Metalbeak

Greater Sooty Owl

**Surtr** (better known as **Metal Beak**) is a Greater Sooty owl and the main antagonist of the 2010 film, *Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole*. He was the mate of Nyra and was killed by Soren during the Battle of the Beaks.

During the Battle of the Ice Claws, his beak was torn off by Lyze of Kiel. Throughout the years, Metal Beak would rebuild his army by having young owlets snatched from their homes to become warriors while others were made slaves. He and a great grey owl named Allomere planned to lead their enemies into a trap with the flecks and kill every last guardian.

During the battle at St. Aegolius, he was confronted by both Ezylryb and his apprentice, Soren, who later killed him with a burning branch in revenge for the death of his brother, Kludd.

## Biography

### Battle of the Ice Claws

In an attempt to take over the Owl Kingdoms, Surtr led a group of owls known as the Pure Ones that tried conquering owls and believed owls of Tyto blood were superior. However, during one battle, the one known as the Battle of the Ice Claws.  He later fought his old enemy, a Whiskered Screech owl named Lyze of Kiel, who tore off his upper beak. During their duel, Lyze and Metalbeak left permanent scars on one another, with Surtr losing the upper part of his beak and Ezylryb losing a talon as a result.

As a result of the battle, Surtr became known as Metalbeak, abandoning his name and being forced to wear a metal mask with a prosthetic metal beak as a replacement for the missing part of his original beak to hide his scars. Along with his wife, Nyra, and the Pure Ones, Metal Beak began plotting his revenge against Lyze (now going by the name Ezylryb) and the other Guardians of the Great Tree. He and his followers ransacked kingdoms and kidnapped multiple owlets from their hollows, and also began collecting flecks that would trap their enemies into their claws.

### Battle of the Beaks

Thrown off his perch by Ezylryb, the two old enemies circled each other. Metalbeak sarcastically called Ezylryb the "legendary Lyze of Kiel" and proclaimed he would have his vengeance for what Ezylryb had done to him all those years ago, but the old owl said it was an improvement before the two of them engaged in battle. During the fight, Ezylryb was attacked by Nyra. The couple managed to overpower him, while discarding his mask and one of his battle claws. Metalbeak and Nyra looked at each other, contemplating on what to do with Ezylryb, who ordered for his old enemy to be done with it. As the High Tyto raised his battle claws, a young Barn Owl, Soren, the younger brother of Metalbeak's apprentice, Kludd,

#### Death

Just as he was about to attack Soren, the young owl took a burning branch he acquired from a forest fire and stabbed Metalbeak in the heart, killing him in self-defense. Enraged at her husband's death, Nyra fled from the Beaks, with the surviving Pure Ones' defeat.

### Legacy

After Surtr's demise, a still-alive Kludd came across Metalbeak's body, with his eyes glowing red as he looks upon the metal mask, implying he will succeed in Metalbeak's legacy.

## Books

* Metalbeak and Kludd are two separate individuals instead of the same one.

* While not appearing in the books, Metal Beak is possibly inspired by the Old High Tyto who was killed by Kludd and Nyra in between *The Capture* and *The Journey*.

## Personality and traits

Metal Beak was cunning, rude, sarcastic, and quite the charmer (almost).

He seemed to be proud of his own title and had proudly called himself "Metalbeak", and stroke fear in the hearts of many people. When he met the teen owl Kludd for the first time, Metalbeak took note of his nervousness, claiming "Yes, you're right to be afraid of me," in a satisfied and sadistic tone. This shows that Metalbeak even takes pride that his fear and intimidation leaves on his enemies and allies, showing how evil he can be. During this time, his sister Eglantine was hyperventilating. However, deep down, unlike Ezylryb, who is not afraid of his battle scars, Metalbeak is deep-down, ashamed of his own, as he chooses to hide behind a mask to hide them. This caused him to want nothing more than his old rival's death and by extension, the Guardias as well.

He also planned to even kill many people, showing his cruel nature. He took pleasure in the suffering of Grimble, even taking his wife and daughter hostage to enforce the latter's obedience. For one, in the beginning, he was planning on leading the Guardians into a trap and kill them all while under the influence of the flecks that would weaken them. He had even tried to kill Ezylryb when the owl was bested by Metal Beak and his mate. He was mocking of both his allies and enemies, taunting Ezylryb. This also extended to Soren during their duel when Metalbeak learned of Ezylryb's care for Soren. It would escalate up to the point where Metalbeak would take pleasure in not only his old rival's demise, but Soren's suffering as well despite only knowing the younger owl for several minutes. Despite his cruelty, he did seem to have a somewhat loving relationship with his wife, Nyra, as she is unfailingly loyal to him and was completely enraged at her mate's demise.However, this is merely a one-sided affection, as Metalbeak treats her more of a soldier and second-in-command than his wife.

Metal Beak's arrogance and overestimation would get the best of him, for he believed that he'd be able to defeat Soren. Yet, Metalbeak was hoisted by his own petard at the hands the young owl, who only killed Surtr in self defense.

## Relationships

### Allies

* Kludd - Protégé and Successor
* Pure Ones - Servants
	+ Jatt
	+ Jutt
* His bats - Subordinates

### Enemies

* Guardians of Ga'Hoole - Attempted Victims and Mortal Enemies
	+ Ezylryb - Archenemy, Attempted Victim, Attempted  Killer, and Rival
	+ The Band
		- Soren - Killer and Attempted Victim
		- Gylfie
		- Twilight
		- Digger
	+ Boron
	+ Barran
	+ Strix Struma
	+ Bubo
	+ Otulissa
* The Echidna
* Allomere †- Former Subordinate turned Enemy
* Grimble † - Former Subordinate

## References

1. ↑ *Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole* video game