Sentry of the Underworld

The griffons of Theros are reclusive predators, found almost exclusively in the Phoberos badlands at the edge of Akroan territory. Hunters with little distinction for what they eat, though taming griffins is possible, they remain a feared presence. After the gods of the mortal realm created the griffons to serve their own purposes, the gods of the underworld took notice of their fierce and predatory nature. In particular Athreos, god of passage and ferryman of the dead, saw in the griffons the perfect aides to his own mission. When a griffon passes from the world of the living, rarely is its spirit allowed to pass on and re-enter the fields of Nyx. Instead, Athreos collects these creatures for himself, twisting them into undead abominations with a singular focus on hunting down and collecting any newly dead that manage to slip by the ferryman unnoticed.   Defenders of the Gate Known collectively as the sentries of the Underworld, these powerful undead remain just as dangerous as they were in life. They retain their razor sharp beaks, and their former talons have rotted away into wicked looking claws of bone. They fact that their prey can no longer die from their wounds only serves to make the pain of their attacks all the more debilitating. In addition to being armed with the instincts that served them so well in life, Athreos keeps a small retainer of undead griffon tamers as well. These tamers work with each griffon, teaching them to quickly and efficiently respond to threats, and to always strike first and ask questions later. To prevent the sentries from seeking their own way out of the Underworld, Athreos rots each sentry's eyes from its head, forcing them to rely instead on their sharp hearing and sense of smell to catch potential escapes. The same curse that removes the griffons eyes is easily transmitted to anyone whose flesh might be rent by their beaks; though few living creatures have reason to encounter the sentries, and so cases of this infection are incredibly rare.