takan

Takan refers to a fictional creature found in the fantasy novel "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman, which is the first book in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. In this universe, human beings have animal companions called daemons, which are physical manifestations of their souls. Takan is the specific daemon belonging to the character Iorek Byrnison.

Iorek Byrnison is a formidable armored bear, a species with intelligence and the ability to wear armor. As a result, his daemon, Takan, also takes the form of an armored bear. This is an unusual characteristic, as most daemons are smaller animals. Takan's presence as an armored bear mirrors Iorek's own strength and imposing nature. The bond between Iorek and Takan is absolute, as is the case with all humans and their daemons. Takan's form, like all daemons, changes during Iorek's childhood and eventually settles into its permanent form once Iorek reaches maturity. The nature and form of a daemon are deeply connected to the personality and identity of the human they are bonded with.