Excerpt from Twilight Sparkle’s notes on Hippogriffs · 7:03pm Jun 23rd, 2016
...though some scholars have tried to argue that the hippogryphs represent a fourth pony tribe, it’s clear they are a distinct species. While pony thaumoploid structure allows for inheritance of tribal type, hippogriffs only sire other hippogriffs.[1] Furthermore, they can do so with either ponies or gryphons. There are no recorded instances of any pony-griffin couples siring hippogriffs, ponies, or gryphons without a heavy suggestion of surrogacy.[2,3,4] This is not even mentioning the obligate carnivory that aforementioned scholars seem all too willing to dismiss as a cultural curiosity.
In truth hippogryphs seem to take more after gryphons than ponies. The carnivory is part of that, certainly, but the differences in the role of cutie marks is one of the most potent differences. Compared to ponies, hippogryph cutie marks are both earned later in life and are less individual. There are seventeen extant hippogryph marks[5], which function more as a sort of extended caste system more than a life calling.
Though the magic of their marks is less potent than that of ponies, they have also inherited the incremental magic of the gryphons. And like with gryphons, this serves to offset the lack of both the inherent magic present in earth ponies and pegasi, as well as the lack of extrinsic spellcasting present in unicorns. Their “magic of labor” means that they can create (and export) such things as everburning lamps and supernaturally durable mechanisms simply by dint of working hard.[6]
Hippogryphs have imported mainly gryphon culture as well, adopting the honor-duty-obligation triumvirate, but it is tempered by a community focus on the three instead of a strictly individualistic focus like gryphons. While a pony visitor will not find a hippogryph community as alien as a gryphon one, it is still likely to be unwelcoming without a patron. If you have one, however, they have very strong guesting traditions that are an amalgamation of gryphon custom and pony hospitality...
1. Collected Records of Hippogriff Geneology
2. Memoirs of Gusset Green, p. 234
3. Lady Prismarine’s Letters, pp 37-38
4. Gustave v. Countess Orange
5. Seventeen and Counting, A History of Hippogryph Marks
6. Equestrian Imports, Year 3 Post-Interregnum
It took me a couple reads to follow what you meant there.
Really looking forward to reading your next story.
4044254 Looks like I left out an article.
This was basically showerthoughts from this morning. Though I have in fact two potential Apotheverse stories now!
Teasing like this has to be restricted under some kind of federal law.
Neat! I love how good you are at worldbuilding and how much thought you put into aspects like society and culture for various species. There's a reason I watch you and get excited when your name comes up. :)
I don't quite understand the use of the word "mechanics". I would expect "mechanisms", "devices", "machines", etc. Is "mechanic" a hippogriff or pony term with a specific meaning the existing English words do not adequately point to? Forgive me if I am forgetting that this was explained in your works.
4073982 I think it was just an editing error. Mechanisms is probably more appropriate here.