Dread Owl

The largest aerial predator of The Boreal Forest is The Dread Owl. It is a highly intelligent nocturnal hunter. Dread Owls are masters of sound and have several methods of communication to deal with prey, mark their territory, and express themselves. If a Dread Owl can maintain eye contact with its prey, it uses a metaphysical power known as Doomgaze to incapacitate with fear.
With the darkened days caused by The Ashen Eclipse & The Infernal Deluge the Owls are at an advantage but only if they're able to find any prey. Times are lean in The Boreal Forest and the owls are having to range farther than ever to survive.

Communication

Mimicry Calls - The Dread Owl can mimic sounds made by other animals. It often replicates the cries of young animals to lure prey as it waits perched high in a tree.
Hooting - A variety of hooting patterns help Dread Owls to coordinate their hunting efforts and warn each other of nearby dangers.
Tree Marking - By scratching trees with its sharp talons, a Dread Owl warns other owls to stay away from its claimed territory.

Powers

Doomgaze - If a Dread Owl maintains eye contact with its prey, it can engage its metaphysical power known as its Doomgaze. The victim will feel such an overwhelming sense of impending doom and hopelessness that they will freeze in place in terror and hallucinate any manner of sounds or sights that their own mind brings forth.
Eerie Silence - When a Dread Owl swoops upon its prey, it will often create a magical zone of silence that mutes all sounds within a few feet. While this causes some prey to be surprised, the sudden loss of sound may tip off a more experienced woodsman about the presence of a nearby Dread Owl.

It came out of nowhere. I had no idea that it was about to grab me.

— Rastus retelling the story about The Dread Owl Attack again

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The Boreal Forest by Midjourney

Dread Owl by Midjourney