Golden Griffon‡ — Elf
(Evocation)
Level: 5
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 5 turns
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
This spell calls into being a translucent, utterly silent, golden-headed griffon that is an extension of the caster’s will and acts with precise loyalty to his desires. It can be any color the caster wishes in body feathers, hair, eye or talon color, etc., yet the typical golden head and accompanying feathers still remain as its identifying markings. The caster can ride the griffon if he so desires, see through its eyes whenever desired (though not cast spells through it), or command it to fight the caster’s foes.
Beings other than the caster can ride the griffon—and even drop onto its back from above, against the caster's wishes—but the caster can have the spell end and the griffon vanish instantly by a silent act of will. The griffon also disappears if destroyed by cumulative damage. It can fight a creature of the caster's choice until it of the creature is destroyed, or the caster changes its target. The caster can change the griffon’s target whenever he wishes, as he has a complete telepathic link with the griffon.
The griffon can move any distance from the caster without his loss of contact, control, or of it becoming lost. The spell range is only for the purposes of where the griffon appears when the spell is cast. A real griffon will recognize the golden griffon for what it is; a magical construct, yet it will not view it as a threat unless attacked by it.
Furthermore, the ties of the elf to the Weave are also represented and transferred to the griffon he creates. The griffon, therefore, possesses the exact same ability scores as the caster, although these are then adjusted appropriately as seen on Tables 6-11 in the DM Option: High Level Campaigns book. In this case any ability scores of the caster that exceed 18 are considered an 18 on Tables 6-11, with any remaining points left over being added after the modification from those tables. (For example, an elven caster with a 19 Dexterity would produce a griffon with a 20 Dexterity score (18 for a large creature on the Dexterity chart is converted to a 19, +1 for the excess 1 point from the original 19 Dexterity of the caster, for a total of 20.))
The more perplexing part of this spell is only those beings that have blood of House Evanero or later House Evanara in his veins can cast this spell. Otherwise, once it is cast the spell fails and is wasted.
The material components of a golden griffon are a griffon feather and a tuff of hair from a griffon’s tail, both gotten without bringing harm to the creature.
Notes: Unique to the Evanero and later the Evanara Family and possibly their immediate relatives of the FORGOTTEN REALMS setting; first created by various Evanero family members in Myth Drannor during the ages leading up to the ARCANE AGE.
Golden Griffon: AC 3; MV 12, Fl 30 (C, D w/rider); HD 7; THAC0 13; #AT 3; Dmg 1d4/1d4/2d8; AL N; SZ L.
STR *, DEX *, CON *, INT *, WIS *, CHR *, COM *
* Indicates that the griffon will have the exact ability scores as the caster, modified appropriately for monstrous ability scores, as seen on Tables 6-11 in the DM Option: High Level Campaigns.
An example case of a golden griffon cast by Stadius Evanero is below; the only Evanero in the current era of the Realms who can cast this spell. Most high-level members of House Evanara possess this ancient magic, yet they choose not to cast it, as it may reveil them as decendants of House Evanero.
Stadius Evanero's Golden Griffon: AC -1; MV 14, Fl 32 (C, D w/rider); HD 7; hp 7d8+42; THAC0 10; #AT 3; Dmg 1d4+8/1d4+8/2d8+8; SD regenerate 1 hp/turn; AL LG (N); SZ L.
STR 20, DEX 18, CON 22, INT 13, WIS 10, CHR 10, COM 10
