The Nameless Beasts of Northern Meta

The flora and fauna of Northern Meta have evolved to survive the harsh climate and weather conditions. Adept to unruly weather patterns, freezing waters, and the possibility of not eating for weeks at a time. These nocturnal beats prey on weak ocean and coastal wildlife, migrating year-round in families of upwards to fifty strong, these beasts may come as a shock to any non-locals.

A Basic Description

Quadrapel most of the time, these winged creatures bare a strange mix of hide and scales to protect from both the winds and the water. Though protective of their youth, they are not outwardly aggressive to most humanoids, despite the loud barking they may produce as a warning. Humanoid palms and opposable thumbs, webbed-bony knuckles, and sharp-short claws for fingers. Bat-like ears and slanted-inward black eyes, a snout long like a horse but shaped like a bat's. The beasts have a narrow torso and shoulders so that is may be more comfortable moving or sitting on all fours. Pups are known to be covered in thick fuzzy patches of fur that eventually shed off and grow hide in its place.

A Hunter's Friend and Prize

For centuries, hunters of the North have domesticated these creatures, often named after passed loved-ones in an act of hope or justice. The hide and scales are harvested for a variety of reasons including clothing, armor, and equipment. Bones can be used for building infrastructure, teeth turned to blades or arrows, claws for tools, and whiskers for brushes.
On occasion a solitary beast may attack or display aggressive behaviors toward hunters or those away from an encampment or settlement. These beasts are solitary for one of two reasons, either they showed the same behavior to their family and were shunned, or have been left behind due to illness. Either way, when smaller families are exposed to this behavior a small mob-effect has a chance to occur. This often leads to a culling or hunting of 'feral' beasts until the threat is deemed nonexistent.