Monsterpedia 15 - Dire Wolf
Monsterpedia
Dire Wolf
Monster Level - I
Soul Type - Composite
Intelligence - Animalistic
Strength - High
Magic - Low
Rarity - Very Common
Many people get confused between normal wolves and Dire Wolves. Despite the implication, Dire Wolves aren't much bigger than normal wolves. Normal wolves are very big. However dire wolves have innate magic, no matter how small, and a composite soul that allows for merges.
They also aren't much smarter than normal wolves. They are more aggressive, but that's usually a detriment when facing skilled delvers. Good placement and solid tactics mean most fights with Dire Wolves end well for humans. They're frequently hunted for their pelts and to keep them from preying on jackalopes and other weak prey monsters. Much like their real life cousins they're more a threat to our food supply than any individual.
If you need to determine the difference between a wolf and a Dire Wolf quickly, try this simple rule of thumb. If it's not trying to kill you it's a normal wolf. If it's trying to kill you do you really care which it is? Kill it first. You can check the body for signs of magic after.
Merge
Common Name : Werewolf
Benefits : Improved smell and hearing. fangs
Weaknesses : Sensory overload
A very common merge, werewolves develop dog ears and a bushy tail. They frequently also get strange, vibrant, hair colors. Finally their canines and jaw shift to give a serious bite potential. However, the most important power for werewolves is the boost to their senses. They get a sense of smell comparable to a bloodhound, and a significant boost to hearing. This makes werewolf a very popular generic merge, for people who don't have any specific goals in mind but don't want to purely choose for appearance.
The downside of werewolf abilities is it's much easier to give them sensory overload. Loud noises and incredibly powerful scents will impact them much more than an unmerged human. Despite the rumors they do not get a weakness to chocolate or other food that's bad for dogs, so ignore the people saying it's a downside.
A werewolf's tail is useful for determining their mood. But they're capable of manipulating it just like any other body part. You WILL lose at poker if you try to use it as a tell.