Jackals
(Canis aureus and others)
Distribution: Wenelia, Kothar, Jolar
Jackals are a similar size to foxes, with a coat of yellowish to black fur. They feed off carrion, scavenging the dead flesh that few other animals will touch, although they will sometimes eat rodents and small birds. Unlike wolves, they do not hunt in packs, although mated pairs often travel together. Pamalt tasked jackals with eating the flesh of the abandoned dead, lest their pollution bring Chaos near. They skulk about in the light before dawn and after dusk, knowing that the light of the sun abhors them, and that the night holds greater terrors.
Painted Wolf
(Lycaon pictis)
Distribution: Kothar
Habitat: Savannah
Long ago, there were many wolves and dogs in Pamaltela, but as times grew hard and Chaos grew stronger, some of them banded together to survive. They learned to hunt in packs even more sophisticated than those of the Genertelan wolves, and discovered cunning ways to bring down prey. They bred amongst themselves so much that soon all of their pups looked the same, with patches of black, white, and yellow fur, as if all their different ancestors had been mixed into one. These were the first Painted Wolves, named for their curious patchwork appearance. They live in packs of up to twenty adults, and, like the wolves of Genertela, they can augment each other while cornering or bringing down prey.
Hyaenodon
(Hyaenodon horridus)
Distribution: Fonrit, Jolar
Habitat: Open terrain, savannah
Although unrelated to true hyenas, these animals look somewhat similar, but with striped rather than spotted fur, and a short black mane as well as a longer snout and somewhat slimmer build. They are ferocious creatures, and hunt their own prey, rather than living off carrion. They hunt in small packs of up to eight individuals, but are not particularly fast runners, so that they prefer relatively slow-moving prey.
Lion
(Basmolic Lion, Pamaltelan Lion, Southern Lion)
(Panthera leo)
Distribution: Jolar, Kothar
Habitat: Open terrain
Basmol was a great god in the earlier days, and his warriors served him as loyally as he served his Queen. After the wicked storm gods slew his queen, Basmol waged relentless war to avenge her. The gods raised mountains, invented elves, and even sent sorcerers against Basmol to destroy him. But he escaped with his strongest followers to Prax and beyond, where they wait. Noted for their strength and power, they can take human form as the Basmoli hsunchen peoples of Pamaltela and Genertela who manifest many of their powers, and attack their enemies with berserk fury.
The lions of the south are larger than their northern cousins are, but otherwise are very similar in habits and appearance. They are amongst the most common large predators of the plains, and will regularly drive other animals away from their kills to steal them for themselves. Among mundane predators, only the great reptiles and Vangono’s Horror will commonly stand up to a pride of hungry lions.
Cheetah
(Acionyx jubatus)
Distribution: Kothar
Habitat: Open terrain
Of slighter build than other big cats, the cheetah is built for speed, not power. Unlike other panthers, they hunt during the day, chase antelopes and other prey after the initial ambush and finish them off with a suffocating bite to the throat. Although they normally hunt alone, small groups are sometimes encountered, but do not hunt or fight cooperatively. They can, with some difficulty, be trained, and have been used as hunting animals by some Fonritian nobles.
Cheetah was made by Rasout to be fast, so that no prey could outrun her. But she did not have the strength to take the largest prey.
Jaguar
(Panthera onca)
Distribution: Errinoru
Habitat: Jungle and swamp
Jaguars somewhat resemble leopards, but they have a bulkier body and a slightly different coat pattern (though some are all-black). They prefer areas with lots of cover, which provide bonuses to their ambush ability, and eat a wide range of large animals. Jaguars are regarded as sacred animals in Maslo, despite their depredations on local livestock. They almost never attack humans unless provoked.
Jaguar was made by Rasout to be strong, so that animals could not resist his claws. But he was too big to hide on the open plain, and went to live in the jungle where the hunter-god does not go.
Chengir
(Dinofelis paleoonca)
Distribution: Errinoru
Habitat: Jungle
Some of Jaguar’s children turned on their fellows, greedy for the best food and hunting places. The jaguars chased them into the darkest reaches of the jungle, where they fought amongst themselves instead. Where the jaguar is a symbol of power and majesty, the chengir is a creature of darkness and sudden violence.
Chengir appear similar in size and appearance to jaguars, but with darker fur and larger spots. Their canine teeth are also much larger than those of most other cats, although not as large as those of the sabretooths. They hunt alone, only coming together to mate, and hunt in much the same manner as their jungle kin.
Leopard
(Panthera pardus)
Distribution: Kothar
Habitat: Any except desert
Leopards are large cats, usually spotted, but sometimes all-black. They will prey on almost any sizable animal, although they leave the largest and most aggressive to larger predators, such as lions. Only rarely will they attack adult humans, but they themselves are often hunted by warriors wishing to prove their bravery and obtain their fur as a trophy.
Leopard was made by Rasout to be clever, so that he knew the best time to hunt. But he hid his prey up a tree and would not share it.
Erenxi
Distribution: Errinoru
Habitat: Other Side
The Jaguar Lady is one of the many beings propitiated by the people of Maslo. She lives in a hidden tower in the jungles of the spirit world and normally cares nothing for mortals. If the correct sacrifices of food and carved stones are made to her, she may lend her bravery or stealth to warriors or others who may need it. The Erenxi are her daughters, who sometimes stalk the jungles of the Inner World, hunting for mortal prey. They resemble magnificent jaguars of huge size, whose eyes glitter like jade.
Sabretooths
Hantra (Dirk-Toothed Cat)
(Megantereon cultridens)
Distribution: Jolar, Kothar
Habitat: Almost any, but prefer terrain with plentiful cover
About the size of a large leopard, this is a spotted cat with a powerful build and sharp dagger-like teeth. They are solitary hunters, and rely on a sudden pounce to overpower their prey. They are descended from a wicked cub of Leopard, who sought to slay Rasout and seize his prey; although he failed, he fared well enough at hunting that his children still survive and compete with human hunters to this day.
Jisharin (Scimitar-Toothed Cat)
(Homotherium latidens)
Distribution: Kothar
Habitat: Savannah
These animals, are similar in appearance to the Genertelan sakkar, but have a more slender build, powerful shoulders, and a short, bobcat-like tail. The God Learners named them ‘scimitar-tooths’, because their canine teeth are curved like a Pelorian scimitar, unlike the longer teeth of the sakkar. They prefer more open terrain, and, unlike most other sabretooths, have some limited ability to chase their prey. Jisharin are fearless hunters, and will tackle even rhinoceroses and similar-sized prey. Balumbasta made the Jisharin in imitation of Rasout’s hunting panthers, but, although they were strong and fierce, even he could not tame them, and they hated mankind.
Vangono’s Horror
(Vangonosarchus horribilis)
Distribution: Umathela, Fonrit
Habitat: Open terrain
This terrifying animal was created at the request of Vangono to curse a tribe who had dishonoured him. The tribe was destroyed utterly, but just as Vangono still causes trouble in time of peace, the Horrors he had created wandered across the wilderness, and still menace other creatures today.
The Horror bears some resemblance to a hyena, but is far larger, standing eight feet high at the shoulder. Its head is elongated, over three feet long, with a huge mouth and sharp, tearing teeth. Horrors are mostly scavengers, for they lack the speed to catch most prey. They will also steal the carcases of animals caught by faster predators, such as lions or hyaenodon. Local humans wisely leave it alone as it stalks the wilds in search of carrion.
Combat Tactics: Even though they are mostly scavengers, Horrors will attack almost any animal that appears unable to escape, or which it knows to be a slow runner (as many big Pamaltelan herbivores are). In these cases, they will corner their prey and bite with their huge jaws, which can easily tear the limbs from most creatures. When threatened, a Horror will attack to kill rather attempt to flee.
Related Pages
- Part 2 – Mundane Herbivores
- Part 3 – Miscellaneous Mundane Mammals & Birds
- Part 4 – Sea Mammals
- Part 5 – Reptilian Carnivores
- Part 6 – Reptilian Herbivores of Pamaltela
- Part 7 – Aquatic Reptiles
- Part 8 – Mundane Amphibians and Fish
- Part 9 – Giant Insects
- Part 10 – Other Invertebrates
- Part 11 – Non-chaotic Monsters of Pamaltela
- Part 12 – Magical Beings and Creatures
- Part 13 – Elder Races of Jrustela & the East Isles
- Part 14 – Elder Races of Pamaltela
- Part 15 – Mermen
- Part 16 – Chaos Monsters of Genertela
- Part 17 – Chaos Monsters of Pamaltela
- Part 18 – Spirits & Undead
Page Last updated: 2025-05-10 09:32:26