"Dey fight good, dem Kislevites. I fight wit' 'em last year when the Gryphon Legion ride south to the Wasteland looking for pay fighting, hey? Dey fight in the saddle, and dey look like dey born there. In fact, I don' think I never seen one get off his horse. Maybe dey love 'em a little too much, ifa ya know what I mean?"
The elite Gryphon Legion of Kislev has answered the call to war.
The Gryphon Legion are the elite core of Kislevite military power, as well as a standing full-time company of veteran Winged Lancers. The ranks of the Gryphon Legion are drawn exclusively from the ethnically Gospodar nobility of the Motherland and fletch their wings with Griffon feathers, hence their name.[1b]
The Gryphon Legion are a standing force of highly-experienced Winged Lancers, notable for their improved wargear, as well as their prodigious skill at arms. The first loyalty of these warriors is to the throne of Kislev -- they place their duty to the tzarina above all other obligations.[3]
Yet they often serve as a mercenary army for allied powers, at times when Kislev is not currently fighting a war. This gives them a wealth of experience fighting different foes, and ensures that their warriors can never grow lax or allow their skills to dull from lack of use.[3]
Role[]
"Though any wealthy soul can hire these elite horsemen, all the coin in the Motherland could not make them turn upon their queen."
- —Description of the famed Gryphon Legion in Total War: Warhammer III.[3]
Concept art of a Gryphon Legionary for Total War: Warhammer III.[3]
The Gryphon Legion regiment was raised from the Winged Lancers in 1810 IC, to serve as bodyguards to Tzar Gospodar IV of Kislev. In 1817 IC, they were sent on an expedition into the Worlds Edge Mountains where their leader, Vladic Dostov, single-handedly slew a Griffon, using its feathers to decorate his wings. This heroism gave the regiment the status necessary to act independently, and since then, they have often spent their time fighting as mercenaries to earn hard coin for the Motherland, largely within the Empire.[1b]
Concept art of a Gryphon Legionary for Total War: Warhammer III.[3]
Despite their independence, these elite horsemen are still sworn to answer the call of the tzar or tzarina, and they fought with notable bravery alongside Tzarina Katarin Bokha during major Chaos invasions. Katarin would like to bring the Gryphon Legion more closely under her personal command but is having to work carefully due to the regiment's long tradition of independence. On the other hand, the Gryphon Legion has little political commitment to other nobles or locations in Kislev, which makes it an easier choice for the monarch to use than regular rotas (squadrons) of Winged Lancers.[1b]
Concept art of a Gryphon Legionary created for Warhammer: The Old World.
The current commander of the Gryphon Legion, Tordimir Lubovasyn, is loyal to the tzarina but does not want her meddling in his running of the Legion; he is not convinced she truly understands the needs of his soldiers. He has agreed to inform the tzarina of all contracts undertaken by the Legion but has resisted asking for permission, even formally.[1b]
Tordimir has an unimpeachable reputation for valour, and the Legion is fiercely loyal to him, so the Ice Queen treads carefully. She is, however, paying attention to lower-ranked officers in the Legion, looking for someone more accommodating to her wishes to groom as Tordimir's successor.[1b]
The brother of Tzarina Katarin, Ivan Radinov, is known to serve in the Gryphon Legion as a squadron commander.[2a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Realm of the Ice Queen (RPG)
- 2: Citadel Journal 16
- 2a: pg. 20
- 3: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
Gallery[]
