This griffon is aptly named for both its majestic appearance in flight and its increased ferocity over the common griffon. Despite its size, the sheer muscle mass present in this creature makes flight seem effortless, if preposterous. It makes its home among the canopies of the most ancient forests and atop the peaks of the greatest mountains, hunting its prey from above with silent and deadly accuracy. The ascendant griffon prefers to hunt other large creatures within its territory, such as bears, but they will not hesitate to attack smaller prey they perceive as a threat to their territory. Whether an ascendant griffon is a new evolutionary development or a throwback to a more primeval version of the creature is difficult to determine. Further research into these exceptional creatures may provide insight into their origins and perhaps the origins of all griffons.
Trigger A creature ends a move action within 30 feet of the ascendant griffon
Effect The ascendant griffon turns its head to stare down the triggering creature, and attempts to Demoralize it. This use of Demoralize has the visual trait rather than the auditory trait, and the griffon does not take a penalty on its check for not sharing a language.
Speed 25 feet, fly 40 feet
Melee Beak +24 (unarmed), Damage 4d8+10 piercing
Melee Wing +24 (agile), Damage 4d6+10 slashing
Melee Talon +24 (unarmed), Damage 4d6+10 piercing plus Improved Grab
Melee Feather +25, Damage 2d8+10 piercing
Carry Off
An ascendant griffon can Fly at full speed with a creature Grabbed in its talons, moving that creature along with it.
Disembowel
Requirements The ascendant griffon has a creature Grabbed in its talons
Effect The griffon makes a beak Strike to rip at the flesh of its prey. If the Strike hits, that creature becomes Drained 1 (or increases its drained value by 1, to a maximum of 4).
Razor-Edged Flight
The ascendant griffon glides violently forward, Flying twice. It makes a wing Strike at any point during the movement against up to two different targets; if either of these attacks is a critical hit, the target also takes 2d6 persistent bleed damage.
The ascendant griffon unleashes a fearsome cry that strikes terror into its prey. Each creature within 100 feet must attempt a DC 30 Will save. Regardless of the result, creatures are temporarily immune for 1 minute.
Trigger The monster's last action was a successful Strike that lists Improved Grab in its damage entry, or the monster has a creature Grabbed or Restrained
Effect If used after a Strike, the monster attempts to Grapple the creature using the body part it attacked with as a free action. This attempt neither applies nor counts toward the creature's multiple attack penalty.
The monster can instead use Improved Grab as an action and choose one creature it's grabbing or restraining with an appendage that has Improved Grab to automatically extend that condition to the end of the monster's next turn.