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- *** The type of bear that is the most cuurrent in Sapience is the great grizzly. They can be found from the Northreach forest over Black forest till the Aalen deep in the south. The grizzly is an omnivore, living on a diet of both plants and meat. The grizzly certainly isn’t an adversary to take lightly. But the grizzly isn’t a highly aggressive creature if you respect its territory and environment. Observing the bear showed it is mostly a nocturnal hunter.
A grizzly bear lumbers in from the east.
A grizzly bear stands proudly here.
a grizzly bear
p bear
Its dark fur makes the bear a capable nocturnal hunter, and a rather valuable decoration in any nobleman's house. The grizzly is armed with a good array of weaponry. Its strong forelimbs are perfect for crushing a foe, and its claws are sharp enough to tear through almost any hide. But one should not forget its large tooth filled mouth which has been the bane of many adventurers over the centuries.
A grizzly bear appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 450 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
A grizzly bear wanders out to the east.
- *** The closest relative of the common ggrizzly is the mountain grizzly, living in the Southern Vashnar Mountains. Although the terrain this bear is living in is a lot scarcer, the average mountain grizzly is 100 pounds heavier then the grizzlies from the woods, making them part of the heaviest bears. Most of its diet consists of meat as there isn’t as much plant life in the mountains and it probably needs the extra proteins to survive the harsh weather conditions. The mountain grizzly also is much more aggressive then his forestall brother, there have been cases of people being attacked and killed by a mountain grizzly without provocation.
A mountain bear shambles in from the west, grunting a challenge.
Emanating an aura of strength and power, a mighty mountain grizzly stands here, lording over its domain.
a mountain grizzly
p grizzly
Pushing its way through the snow with its massively muscled limbs, the mountain grizzly is among the largest of all the grizzly bears. Bigger and more aggressive than its arboreal relatives, there are few creatures in the world that would dare to challenge it in its own domain. Long blackened claws extend out of its paws, almost buried in the thick brown fur that covers the beasts entire body. White teeth grin out at you, sharp and knife-like... This is definitely not one of those bears that likes to eat berries.
A mountain grizzly appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 550 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
A mountain grizzly moves off to the south, deciding you're not enough to satisfy its hunger.
Mountain grizzly attacks:
Grumbling, a mountain grizzly bares its teeth and slashes Skye with a broad clawed paw.
A mountain grizzly rears up on its hind legs, lets loose a great roar, and swipes Keflan with a broad paw, raking its long black claws against him.
With a guttural growl, a mountain grizzly stands up tall and wraps its hairy arms around Skye, constricting her and allowing it to lock its strong jaws around the top of her head.
- *** Third most common bear is the grizzlly’s cousin, the cave bear. They can be found in the Darkenwood and the Azdun forest. They are known to sleep and eat in caves but they roam the surrounding forest to hunt. It is mainly a meat-eater. The cave bear is also known to be very protective about its territory. Specialists say the cave bear is the ancestor of all modern bears in Sapience.
Before the bear den.
A cave in the north wall of the cavern appears to be the lair of a family of bears who are lucky for you not at home. The remains of previous meals however litter the area around the lair giving the impression that this particular bear family isn’t very tidy and to your horror you discover that some of the bones are of humanoid origin.
Crushing everything in its path, a furious cave bear comes charging in from the south.
Standing twelve feet tall on its hind legs, this cave bear strikes fear into the hearts of even the bravest adventurers.
a cave bear
The cave bear is the ancestor of the modern bears found on the continent of Sapience today. It is very aggressive and often attacks without provocation. It has massive paws which are easily strong enough to crush the bones of most opponents and oftentimes it will try to do just that to deal with its prey.
A cave bear appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 450 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
Spotting intruders, the cave bear rushes away to the south.
- *** Another type of cave bears can be foound on the island of Shala-Khulia. These cave bears are of a smaller variety and their pelt is less thick suiting them well in the tropical climate. Combined with the abundance of food and the rich environment the weight of the cave bears is the same as the regular cave bear although it is a bit smaller. Due to the heat the tropical cave bear is hardly found outside its cave. The female bear is quite a bit smaller and lighter then the male bear. The cubs grow fast as they easily reach their adult weight before they are mature.
The bear cave.
This cave is slightly elevated from the one just outside, allowing for a dry and dark place to sleep. This is precisely what the cave bears have done, moving into this alcove, sleeping on the piled bones of their victims. The cave is very narrow, permitting only the mother and her cub to enter, but not the aggressive male, who would eat the cub given half a chance. This place smells of sweat and musk, and though present, the stench of death is not nearly as overpowering as outside in the main cavern
Growling softly at you, a shaggy cave bear stands here, blood dripping from its mouth.
This cave bear is of the smaller variety, having come from a warm climate. Its hair, while shaggy, appears to be thin, and more suited for keeping insects out than for keeping the heat in. Its eyes are wide and feral, and the beast stinks of death. Its muzzle is stained red with fresh blood, and its long teeth are openly bared in hostility.
An old cave bear seems strong and confident.
He weighs about 450 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
Huddled in the farthest recess of the cave, a mother bear watches you quietly.
Though not the size of the gigantic male that lurks outside, this cave bear is still a force to be reckoned with. Shaggy black fur covers her hide, though her blood-stained muzzle appears to have once been white. She is chewing on a piece of meat, while carefully watching the cave for signs of intruders.
A mother bear exudes a quiet confidence.
She weighs about 268 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
A little cave-bear cub is here, playing with a bone.
It's hard to believe that this little bear may someday grow up to become a hulking, killing brute. It seems almost comical in its appearance, with its short, shaggy hair, and rounded ears. It could almost be a child's stuffed toy, if it were not for the red bloodstains covering its fur from past meals.
A bear cub exudes a quiet confidence.
He weighs about 450 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
- *** Studying the cave bears was a great opportunity to learn a bit more about the reproduction of the bear. Female and male bears life most of their lives separately only coming together during the mating season. Mother bears are very protective about their cubs which is very necessary because a male bear wouldn’t hesitate to kill bear cubs. Not out of evil intend, just a part of the Harmony of Nature. A mother bear without cubs will soon be conceptive and more fertile again. In this way Nature makes sure the strongest genes survive as only the strongest males and females will mate and only the fittest cubs with the best training of the mother bear will survive. An extra way from Nature to keep the cycles moving and keep the bear population under control keeping in harmony with the available food in the environment. Therefore mother bears often retreat with their cubs to saver locations. The cave bear chooses for a smaller cave where the male bear cannot enter. As where the grizzly prefers hollow trees and it is lovely to see that the forest underneath Eleusis seems to be a safe haven for mother bears and their cubs.
Eleusis:
A grizzly and her cub curl up into a hollowed out tree for the night's slumber.
- *** Other bears:
Probably the biggest and heaviest bear can be found in the icy Tundra. Completely adapted to his environment the ice bear is almost completely white. Most of the time the bear is found in the cold ice caves.
Roaring mightily, a huge ice bear lumbers in from the east.
Snarling fiercely, a powerful ice bear rears up on its hind legs.
an ice bear
This huge ice bear has rows of razor sharp teeth set into its wide mouth. The coat is so white as to almost blend in with the surrounding snow, making this a deadly opponent.
An ice bear appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 550 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
Rearing up on hind legs, a huge ice bear dances out to the southeast.
- *** Another bear is the black bear livinng on the Isle of Erymanthus, near Arcadia. The black bear is smaller then the grizzly and much more friendly, mainly living on a diet of berries. They also have cousins living in Annwyn, often referred to as moon bears. The moon bears are even smaller and lighter then the black bears, but almost as fierce as the bigger grizzlies.
Erymanthus:
A black bear shambles in quietly from the northeast.
A black bear noses through the foliage, looking for berries.
a black bear
p bear
This medium-sized bear is smaller than its cousin, the grizzly, the profile of its face more convex. Its fur is black everywhere except for its muzzle, where it is a caramel colour, and a patch of white on its chest. Its claws are strong and highly curved.
A black bear is quite powerful.
He weighs about 375 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
Annwyn:
A moon bear
Smaller than the average grizzly, this husky black bear is no less fierce. Small twigs and dried leaves curl in the short, glossy black fur covering this animal from head to foot. Breaking up the monotony of his pelt is a cream coloured "V" shape which accentuates his barrel chest. A few prickly white hairs sprinkle his chin like a beard and offset the brownish colour of his snout. Two round ears rise perkily from the top of his head, and twitch with each noise that resonates around him. Though he appears to be aimless and lazy, a keen intelligence glistens in his beady black eyes.
A moon bear appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 281 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
- *** Then there are also the more distantt and smaller relatives of the grizzly bringing us to the Panda, the Khulian sun bear, the dropbear and the jambaali.
Selene’s temple:
Laurel, the panda
Laurel stands here on all fours quietly hunting for berries.
You run up to Laurel, the panda and envelop her in a massive bearhug.
Laurel, the panda cavorts about, playing happily.
p laurel
Standing perhaps five feet tall on her hind legs, Laurel is a gorgeous specimen of Lord Lupus's realm. Her thick coat of fur conceals a slender frame, still shedding the vestiges of childhood. Streaks of red show through the brilliant white of her coat, the contrasting colours dazzling the eye. Upon her head is a large red patch of fur, with a vivid, silvery pattern resembling a spiderweb nestled within it. Beneath the spiderweb, her round, dewy black eyes are alive with intelligence and curiosity as she calmly assesses her surroundings. The pads of her paws are stained purple with berry juice, though the snowy fur around them is kept immaculately clean.
Laurel, the panda is not one to be trifled with.
She weighs about 105 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
W Ithmia:
Boorabee, the dropbear, frolics about here.
This little dropbear is surely one of the cutest creatures you have ever seen. His black button nose and heavy-lidded eyes peer up at you curiously, and your immediate instinct is to pick him up and cuddle him. Upon closer inspection though, this may not be the wisest idea, give his rather functional-looking claws. Still, this furry little beast melts your heart.
Boorabee, the Dropbear is a humble-looking creature.
He weighs about 450 pounds.
He is loyal to Grumpy ol Dwarf Sog, Prophet of Phaestus.
You see nothing in it.
You give Boorabee, the Dropbear a friendly cuddle.
Boorabee, the Dropbear clings to your leg lovingly.
Boorabee scampers about happily.
Shala Khulia:
A Khulian sun bear enters ponderously from the south.
A Khulian sun bear is here, at home in the rainforest.
a Khulian sun bear
p bear
Small as far as bears go, the Khulian sun bear is a nocturnal creature. Its black fur seems extraordinarily clean, and its hands and feet are soft and padded. Its claws are as sharp and long as those of its larger cousin, the grizzly bear, and its smaller size makes it an excellent climber. Its slightly elongated snout makes its sense of smell extremely keen to seek out the sweet fruits and honey it feeds on. The bear stands about two and a half feet tall and weighs not more than a hundred and fifty pounds.
A Khulian sun bear is quite powerful.
He weighs about 150 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
Wrinkling its nose, a Khulian sun bear moves to the southeast in search of something sweet.
Black Forest Jambaali
A miniature creature that resembles an extremely fluffy brownish-white bear with what looks to be a duck-bill can be seen hanging tightly from a tree branch as it observes the world through an unblinking feline gaze.
p jambaali
The creature before you clings tightly to the tree as it observes you with a feline gaze that gleams with a soft and gentle intelligence. Its fur is brownish-white and extremely fluffy, looking quite at odds with what looks to be a duckbill in place of a mouth. It appears as though it would be incredibly soft to the touch. The jambaali looks quite shy however and you can only guess what you might offer to earn its trust. You remember from folk lore that they are said to be quite fond of honeycombs, but surely that cannot be true....can it?
A fluffy jambaali looks weak and feeble.
He weighs about 3 pounds and 7 ounce(s).
You see nothing in it.
- *** The spirit of the mighty Grizzly alsso helps those amongst us with the skill of metamorphosis bringing great powers.
You are surrounded by a shining corona of blinding light as your soul is transformed by metamorphosis.
You feel the spirit of the mighty Grizzly enter your body as your limbs grow in massive power.
powers
Alertness - Awareness of your surroundings.
Block - Obstructing departure with your body.
Scent - Discern the whereabouts of people by their odour.
Shred - Rake your claws across your foe to cause bleeding damage.
Vitality - Call upon a rush of adrenalin to heal you.
Mythran lopes in from the south, the glint of a grizzly in his eyes.
Mythran lopes out to the south, the glint of a grizzly in his eyes.
- *** And then last but not least there iss the recently discovered tribe of the bear-man, the Ursu people. They evolved on a different branch of the bear tree and most likely share an even older extinct ancestor with the cave bears and the grizzlies. The Ursu show signs of great intelligence and must be considered as sentient beings, comparable to the more known caveman. It is a very interesting culture to study, how they life together in a pack, serving a tribe leader and having a shaman knowing about healing and adding a spiritual factor. But that will have to be for another study.
It’s just so amazing the Ursu were discovered during the Sentinel Year of the Bear, year 409.
Grunting and growling, an ursu man lumbers in from the south.
An ursu man lumbers about here, shaggy coat glistening in the ambient light.
p ursu
Covered in shaggy brown fur, this ursu man is an imposing sight. About the size and shape of a grizzly bear, he stands on two legs and uses an opposable thumb to do his tasks, including carrying a spear with which he guards the cliffs of his home. He looks around constantly, sniffing the air and watching for any enemies that might threaten the pack.
An ursu man appears to be extraordinarily strong.
He weighs about 500 pounds.
You see nothing in it.
An ursu man takes one last look around before lumbering off to the south.
- *** I hope you had as much fun looking aat this as I had studying the different bears, feel free to contact me if I would be missing some bear you know about. I think there might be some living in the Lupine Hunting Grounds, but that place is too dangerous for me. Or maybe I fired up your interest to find some of these bears, I sure hope it will be to study them and watch how they life in great harmony with Nature and not to hunt them. If you would decide to hunt them don’t forget to pray to the spirit of the bear for all its gifts.
