The Gryphon Watch

Many years ago, Rolen Hawklight, Head Paladin of The Ilmater Brotherhood, was gifted a Gryphon for his service in destroying the traitorous Dorthin Faenelis. By all known accounts, Hawklight and the steed bonded almost immediately, and by the end of the week he was leading charges against enemies of the church on the back of his mount. For many years the two of them fought together, the sight of gleaming armor and screeching beast being the last thing many soldiers saw.

Then, in a charge against worshippers of Vecna, the two of them faced the leader of the group, who cast a spell that ended the duo. The gryphon cawed and reared back, casting Hawklight to the ground as electricity ran through its body, boiling its blood and singeing its feathers. The beast fell to the ground, and Rolen was left to kill the priest alone.

Hawklight refused any resurrection offers, feeling it unfit to subject his companion to another painful end one day. Rather, he commissioned the finest metalworkers on the continent, to create a piece of finery to commemorate his lost ally. He imparted the soul of his steed into the watch, turning it into an artifact capable of granting flight and strength to the wearer.

Or, that’s how the rumors go. In truth, the watch was lost long ago, after Hawklight’s body, battered and mangled from a solo raid on a cult of Vecna’s camp, was cast into a ravine. The records of the watch and its effects have been lost to time for many years now. It may have been a powerful artifact, a symbol made by the brotherhood to commemorate a well loved ally, or simply a personal keepsake to remember a dear friend.

--Nekroz of Super Dora