QUICK STATS
Name: Demosthenes
Age: 320
Gender: Male
Species: Mountain Griffon
Height: 3'7" at the shoulder
Occupation: Enchanter and Scholar
Residence: An old library just south of the main ruins of Fell
IN-DEPTH STUFF
Physical Description
Demosthenes is on the smaller end of the scale for a griffon, at 3'7" at the shoulders, but like the rest of his kinfolk, has a body built like that of a lion, and a head, a pair of wings, tail feathers and talons that resemble those on an eagle with pointy ears similar to those of a horse. The feathers on his head and neck are a dark brown which fades to creamy white the closer one gets to his belly, blending in with the tan fur of his hind quarters. On his wings, the covert and tertial feathers are the same colour as his head, while the primary and secondary feathers start out brown at their base, but transition to dark beige towards the tips. The griffon's beak, talons, and tail feathers are all an inky black hue, and his large eyes are deep, glimmering silver.
Personality
Demosthenes has lived a long while, long enough to have seen several squabbles in Adela over the crown, multiple Grand Dukes rise and fall in Connlaoth, and all too many explorers trying to venture into the ruins that lie beyond his storied hall. He's never one for talking about his past; a lot of it is stained in blood, and would bring back memories the griffon would rather forget. He was a warrior, a scholar, a celebrator, a mourner, a friend, an enemy.... So many roles Demosthenes has played over his life, it weighs heavily on him when he has to remember all the faces of loved ones he has lost, all the people who have since been buried in the dirt.
Demosthenes is cynical and bitter with life, an old fool, if you will... But a level headed and empathetic old fool. He is not one to turn down a stranger in need, but his outward kindness to travelers is limited to superficial courtesies. One cannot fault him for that; a thick layer of emotional scars surround his heart, making it hard for him to take any attempt at connecting with him on an emotional level at face value. While Demosthenes has grown to disdain violence in general, he concedes that ultimately there are cases where words and reason alone cannot attain the desired outcome.
Powers/Abilities
Demosthenes has no magical ability in the traditional sense; he cannot cast spells or incantations, nor can he directly control magical energy. What Demosthenes does possess, however, is an extensive knowledge of magical runes, signs and sigils. Years of living in ruins covered in ancient carvings have has given the griffon insight into the hidden, magical power behind the symbols, and through years of concurrent experimentation has overcome his lack of casting ability with the powers of enchanting and scroll-making using runes. Both offer the benefits of actually casting spells in their full power, but have the downside of usually being either being timely to create (in the case of enchanted objects such as jewelry, swords, etc.) or one-use items (in the case of scrolls).
