Giant Eagles
From FiranMUX
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Basics
Home: Caldera City
Numbers: Unknown\
Size: Twenty feet tall, thirty foot wingspan, forty foot length.
Diet: Carniverous. Said to consume 100 pounds of meat a day, including Horses and and griffons.
Currently in Anarinuell: 1. (Ridden by Sharin Rissik).
History
The legendary Giant Eagle, for which the Eagle clan, is named have been legendary for the length of Firan history. Renowned not only for their beauty and grace but also their intelligence, they were long sought after. The first known rider was the Bear clan hero Garen Rissik, whose stance on cock-fighting may be related to his companionship with a Giant Eagle. Ticanee Oshta Torvahl was also bonded to one, and Clan Leader Akinita Rissik is said to have turned down riding one for reasons known only to her. The names given to the Giant Eagles by Garen and Torvahl is not known at this time.
Differences from Griffons
Given they are the only two known animals capable of flight to be ridden by human passengers there are inevitable comparisons between Giant Eagles and Griffons, but they are ICly incredibly different. Firstly a Giant Eagle is several times larger than a griffon and eats griffons when they can. A griffon is also semi-domesticated; a Pilot breaks the griffon to his or her will so that it will follow their command. A Giant Eagle is never broken to the will of the rider, instead selecting a single rider that is by and large the only person who can ride them. They will occasionally, or if bribed, give rides to others as long as the primary Rider is there too.
Coloring
Giant Eagles are known to generally come in the same colors as regular eagles, but the common plumage is a dark brown, with a distinct white wash over the back of its head and neck, and legs covered with a softer down-like feathering. The tail is typically brown, with several indistinct pale bands across it.
Mechanism for Selecting a Rider
No one knows how the Rider is selected. None of the previous riders have spoken about how they were selected, and Sharin has not either--whether this is because they did not know why they were not selected (Giant Eagles, though intelligent, do not speak) or did not wish to spoil it are unknown.
Currently
In the year 37 A.U. two Giant Eagles were seen to swoop over the city, spooking several griffons and even knocking one pilot out of the air only to rescue him deftly. They settled in to the Chimera's Roost in the Chimera District (not a tavern but the actual roost of the actual Chimera), and were quickly cordoned off by Chimeran guards so that the public would not get too close and frighten them.
It soon became apparent that they were building a nest to hatch chicks, and they soon laid three eggs, which then hatched in to 2 boys and a girl. The parents, as well as the male chicks, stayed relatively aloof but the female chick was bright and curious. She would often chase the sheep in the pen around playfully, and watch the crowd. She seemed to mildly tolerate a couple of people, but never took anyone until Sharin visited. She took an immediate liking to Sharin, developing a greeting headbutt for him and seeming to genuinely look forward to his visits.
The chicks grew and practiced flying lessons, and soon it was clear that they would be leaving. But the female, whom Sharin had named (with the name being suggested by Balinda Garkansen) Garissa, seemed torn. In the end she would choose not to return to Caldera City with her family, but stay with Sharin in the city, and let him ride her.
Military Applications
Neither Garen nor Torvahl took their mounts to the war season, although Garen may have used his during the Great War. This was changed in the 42 A.U. war season where Lord First General Donos Ista Aldrik implemented a strategy with Sharin and Garissa flying to neutralize Shamibelian griffons. Most griffons will flee when a Giant Eagle is too close, so running a Giant Eagle through first will drive away a great number of enemy griffons. This is extremely dangerous for both the rider and the mount, as evidenced by the injuries sustained b both mount and rider in the 42 season. For more information see the Liberation of Ellish page.
Sharin and Garissa have also served domestically. She was used to air lift water in to several fires while Sharin was enrolled in the Guard, and for a roof top rescue during
