Mating

Obtaining a Mate

Locate a prospective mate. The mate must be of the appropriate sex and not claimed by another eagle.
Perform the courtship ritual, which requires several tests of its own.
1. The prospective mate checks:
  - Player's health. Disease is a turn-off.
  - Player's nutrition level. Weak or starving eagles may not be able to provide for the mate or the eaglets.
  If these checks are failed, the prospective mate will leave.
2. The aerial ritual is performed. This involves several skill tests.
  1. A 'fly' test to rise to the proper altitude.
  2. An 'aerial attack' test to lock talons.
  3. Another 'fly' test to somersault together to just above the ground.
  A failed test again indicates that the prospective mate flies off in disgust.
If the ritual succeeds, the mate will then follow the player back to the eyrie.

Eggs

Eggs will be laid when the following conditions are met:

Correct season.
Mate is well fed.
Mate has a good opinion of eyrie.
1. Eyrie must exist. No eyrie = automatic failure.
2. Eyrie must be sound. Weak eyre = lower opinion, strong eyre = higher opinion.
Eyrie is not already occupied by eggs or eaglets.

Eggs must incubate for 31 - 46 days (with eggs turned once per hour) until they hatch.

How long is the female pregnant with the eggs?

Eaglets

Eaglets grow quickly after hatching. They gain half a kilogram (one pound) to their body weights every four or five days, and thus require increasing amounts of food. They grow at this rate for about six weeks, or until the eaglets are nearly as large as their parents.

Note: One eaglet may decide to kill another. This usually happens sometime after the second week.

When an eaglet is about 10 - 13 weeks old, it will take its first flight. For about four or five weeks after this they will remain close to the eyrie, practicing their hunting skills, but will remain dependent on their parents for food.

When the young eagles are about 16 - 22 weeks old, they finally leave the nesting area forever.