Swordtooth Tiger

"The true ruler of the cairns, of the mountains, the glacial peaks, the tundra highlands. Over even the white bears, this majestic sleek master hunter rules its domain with fear, with viciousness, and with teeth the size of small swords. nearly fourteen hundred kilograms of muscle, designed for murder. Stealthy, silent as death, capable of bringing down even the most massive and powerful bull moose, or white bear sow, in but a single bite. They have been known to even hunt the shallow waters of the sea near coastlines. Some old wives tales even claim such a beast has felled a walrus, even a young orca making her first attempt to nail a seal in shallow water. How true this is? No one really knows. But know this. If you come across the kill of a sword-tooth, you will know. You will know from the missing jugular, the massive claw marks, the large carved chunks missing, bones snapped as if by a hefty blade. If you come upon such a kill, no matter the circumstance, you need to leave. You absolutely need to leave.

Advice excerpt from the book Exploring the Tundra Wonders by Tanik Bravilmac Orgis

These large cats, large does not really cut it, actually. These massive cats are known for being some 2 metres tall at the shoulder, and as much as 3 or 4 metres long. Their namesake teeth can be as much as twenty to thirty centimeters in length, these overlapping canines are meant to intimidate but are also vicious implements to match with this animal's other unique advantage. A double jointed bottom jaw. It is capable of opening its bottom jaw to an angle of some one hundred to a hundred and ten degrees. Combine this with a bite force known for being capable of crushing plate armor, and claws capable of ripping and tearing through good proper riveted dwarven mail? You have a true master of the arctic, lord of the terrestrial terrain. No matter the region, be it inhospitable, to harsh, to difficult terrain, or any other reason, these majestic beasts find success. They can travel, live, mate and hunt from anywhere in the Tundra Realms.

Basic Information

Anatomy

They are strong and sleek, but one of their biggest tools of success, besides their formidable weaponry, is their fur coat. In a similar fashion to a white bear, their fur is thick, but fine, not coarse, allowing it to dry quickly should it get wet, but also allowing it to grow exceedingly thick without becoming overbearing. Their winter coat is a greyish white, matching the snow and stone of the highlands and mountains they prefer to call home. In summer this coat sheds and the fur changes color over the spring, becoming more brown and tawny. They've thickly patted feet, allowing them to move silent as the grave when walking. They are masters of the ambush, one of the deadliest predators on the tundra. Besides this, their eyes, like all great cats, seem ever sensitive, even in the pitch black of night.

Their most interesting feature however, is the combination of their teeth and jaws. Those teeth, unlike their long extinct cousins further south, are not hollow, nor are they just for show. They are a deadly and powerful weapon, solid and robust, highly unlikely to snap. Combined with their horrifying jaw size, their bottom jaw double-jointed, allowing them to open their mouths to just over a hundred degree angle, and their impressive bite force, said to be capable of crushing plate armor, you have a formidable predator indeed.

Genetics and Reproduction

Not much is known about their mating habits or reproduction, as they certainly are not a domesticated species, nor are there any tame ones.

Growth Rate & Stages

Again there has been a lack of formal study into this area.

Ecology and Habitats

The tundra, more specifically thriving in highlands, mountain and boreal regions. It is the apex predator, seeing all other animals and beasts in its domain as prey items.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Sword-tooth Tigers, like most in the Feline family, are obligate carnivores, that is by all accounts they live off meat and eat no plant matter. As the apex terrestrial predator in the region, any animal or beast is on the menu of course, but naturally due to their size and nutritional needs, they prefer to target bigger prey items such as;

• Caribou

• Moose

• White Bear

• Musk Oxen

• Mountain Goat

Biological Cycle

Though not much is known about this animal's life cycle or expectancy, it is known that they are not like white bears in that they do not hibernate. They are active year around.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Sword-tooth Tigers are by all accounts, an independent species, that is besides a mother with her babies, they have no real organized social groups or structures.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Their massive incisor teeth, the intimidating ones that give them their name, are a valued crafting material by magisters and some artists as well. Besides this, thier pelts, like those of the white bear, make an excellent material for making warm and well insulated winter garments. Though naturally hunting such a beast successfully is considered a highly impressive feat.

Facial characteristics

Obviously the tell-tale 'cats-eyes' are a common one sighted, and whilst true, if you are that close as to identify it by its eyes and not its tell tale teeth, well you are very likely mere seconds from death.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Though they seem to prefer the highlands, they can be found all about the tundra, in the mountainous regions, the hill lands, the boreal forests. They, along with wolves, are the master predators of this land. What wolves do in numbers and a structured group, Sword-tooth Tigers do alone, with power, stealth and biological advantages as discussed previously. Many would call white bears the master land based predator in Suranth, but this is simply not true, the white bear's niche strictly is one of an amphibious nature, which is why they are far more common in coastal environments and near large bodies of water. They've succeeded by combining this skill set with being a full on omnivore.

But the true dominant predator, that distinction has to go to the Sword-tooth. They are masters of this land

Average Intelligence

Though not intelligent the way most sapient beings would mean, they are very smart animals indeed, and quick to adapt. It is why they've thrived here, they adapt very well, and quickly, to any environmental pressure, figuring out how to not only survive, but thrive.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sword-tooth Tigers are known to have some of the best eyesight and hearing of any species in Suranth. Besides this of course, their sense of smell is quite acute and these three things have helped make them one of the deadliest predators on the tundra, allowing them to thrive even in the harshest of mountain ranges, where prey is scarce and hard to get too.

Average Height

1.5-2 metres tall at the shoulder

Average Weight

900-1100 kgs on average, with females being a bit bigger.

Average Length

3-4 metres in length for a fully grown adult is common

Average Physique

Strong, sleek, and very intimidating.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

tawny to dark brown in the shorter summer months

White-stone grey in the longer winter months.