Ngorrhal Ice Bear (Ursocryon intellectus)

Alias: None
Origin: Ngorrhal and Kela (glacial valleys, high-altitude ice fields)

The Ngorrhal Ice Bear is a colossal, hypercarnivorous predator native to the glacial valleys and high-altitude ice fields of Ngorrhal and Kela. Its grey or white fur allows it to blend seamlessly into rocky outcrops or snow mounds, enabling silent ambushes with chilling intellect. With heads larger and longer than a Frost Sentinel’s body, it poses a lethal threat, overpowering even packs of Greater Smilohounds. Researchers are baffled by its tendency to target humans despite abundant megafauna, often killing animals without consuming them, suggesting sport-like behavior. Its presence marks extreme, frost-bound ecosystems where only the most resilient survive.

Terrain

Ngorrhal Ice Bears inhabit glacial valleys and high-altitude ice fields of Ngorrhal and Kela, camouflaging as rocks or snow mounds. They are absent in low-altitude, humid, or volcanic biomes.

Lifespan

Ngorrhal Ice Bears live 20–30 years, reaching maturity at 5–7 years and reproducing sparingly in stable, cold seasons.

Height

Mature Ngorrhal Ice Bears stand up to 8 m at the shoulder, with heads measuring 2.6–3.2 m in length, dwarfing Frost Sentinels (2.0–2.5 m). Their massive bodies weigh 5.2–8.5 tonnes. Juveniles (under 5 years) range from 2.5–4.0 m at the shoulder.

Uses

• Ecological Role: Apex predator controlling megafauna populations, including Greater Smilohounds, maintaining balance in Ngorrhal and Kela’s ice-bound ecosystems.
• Cultural Significance: Feared and revered by Frost Sentinels as a symbol of Ngorrhal’s merciless terrain; their rare pelts, acquired at great risk, are used in ceremonial garb, signifying unmatched bravery.
• Guidance: Avoid glacial valleys without advanced detection systems; deploy heat-based decoys to deter ambushes; do not engage, as Greater Smilohound packs cannot reliably counter them.

Notes

Documented during the Era of Absolute Expansion (~3,000 years before modern Geba), Ngorrhal Ice Bears were noted in the Comprehensive Field Codex for their cunning environmental mimicry and sport-like killing behavior. Their grey or white fur and massive size make them a dominant threat, targeting humans despite ample megafauna, a behavior researchers cannot fully explain. Extant but rare, they embody the brutal survival demands of Ngorrhal and Kela’s glacial ecosystems.