Gelivox Stalker (Kelanax gelidocornu)

Alias: None
Origin: Kela (drifts, polar shelves)

The Gelivox Stalker is a large, predatory creature native to Kela’s icy drifts and polar shelves, known for its rush-ambush tactics and single, forward-curving cranial blade used to strike prey. Its light-reactive, frond-like dermis allows near-invisibility in snow, making it a lethal threat to expeditions. Solitary and territorial, it was historically feared by Kela’s tribes, who used its bones in rituals symbolizing precision and danger. Its presence indicates stable, cold ecosystems, posing a significant hazard in polar exploration.

Lifespan

Gelivox Stalkers live 20–40 years, with rapid growth in the first 5 years and maturity at 10 years. They reproduce infrequently due to their solitary nature.

Uses

• Cultural Symbol: Kela tribes carve Gelivox blades into ritual tools, symbolizing precision.
• Ecological Role: Controls prey populations, maintaining polar ecosystem balance.
• Guidance: Break off cranial blade to disorient; avoid flats during low-light conditions.

Notes

The Gelivox Stalker’s stealth and cranial blade made it a significant hazard during the Era of Absolute Expansion (~3,000 years before modern Geba), slowing exploration in Kela. Its role in controlling polar fauna supports ecosystem stability, but partial retrievals, often damaged by self-preservation mechanisms, limit anatomical understanding, similar to the Boughstrider. Expedition teams should use light-based decoys to avoid ambushes and monitor seismic activity to detect hunting zones. Its exclusive range to Kela’s polar biomes restricts its impact to cold environments.