Giant eagle (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the giant eagle is a magical beast
. As its name fairly obviously implies, it is a giant version (10 feet tall with 20 foot wingspan) of a regular eagle
. It is also a lot more intelligent. It lives in temperate mountains.
.
The giant eagle appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Creature Catalogue
(1986), and Creature Catalog (1993). The giant eagle (hiak) appeared for the Hollow World setting in the Hollow World Campaign Set
(1990).
The giant eagle appeared in second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The giant eagle appeared as a player character
race in Polyhedron
#116 (February 1996).
The giant eagle appeared in the third edition Monster Manual
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).
Giant eagles, like their smaller kin, are carnivores.
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.
. They have shamans among them capable of casting spells.
from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the giant eagle is a magical beast
Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....
. As its name fairly obviously implies, it is a giant version (10 feet tall with 20 foot wingspan) of a regular eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
. It is also a lot more intelligent. It lives in temperate mountains.
Publication history
The giant eagle first appeared in the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game in the original 1977 Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
.
The giant eagle appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Creature Catalogue
Creature Catalogue
AC9 - Creature Catalogue is an "Official Game Accessory" for Dungeons & Dragons Basic/Expert/Compainon/Master Sets.-Contents:...
(1986), and Creature Catalog (1993). The giant eagle (hiak) appeared for the Hollow World setting in the Hollow World Campaign Set
Hollow World Campaign Set
The Hollow World Campaign Set is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Hollow World is a campaign setting boxed set describing a vast new territory, the hollow inside of the Known World, mapped on four large sheets...
(1990).
The giant eagle appeared in second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The giant eagle appeared as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
race in Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#116 (February 1996).
The giant eagle appeared in the third edition Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).
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.
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 dwarvesDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
and elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
, and they like aarakocra
Aarakocra
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the aarakocra are a race of bird-like monstrous humanoids dwelling in high mountains...
. 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, RemnisRemnis
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Remnis is the giant eagle deity of sky and service.-Publication history:...
. They have shamans among them capable of casting spells.
Language
Giant eagles speak Auran and Common. Their own tongue is composed of avian cries and gestures.Creative origins
Giant eagles are very likely to be inspired by the eaglesEagle (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the eagles were immense flying birds that were sapient and could speak. Often emphatically referred to as the Great Eagles, they appear, usually and intentionally serving as agents of deus ex machina , in various parts of his legendarium,...
from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.