Dragonhawk

This majestic bird looks like an eagle the size of a horse. Feathers of rust brown and downy white display markings of breeding and lineage. Its crown lined with thin, study feathers that, from a distance, resemble a crown of horns. As the royal handlers place saddle, bit and bridle on the avian, it holds still as if it knows its purpose. Moments later, one of the queen's knights, with breastplate and lance, steps up to the bird, smooths its feathers and climbs into the saddle. Seconds later, the two are airborne, gliding through the clouds as one.

Dragonhawks are a distant cousin to giant eagles, found only in the forests and cliff sides that make up much of Aundair. It is the national bird of Aundair and much revered by its people. Unique to dragonhawks are a ridge of stiff feathers along their crown that vibrate in response to slight alterations in sound and wind, giving the dragonhawk the ability to hunt when it cannot see; a common scenario given the thick clouds and storms that pass over Aundair. While aggressive, dragonhawk chicks take to training especially well and if groomed from an early age, they can be trained for mounted combat. Part of the training of the dragonhawk involves nurturing an instinct that they already possess involving the protection of their young. A combat trained dragonhawk will automatically attempt to catch its rider, via the rules for the Climb skill, should he fall off the saddle or otherwise be separated from the dragonhawk in freefall without the need for a command.

Dragonhawk riders are often advanced scouts or aerial knights. Both are positions of extreme renown in Aundair. Displays of aerial acrobatics and races are common events during times of peace. While there is nothing preventing a dragonhawk from being 'manipulated' by the works of House Vadalis, the royal crown of Aundair decreed that no dragonhawk hatched in Aundair shall be altered beyond its natural perfection, making magebred dragonhawks rare in the extreme.