Griffons

Griffons are sapient creatures who are half avian and half feline. They are quadrupeds, with sharp talons on their front legs and paws on their rear legs. All griffons also have wings on their backs, which makes traversing across rough terrain easy for them. They are also known to be relatively strong creatures, but lack significant magical capabilities as they are only capable of enchantments and incantations. They are said to be a greedy and gold-obsessed species but this is just a lie invented by insolvent debtors. While biologically carnivorous, griffons do consume baked goods as part of their diet. They do not eat raw plants, however.

Lore

Since time immemorial, Griffons have fought for wealth and power

Griffons, like Dragons, are known for their insatiable greed and selfishness. They value wealth above all else, and thus traditional Griffon societies are highly hierarchical ones where rich landowners rule over a population of impoverished peasants. Griffon realms tend to be highly fractured and they indeed have only been united once, by Grover I of Griffonstone, and even then only with the help of the Idol of Boreas. After it was lost, the Empire began to decline before finally breaking apart.

Knights of King Guto VI guarding the Idol of Boreas

Knights are another unique feature of Griffon culture that have existed for centuries and have not been made obsolete even by modern technology. It is said the knights originated when wealthy rulers wished to protect their vast treasuries and thus hired and trained elite soldiers to guard them. Whether commoners are allowed to become knights or if the title is only restricted to nobles varies from place to place, but all across the continent they are considered the best soldiers a ruler can have.

Griffonstone, birthplace of the first Emperor, Grover I ~ Artist Silfoe

Original griffon cities, such as Griffonstone, were built in the mountains, but over time the Griffons spread and settled the flat lowlands which were more fertile and suitable for agriculture. As such Griffon architecture is highly adaptive and they have no trouble building and living in plains, hills or even mountains.

Griffon Religion

Griffons have their own pantheon of Gods, and reject the Equestrian claims that Luna and Celestia are responsible for raising the sun and moon, and similarly the more pastoral religious beliefs of the primitive eastern ponies. The four main gods are the following:

• Boreas - the King of all Gods, god of Rulership, the Sky and Wealth, who gave them Intelligence
• Arcturius - God of War, Metallurgy, and Sacrifice, who gave them Strength
• Eyr - Goddess of Fertility, Family, and Agriculture, who gave them Bodies
• Maar - God of Death, Madness, and Cruelty, who gave them Souls

These gods (except for Maar) are widely worshiped across Griffon society, though more radical secular political movements reject their authority, or at least the claimed authority of its priests. Maar, with its evil associations, is only worshiped in secret cults, and its believers are hunted down wherever they are found. In addition, Griffons worship a variety of local deities and spirits.

The minor gods and spirits are numerous, too numerous to list, as is the amount of minor cults and religious denominations, but some of the prominent ones include:

• Cult of Arantigos - Boreas of the  Barony of Arantiga, which believes that after his death Arantigos merged with Boreas.
• River goddess Eviliana of the  Kingdom of Brodfeld, a personification of the Evi River and the patron goddess of the Kingdom.
• Old Believers of the  Peasant Republic of Greifenmarschen and the  Free Territory of Adelart strongly oppose the Archons and believe they are unnecessary.
• Sea goddess Sycaecia of  Sicameon, who gave the country its name.
• The Wise Lady of the  Kingdom of Vedina, who aided the first King,

The Three Archons

Griffons have always been religious, and the three primary gods Boreas, Arcturius, and Eyr are widely worshipped. The centralization of the Empire saw religion and state intertwine, as the three orders headquartered near or in Griffenheim, claiming a divine mandate for the Grover Dynasty's rule. 

Today, the three Archons (High Priests) are

• Eros VII - Archon of Boreas, the most powerful of the Gods. Eros was born at the height of the Empire's power, and remained a faithful servant of Empire and Gods. He rescued Grover V from revolutionaries, and has developed a burning hatred for the nobility for its role in the Empire's decline. He is based in Griffenheim.
• Erion XII - Archon of Eyr, the goddess of fertility and agriculture. Erion is a zealous, charismatic militant who resides in Romau.
• Proteus III - Archon of Arcturius, Proteus is a knight-priest formerly based out of Rila, but currently resides in Griffenheim. He is friendly to the good and unsparing to heretics and sinners. Popular with both the people and the military, Proteus is less popular with his own priesthood due to his neglect of administrative duties.

Gameplay

Griffon countries receive a unique unit - Knights. Akin to pony Pegasi, those noble, armour clad griffons are a mobile unit with bonuses to fighting in hilly terrain. Compared to Pegasi, they are slower, but with more substantial attack potential. With later techs, it will be possible to choose to whether limit the recruitment to only the finest soldiers, equipping them with more expensive Magical Weapons, or let any motivated recruit join their ranks.

With every race having different magical aptitudes, griffons are masters of enchanting objects with magical power. A griffon country will be able to use that to improve their economy and industry, as well as their military.

The tech folder contains one mutually exclusive path, related to military technology. It is between allowing the griffon in charge to either focus on hard-hitting soldiers clad in enchanted armour, or lightning-fast strikes and mobility. The naval and airforce branch focuses on improving ships and aircraft, alongside air / naval base construction speed improvement. Please note that while some percentage stat increases may seem insanely high, they correspond to much smaller increases in reality.

Racial Tech Tree

Griffon Knights

Racial special forces tech tree branches, unlike other racial techs, have research years assigned to them. This means that rushing too far ahead may incur research speed penalties, like with the regular tech.

The initial tech is from the year 989, so it can be researched without penalties. The second is from 1008, one year after the start. Each step deeper in the branch is from one year after than the previous one, with the exception of the final one, which is from 1013, rather than 1014.

Knights Division I

Enables Knights

Unlocks a free Division Template

Known around the world for their chivalry and bravery, the tradition of knighthood in griffon society dates back to some of the earliest griffon societies. Using enchanted armour and weapons, these soldiers can square up even against some armoured vehicles.

Knights Division II

• Knights Soft Attack: +5%
• Knights Organisation: +5

Through the use of improved training and equipment, we can strengthen our Knights Divisions.

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Best of the Best

Knights will require Magical Infantry Equipment instead of Infantry Equipment

• Knights Organisation: +5

We must ensure that not only do we use the finest equipment for our knights, but also the finest soldiers - only those who pass rigorous trials deserve to be part of our elite knights.

Expand the Ranks

• Knights Recovery Rate: +0.10

We cannot afford to limit our recruitment of knights. Instead, we should allow any motivated recruits to pass the trials. Any griffon can be a knight if they've got the guts for it.

Highest Standards

Knights

• Defence: +10%
• Breakthrough: +10%
• Soft Attack: +5%
• Hard Attack: +5%

Nothing less than perfect is accepted in our army, and that extends to our training - by enforcing strict guidelines for conscription and training, our knights will be the envy of the world.

Fighting Spirit

• Knights HP: +300%
• The large percentage increases are necessary due to a workaround (a very small value is multiplied by a very large percentage). The actual values are much smaller than the percentages might imply.

What some recruits may lack in skill, they make up for in spirit. While new recruits may not be used to physical hardship, they will fight beak and claw for their country.

Knights Division III

• Knights Organisation: +5
• Knights Breakthrough:+5%
• Unlocks Special Project Magitech Knight Armour

With the further modernisation and improvement of our knights, we can ensure their prevalence on the battlefield will continue.

Knights Division IV

• Knights Organisation: +5
• Knights Defense +5%

By improving the enchantments used for armour, our knights can survive and fight for longer on the battlefield.

Knights Division V

• Knights Organisation: +5
• Knights Hard Attack: +5%

In order to keep our knights competitive, we need to ensure they have even stronger enchantments and weaponry.

Knights Division VI

• Knights Organisation: +5
• Knights Piercing: +20%

By inviting some of the most powerful enchanters from across the world, we can make our knights into unstoppable fighters.

Society and Economy

Enchanted Tools

• Construction Speed: +10%
• Factory Repair Speed: +10%
• Resource Gain Efficiency: +5%

While we may not have "proper" magic, as some other races might consider it, we do have a magic of our own. By encouraging the use of enchantments for work, we can make labour much easier and faster.

Enchanted Machines

• Factory Output: +10%
• Dockyard Output: +10%

Griffon enchanting must be modernised for the new era - and what is more modern than industry? Enchanted machinery can run much smoother and faster than conventional machines.

Griffon Architecture

• Free Repair: +50%
• Max Factories in a state: +10%

Our architecture is famous for its incorporation of the landscapes, particularly mountains. We can take advantage of this to make repair much easier, and to fit more industry into tighter spaces.

Magical Early Warning Systems

• Unlocks Special Project: The Universal Translator.
• Interception Detection: +10%
• Civilian Intelligence: +10%
• Army Intelligence: +10%
• Navy Intelligence: +10%
• Air Intelligence: +10%

Using enchantments, we can set up systems to warn of incoming attacks, helping save civilian lives and improve our efforts to understand the enemy.

Flexible Production

• Factory Efficiency Retention: +15%
• Factory Efficiency Base: +5%

We cannot limit our factories to being too specialised, and risk the inability to provide something vital. With enchantments used to make conversion easier, we can make sure our factories are flexible as needed.

Unbreakable Materials

• Army Reliability: +5%
• All planes Reliability: +5%

By mass-producing the strong, magical materials used for weapons in armour, we can make our army and air force much tougher to kill.

Military

We Can Fly!?

Leg Infantry

• Hills Attack: +5%
• Hills Movement: +5%
• Mountains Attack: +5%
• Mountains Movement: +10%

Ever since the birth of griffonkind, one of our greatest gifts have been our wings, given by Eyr herself. Thus it is imperative that we know how to use them to our full advantage.

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Messenger Enchantments

• Signal Company Initiative: +6%
• Armored Signal Company Initiative: +4%
• Armored Signal Company Breakthrough bonus for tanks and armor variants: +0.01
• All frontline Battalions Organisation: +2

Many armies use radios to communicate. However, by integrating enchanted messaging into our companies, communication will be much easier and harder to intercept than radio.

Quick Hitters

• Knights Max Speed: +10%
• Recon Detachment Max Speed: +10%
• Leg Infantry Max Speed: +10%
• All Recon movement in Forests, Hills, Mountains, Jungles, Marshes, Plains, Deserts, and Rivers: +5%

We must prioritise speed in our armies above all else.

Enchanted Armour

• Amtrac Hardness: -5 000%
• Elder Dragons Hardness: -5 000%
• Knights Armor: +500 000%
• Special Forces Hardness: +5 000%
• Special Forces HP: +300%
• Special Forces Max Speed: -3%

The large percentage increases are necessary due to a workaround (a very small value is multiplied by a very large percentage). The actual values are much smaller than the percentages might imply.

Griffon armour has been the envy of the world for many years, famously used for our knights. By employing this in all of our special forces, as well as improving the design, we will keep things this way.

Tip of the Spear

• All Recon Companies Reconnaissance: +100%
• Helicopter Recon Reconnaissance: +100% (for a total of +200% when combined with the previous bonus)
• Special Forces Soft and Hard Attack: +10%

Utilising special forces and reconnaissance in high concentrations can make our assaults go much better.

Hardened Tanks

Armored Cars, Tanks and Armor Variants

• Breakthrough: +5%
• Defence: +10%

By enchanting tank armour much in the same way as we do conventional armour, we can make sure our tanks are sturdier than the competition.

Leap of Faith

• Logistics Company bonus to Defense for all infantry, motorized, and mechanized companies: +5%
• Helicopter Transports bonus to Defense for all infantry, motorized, and mechanized companies: +5%
• Organization After Paradropping: +30%
• Paratrooper Anti Air Defense: +30%

Unlike the paratroopers of earthbound races, who may be fearful of falling to their doom, our paratroopers have wings. With this extra insurance, they are much more willing to follow commands.

Armoured Claw

• Armored Cars Organisation: +4
• Tanks and Armor Variants Organisation: +2

Improved communication between tank officers will allow us to perform various manoeuvres much easier.

Air Resupply

Supply Grace: +36hr

Through the use of flying couriers and the dropping of supplies from planes, our armies can stay out of the range of supply chains for longer.

Enchanted Barrels

• Artillery Soft Attack: +5%
• AT Hard Attack: +5%
• AA Air Attack: +5%

With a few special enchantments, our artillery can be improved greatly.

Outrider Enchantments

Motorized and Mechanized Infantry:

• Soft Attack: +5%
• Hard Attack: +5%
• Organization: +3

Enchantments for motorised vehicles can improve both their speed and attack capability, making them a much fiercer foe.

Air & Naval

The two branches here are not mutually exclusive. You may research both if you want.

Machine Nests

• Air Base Construction Speed: +15%
• Naval Base Construction Speed: +15%

The griffon practice of "nesting", despite being a natural phenomenon, can be learned from and adapted for use in the military - particularly the air force and navy. By encouraging the construction of strong "nests" for ships and planes, our aviators and sailors will always have a strong base to operate out of.

Enchanted Hulls

• All airplanes Air Defence: +5%
• Capital Ship Armour: +10%
• Screen Defence: +10%

We can use enchantments on our planes and ships, making them just as tough as the armour on our soldiers.

Seeker Munitions

• Naval Hit Chance: +20%
• Naval AA Attack: +10%

The idea of "Seeker Missiles" - enchanted missiles made to track their targets - has been gaining traction in the minds of a few of our naval officers. With widespread adoption of this technology, we can make hitting enemy ships much easier.

Fighting Pilots

• Interception Mission Efficiency: +15%
• Air Superiority Mission Efficiency: +10%

Using training exercises to instil a fighting spirit in our pilots will ensure more aggressive tactics are used to their best effects.

Boarding Parties

• Convoy Raiding Efficiency: +10%
• Screen Attack: +10%

The act of capturing enemy convoys must be encouraged, if we are to keep strong blockades.

Modern Airships

Strategic and Tactical Bombers

• Air Defence: +10%

Our bombers must be sturdy and strong, to survive campaigns into enemy territory.

Magical Naval C&C

• All ships organisation: +10

Improved command structure and communication within our navies will improve our navy all-around.

Born to Fly

• Ace Generation Chance: +25%

Many races see flying machines as an opportunity - a peculiar vehicle used to reach places they couldn't before. We see them as an extension of ourselves, and our pilots will be much more skilled as a consequence.