Darkmatter Irion
Thousands of years after the death of Skandranon Rashkae, the great Black Gryphon, his legend was passed on from parent to child, from humans to gryphons, and from gryphons to chicks. The bravery, the cunning, the courage. Hordes of chicks were named after him, their parents hoping that the light of the Skandranon name would permeate their children and allow good to thrive. Skandranon Waseem II is no different than the hopeful clones before him. His black plumage, heroic strength, and impressive wingspan have been thoroughly calculated by careful breeding and the decision-making of generations of his ancestors. But, unlike the Skandranon drones that march and fly across the earth, he had no wish to become the good-hearted image of his predecessor, filling in the shoes of the hero, as it were.
Skilled in alchemy and developing what he called "dark magic," Skan enjoyed formulating new potions and elixirs, sometimes testing them out on the random wayfaring stranger. Typically with lethal results. He became a recluse, hiding himself away in the depths of the forest, making use of the caverns created centuries ago by the earth's own natural hand.
Years and years of practice had finally lead him down the path to his greatest discovery. But fate had other plans in store for the bird. The answer to death was seemingly in his grasp before it slipped away, causing the gryphon to dive into a murderous rage. He set fire to the forest that he called home, ripping apart any creatures that he ran across, abandoning his caverns and all that lay inside. From thenceforth, Skan became untraceable, vanishing into thin air. Not a trace could be found of the black gryphon. Until he became careless once again.
Here and there, a traveler would disappear. A villager. Some cattle. Unexplained phenomenon. Witnesses could claim nothing - each attack happened in the dead of night. Only when it was so dark that not even a shadow would be cast, not even a glimmer of a feather.
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keres