Great Bear

You're going to need a bigger spear if you are hunting bears in these woods; you might as well just be giving it a toothpick - Trent Hunter

The Great Bear is considered the largest bear in the Western Lands of Kineth. These bears are considered far more dangerous than other bears in the west and have been known to be highly aggressive when other predators come into their territory. Its roar alone is enough to scare away most creatures that dare to some near it.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A quadruped with four legs with five claws on each paw. It has a muscular body and a short tail with an elongated head. Its body is covered in thick fur from head to toe.

Biological Traits

Adaptable: These creatures can adapt to their environment and any changes, increasing their chances of survival without fearing death. Along with being given traits to allow them to maximize their efficiency in their environment. Even if there were drastic changes to the region they stayed in, they could survive without difficulties.
Large Size: Size often matters in the wilderness as it can determine what type of creatures to mess with. It also means they require more food to conserve energy for their size. But that size will make it difficult for them to move through smaller spaces, and they can fall much easier as their weight turns against them.
Aggressive Nature: These creatures are known to be more aggressive than most other creatures. Often attacking anything that comes near it to injure or kill if they get too close. It is often best to keep a safe distance to ensure they do not attack, as the slightest change in movement or sound could cause them to attack without hesitation.

Genetics and Reproduction

Great Bears reproduce with males and females, with pregnancies lasting up to five months before giving birth to one to three cubs.

Growth Rate & Stages

Great bears will often take up to five years to fully grow, constantly building up their weight to grow in size and their fur becoming much thick. Great Bears become more aggressive as they age.

Ecology and Habitats

They make their home in forested areas and open fields, mainly in a forested region known as the Heartwood and the areas surrounding it.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Great Bears are omnivores that eat plants and meat to feed themselves. The methods are hunting, foraging, and savaging just about anything they can get their paws, and they have been known to steal food from other animals. They often do this during the night and the day and use their size to intimidate other animals when fighting over food.

Biological Cycle

Great Bears hibernate like all other bears and will hibernate for long periods during winter. However, not all bears do so, and some can be awakened from hibernation to feed before trying to hibernate again before the common of spring.

Behaviour

Great Bears are solitary by nature and hunt alone, often fighting others of their kind or distant cousins. They have also been known to kill young Great Bears to avoid competition when they grow full size.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Great bears, like all bears, often spend most of their lives alone and only come together during mating season, early spring to late fall. Beyond that, if another Great Bear is found in another bear's territory, they with either be chased out of fight the other bear until it runs away or is killed. They have also been known to kill younger Great Bears to avoid rivals that may come to face them later on. As for female Great Bears, By the time they reach three years of age, they will leave their mothers and venture out to claim their territory.

Domestication

While it may seem impossible to train such a beast, the Imperial Legions' 10th legion known as the Lords of the Hunt have been infamous for their ability to train war beast with the most dangerous of creatures, though their methods are unknown. However, the Great Bears they have under their control are dangerous all by themselves and can wipe out an armed group with ease.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Great Bears are often hunted for their meat for food and fur to be used as trophies or to keep warm.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Great Bears are often found in the Heartwood deep within its dense forest, filled with enough food to satisfy them.

Average Intelligence

Great Bears have a strong sense of smell that allows them to recognize types of food by smell alone and can tell if they are harmful to stay away from. They also have long-term memory and can navigate to where they need to go during different seasons to know where food is at those times.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sight: Excellent
Sound: Good
Smell: Good

Scientific Name

Class: Natural

Lifespan

30 - 40 years

Average Height

5 - 6 ft, 11 - 12 ft Standing

Average Weight

2000 - 2400 lbs

Average Length

11 - 12 ft

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark Brown

Geographic Distribution

• Western Lands

Rulers of the Forest

We know how the bears think in these woods, and the bears here are kinds that are not to be disturbed if you want to keep your limbs. - Trent Elder

Great Bears in their areas are considered apex predators, with almost no other predators to challenge them once they grow to full size. However, fights between each other are common and have been known to each other species of bear to satisfy their hunger. Due to their viscous nature, most people often build their settlements away from areas that they frequent to avoid one of them coming near them to make them a snack.

Enduring Beasts

If you're going after a Great Bear, you should bring at least twenty dogs and at least forty well-trained men if you hope to take them down; they tend to have trouble understanding how to die when they try to kill ya. - Bear Hunter

Great Bears, besides their size, have also been known for being hard to take down by even the most skilled hunters. It mainly concerns their thick hides and the layers of fat that protect their bodies from most attacks that would be fatal to most other creatures. However, it is often difficult to land a blow on them when they use their claws to know you away a few feet with a large gash that would probably kill you before you even reach the ground. This is why long spears and arrows are often the most used to take them down, as fighting them up close is nearly impossible.