# The Great Eagles

Deus Ex Machina… The Great Eagles

Great Eagles don’t get any respect! In The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Great Eagles are treated like fighter jets. However, in game terms, they are often treated nothing more than giant eagles. This is a shame because Great Eagles are more than just super-size birds, they are servants of the Valars. It is no coincidence they function as the dues ex machine in numerous legends and stories of Middle Earth. There is something potent and magical about the Great Eagles, which is not translated in role playing stats. This article is an attempt to ratify this issue and describe the inherit powers of the Great Eagles. This article will also attempt to catalog all the named Great Eagles mentioned in MERP modules, Decipher’s Lord of the Rings series, and other reputable fan publications such as Other Hands.

## Guidelines

Great Eagles appear as… well, like their name suggests, eagles, albeit on a very large scale. Like people, they appear in many different forms. Some might look similar in physique and appearance as a Golden Eagle, others like a Philippine Eagle, and still others like the Imperial Eagle.1 Great Eagles are majestic, fearless and powerful creatures, thought to be of divine creation. In the Eldar days, they were the eyes and messengers of the Valar. Because of their close association with the Valar, they possess powers unlike any bird. They are capable of speech and speak their own language, Eryr-aryth. They are large enough to carry an individual. The below list categorize their awesome powers/abilities of a typical Great Eagle.

- Strength of Form - Due to the immense size, all strikes against a Great Eagles are on the Large Critical tables. This applies to both physical and spell attacks.
- Gift of Manwe – Great Eagles are blessed by their closed association with the Valar particularly with Manwe and Yavanna. As such, Great Eagles are highly resistant to spells and enchantment. Only the very powerful can overcome a Great Eagles’ innate magical resistant. Their magical RR for all Channeling and Essense spells is twice their level. For example, a level 25 Great Eagle would resist all spells with +50 RR.
- Vision – Great Eagles’ vision is amazing. Their retinas contain rich dense of color receptors to give them extremely accurate sense of color discrimination with little loss of accuracy and clarity either through distance or darkness. They can see in moon light as if it is day and in darkness as if it is in dim light. A Great Eagle can spot a rabbit on a moon lighted night hovering one mile up. They receive +80 in perception rolls when gathering information. In addition, Great Eagles like most raptors have great peripheral vision. Their large eyes can point forward and sideways, allowing an unusual degree of peripheral vision. All ambush attempts are treat as a hard maneuver.
- Valor – Great Eagles are fearless and ferocious in battle. As such, they have no fear. They are immune to all Fear attacks.
- Great Dive – Great Eagles are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 200 miles (+321 kilometers) per hour. Because of their high velocity, they strike with twice the normal damage. At the same time the impact is such that any dive resulting in a critical hit results in an additional attack of a +100LGr.
- Sweep & Drop – If a Great Eagle obtains a “C” critical or better while striking a foe while diving it may sweep the foes off their feet carrying them high in the air only to drop them to their deaths.
- Speech – Great Eagles can speak Sindarin and some prevalent Mannish tongue(s) (e.g., Westron). Some particularly scholarly Eagles have mastered dozens of languages. They speak their own language, Eryr-aryth.

The below are the Great Eagles mentioned in the various publications of MERP and Decipher but were not mentioned in Creatures of Middle-Earth. Some of the Great Eagles listed have additional powers or abilities. They are noted below in the individual entries. The Great Eagle's stats were taken from the publication and are in MERP format. Whenever there were gaps; assumptions, common sense or pure imagination were used to fill in the gaps. If something does not look right or you feel that a Great Eagle should have additional powers, by all means change it to best suit your world of Middle-Earth.

Note that the pictures and drawings found within this document are taken from Decipher's or MERP's publications and were taken without permission. These pictures and drawings are the property of Decipher and Iron Crown Enterprise.

## Meneldor

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Meneldor | 33 | 70 | 275 | RL | 100 | N | 140/Hcl, 110/Hbi, 140/Hba | Great Eagles, 45’ long. Golden Eagle

Publication: ICE’s Middle Earth Collectible Card Game (MECCG) & Lord of the Rings.

Home: Misty Mountains.

Additional Powers:

- Greater Dive – Meneldor is accounted as being swift. So swift that Meneldor reaches it’s quarry at speeds in excess of 250 miles (+402 kilometers) per hour when diving. Because of this, Meneldor strikes with an additional +60 to their Large Claw attack when diving. At the same time the impact is such that any dive resulting in a critical hit results in an additional attack of a +120HBa.
- Strength of Form – Meneldor is accounted as being large for a Great Eagle. As such, all strikes against it are resolved using the Huge Critical tables. This applies to both physical attacks and spells.
- Great Lore - Meneldor has obtained great knowledge through the hundreds of years of existence. He is able to provide any tidbit lore as if he was an expert in the area (treat as +20 to all lore).
- Aura of Manwe – an invisible aura surrounds the eagle that makes any evil creature within a twenty feet radius to suffer a 3rd level fear spell.

Horde: none

## Dwaithohir

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dwaithohir | 25 | 75 | 275 | RL | 85 | N | 90/Lpi, 110/Hcl, 100/Lba | Great Eagle, 33’ wingspan, Golden Eagle

Publication: MERP’s Dunland.

Home: Dunland and Southern Misty Mountains.

Additional Powers:

- Buffet of Air – Dwaithohir can stir the air within a range of 30', creating the equivalent of a nor'easter gale (treat as +20 Airbolt attack).

Horde: None

## Norantir

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Norantir | 25 | 90 | 250 | RL | 80 | N | 90/Hpi, 120/HCl, 100/Hba | Great Eagle, 30’ wingspan. Imperial Eagle Bluish-black

Publication: MERP Dunland.

Home: Dunland.

Additional Powers:

- Great Vision – Norantir vision is exceptionally even among Great Eagles. Norantir is able to see in the shadow world as if it was bright as day. Norantir also can see through illusions and see invisible objects, if the target fails a RR vs. level 10. This ability can only be attempted once per day. Due to this awesome vision, Norantir receive a +100 to perception rolls when gathering information. It also makes ambushing the Great Eagle nearly impossible (use Extremely Hard MM).
- Buffet of Air – Great Eagles can stir the air within a range of 30', creating the equivalent of a nor'easter gale (treat as +20 Airbolt attack).

- Aura of Manwe – an invisible aura surrounds the eagle that makes any evil creature within a twenty feet radius to suffer a 3rd level fear spell.

- Horde: None.

## Arthortur

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Arthortur | 42 | 80 | 322 | RL | 85 | N | 130/Hpi, 170/HCl, 150/Hba | Great Eagle, 46’wingspan. White and Brown Bonelli’s Eagle

Publication: MERP Rogues of the Borderlands

Home: Blue Mountains

Additional Powers:

- Strength of Form – Arthortur is accounted as being large for a Great Eagle. As such, all strikes against it are resolved using the Huge Critical tables. This applies to both physical and attacks and spells.
- Buffet of Air – Great Eagles can stir the air within a range of 30', creating the equivalent of a nor'easter gale (treat as +40 Airbolt attack).
- Great Lore – Arthortur, through the hundreds of years of existence and monitoring the area, is able to provide any tidbit lore as if he was an expert in the area (treat as +20 to all lore).
- Aura of Manwe – an invisible aura surrounds the eagle that makes any evil creature within a twenty feet radius to suffer a 3rd level fear spell.

Horde: None.

## Beleram

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Beleram | 30 | 60 | 270 | RL | 80 | N | 140/Hpi, 150/HCl, 120/Hba | Great Eagles, 30’ wingspan. Appears as Tawny Eagle

Publication: Lord of the Ring; War in the North (computer game).

Home: Forodwaith.

Additional Powers:

- Buffet of Air – Great Eagles can stir the air within a range of 30', creating the equivalent of a nor'easter gale (treat as +40 Airbolt attack).
- Great Lore - Beleram has obtained great knowledge through the hundreds of years of existence. He is able to provide any tidbit lore as if he was an expert in the area (treat as +20 to all lore).

Horde: None.

## Wilyador

MERP Statistics

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Wilyador | 25 | 60 | 250 | RL | 80 | N | 100/Hpi, 120/HCl, 100/Hba | Great Eagle, 28’ long. Appears as Golden Eagle

Publication: Lord of the Rings Card Game: A Journey to Rhosgobel

Home: Mirkwood

Additional Powers: Wilyador has no additional powers.

Horde: None.

Name | Lvl | MM | Hits | AT | DB | Shld | Melee OB | Notes
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Meneldor | 33 | 70 | 275 | RL | 100 | N | 140/Hcl, 110/Hbi, 140/Hba | Great Eagles, 45’ long. Golden Eagle
Dwaithohir | 25 | 75 | 275 | RL | 85 | N | 90/Lpi, 110/Hcl, 100/Lba | Great Eagle, 33’ wingspan, Golden Eagle
Norantir | 25 | 90 | 250 | RL | 80 | N | 90/Hpi, 120/HCl, 100/Hba | Great Eagle, 30’ wingspan. Imperial Eagle Bluish-black
Arthortur | 42 | 80 | 322 | RL | 85 | N | 130/Hpi, 170/HCl, 150/Hba | Great Eagle, 46’wingspan. White and Brown Bonelli’s Eagle
Beleram | 30 | 60 | 270 | RL | 80 | N | 140/Hpi, 150/HCl, 120/Hba | Great Eagles, 30’ wingspan. Appears as Tawny Eagle
Wilyador | 25 | 60 | 250 | RL | 80 | N | 100/Hpi, 120/HCl, 100/Hba | Great Eagle, 28’ long. Appears as Golden Eagle

1. J.R.R Tolkien used the Golden Eagle as a model when drawing Great Eagles for his books. At the same time the cartoon version of The Hobbit, Gwaihir looked closer to a Philippine Eagle than a Golden Eagle.↩