Giant eagle
| Giant eagle | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Size: | Large |
| Alignment: | Neutral or neutral good |
| Type: | Beast |
| Subtype: | Magical beast |
| Patron deity: | Remnis |
| First appearance: | Monster Manual (1977) |
Giant eagles are monumentally enormous, intelligent birds who nest at high altitudes.
Ecology
Giant eagles, like many similar creatures, are prized for their value as aerial steeds. To tame one, the eagle must have a friendly attitude to the rider/tamer, and, being a goodly creature, they must be either good or neutral themselves. Riding one requires an exotic saddle, and six weeks of training. Sometimes giant eagles are raised to be mounts from birth, but giant eagle parents defend their nests to the death. Giant eagle eggs are worth 2,500 gp each.
Giant eagles, like their smaller kin, are carnivores.
Environment
Giant eagles live near great bluffs, cliffs, mesas, or mountain crags. Giant eagles have been witnessed in the Barrier Peaks[1] and the Mounds of Dawn[2].
Typical physical characteristics
Giant eagles resemble ordinary eagles, but they're much bigger, ten feet tall and with an average wingspan of twenty feet. They have superior vision capable of seeing prey miles away.
Alignment
Giant eagles are usually neutral good (the 1977 Monster Manual lists them as neutral).
Society
Giant eagles are relatively friendly toward dwarves and elves, and they like aarakocra. Two to twelve giant eagles will typically guard an elven lair. They typically ignore good creatures but attack evil creatures with hostile attitudes. Their intelligence is about equal to that of humans.
Giant eagles are courageous. They fear dark and enclosed spaces, but little else.
Religion
Giant eagles worship nature, avian spirits, and their patron deity, Remnis. They have shamans among them capable of casting spells.
Language
Because they are intelligent creatures, giant eagles are capable of speech—typically Auran and Common.[3] Their own tongue is composed of avian cries and gestures.
Creative origins
Giant eagles are very likely inspired by the eagles from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000), p.43.
- ↑ From the Ashes (1992), Card 12.
- ↑ Monster Manual v3.5 (2003), p.93.
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary Monster Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977.
- Moore, Roger E. "Leprechauns & Giant Eagles—Oh My!" Polyhedron #116. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
- Morris, Graeme, Phil Gallagher and Jim Bambra. Creature Catalogue. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
- Nephew, John. Creature Catalog. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
- Sargent, Carl. Monster Mythology. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
- Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Dragon magazine #269 | 30-31 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Dragon magazine #351 | 70 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | From the Ashes: References Card | #12 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | MC2 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 2 | Insert (Eagle) |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Encounter Tables |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Monster Manual 1, AD&D 1e | 36 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Monstrous Manual, AD&D 2e | 27 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Monstrous Manual, AD&D 2e (Premium Edition) | 27 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) | 93 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Monster Manual 1, D&D 5e | 324 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | Manual of the Planes, AD&D 1e | 93 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | S1-4 Realms of Horror, Adventure Booklet | 58, 59 |
| Bird, Giant Eagle | Monster | Native of: Material Plane, | S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth, Book One | 4, 5 |
| Giant Eagle | Monster | Reference | SEE Bird, Giant Eagle |