flying mounts are still useful at sea), and that Korvosa's 'griffs are the descendants of those. They are ranched in the same manner as horses, save that they need to have their wings clipped as colts to keep them from just flying away.
Really cool idea about them being the result of magical experimentation at the Acadamae!
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Completely off topic, but i thought i should share that when i first glanced the name of this thread, i though it said "Hippogriff Sauce"
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