Howler

(NEEDS UPDATE)

Howlers are subterranean predators that dwell in collapsed tunnels, cavern networks, and sinkholes - most notably the infamous Howler’s Pit. Their name comes from the piercing, echoing cries they emit when stalking prey, which serve both as a hunting method and territorial warning. Blind and hairless, they hunt exclusively by sound, honing in on even the subtlest vibrations. Fels raised near known Howler territory are taught silence drills, and some colonies regard them as guardians of buried truth - believing that Howlers only scream when someone treads too close to a forgotten secret. Howler bones and teeth are used ceremonially to ward off danger and the unknown.

Howlers have lean, wiry bodies covered in pale, translucent skin. They are eyeless with a ridged, sensitive face and canal-like ears, and long limbs adapted for crawling along walls and ceilings in silence. They have shark-like teeth and retractable claws for gripping prey and stone. Howlers emit rhythmic howls to map their surroundings and track their prey, capable of detecting the footfall of a single creature from up to 20 meters away in total darkness. Howlers are incredibly sensitive to sound, and react violently to magic as they confuse it for prey behavior. They travel in loose packs, communicating through screams and drumming, and often prefer ambush attacks - falling silently from ceilings or erupting from underground. Howlers prefer moist, enclosed cave systems with branching tunnels and poor air circulation. They avoid areas with frequent light or movement. They are obligate omnivores, feeding on trespassing creatures, cave fauna, and occasionally each other. They have no known predators or threats, but some colonies send trained fighters to clear Howler infestations.

Hunting Howlers is dangerous and unpalatable - they are pests, not prey.