Kensha Beast Subspecies and Relatives

This thread is to discuss ideas for new subspecies and relatives for Kensha Beasts, one of the more common predators to be found in Felarya and which are described as having adapted to a wide range of habitats and regions, and yet as of now only the mainline Kensha Beast and the Ice Kensha Beast of Frost Peak currently exist.

Hopefully we can diversify these great non-tauric predators. Here are a few ideas I've had so far.

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Frost Kensha Beast
Size: Males 36 feet, Females 34 feet
Threat: High
Habitat: Imoreith Tundra, Elifga Valley

With fur ranging from an icy grey to a snowy white, these wolf-like predators are one of many variants of the mainline Kensha Beasts. Like the Ice Kensha Beasts, they have adapted to a frozen region, though instead of taking to snow-covered mountainous peaks, they have chosen a lifestyle on the frozen plains of northern Felarya. Bulkier and more muscularly built than their cousins, they have more pronounced canine teeth for taking down prey and larger, flatter paws for better traction on the frozen tundra soil. Their claws are larger, but the poison associated with them is not as potent as that of their southern cousins. Packs are led by an alpha male and female, and the typical hunting strategy involves chasing down the targeted prey until it has tired itself out, encircle it, and then take turns striking till the unfortunate prey succumbs to exhaustion and blood loss.

Jotuns have managed the surprising task of taming these fearsome beasts and using them as hunting dogs. While the process involved isn't fully known, it suposedly involves a lot of punches to the nose. The results are obvious, though, as tamed Frost Kensha Beasts will serve and protect their Jotun masters as if they were the alpha of the pack.


Shadowclaw
Size: Males 22 feet, Females 20 feet
Threat: Moderate
Habitat: Evernight Forest

Hailing from the dark interior of the Evernight forest, shadowclaws are just another example of the great diversity amongst Kensha Beasts in Felarya. Smaller and more physically frail than the mainline species, they compensate with a much more potent venom in their razor-like claws. Their fur ranges from coal to pitch black in coloration, making them extremely hard to make out from within the darkness of their home. Because of said darkness, however, shadowclaws rely more on their sense of smell and hearing, and their eyes are extremely sensitive to bright light to the point where a sudden flash will cause them great pain. Pack organization is looser than in that of other Kensha Beasts, though still maintains the basic hierarchy. When hunting, they often tend to trick their prey with howls meant to scare them into the direction of other pack members lying in wait.


Direfang
Size: 65 feet
Threat: Very High (moderate to humans)
Habitat: Deeper Felarya

Direfangs are huge, bulky predators that almost resemble a cross between a large wolf and a bear that was then placed on steroids. They have a heavily muscular form, massive jaws, huge fangs, and thick paws ending in blade-like claws. They are close cousins of the Kensha Beasts, though unlike them they tend to be solitary predators and have much less potent, almost nonexistent, poison in their claws. They have no need for it, for a single swipe of a paw is often enough to end any hunt, so much so that one good swing will break a mumansi's neck or shatter a Kensha Beasts' spine with one blow. Despite this power, their main disadvantage is their lack of speed, being capable, at most, of only short bursts of speed; an organized Kensha Beast pack can often take down a lone direfang without losing a single pack member, though one or two casualties are not uncommon. Because of this, confrontations between the two species tends to be rare, with both respecting the territories of the other.

A direfang will often ignore humanoids because of the great size difference between the two, though they will go after large groups should they attract its attention.

These sound interesting! The Direfang would be downright terrifying to find face to face.

http://felarya.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fauna8#Ice_Kensha_Beast

Also, Direfang, I can see in Deeper Felarya, but not in Forest of Whispers.

Cool ideas here. I have an idea for heat adapted Kenshas. They may reside in a subzone of the Akaptor desert that I haven't proposed yet. This post'll serve as a place holder.

Updtae: Alright, here's the idea. I hope there are no glaring problems with it.


Brimstone Kenshas (Formerly "Brimstone Beasts," name changed to differentiate them from Carbon Hounds)
Size: 30 feet (9 meters)
Danger: High (in packs)

Sometimes called "Desert Demons," this Kensha Beast sub-species is typically found around the Charon Oasis of the Akaptor Desert and they are the dominant predators of the region. They are called "Brimstone Kenshas" because of their golden yellow fur coats. With their relatively slimmer frames, as compared to other species of Kensha Beast, they are incredibly fast runners and high jumpers; skills that they use to swipe at harpies as they take off for flight. The Brimstone Kenshas do not possess poisonous claws. Instead they feature claws that heat up to the point that they melt and burn their prey like napalm. Naturally they re-grow their claws in very short time. When these golden yellow beasts swing their blazing paws, they burn a vivid blue. The melted portion of their claws burns into the slashed wounds of their prey and is nearly impossible to wash out. The intense pain of the inflicted wounds is usually enough to impair the thought and reaction time of their prey.

Brimstone Kenshas are normally found in the Akaptor Desert but there have been reported sightings of them near the Sandfall Maze. They hunt in small packs of about four. Most Brimstone Beasts are female; the few males are solitary creatures and are distinguished by a red coat of fur, but their blazing claws still burn bright blue when ignited. It has been speculated by some explorers that the Scorching Claws tribe of the Sandfall Maze have hunted or collected the claws of the beasts for use in their weaponry, but so far the Nekos aren't willing discuss the matter. The Brimstone Kenshas have shown that they are not very aggressive outside of hunting, so some explorers have managed to get quite close to them and observe their cubs roughhousing or trimming their claws on any hard stones they can find, leaving behind melted claw marks eerily similar to the color of blood.

Interesting. I had an idea as well for that region, or better yet for the sandfall maze, that was smaller and bore features of the fennec fox. Also coyote-like ones for the Great Rocky Plains and a fearsome species for the Jungle of Perils.

Magnificent ideas with kenshas here. Accurate description always sounds good )

awaiting for "open spaces" versions)

Zerda
Size: Males 22 feet, Females 24 feet
Threat: Moderate
Habitat: Sandfall Maze, Akaptor Desert

Smaller and lankier looking than the mainline Kensha Beasts, these wolf-like predators make their home in more arid regions of Felarya. Shorthaired, tan fur covers their bodies and helps them to blend in with their surroundings, especially when they are hunting. Unlike the mainline species, they possess a shorter, more triangular face and huge ears akin to those of a fennec fox. While these ears are used for keeping them cool during the scorching hot days, they are also, as one would expect, extremely adept at picking up even the minutest of sounds. Some say they are so good that one could hear an adventurer sneeze from over a mile away and then pinpoint where they are with near perfect accuracy. While these ears are their biggest assets, they are also their main weakness as their sensitivity makes them vulnerable to loud noises, so much so that something like a loud bang going off near them can cause the zerda physical pain.

Pack structure is different from that of the mainline Kensha Beasts. Those of the zerda typically involve only a mated pair and their offspring. Working together, they can stalk their prey, with one member tricking it into heading into the direction of the rest of the “pack”. A rarer are solitary individuals, and they tend to consist of young zerdas that have yet to find a lifelong mate or older ones whose partner has been killed.

Alright, I put in my little two cents.

gt, you may change the name a bit. Even though I made sure that Carbon Hounds aren't relatives of Kenshas, the name is very similar, if not synonymous.

I'll also consider removing them from volcanic regions. I need a bit of time to think of an alternate name though.

Maybe something like Sand Beast or something that clues to living in the desert.

If they were found near or occasionally went to Sandfall Maze, they might have some relationship with the Scorching Claws (such as the nekos naming their tribe after them in order to "gain their strength").

That is an intriguing possibility Jasc. I supposed the Scorching Claws tribe could also hunt or collect the claws of these beasts to use in weaponry.

Due to my limited creative spark right now, I still can't think of a good alternate name for these Kenshas.

Update: After careful consideration, I've decided to settle on the name Brimstone Kenshas. I think they are unique enough so that the name won't be a huge issue.

Latran
Size: Males 26 feet, Females 24 feet
Threat: Medium
Habitat: Great Rocky Fields

Smaller and not as muscularly built as the mainline Kensha Beasts, latrans have paler, shorter coats and overall bear a closer resemblance to coyotes than wolves in both appearance and habits. They inhabit the Great rocky fields, and are well adapted to living there. While not as quick as their cousins when it comes to running or chasing down prey, they are instead better built for endurance, being able to go for days without rest and letting their prey exhaust themselves. Usually encountered on their own or in loosely connected packs, they can be just as much a threat as centaurs for those living on or crossing the Great rocky fields. Their diet is by no means restricted to just small and large prey, though, as they will just as happily eat vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms should they come upon them. This generalist diet has allowed latrans to eke out an existence and not only survive, but thrive.

Ok... I'm sure others had something like this on their mind, but like me thought it was probably not worth proposing. So why am I even posting this now?


Oloonde Lakeland Fauna: Laelap Kenshas (Need help with a better name)
Size: 25 feet (about 8 meters)
Danger: Medium

Laelap Kenshas are semi-aquatic canine predators that typically reside around rivers and lakes. They are most distinguished by their shiny fur coats that appear either blue or green depending on the angle they are observed from. Their ears can be angled down and back when swimming. They have very long and flat tails, and webbed feet with sharp claws that they use to deliver electric shocks to their prey. Another interesting quirk of the Laelap is that they lay eggs, putting them among the few mammalian species that do.

In spite of the savage reputation of other Kensha Beast species, the Laelap Kenshas are actually quite tame in comparison. Most are solitary and would rather hunt smaller animals or feast on the eggs of other creatures after scaring them off. Occasionally, they will take on slightly larger mermaids if their size isn't going to be too much of a disadvantage. Their webbed feet and flat tail assists them in swimming, making them quite formidable if they decide to go on the attack. A common tactic they use when hunting from water to land is to lay just beneath the surface of the water while observing their target on the shore, then after getting within striking distance, they burst out of the water and pounce on their prey. If they miss with their initial strike, the Laelap Kensha can chase down their prey on land. Many foolish fisherman have been lost to these semi-aquatic kensha beasts, as they were unprepared to deal with a predator that was equally as fast on land as they were in water.