Hello! This idea sounds intriguing! I have to admit, out of all the modern interpretations of Sherlock Holmes, I find the BBC's "Sherlock" to be the most appealing (no offense to Robert Downey Jr. or Jonny Lee Miller). Anyway, would you like to discuss this further over PM?
I would say tigers. They are an old symbol of power and prestige in Eastern cultures, and their natural form is studied and mimicked in various martial arts disciplines, including some that I practice.
I love a light Scottish accent. Though, I may be biased because my girlfriend is Scottish... Don't get me started on how difficult it can be sometimes to understand her father's thick accent.