Underowl

Beneath Elvenhomn, in The Dark, the nighmarish Underowl lives. A silent preadetor who relies on quick kills against unsuspecting targets. The Underowl is a variation of the Owlbear, a creature living above ground. It looks like a half owl, half wolf, with its slender but muscular body covered in sprawling dark grey fur. It has piercing eyes, pale yellow in hue, with the ability to see in magical darkness. Leathery bat wings stretches between its body and forearms. They can not be used to take flight but it does give the Underowl the ability to glide fly, very quietly, to attack prey from above. While its beak is dangerous is it often not used to attack. Instead the Underowl uses its long sharp poisonous claws. If the initial attacks fails to kill the prey the Underowl quickly hides again. If lucky, the prey was cut by its claws and poisoned by it. The poison takes a while to gain effect but when it does the prey becomes weak in body, unable to heal its wounds until the poison wears out the next long rest.
While the Underowl is not the most dangerous creature in the Elvenhomn Dark it is dangerous and quick enough to not be worth hunting for any other creature. It fears being noticed and avoids light. The largest danger to some of its kind is actually its want to go unnoticed, and fear of being seen. In a few cases it is so extreme that an Underowl may never manege to confirm a kill and leads to it dying of hunger.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Underowls live alone but seek out a partner once every few years to mate with. During these times they secrete pheromones that other Underowls may smell to find them. The male leaves the female soon after mating, and the female leaves her eggs before they are even hatched. The female travels down to the Undersea and hides the eggs in one of the warm pools.
The short period of time, during the mating, is generally the only time two Underowls meet.

Additional Information

Domestication

Underowls cannot be trained as pets but can ben become an ally of one who helps it hunt or gives it food.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Keen darkvision and hearing

Lifespan

40 years

Average Height

1,3 meters

Average Weight

180 kg

Average Length

1,7 meters

Geographic Distribution

• Underdark