A Griffopotamus is the monstrous fusion of several creatures, likely created by some truly cruel wizard, whose reasons have long since been lost to time. What little is known of their origins seems to point to confusion surrounding a transmutation or summoning spell and a desire to magically produce Hippogriffs.

 Superficially resembling a Hippopotamus in frame and stature, the Griffopotamus has the gills, pectoral fins and tail of a stingray or manta ray, making them deadly beasts in deep or shallow waters.

 Aquatic Flight. While more traditional Griffons and Hippogriffs are famously flying predators and scavengers, the Griffopotamus is far too heavy to fly at similar speeds to their more agile kin. They are very capable of lifting their massive bodies into the air, but mostly choose to glide or cushion their landings from great heights. Where their wings or pectoral fins truly come into their own is underwater. Hippos are not naturally capable of swimming; instead, they stick to shallow waters and submerge themselves, bouncing elegantly and weightlessly on the bottoms of rivers. Here, they use their reduced friction to charge at alarming speeds to track down and demolish any creatures who they deem a threat. The Griffopotamus has no such limitations, and as such, uses its enormous fin-span to drive through rivers or oceans at speeds that would outshine their other Gryphon cousins in the air.

 Deadly Herbivores. Hippopotami are herbivorous in nature, and rays are largely filter feeders, yet both can be incredibly deadly, and in their fusion, the Griffopotamus is one of the deadliest, non-meat-eating creatures adventurers are likely to come across. Griffopotami subsist mostly on sea grasses, seaweed and other long rushes that grow around bodies of water, but their enormous strength coupled with the fact that they are fiercely territorial, protective and generally aggressive means that they are responsible for enormous numbers of marine deaths. Mostly, they are famous for breaking the bodies of Tritons, Sea-Elves and Sahuagin who venture too close to their territory during mating season.

 Water Mounts. Among the Tritons of the deep, Griffopotami hold a similar reputation to Gryphons. They are often sought out to train as mighty and deadly steeds for knights of the depths, but training an adult Griffopotamus is practically suicidal and has only been achieved a handful of times. Griffopotamus eggs are known to sell for 1-2000g in nautical black markets, as raising one from the moment they hatch is fractionally more likely to result in a domesticated animal, but riding one into a city is likely to cause panic and discord among the justifiably nervous populace!

Arcane Forge: The Griffopotamus was created for a lore and art video on the Arcane Forge youtube channel! Look for the arcane forge on Youtube to join in on our next monster creation project!