Zadiago-located on the southeastern continent, just north of Uen. Once a close ally of Uen, Zadiago has been closed to outsiders for almost a century. Surrounded by high mountains and blessed with a rich and fertile plain, Zadiago is nonetheless a wild and ferocious place with a very high concentration of magic. Older records indicate Zadiago as a patriarchal monarchy: the king rules from the capital city of Zadfel, the rulership passing to his eldest son or daughter, if he has no male children. Gryphons seem to live in a symbiotic relationship with the human population of Zadiago, who in turn seem to have a high magical concentration themselves. Little else is known, but very, very few have been able to escape, and no one has ever been able to penetrate the mountains surrounding Zadiago since the best known mountain passes have since been blocked. Currently suspected to be in the midst of a heated civil war. (Click here to view a map!)
 
 

First of all, and most importantly, Zadiago has been entangled in civil war for almost 30 years now. One faction, the People's Alliance, was originally made up of a group of freedom fighters who overthrew the last
mad Emperor-King, just before the borders were closed to all foreign contact. Now, however, that faction is controlled by a group of rich elite who, ironically enough, originally provided the funds for the first coup. Perhaps that is why they were able to seize any power in the first place.

The second faction, the Red Eagle Order (named after the animal that appeared on the old Emporers' coat of arms), is made up of many of the blood relatives and direct descendants of the Emperor's line and their followers. They believe that they are the rightful rulers of Zadiago and have employed their vast resources and great armies to enforce this belief.

Power has shifted more than a dozen times in the past 30 years, leaving the people weary, hopeless, and without faith in either faction. Currently, Zadiago is under the control of self-proclaimed Emperor-King Madritante, a grand nephew of the last true Emporer.

Zadiago also shares Uen's roots. The Uenites originated on one of the western continents, and since skin color is so varied in Uen, it is probably safe to say that the culture on the western continents in either diverse and well integrated.  All Uenites and Zadiagans share the same origins, so therefore share the same language, though their accents are markedly different.

As far as the gryphon riders go, things have degenerated significantly since the "glory days" of the Great War. There was a time when gryphons and gryphon riders were once trained at the Imperial Military School for future careers in the Zadiagan Royal Army or Zadiagan Guard. Gryphons went either solo, or were partnered with (not Bonded - the partnership was purely by choice) a top mage or fighter and both were trained to be exceptional in every area. The gryphons were the pride of Zadiago.

While the gryphon guard originally helped to overthrow the mad emporer, they quickly withdrew their allegiances once motives became apparent. Unable to stay within the capital city, for fear they would be
eradicated, the few remaining gryphons (many had been slaughtered in the coup and after they broke their alliance)and their riders fled to the tiny city of Istien, tucked so deep into the mountains that both factions felt it unnecessary to waste valuable resources on flushing them out. (The mountains offer superb protection against attack, though useless as a strategic war station as they are located so far from the heartland). The gryphon guard has since formed a sort of underground freedom force of their own, gradually gathering resources and an army, biding their time for the first opportunity to attack. No longer able to employ the finest mages and fighters, the gryphon guard has relied upon runaways and patriots who have given up their former lives to join the cause.

Colors: Tawny (ie: classic - lion colored behind and bald eagle colored up front), Black (self explanatory. Purplish or bluish highlights), White (either snow or spotted - like a spotted owl), Bronze (lion colored behind, hawk colored up front), Grey (ranging from light to dark), and the *very* rare RED (copper colored with dark points, slightly darker hind end - this is a *very* rare color, and may only be claimed by those of the Aliah clan.)

Personality: Usually gruff, brisk, and abrupt, gryphons have no need for sentimentality and soggy human emotion. Gryphons are extremely intelligent and wise, they make excellent strategists, do not take any flack, are highly irritable, and hate to be wrong. Gryphons love games, riddles, anything that tests their brainpower. Gryphons may not use magic. They bask in praise and can be manipulated by stroking their egos. Gryphons are highly honorable, never deceptive. They are valiant fighters, never lacking in courage or loyalty. To get on a gryphon's bad side is to have an enemy for life - and a powerful one. Gryphons
respect cleverness and courtesy. Gryphon humor is dry and sophisticated. Gryphons are never joyous, they are *amused*. There are exceptions, of course, and young gryphons are usually a little more playful, with a more accepting sense of humor. Just keep this general personality type in mind. Gryphons are superior creatures, and THEY KNOW IT!

Original Role: While gryphons, like Uen's unicorns, exist in a symbiotic relationship with the people of Zadiago, however they do not *Bond*. Gryphons may choose not to have a rider, but many gryphons prefer to have a mage aboard there backs. A mage/gryphon partnership can be a lethal combination in battle, and gryphons are smart enough to see the advantages. Gryphons may be in the military (any rank, even general), teachers, or trusted advisors to high officials. They live in the city in "Rookeries" or high, tree-like buildings scattered among the human dwellings.

Clan: All gryphons belong to a certain family or clan. Some famous clans include:

ALIAH (al-LYE-ah)- 80% of all Aliah are born red. The Aliah clan is best known for their ancestor Aliah'as, an highly important general in the Great War.

RAAL (short "a") - long line of royal advisors by this name (example: Raal'ark)

HRAK (short "a")

CRAA (short "a")

DARIOC (DAH-ree-oc)

(Gryphon names should sound like something a bird might squawk) Clan names are always followed by an individual (distinguishing) name after an apostrophe. For example, Hrak'laan (of the clan Hrak).

Gryphons are not immortal (though they live for a VERY long time), nor are they invincable. As cantankerous as they are, gryphons never pick fights, and pride themselves on their courtesy.

Remaining gryphonriders are based at the Gryphonrider Training School in Istien. The Gryphon Training school is, like most of the Gryphonrider buildings in Istien, a makeshift structure - it was actually the town's library originally, before being converted a few years ago. The instuctors consist mainly of veteran gryphonriders too old or too injured to fight for the cause. As Zadiago is a wartorn country, most courses are fighting or strategy oriented, though there are a few classes in rhetoric and the like.

Gryphons and students, once ready, take classes together in all subjects until a gryphon chooses his/her partner (based on compatability and respect) or until a particular teacher assigns him or her a partner (this only happens in rare, isolated cases, usually only if a certain student has a tremendous talent that the Guard needs immediately).

When a gryphon chooses a student, he or she simply walks over to that student, makes eye contact, and simply tells them so. A student may refuse, but this also happens very rarely. (Most students hold gryphons in complete reverence)

Since gryphons have no lips or vocal chords, when they speak, they speak telepathically. All gryphonspeak should be noted as follows:

**hello** (stars for personal communication, one on one)

^^hello^^ (carrots for communication with all of those in earshot)

Once gryphonriders graduate (usually only a few weeks after they are chosen), they are immediately drafted into the guard, usually serving as reconnoissance agents, couriers, and the like, until deemed "ready" and drafted into the fighting ranks. Solo gryphons and humans graduate whenever their teachers deem them ready, and are treated with great respect in the Guard. They may even partner after graduation, though this happens rarely. Gryphons who do not wish to participate in the military may be deemed dishonorable or traitorous by their peers, but are not outcast unless they commit some sort of crime. (Though humans usually hold all gryphonkind in great respect, even those dishonored by their peers, simply because a gryphon - esp. one without honor - can make very short work of a human.

Current leader of the Gryphon Guard: High Mage Vartax and his Partner Aliah'ren.