View source for Guardian of the Talion

{{Infobox Enemies 
| Name            = Guardian of the Talion
| Image           = Guardianoftalion.jpg
| Occurrence      = [[Tomb Raider II]], [[Ice Palace]]
| Type            = [[Bosses|Sub Boss]]
| Classification  = [[Mythical Creatures]]
| Distinctiveness = 
| Weapons         = arms
| Weakness        = low maneuverability
}}
The '''Guardian of the Talion''' (often referred to as '''Bird Monster''') is a [[Mythical Creatures|mythical creature]] Lara encounters during her search for the [[Talion]] in [[Tibet]].


As the name implies this opponent's purpose is to protect the Talion artefact, which is hidden within the [[Ice Palace]].

The only way for Lara to make the Ice Place accessible is to ring a [[Gong]] with the Talion Guardian depicted on it. By ringing the gong an icy door to the palace shatters. But upon picking up the Talion resting inside the guardian is awakened. 

Killing the guardian will end the level, thus making him a boss for the "Ice Palace" level.


==Types==
The Guardian of the Talion is one of two [[Bird Monsters]] Lara encounters during her adventure. The second encounter is with the [[Guardian of the Kingdom]], in the Tomb Raider II [[Add On]] [[The Golden Mask]], where a differently coloured (golden-yellow) bird creature guards the [[Kingdom]] against intruders.



==Appearance==
The guardian is a bird creature with a beak and claws as hind-legs. But instead of wings it has huge arms giving it an appearance very similar to the [[Yeti]] also encountered in Tibet. Its feathery components are a silvery white.



==Strategy==
The guardian is not very agile but due to its size it can still be a danger to Lara. Its main attack is a swing of one of its arms. Lara can dodge these attacks by staying on her toes and jumping around all the time, or she can choose to retreat to a safe spot like the roof of the temple or a depression inside the temple from where she can target the guardian. 

It choosing the action-oriented approach, it is advised to use a powerful weapon that does not take much time to aim like the [[Uzis]] or the [[Grenade Launcher]]. When choosing to use the sniper tactics using anything but the [[Pistols]] is basically a waste of [[ammunition]].




==Mythological Background==
The creature seems to be a Garuda, a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The garuḍa are enemies to the nāga, a race of intelligent serpent- or dragon-like beings, whom they hunt. This has a relation with the Guardian of the Talion and the Dragon of Xian. The Garuda guards the Talion, which can open the way to the dagger, it means, the dragon.




<br clear="all" />
[[Category:Enemies]]
[[Category:Bosses]]
[[Category:Tomb Raider II]]
[[de:Wächter des Talion]]