Mistral Stalkers

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Mistral Stalker, known for it's characteristic chilling howl around it's nocturnal hunting grounds is an exclusively carnivorous quadruped with an almost undead appearance and a scaled purple hide. It can grow up to ten feet long, snout tip to tail, covered in bone-like spines across the flanks and down it's back. It's head is mostly exoskeleton peeking out of the flesh, with forward oriented blood red eyes.
They are not natural creatures, thought to be the product of a summoning spell that is demonic in nature, and no one is entirely sure how they breed, as when not hunting they are reclusive and will generally make a point of avoiding highly populated or brightly lit spaces. Their strength and stamina make them adept climbers, and easily able to keep pace with a fleeing traveller whether on foot or by cart, shrugging off light injuries with relative ease. Anyone wishing to hunt one should be advised that their blood is caustic, and they hunt in small packs of 3-4 individuals.

Ecology and Habitats

The first known record of Mistral Stalkers were as summoned shock troops in the Battle of Scarpeak by an envoy of the Betrayer Gods, to attack and consume both any horses on the battlefield (to disrupt cavalry charges) and throw infantry on the field into disarray due to the sheer terror caused by their howls. Though this was not necessarily the first time they had been used in this manner, it is thought that when the portals to the realms of the various evil gods had been closed following this battle there were more than enough of the Stalkers left alive in the Prime Material Plane for them to become a permanent remnant of the conflict.
The battle was one of many in a series of conflicts known as the War of Primordials that has left the region just south of the Scarpeak Mountains a blasted plain, further to the south a wide marshland has also developed over the ages. They have presumedly become accustomed to hunting across both terrains, sheltering in caves during the day to avoid the sunlight and coming out to hunt nocturnally. Mistral Stalkers are not picky eaters - they will consume any meat left behind, carrion or otherwise, often seen snapping larger bones in their jaws to get at the marrow.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They are not, as far as has been observed by survivors of a Stalker attack, particularly inclined to hunt humanoids and are much more likely to attack cattle and raid stables to get at horses and other similar animals used as mounts. Humanoid deaths from interactions with these creatures come from instances where a person has been seperated from their travelling companions, and moved with bleeding wounds within their territory. Mistral Stalkers exhibit powerful bloodlust, and can detect blood from up to a mile away.
Although they typically hunt alone or in small packs to take advantage of numbers to down larger, better coordinated prey, they have not been observed to pursue a long distance hunt outside of their small patch of territory. Long periods without food can cause migration and encroachment onto human territory despite their aversion to light, and this is the primary cause of humanoid deaths from Stalkers - the only issue is that their appetite for meat appears to be endless. They will move to a territory and systematically eat everything they can hunt, so if one is discovered near a settlement it is best usually dealt with quickly before all other local wildlife is completely destroyed.
A Mistral Stalker usually eats what it kills in-situ and does not store food, packs allowing older, larger members to eat first. They will chase and pounce on fleeing prey before tearing into it with teeth and claws, but tend to be short-burst predators rather than terminator style endurance hunters. If prey is able to persistently outrun it or otherwise resist, the Stalker will move on to look for other food rather than waste all it's energy on a fight it can't win.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Though intelligent enough to bond with a partner for life and keep returning to the same territories, Mistral Stalkers will only really co-operate to hunt when they need strength in numbers to tackle a larger prey. They have darkvision and a keen sense of sight (and more importantly, smell), but their vision is mostly based on movement.

Origin/Ancestry

Ancestry unknown - though first encountered at the Battle of Scarpeak as some kind of inter-planar summon, the Mistral Stalkers seem to have proliferated and spread to the wilds afterwards.

Conservation Status

Though at one time it was more mysterious, the species is now a well known (but still dangerous) quantity for travellers crossing anywhere south of the Scarpeaks to the Mistral Swamp in Ash'arae. Though a competent and consummate predator, a dead Mistral Stalker has many uses both to the alchemist for it's components and the warriors and hunters of the land for bragging rights. As such, they have been routinely hunted and their population appears to be in decline.