Hippogriff (CR 2)
Large Magical Beast
Alignment: Always neutral
Initiative: +2 (Dex); Senses: darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent, Listen +4, and Spot +8
AC: 15 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13
Hit Dice: 3d10+9 (25 hp)
Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +2
Speed: 50 ft., fly 100 ft. (average)
Space: 10 ft./5 ft.
Base Attack +3; Grapple +11
Attack: Claw +6
Full Attack: 2 claws +6 melee and bite +1 melee
Damage: Claw 1d4+4, bite 1d8+2
Special Attacks: -
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 8
Special Qualities:
Feats: Dodge; Wingover
Skills: Listen +4 and Spot +8
Advancement: 4-6 HD (Large); 7-9 HD (Huge)
Climate/Terrain: Temperate hills
Organization: Solitary, pair, or flight (7-12)
Treasure/Possessions: None
Source:
Monster Manual
Hippogriffs are aggressive flying creatures that combine features of horses and giant eagles. Voracious omnivores, hippogriffs will hunt humanoids as readily as any other meal.
These beasts are very territorial, defending their preferred hunting and grazing areas against intruders with unusual ferocity. Their range usually extends about 5d10 miles from their nest, in which the young remain while the adults hunt. Hippogriffs never leave their young undefended, however. Discovering a hippogriff nest always means encountering adult creatures.
A hippogriff has the torso and hindquarters of a horse and the forelegs, wings, and head of a giant eagle. A typical specimen grows to 9 feet long, has a wingspread of 20 feet, and weighs 1,000 pounds.
Combat
Hippogriffs dive at their prey and strike with their taloned forelegs. When they cannot dive, they slash with claws and beak. Mated pairs and flights of these creatures attack in concert, diving repeatedly to drive away or kill intruders. Hippogriffs fight to the death to defend their nests and their hatchlings, which are prized as aerial mounts and fetch a handsome price in many civilized areas.
Skills: Hippogriffs receive a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks during daylight hours.
TRAINING A HIPPOGRIFF
Training a hippogriff as an aerial mount requires a successful Handle Animal check (DC 21 for a young creature, or DC 28 for an adult) and that the creature be willing. Hippogriffs mature at the same rate as horses. Trainers can reduce the DC by 5 and the rearing time by one-half by using a magic-bridle enchanted for this purpose.
Hippogriff eggs are worth 2,000 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 3,000 gp each. Professional trainers charge 1,000 gp to rear or train a hippogriff. Riding a trained hippogriff requires an exotic saddle. A hippogriff can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds at a Ride check (see Ride, page 72 in the Player's Handbook).
Carrying Capacity: a light load for a hippogriff is up to 300 pounds; a medium load, 301-600 pounds; and a heavy load, 601-900 pounds.