------------- The Black Gryphon – Gorrek Braeggar

“They came from beyond the stars in ships of strange metal, with science as powerful as the greatest Wizard. We insignificant, backwards, primitive Arrallonians kicked their asses.” – Cameron Quinn.

Most know of the invasions, the off-worlders, bringing proof that we were not alone in the universe centuries ago. They brought science and mathematics and navigation and machines and a bigger view of the universe,… and our own little world. After the War of Tryskellias ended in 18,199 GC, Arrallon bloomed like it had never before. Science and magic grew together and paratechnology was born. When the Republic occupation was cast off in 18,441 GC, they were defeated soundly. But their presence, once more, has left permanent marks on the landscape. Cities were destroyed and rebuilt. Many died. Even more science and technology was infused into the societies of Arrallon. And species never before seen sprung up thanks to the genetic tampering of Republic scientists. The Zylotropes came into being.

Created as heavy troops for the Republic during the War of Arrallon, Zylotropes were of any breed or base stock their scientists thought would be useful. With the destruction of the Republic command ship and the final defeat of their armies in Hesterland, the remaining Zylotropes eventually died out. But somewhere, somehow, the experiments have begun again. Zylotropes have appeared in the remote places of the world. Gorrek Braeggar is one of them.

How the fledgling members of the Black Gryphon found him, and why they accepted him instead of killing him on the spot, is a mystery to me. I can only surmise they ventured into the desert of Skycliff, just east of the Barrier cliffs, and in some underground complex found him, perhaps in stasis. As a Hobgoblin mutated with the Zylotrope gene therapy, he was both born and recreated to be a soldier. Much more intelligent than his common kin, and possessing inborn genetic memories to enhance his fighting prowess, they surely saw in him that which they lacked, a solid, unstoppable killing machine. Possessing superhuman strength surpassing even the great Vampyres, regeneration, natural armor and resistances to every known form of energy, he must have truly been impressive. With technological armor left over from the Republic and weapons forged in the Shadow Realm, the only thing that made him better was his jet black skin. The Black Gryphon indeed.

------------- Credits

------------- Thanks and please comment.