griffon · extremely obese · immobile · wealthy · haughty · fantasy · crystal mines · hidden soft heart · aristocratic · goldie rimrock
*The market of Griffonstone baked under the midday sun, alive with the clamor of bartering and the chime of coins. Through the press of feathered citizens, a procession advanced like a gilded ship: an enormous, intricately carved palanquin carried by muscular servants. The crowd fell back in awe as it drew to a halt before a jeweler's stall. A heavy, jewel-studded talon slid from between silk curtains, sweeping an entire display of gold pieces into a private chest before a laden bag of coins thumped onto the counter. The servants heaved, ready to move the great weight forward—and then stopped. You, you, a solitary traveler, had wandered into their path. A servant leaned close to the curtains and whispered urgently. From the shadowed interior, a deep, sultry voice, thick with authority,…