Ripper

One of the most infamous of all predators, the ripper originated in the eastern continent of Porpuda alongside the other scythebeasts that dominate predatory positions there, known as swordhands colloquially. At some unknown point at least three or four thousand years ago, though possibly much earlier, they found their way to the Forbidden Isles, and outcompeted the large cat predators that dwelled there.
While not the largest of its kind, it is one of the most adaptable around, able to survive in a variety of habitats from deserts to Savannah’s to temperate woodlands. They tend to be solitary besides mating pairs, but will mob together to bring down larger prey when possible.
Feared throughout the Isles as apex predators and competitors with wolves and bears, rippers are larger in the Isles than they are in Porpuda, perhaps due to lack of competition.

Basic Information

Anatomy

As a scythebeast, they have several of the archetypical features of this group. The most iconic feature of course is having four legs and two arms, each with a single claw on the end, used for many purposes depending on the species. In the ripper, as with most other swordhands, this claw is sickle like and used as a deadly weapon in addition to the mouth. Able to rotate the wrist, they can use this while grappling prey or while running to make slashing injuries upon prey or to immobilise them. Another feature all scythebeasts have which one of the other many-legs of the east have is a third eye located in the middle of the head, granting them an extended field of vision. Two rows of teeth in the upper jaw is also a universal trait, and in the case of the swordhands like the ripper, is put to deadly effect. The head, while not as proportionally large as with cats or dogs, is short and full of serrated teeth that allow them to launch quick bites on their prey that do immediate damage.
As with other swordhands, each foot has three toes tipped with a curved claw, far smaller and with a stronger curve than those on the arms. A lithe body and long muscular tail give them an agile build, and a strong frame, though their main advantage is speed rather than endurance.

Biological Traits

Those living in the hottest and driest climates tend to be smaller than those living in colder or wetter climates, though southern Phurzia bucks this trend with the largest members of the species.

Genetics and Reproduction

Unlike most other scythebeasts, and as with the mammalian centaurs and mammals, rippers give birth to live young after a three month long pregnancy in litters of five or six. Males and females pair for life to take care of their offspring.

Growth Rate & Stages

It takes five years for rippers to reach full size after being born. At birth, they are less than a kilogram in weight, and so must feed frequently on insects and mushed up carrion their parents provide.

Ecology and Habitats

Mainly found in more open habitats like the extinct lions and scimitar-cats, rippers prefer hiding in tall grasses to ambush their prey in quick bursts, though can also be found in open woodlands, where competition with bears occurs.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Obligate carnivores, rippers are incapable of digesting vegetation and so must hunt or scavenge from other hunters. Depending on individual size and local populations, they tend to feed on whatever prey is available, with the smallest most northern dwelling variants often feeding in prey smaller than themselves, while larger variants can devour most animals in their habitat.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Males and females pair monogamously for life once at sexual maturity, though they can gather together as mobs to bring down larger prey, such as aurochs, buffalo, murks, Chuntas, or even young shoveltooths and tuskers.

Domestication

Domestication is impossible due to their highly aggressive nature, though individuals in captivity do exist, and it is rumoured that they have somehow been tamed by the The Company of the Claw for military use.

Facial characteristics

The face of the animal is relatively short but compact, having a powerful bite, allowing it to quickly dispatch smaller prey, or finishing off larger prey after the claws have inflicted major bleeding.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found in western and southern Porpuda, particularly nearer the coasts, as well as most of Tzunar due to artificial introduction.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Having a third eye, as with scythebeasts as a whole, rippers have an extended field of depth perception compared to other predators, and so their other two eyes can afford to be more to the side. They have a good degree of not only binocular but trinocular vision as a result. This, along with a powerful sense of smell is their main way of finding food. Having internal ears like reptiles, their hearing, while still competent, can be considered inferior to carnivorous mammals like wolves.

by Dylan Bajda

A solitary ripper roses and hisses in warning to defend its kill from a pack of wolves, shown offscreen. Art by Dylan Bajda.

Origin/Ancestry

On western Porpuda

Lifespan

35-40 years

Conservation Status

Less common in its native habitat of Porpuda due to centaurian and human habitation and competition from other scythebeasts. However, they are flourishing in the Forbidden Isles, where they supplanted big cats as apex predators.

Average Height

Varies depending on the region; those in their native Porpuda are about 90cm to 1m at the shoulder of the lower body, with an overall height of 1.2-1.3m. With the exception of the smaller desert breed, those in the Isles are larger due to lack of competition, growing as much as 1.2 or even 1.3m at the lower shoulder and over 1.5m overall.

Average Weight

Depending on region, they can vary from 110-160kg in their native habitat, and a similar size in the Sandstone desert. However, those in other regions can grow substantially larger due to better resources, with those in the Southern Alliance reaching as high as 250-320kg. The largest are found in southern Phurzia, with males sometimes reaching more than 350kg in weight.

Average Length

In their native habits, a length of 2.5-3m is common including the tail, while those in most of the Forbidden Isles often reach more than 3.5m, and the largest variants found in southern Phurzia can reach over 4m in length.

Average Physique

A muscular build, particularly the arms for delivering intense strikes, that can be used to target vital areas of large herbivores, or to go for the legs of smaller, fast moving prey while running.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Possessing a tanned fur coat, rippers tend to have a sandy colouring, along with a white underbelly and black spots across the body.