Direwolf

Maned Beasts

The direwolf is one of the most respected and feared predators in the known world. Towering in size, relentless in the hunt, and fiercely loyal to its kin, the direwolf has survived ages of persecution and shrinking wilderness through cunning and raw ferocity. Despite being hunted close to extinction in many regions, they endure and continue to thrive on the edges of civilization.

Appearance

Direwolves are easily identified by their massive frame—roughly the size of a small horse—and their distinctive long manes, which give them a distinct silhouette. Their fur ranges in color from ash-gray to snow-white to deep black, with most individuals bearing a mix. Solid-colored direwolves are rare and often regarded as omens—either of death or strength, depending on local lore.
Their eyes are intelligent and sharp, their fangs long enough to pierce mail, and their bodies built for both speed and endurance. The howl of a direwolf is low, long, and unmistakable, carrying for miles on cold nights.

Range and Habitat

Direwolves are native to the western continent and the elven islands. They prefer temperate forests, tundra, and windswept plains—anywhere with enough open territory and prey to sustain their large appetites. Because of their size and hunting style, they require vast ranges and do not tolerate rivals easily, including their own kind.
While never common, their presence is most strongly felt in the borderlands—those blurred spaces where wilderness meets civilization.

Behavior and Social Structure

Direwolves live and hunt in mating pairs, forming lifelong bonds. They raise only one pup at a time, pouring all their attention into its survival. This yearly cycle ensures slow population growth and makes each pup’s life precious to the pair. Most do not survive their first winter.
Once a pup reaches maturity—usually around one year of age—it is leaves to claim its own territory. Juvenile direwolves live solitary, nomadic lives for several years until they find a mate and begin the cycle anew.
Despite their solitary nature outside the pair-bond, direwolves exhibit high intelligence and communication skills. They hunt with coordination, plan ambushes, and seem capable of understanding complex behavior patterns in both prey and rival species.

Hunting and Diet

Direwolves are both ambush and pursuit predators, favoring dusk and dark for their hunts. Their preferred prey includes large herbivores such as deer, elk, and bison, but they are notorious livestock raiders, making them deeply hated in farming regions. Sheep, goats, and cattle are all fair game.

More troubling are the rare attacks on humans. While not habitual man-eaters, direwolves do not hesitate to target vulnerable settlements or isolated travelers. Their intelligence makes them far more dangerous than ordinary predators—they learn patterns, exploit weaknesses, and retreat when the odds are not in their favor.

They rarely hunt in larger groups, but a pair of direwolves can bring down prey far larger than themselves, striking with brutal efficiency.

Relationship with Civilization

Villages near direwolf territory often maintain outer cemeteries, decoy livestock pens, or even armed watch patrols during lambing and calving seasons. Many regions offer bounties on confirmed kills, and old stories warn children to be indoors by twilight.
Despite their feared reputation, some cultures revere them as symbols of loyalty, strength, and wilderness. Elven myths speak of direwolves as guardians of the old forest.