So, whenever I'm bored I mod. I tossed together a proof of concept for the lions, if you're interested.
They're still really rough; they have the same size as vanilla lions (200kg) and have no caste-specific skills, lack an entity file, and other stuff. Before I start tidying this up, though, just wanted to know what you think of the whole thing.
creature_griffin
[OBJECT:CREATURE]
[CREATURE:LION_CC_PROOF]
[NAME:lion:lions:lion]
[CREATURE_TILE:'l'][COLOR:3:0:0]
[CREATURE_SOLDIER_TILE:L]
[INTELLIGENT]
[CANOPENDOORS]
[PREFSTRING:i dunno lol]
[CASTE:LION_M]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the earth.]
[CASTE_NAME:lion:lions:lion]
[MALE]
[BABYNAME:lion kitten:lion kittens]
[CHILDNAME:lion cub:lion cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[CASTE:LION_F]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the earth.]
[CASTE_NAME:lion:lions:lion]
[FEMALE]
[MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE]
[BABYNAME:lion kitten:lion kittens]
[CHILDNAME:lion cub:lion cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[CASTE:GRIFFIN_M]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the sky.]
[CASTE_NAME:griffin:griffins:lion]
[MALE]
[FLIER]
[BABYNAME:griffin kitten:griffin kittens]
[CHILDNAME:griffin cub:griffin cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:BEAK_GRASP:TOMIA:RIBCAGE:2WINGS]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[CASTE:GRIFFIN_F]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the sky.]
[CASTE_NAME:griffin:griffins:lion]
[FEMALE]
[MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE]
[FLIER]
[BABYNAME:griffin kitten:griffin kittens]
[CHILDNAME:griffin cub:griffin cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:BEAK_GRASP:TOMIA:RIBCAGE:2WINGS]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[CASTE:SPHINX_M]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the mind.]
[CASTE_NAME:sphinx:sphinxes:lion]
[CASTE_TILE:'N']
[MALE]
[BABYNAME:sphinx kitten:sphinx kittens]
[CHILDNAME:sphinx cub:sphinx cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN_SPHINX:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[ATTACK:BLAST:BY_CATEGORY:BRAIN]
[ATTACK_SKILL:CONCENTRATION]
[ATTACK_VERB:blast:blasts]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
[CASTE:SPHINX_F]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to the ways of the mind.]
[CASTE_NAME:sphinx:sphinxes:lion]
[FEMALE]
[MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE]
[BABYNAME:sphinx kitten:sphinx kittens]
[CHILDNAME:sphinx cub:sphinx cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN_SPHINX:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:50]
[ATTACK:BLAST:BY_CATEGORY:BRAIN]
[ATTACK_SKILL:CONCENTRATION]
[ATTACK_VERB:blast:blasts]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
[CASTE:ANDROSPHINX_M]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to all ways of nature.]
[CASTE_NAME:androsphinx:androsphinxes:lion]
[MALE]
[FLIER]
[BABYNAME:androsphinx kitten:androsphinx kittens]
[CHILDNAME:androsphinx cub:androsphinx cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN_SPHINX:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE:2WINGS]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:5]
[ATTACK:BLAST:BY_CATEGORY:BRAIN]
[ATTACK_SKILL:CONCENTRATION]
[ATTACK_VERB:blast:blasts]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
[CASTE:ANDROSPHINX_F]
[DESCRIPTION:A hunter attuned to all ways of nature.]
[CASTE_NAME:androsphinx:androsphinxes:lion]
[FEMALE]
[FLIER]
[MULTIPLE_LITTER_RARE]
[BABYNAME:androsphinx kitten:androsphinx kittens]
[CHILDNAME:androsphinx cub:androsphinx cubs]
[BODY:QUADRUPED:TAIL_GRASP:2EYES:2EARS:NOSE:2LUNGS:HEART:GUTS:ORGANS:THROAT:NECK:SPINE:BRAIN_SPHINX:SKULL:5TOES_FQ:4TOES_RQ:MOUTH_GRASP:GENERIC_TEETH_WITH_LARGE_EYE_TEETH:RIBCAGE:2WINGS]
[BODY_SIZE:0:0:20000]
[BODY_SIZE:1:0:100000]
[BODY_SIZE:4:0:200000]
[POP_RATIO:5]
[ATTACK:BLAST:BY_CATEGORY:BRAIN]
[ATTACK_SKILL:CONCENTRATION]
[ATTACK_VERB:blast:blasts]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
[SELECT_CASTE:ALL]
[BODYGLOSS:PAW]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:STANDARD_MATERIALS]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:STANDARD_TISSUES]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:VERTEBRATE_TISSUE_LAYERS:SKIN:FAT:MUSCLE:BONE:CARTILAGE]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:BODY_HAIR_TISSUE_LAYERS:HAIR]
[USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE:CLAW:NAIL_TEMPLATE]
[USE_TISSUE_TEMPLATE:CLAW:CLAW_TEMPLATE]
[TISSUE_LAYER:BY_CATEGORY:TOE:CLAW:FRONT]
[SELECT_TISSUE_LAYER:HEART:BY_CATEGORY:HEART]
[PLUS_TISSUE_LAYER:SKIN:BY_CATEGORY:THROAT]
[TL_MAJOR_ARTERIES]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:STANDARD_HEAD_POSITIONS]
[BODY_DETAIL_PLAN:HUMANOID_RIBCAGE_POSITIONS]
[USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE:SINEW:SINEW_TEMPLATE]
[TENDONS:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:SINEW:200]
[LIGAMENTS:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:SINEW:200]
[HAS_NERVES]
[USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE:BLOOD:BLOOD_TEMPLATE]
[BLOOD:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:BLOOD:LIQUID]
[CREATURE_CLASS:GENERAL_POISON]
[GETS_WOUND_INFECTIONS]
[GETS_INFECTIONS_FROM_ROT]
[USE_MATERIAL_TEMPLATE:PUS:PUS_TEMPLATE]
[PUS:LOCAL_CREATURE_MAT:PUS:LIQUID]
[CHILD:4]
[MAXAGE:100:200]
[ATTACK:BITE:CHILD_BODYPART_GROUP:BY_CATEGORY:HEAD:BY_CATEGORY:TOOTH]
[ATTACK_SKILL:BITE]
[ATTACK_VERB:bite:bites]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
[ATTACK_FLAG_CANLATCH]
[ATTACK:SCRATCH:CHILD_TISSUE_LAYER_GROUP:BY_TYPE:STANCE:BY_CATEGORY:ALL:CLAW]
[ATTACK_SKILL:GRASP_STRIKE]
[ATTACK_VERB:scratch:scratches]
[ATTACK_CONTACT_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_PENETRATION_PERC:100]
[ATTACK_FLAG_EDGE]
[ATTACK_PRIORITY:MAIN]
body_griffin
[OBJECT:BODY]
[BODY:TOMIA]
[BP:TOOTH:tomium:tomia][CONTYPE:HEAD][CATEGORY:TOOTH][NUMBER:28][SOCKET][SMALL]
[DEFAULT_RELSIZE:1]
[BODY:TAIL_GRASP]
[BP:TAIL:tail:STP][CONTYPE:LOWERBODY][GRASP][CATEGORY:TAIL]
[DEFAULT_RELSIZE:100]
[BODY:BRAIN_SPHINX]
[BP:BRAIN:brain:STP][CONTYPE:HEAD][THOUGHT][INTERNAL][SMALL][GRASP][CATEGORY:BRAIN]
[DEFAULT_RELSIZE:2000]
[BODY:MOUTH_GRASP]
[BP:MOUTH:mouth:STP][CONTYPE:HEAD][MOUTH][SMALL][GRASP][EMBEDDED][APERTURE][CATEGORY:MOUTH]
[DEFAULT_RELSIZE:20]
[BODY:BEAK_GRASP]
[BP:BEAK:beak:STP][CONTYPE:HEAD][MOUTH][SMALL][GRASP][APERTURE][CATEGORY:BEAK]
[DEFAULT_RELSIZE:30]
You pick up the lion blood with your brain.