A I: Malgrems OUTDATED

Written by Neons-Mindrealm

Malgrems
Ferocious Beasts of Alterna I: The Lands of Paradise

Origins:

Given their similar anatomy to the Prowler from the Evergreen Veldt, it is strongly believed that the Malgrems are direct descendants of these reptilian-wolf-hybrids.
Which during the evolution of the Lands were forced to adapt to the drastic changes of their current habitat.
As it was transformed from a vast open plain, to a dense jungle like forest.

Current Habitat:

The Malgrems have their tribe within the darkest parts of the Endless Forest, past the Great Clearing, which leads to the Gravel Path.
But are also often seen hunting in the other parts of the forest, either alone or in a small group, whether it be whilst looking for food or simply for fun.

Average Size / Height:

A fully grown Malgrem stands on average at a size of around 2 meters tall, or up to 2.6 if standing up completely straight.

Diet:

The Malgrems main diet consists strictly of raw, or in some rarer cases also cooked or dried meat, regardless of what species it is from.
Even if it is from one of their own kind.
And even though their bodies are also capable of digesting plant-based foods, some claim to have seen how a trapped and starving Malgrem started butchering itself, rather than to consider fruits or other plants.

Physical Appearance:

Standing up on their hind legs in a slightly hunched over posture, Malgrems show with their muscular forms quite the striking resemblance to a tailless werewolf.
With slightly retractable front claws, reaching an average length of around 10 centimeters when fully deployed. And smaller barbed hind claws, to aid them in climbing trees.
Besides the long, razor sharp front claws, Malgrems are also known and feared for their terrifying bite force of their powerful reptilian snouts. As well as their ability to be able to use ranged weaponry, like bows and crossbows, despite their clawed hands.

Behavior and Social Structure:

As sentient beasts, able to communicate via words, the Malgrems live in a quite sophisticated tribal society.
With established roles of hunters and gatherers, to obtain food, collect water, or gather special plants to make their hunted meats last longer.
A chieftain family, passing down the leadership of the tribe over generations.
As well as simple scouts, who mainly patrol the deeper parts of the Endless Forest, and make sure to constantly remind those who dare to venture past the bridge, that in their forest, only the strong are allowed to survive.
And given their sheer strength and dominance inside the thickets of the Endless Forest, Malgrems, especially juveniles, also often appear to get consumed by their pride, and underestimate other sentient prey.
Which in turn then can lead to uncareful thinking, and turn even these apex predators into an adventurers prey.

Role in the Food Chain:

Sitting on top of the Endless Forest's food chain, the Malgrems are the undisputed apex predators of this region.
With their muscular yet agile forms, barbed hind claws, and slightly retractable, razor sharp front claws, they are not only able to efficiently climb through the trees, but are also able to outrun the bolt of a crossbow in a four legged sprint, without even breaking a sweat.
And with a combination of human-like intelligence, as well as jaws that can even break stone, there are no known creatures in the forest that could survive an ambush from these ferocious beasts, or stand a fair chance in a hand-to-hand fight.
However, outside of their forest domain, even these formidable creatures can easily become prey.
As their bodies are not suited for either underwater combat, endurance of extreme heat, or vast open fields without any high trees to provide strategic covers, or ambush opportunities.

Special Abilities and unique Physical Traits:

Even though the Malgrems appear to have a close connection to the Endless Forest's deity Ariya, they do not seem to be able to perform even the most primitive forms of Channeling.
Which, based on the research of the great alchemist Madamah, most likely comes from their above-average blood temperature.
As even the channeling of small amounts of arcane energy could be enough to cause symptoms of high fever for other creatures, and would therefore just be too dangerous to risk, for a hot-blooded being such as a Malgrem.
However, even without the great power of Channeling, Malgrems still pose a great threat to be reconned with. As their lightning fast and deadly claw strikes can even slay an exalted Channeler, way before they are able to manifest their first attack.

Additional Insights:

At first nothing but legends, but now part of the common knowledge of adventurers who dare to cross the bridge into the deeper parts of the Endless Forest, are the four Gifted Ones.
True monsters amongst the Malgrems, which let the rest of their tribe look like newborn cubs. And are only born once every century.
With the Savage Beast, known for its unrivaled speed, and steel cutting claws the size of swords.
With which it could potentially even slay and Ancient Dragon, if given the chance, in a ground level fight.
The Eagle Eyed Archer, who only reaches a height of around 1.6 meters tall, and is dreadfully slow compared to its kin.
But when armed with a crossbow, and put on an elevated spot, not even a Lightning Fly would be able to evade its heart striking bolts.
Then there is the Blind Assassin, which, as the name suggests, was born without sight.
But is able to even sense a worm burrowing through fine soil, and strike down its prey within less than a second.
And lastly, there is the Behemoth.
A Malgrem whose muscles grew to a size where standing up on its hind legs was no longer possible. Which also drastically slowed down its speed, as well as increased its sized, up to around three times the height of an average Malgrem.
And whilst not being able to chase down faster prey, or ambush from the trees, rumors say that its sheer strength alone could be enough to even crush the body of an Eremite Titan, one piece at a time.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• A I: Prowler OUTDATED