Monster Monday: Dire Eagle, The Largest Bird of Prey

Today's Monster Monday is the dire eagle, or harpagornis. While it is nowhere near as large as the giant eagles of Tolkien's Middle Earth, the harpagornis has the benefit of having actually existed. Not only did it exist, but it lived recently enough to kill and eat humans.

illustration by John Megahan in this article, via Wikimedia

When the Maori arrived in New Zealand in the 13th century, they found a mountainous, forested land full of giant flightless birds - moa - that were really easy to hunt. Then they discovered what ate those birds. It was a huge eagle with a nine foot wingspan. It dropped from the sky with the force of a falling rock, striking its prey with talons spread wider than a man's hand. If that didn't kill the moa, it could slash its neck with a quick nip from its sharp beak. If it took down a young moa, it might even be able to fly off with it.

The Maori soon hunted the moa to extinction, and without their favorite prey the giant eagle went extinct soon after. But the eagles and humans coexisted for over a century, during which time the eagles probably got a chance to try out some new bipedal prey. Maori legends tell of a giant man-eating bird called a pouakai that was large enough to carry a man off in its talons. In one tale, the hero Hau-o-Tawera bested the bird by making a large strong net and having some villagers walk around under it looking tasty. When the pouakai dropped out of the sky on them, it was trapped in the net and they stabbed it with spears.

Today, the giant eagle of New Zealand is called the Haast's Eagle, and its scientific name is Harpagornis, meaning 'grappling hook bird' because of its massive talons.

The following text in gold is available as Open Game Content under the OGL. Open Game Content is ©2017 Jonah Bomgaars.

This giant eagle spreads its broad, brown wings, flexing its powerful talons

Eagle, Dire (Harpagornis)      CR 3

XP 800

N Medium animal

Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +14

DEFENSE

AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 natural)

hp 26 (4d8+8)

Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +3

OFFENSE

Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)

Melee 2 talons +7 (1d6+4 plus grab), bite +7 (1d6+4)

Special Attacks carry off, powerful charge (4d6+8 plus grab)

STATISTICS

Str 18, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7

Base Atk +3; CMB +7 (+11 grapple); CMD 19

Feats Flyby Attack

Skills Fly +8, Perception +14, Sense Motive +4; Racial Modifiers +6 Perception

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Carry Off (Ex)

When a dire eagle begins its turn grappling a Small or smaller opponent, it can make a fly check opposed by the opponent’s CMD as a standard action. On a success, it carries the grappled opponent aloft. If the target creature is not helpless, the dire eagle retains the grappled condition. While flying in this way, a dire eagle’s maneuverability is reduced to poor. If the grappled creature is Small, the dire eagle’s maximum altitude is reduced to 60 feet.

Powerful Charge (Ex)

When a dire eagle begins a charge attack from a flying position, it deals 4d6+8 damage on a successful hit and can attempt to initiate a grapple as a free action.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forest

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

The dire eagle – also known as the harpagornis, grappling eagle, or pouakai – is much larger than other mundane eagle species. With powerful legs, long talons, and a nine-foot wingspan, these strong eagles are excellent predators. They strike from above with the force of a falling rock, which is usually enough to stun or kill creatures larger than they are. Smaller prey they can simply fly away with; they have been known to carry off prey as large as a human child.

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Plot Hooks and Encounter Ideas

• A dire eagle has slain the king's emissary and carried his body of to its lair. Unfortunately, the emissary was carrying a crucial letter which must be recovered at all costs.
• A pair of fishermen are being harassed by a pouakai that keeps swooping down and stealing their catches.
• A witch requires the talons of a harpagornis to make a magical grappling hook, but she doesn't want to go find one herself because she is a gnome and she thinks it will probably fly away with her if she tries. 

-your flightless d20 despot