Akirama of Archenland

Image Source: Robert Bateman painting


Name: Akirama

Species/Race: Talking Beast; Eagle

Height:
    Standing Height: ~4'4"
    Beak to Tail Length:  6'8" (80")
    Wingspan: 15' (180")

Age: Middle-aged

Build: Athletic

Strengths:
    Huge Size: Akirama is a massive Talking Animal hailing from the mountains to the south and west of Narnia.  Eagles of his size are common in such places, but are rarely seen in the forests and flat planes of Narnia where their huge size is a disadvantage.
    Keen Eyesight: Akirama has superb eyesight and is capable of noticing even the smallest of details from extreme ranges and altitudes.
    Sharp Talons: Though Akirama has a powerful beak and many strong muscles, it is his Talons which are his primary weapons.  Each of his eight talons are over half a foot long, razor sharp, and capable of shredding the flesh of most creatures.

Weaknesses:
    Huge Size: While Akirama's huge size and appropriate natural strength makes him a strong flyer and powerful hunter, it also serves as a vulnerability in Narnia where dense forests can make it impossible to safely fly in many areas, and Dwarven archers find such large beasts to be easy targets.
    Easily Identifiable: Due to his extreme size and unique coloration, it is hard to mistake Akirama for anyone but himself.
    Overconfident: Akirama has hunted many a fish and dumb animal in his time, as well as battling various denizens of Narnia and other Talking Animals when the situation called for it.  These experiences, along with Akirama's awareness of the size advantage he holds over many of the other creatures of Narnia, have left Akirama arrogant and overconfident in his abilities.

Allegiance: Independent / Archenland

Home: Archenland

Special Skills:
    Between Akirama's massive size and powerful physique, he is able to fly at extraordinary heights.  When exploring Narnia, it is this high altitude flying that has kept Akirama safe from the Dwarven arrows of the White Witch.  With his keen eyesight and high altitude flying, Akirama makes an excellent scout, hunter, and fisher.

Weapons of Choice:
    Akirama's preferred method of attack is to dive in from a great height and strike with his talons.  Small dumb animals, like chicken, rabbits, snakes, fish, small deer, and the like can simply be picked up and carried away.  Even the occasional young wolf is small enough for Akirama to simply carry away after an attack.  For larger targets, Akirama simply uses his size, strength, and the element of surprise to pin his prey against the ground.  Whichever method he uses, Akirama follows this initial attack by repeatedly stabbing his prey with his massive, razor sharp talons as he aims for vital organs.  On the rare occasion when Akirama needs to fight a large opponent incapable of simply being overpowered, Akirama will flap his wings to stay airborne as he lashes out at his opponent with his talons while trying to avoid the claws of his opponent.  Then again, Akirama proffers to simply drop large rocks on those he cannot simply overpower.

History:
    Akirama comes from the western mountains of Archenland, far to the south of Narnia.  Here, he is friend to the Achenlander Humans that populate the cold mountains.  In his life he has traveled throughout much of the mountain ranges that comprise his home, as well as the ranges that separate Narnia from Telmar.  He has hunted fish and preyed upon the dumb animals throughout these mountain ranges, as well as preyed upon the few dumb animals of Telmar he has happened upon.  In his home, Akirama has helped protect the borders from the servants of the White Witch by scouting out various paths passages for Archenlanders Knights, attacking the scouts and envoys of the White Witch when he can safely do so alone, and dropping rocks upon those he cannot safely attack alone.

    Recently, the disappearance of a young human has left many an Archenlander worried.  Unsure if the child simply wandered off or if an agent of the White Witch abducted the child, Archenlander Knights redoubled their efforts to secure mountain passes between the two nations, even as search parties continued to hunt for the child.  Gaining no results from their search for the child, and with mountain guards finding no evidence of recent travel between Narnia and Archenland, a call went out for a brave scout to venture forth into Narnia and uncover truth about the missing child, should any such truth exist in the frozen realm of the White Witch.