The Deglosian Eagles: Observations, Studies, and Drawings

The Deglosian Eagles Observations, Studies, and Drawings By Thaylis and Nawen Beign

~A page sized drawing of a Deglosian Eagle in flight with clouds below it as it soars high in the sky~

Overview: Rumors always abound from travelers that travel overland across Deglos and claim to have seen Deglosian Eagles. Though the descriptions of their claims range from very detailed to unbelievably vague, most sightings turn out to be incorrectly identified Rocs or falcons. At one time, the surface of Deglos was home to many such eagles, but hundreds of years of hunting them for feathers and talons have decreased their numbers greatly. This makes them a rare sight and most sightings are unconfirmed.

One such rumor came to the attention of Drakehall via a very good friend. Thus, the Breath of Pelar and his wife departed the comforts of their keep and sought out the rarely seen Deglosian Eagles. For eight months, the couple lived among them on a secluded mountainside and studied them, learned from them, and admired the beauty of nature itself.

Description: The Deglosian Eagle is classified as a large raptor with a wingspan of over six to seven feet, a length ranging from two and a half feet to three, and roughly weighing between fifteen to twenty pounds. Their feathers at first glance appear dull with grey and brown tones but closer inspection reveals they are colored more tonal to the rocky landscape. Their talons are covered more than other eagles and marked with a distinctive whitish tone instead of the more recognizable black of other raptors. Their pipping and shrills are pitched in the Mezzo-soprano range and can be heard echoing through the valleys if you know what to listen for.

The male Deglosian Eagle is noticeably smaller than the female and his feathers tend to be somewhat more vivid in tones when in direct sunlight. The female is the larger of the two and also tends to have longer more tapered feathers.

~Drawing in ink of a male and female Deglosian Eagle perched on a rocky outcrop to illustrate the difference between them~

Habitation: Due to being rarely seen, we have chosen not to reveal the locations of their habits at this time and merely state it is Deglos. They do prefer to maintain a habitat that is near freshwater, ample foliage, and plentiful game to hunt. They tend to hunt river or lake fish and small animals, but rumors say they can take down much larger prey. They will nest in trees or along rocky outcrops that offer protection for their eggs. The nests themselves are created of sticks, bark, small stones, bones, and even parts of animal skins. They tend to be higher up with a view of their surroundings.

~Drawing of a nest built along an outcrop of rocks as seen from above with two large eggs nestled within the thatch~

Mating: By all accounts, they mate for life with the same partner. The partner must first must be courted and won. Male Deglosian Eagles will fight over a sought-after mate to see who she will pick. These fights tend to take place high above in the clouds. They often end with the pair locked in combat and tumbling down towards the ground until one of them releases the other. Once a mate is won, she joins the male in his nest. The next generation is made by the male mounting the female for a brief moment and flapping his wings as he calls out in a high pitch. This will take place for five to six days after winning her and five to six times a day.

Egg: Most lay a single egg. Some get lucky and lay two eggs. They are nestled into the thatch of the nest and overseen by both the female and male eagle. Rarely is the nest left unguarded for more than a few moments. The eggs themselves are roughly the size of three chicken eggs and have a dull sheen and speckles upon them. From laying the eggs to hatching is around forty days give or take a day or two.

Hatchlings: After hatching from their shells, eaglets are small and bare of feathers or down. There is always a parent at the nest for warmth while the other hunts. Within ten days the little eaglets are puffy with down of slate gray. One can even start to hear the shrills from the nest. Within twenty days, feathers begin to start to poke out from the down. Over the next thirty days, the down will shed and be replaced by feathers. By the seventieth day, the eaglets are starting to test their wings and attempting their first flights. In another few weeks, they will master flying. It should be noted that a nest with two eggs doesn't mean two eagles will reach maturity. The dominance of the hatchlings will generally kill the weaker hatchling if food is hard to come by.

~A drawing of two little eaglets in the first days of the fluffy down as they are nestled up in the thatch of their nest~

Relationships with Druids and Rangers: Given their history and decline in numbers, the Deglosian Eagles are not a very trusting raptor. It took weeks for the Breath of Pelar to even get close enough to present himself as a friend without them taking flight. Even when they allowed him to approach, it was stressful and you could see them soaring far above him, ready to strike. It took almost a month for them to accept his presence among their numbers. Earning their trust and learning about them was worth the risk. In time, they even accepted his wife among them as she drew them. By then it was not uncommon to wake up in the morning and find an eagle or two sitting outside the tent or preached in a nearby tree. Soon gifts of a fish or small animal would be left near the campsite.

Future: Given their connection with the eagles, the Beigns are trying to find a suitable spot to set up a preserve for the Deglosian Eagles; be that in Deglos or other lands. They hope that these mighty eagles will grow in numbers and once again take their rightful place in the skies overhead.

~A drawing of a soaring of Delgosian Eagles flying over a keep with the sun rising to the right of the page and the promise of a new day.~

About the Authors: Thaylis Beign is well known in M'Chek, T'Nanshi, and Elysia for his exploits in the wars and maintains the keep known as Drakehall for his service to M'Chek. He is also known as the Breath of Pelar within the faith of Pelar. His wife is known by many names but prefers her garden name of Ammika, and is the Sr. Mage of the Green Order of the Forest in M'Chek and a Sage of the ATU. All notes are compiled from the observations and notes of Thaylis Beign and drawings by his wife Ammika.

~At the bottom of the last page is the sigil of Drakehall and the text "DRAKEHALL (PUB)LISHING HOUSE" in blue lettering~