Another marvelous work with another of my gryphons by  jocarra. She only seems to get better with every one of these fellows she does for me. The background on this thing came out positively epic. I really don't know how she does it.

But anyway, this is Nightraven, the leader of the Shadowclaw tribe. His people are the darker variety of the five breeds. They aren't evil or anything but they have a natural talent for darker magic like necromancy, curses, and hexes. Unlike the nobler breeds, the Shadowclaws value power and leverage over each other more than honor and respect for their fellow gryphons. They're all also rather pungent as well since they occupy a fetid swamp and dabble in necromantic arts.

Here we have Nightraven hidden away in his favorite spot in the swamp while communing with the spirit of one of his ancestors. He's not particularly friendly however and seems to have taken offense at having his private sanctuary intruded upon. Nightraven has lead his people longer than any other chieftain in generations and commands a great deal of respect from them whether they want to give it or not. He's highly focused and vindictive with a talent for sniffing out internal plots against him that might rob him of his life and therefore his position as their leader. He's also the only one of the five chieftains with two mates; the wicked and sultry twins, Dusk and Khadra who continually quarrel over his attention, much to his amusement.

Among the other chieftains Nightraven is generally shunned. They tolerate him more than get along with him and the feeling is more or less mutual though he harbors a particular disdain for Dawnstar and his "sanctimonious prattle" about compassion and selflessness. The fact that he usually smells like rot and swamp water rarely makes him a guest of honor at any table and the insult of a bath has been forced upon him enough times that he usually avoids all summons to any council from the other tribes.

Since Nightraven is the creepy one of the five chieftains I thought he'd be a great post for Halloween. Just one more gryphon left to go and they'll all be done!

Art is thanks to the wonderful talents of  jocarra

Nightraven belongs to me. :)