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Description
New character sheet for Valcauroch!

Name: Valcauroch, goes by nickname "Valcaur" or "Val" among close friends
Species: Aiolornis Teratorn/American Lion (Aiolornis incredibilis/Panthera leo atrox)
Aerie: Skrekrill
Current rank: Adult gryphon
Gender: Male
Physical Traits: Valcauroch is primarily a ground predator, occasional scavenger, and soaring gryphon. He is a sprinter in short bursts, using surprise and strength to subdue prey. Valcauroch's large, sharp beak is his primary weapon, as his talons are blunt and his toes do not have the ratcheting mechanism found in most birds of prey. He has powerful jaw muscles and the loose skin that accumulates on his jowls as he ages exaggerates that feature. Valcauroch has enormous, broad wings for soaring but cannot take off without a strong breeze or height. The feathery "mane" on his head continues down his back as a reddish stripe that ends in a tuft above his tail feathers. The rest of his coloration is speculatively based on the extinct teratorn; his brown mottling is good camouflage on the ground, and the carotenoid pigments concentrated in his orange skin are an indicator of health and fitness, like the colorful faces of modern cathartidae vultures.
History: Valcauroch's parents were also large gryphons. His mother was a Aiolornis Teratorn/Homotherium Scimitar Cat, and his father was a Woodward's Hawk/American Lion. The two were once loyal Skrekrill soldiers, but after losing their firstborn chick to war they became vocal dissidents of Queen Maud and were murdered (Born Into Blood ) while attempting to defect to Twistoult. Valcauroch was raised by the assassin Marajo, who is wildly devoted to (and slightly enamored of) Maud, and Marajo's partner, the tracker Olfae (Babysitting Duty ). Marajo was a capricious and demanding parent, but Valcauroch strove to please him. He grew up as a loyal, unquestioning servant of Skrekrill, eager to redeem himself of the "traitorous, cowardly" shame of his parents. Ever since he was once humiliated and later had his wing broken (Realignment: part 3/3 ) by Skerry of Grandesque, he has borne a grudge against him (S-Valcauroch-Adult Gryphon-2 ). Valcauroch was active in the recent war but spent the later part recovering from his wing injury in Twistoult (Valcaur's Recovery ) until he could fly back to Skrekrill.
Personality: Though he can be vicious under orders and certainly enjoys the chance to exercise his brute strength, Valcauroch is not mean. He likes mock fighting, wrestling, and hunting prey, but it is not in his nature to be deliberately cruel. Valcauroch was raised not to think for himself. He is intelligent but he tends to be a follower, does as told, and constantly doubts his own opinion. Though he presents himself as tough and boastful, he is inwardly insecure and constantly second-guesses his own ideas. Briggen is the only friend to whom Valcauroch has revealed his deep insecurity. Valcauroch is on good terms with most of his aerie and considered easy-going by other Skrekrill. Gryphons from other aeries would more likely describe him as "terrifying," or "taciturn," because he doesn't know how to socialize with those who don't share his militant upbringing or unquestioning loyalty to Queen Maud. As he matures, gets exposure to other mindsets, and starts to realize that Marajo is fallible, Valcauroch begins trusting himself more. He takes initiative, follows through on his own ideas, and questions what he is told. It is a long process and he never fully shakes his habit of obedience or self doubt. In his old age, Valcauroch will likely retire to Twistoult and become a pacifist.

Description
New character sheet for Valcauroch!

Name: Valcauroch, goes by nickname "Valcaur" or "Val" among close friends
Species: Aiolornis Teratorn/American Lion (Aiolornis incredibilis/Panthera leo atrox)
Aerie: Skrekrill
Current rank: Adult gryphon
Gender: Male
Physical Traits: Valcauroch is primarily a ground predator, occasional scavenger, and soaring gryphon. He is a sprinter in short bursts, using surprise and strength to subdue prey. Valcauroch's large, sharp beak is his primary weapon, as his talons are blunt and his toes do not have the ratcheting mechanism found in most birds of prey. He has powerful jaw muscles and the loose skin that accumulates on his jowls as he ages exaggerates that feature. Valcauroch has enormous, broad wings for soaring but cannot take off without a strong breeze or height. The feathery "mane" on his head continues down his back as a reddish stripe that ends in a tuft above his tail feathers. The rest of his coloration is speculatively based on the extinct teratorn; his brown mottling is good camouflage on the ground, and the carotenoid pigments concentrated in his orange skin are an indicator of health and fitness, like the colorful faces of modern cathartidae vultures.
History: Valcauroch's parents were also large gryphons. His mother was a Aiolornis Teratorn/Homotherium Scimitar Cat, and his father was a Woodward's Hawk/American Lion. The two were once loyal Skrekrill soldiers, but after losing their firstborn chick to war they became vocal dissidents of Queen Maud and were murdered (Born Into Blood ) while attempting to defect to Twistoult. Valcauroch was raised by the assassin Marajo, who is wildly devoted to (and slightly enamored of) Maud, and Marajo's partner, the tracker Olfae (Babysitting Duty ). Marajo was a capricious and demanding parent, but Valcauroch strove to please him. He grew up as a loyal, unquestioning servant of Skrekrill, eager to redeem himself of the "traitorous, cowardly" shame of his parents. Ever since he was once humiliated and later had his wing broken (Realignment: part 3/3 ) by Skerry of Grandesque, he has borne a grudge against him (S-Valcauroch-Adult Gryphon-2 ). Valcauroch was active in the recent war but spent the later part recovering from his wing injury in Twistoult (Valcaur's Recovery ) until he could fly back to Skrekrill.
Personality: Though he can be vicious under orders and certainly enjoys the chance to exercise his brute strength, Valcauroch is not mean. He likes mock fighting, wrestling, and hunting prey, but it is not in his nature to be deliberately cruel. Valcauroch was raised not to think for himself. He is intelligent but he tends to be a follower, does as told, and constantly doubts his own opinion. Though he presents himself as tough and boastful, he is inwardly insecure and constantly second-guesses his own ideas. Briggen is the only friend to whom Valcauroch has revealed his deep insecurity. Valcauroch is on good terms with most of his aerie and considered easy-going by other Skrekrill. Gryphons from other aeries would more likely describe him as "terrifying," or "taciturn," because he doesn't know how to socialize with those who don't share his militant upbringing or unquestioning loyalty to Queen Maud. As he matures, gets exposure to other mindsets, and starts to realize that Marajo is fallible, Valcauroch begins trusting himself more. He takes initiative, follows through on his own ideas, and questions what he is told. It is a long process and he never fully shakes his habit of obedience or self doubt. In his old age, Valcauroch will likely retire to Twistoult and become a pacifist.