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[Lore] Griffonstone


RarityDash

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Griffonstone - The Lost Treasure

 

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To the modern pony or griffon, the name Griffonstone is one which evokes a bygone era of splendor and glory. Though it is a well known fact that this once proud seat of power for a mighty empire still exists today, even some of the most well read individuals across the land would be stunned and staggered to learn of the state in which the modern Griffonstone exists. Where once stood a grand and mighty city now sits a decayed shambles, all but ignored by the rest of the world.

 

The city was built high upon the Hyperborean mountains due north of modern Aquellian long ago in the distant past after small gold deposits were discovered there. The exact date for when it was founded is unclear, with some scholars saying it pre-dates even the founding of Equestria. Regardless of the actual truth, throughout its early history the kingdom was slow to grow and develop. This would change only when a young griffon named Grover did ascend to the throne. Shortly into his reign, King Grover personally discovered a magnificent treasure atop one of the Hyperborean peaks which would change Griffonstone's history forever.

 

The origins of this treasure, the legendary Golden Idol of Boreas, are unclear, though the story passed across the ages claims it was made through magic from the dust of golden sunsets blown across the Hyperborean Mountains by the fierce northern winds. Whatever the case, it soon became known far and wide for its beauty as well as its magical properties, for those who merely touched it were said to find good fortune in their lives. The artifact quickly became a point of pride to the griffons of Griffonstone, akin to the Crystal Heart around which the ponies of the Crystal Empire to east had rallied. More griffons than ever before came in droves to the kingdom, wanting simply to gaze upon the idol and feel its blessing. Griffon pride soared and for it and for King Grover's leadership, the long age of Griffonstone's greatness did begin.

 

Through Grover's reign and that of the countless kings who followed him, Griffonstone established itself as a major economic hub. Rare and precious metals were found and mined from the Hyperborean mountains and traded with other kingdoms which existed in the northern and western regions of the continent at the time, including the declining Tenochtitlan Kingdom and the Crystal Empire further east, as well as many other lands by sky and water. Across centuries, prosperity was followed by expansion until Griffonstone was the very crux of a great empire which occupied the entirety of the western half of the continent.

 

Yet all would not last. The idol of Boreas had blessed the griffons of Griffonstone with nothing but good fortunes for ages, but just over 1000 years ago this would all suddenly begin to change. Shortly after the coronation of King Guto a wicked fiend called Arimaspi escaped from Tartarus just to the east. This creature, a ruthless cyclopean demon, immediately took to ravaging the city of Griffonstone, keen on making its treasures, particularly the Idol, his own. Guto's armies warred with the beast, but his cruelty and power made him unlike any foe the griffons had faced. Though they could usually succeed in driving the creature from the city, it was always only temporary and came with untold damages.

 

As Griffonstone struggled with Arimaspi's persistence, the rest of the empire began to turn from them. The population of the griffon empire had since shifted southward, away from Griffonstone. The griffons in the newer city of Talonopolis in particular seemed to have little patience for a king who lived in the mountains far to the north, entirely ineffectual in his battle against a single monstrosity. The Republic of Aquellia soon formed from out of Griffonstone's empire and swiftly cut ties with the Kingdom of Griffonstone. As the king became increasingly distracted by his swift fracturing empire and the unrest which built all around him, the city's defenses soon eroded and Arimaspi was able to steal away the Idol of Boreas by night.

 

Though Arimaspi was ultimately thrown to his doom in the Abysmal Abyss--a bottomless crevice in the Hyperborean Mountains which is filled with a fierce perpetual magic wind--the idol was lost with him. With it lost, Griffonstone became a sham and a joke and most of its population moved south to Aquellia in droves, leaving only the most stubborn and set in their ways of griffons behind to call the city home. Though Guto did his best to try and turn things around, searching the mountains for some unknown artifact yet to be discovered and also sending expeditions to brave the Abysmal Abyss in hopes of finding the Idol not yet forever lost, he found not the Idol nor anything with which to replace it.

 

Right around this time, the face of the world around Griffonstone became gravely altered. The traditional strongest ally of the kingdom, the Crystal Empire, was conquered by an evil king and then ripped from the face of the world in an instant. Even closer to the griffon city, changelings came to the continent from across the north sea and took hold of another nearby kingdom which had once been an ally of Griffonstone. These changelings soon looked toward Griffonstone as the closest source of love to feed upon and began to war with the remaining griffons. Though it would be able to hold its ground against the changelings, Griffonstone was left a shadow of itself, standing on depleted land, friendless and abandoned, its citizens having forgotten how to trust one another.

 

Despite it all, the city does indeed still stand to this day, though most records in Aquellia might lead one to believe otherwise for how little of the past millennium of its standing is told within them. The history of the griffon lands commonly shared ends the Griffonstone story with their glorious days of yore. The city's doomed struggles and eventual failure to protect their greatest treasure are omitted in favor of recounting the tale of the Aquellian Republic's beginnings from out of the old empire. As a result most griffons don't even know the current state of Griffonstone. For pride and for shame, griffons who do visit the city are not typically inclined to share the details of what they find there.

 

Modern Griffonstone is a small, crumbling town. Once important structures such as the castle and library have been left demolished across centuries ever since Guto died the last king of Griffonstone. Dwellings are built from wood upon the branches of great and massive trees, long dead and free of leaves. In the long ago days of the empire's glory, as in Talonopolis and other griffon cities, a griffon's status could be deduced from the elevation at which their homes were built, but in the modern Griffonstone all griffons there enjoy roughly the same lowly status and living on the higher branches can be unsafe due to branches themselves suddenly breaking.

 

The inhabitants can be characterized as headstrong, bitter and fiercely independent, outright refusing the few would be philanthropes who have come along wishing to give their time and money freely to rebuild. It could also perhaps be said that they cling to a rare hope as well, that maybe, somehow, some way, the fortunes of their once great kingdom will begin to reverse themselves.

~Historical Mysteries Uncovered. Vol. 5

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