Great Eagles

The falconer stood there as an eagle hovered just above his outstretched arms, wings longer than the man was tall, and with a piercing screech, settled onto his thick glove. A fox hung limply from the creature's beaks. Few had the strength or courage to tame such a bird and only the richest of men could afford to raise one.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The largest bird in the isles, the body of a golden eagle can reach four feet tall, and with wings that can reach up to seven feet across. Their plumage is dark brown, darkening to black, with gray tail-feathers.

Additional Information

Domestication

To domesticate a great eagle, a falconer must climb up to their cliffside nests and take a new-born hatchling, and carry them safely to an artificial nest, where they must be hand-reared for the first year. A mature and domesticated bird of prey, preferably another Great Eagle, must teach them to fly and hunt, while the falconer trains the bird to hunt on command and return with its kill.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

They are mostly a status symbol for kings and powerful lords, as it shows their wealth and the skill of their falconer. In such a way, they are treasured pets and often pampered by their owners. Usually much loved, it is a cause of grief for one of them to be killed, either through accident, illness, or age.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

It is said that the birds have the keenest eyes of all things that live in the isles and are said to be able to see a mouse in the undergrowth from two miles in the sky. Their hearing is just as sharp. Nothing supernature or magic about them.

Lifespan

15 years

Conservation Status

The Great Eagles are quite common in the isles, although rarely tamed. They dwell in all high and mountainous areas, competing only with their own kind for space and prey, for none of the smaller birds can claim the same sized prey as the Great Eagles.

Average Height

Four feet

Average Weight

18 pounds

Average Length

Wingspan up to 7 feet