![]() ![]() They’ve been known to gnaw away at ice bridges and the frozen surface of lakes and rivers, leaving trap-like fragile patches that plunge unwary victims into their waiting jaws. Sea wolves are commonly encountered in mated pairs or small family groups, working together to corral victims from fish and seals to larger prey like polar bears and kayaking northmen. Moored longships and coastal halls beware. When necessary, they’ll also rove beach and riverbank in search of carrion or unwary victims. They lurk beneath the surface of the chill grey waters, snapping at swimmers between the broken ice chunks or lurching up onto an iceberg to break or unbalance it, sending prey tumbling into the cold waves. Perhaps related to the bunyip of the hot south, sea-wolves prowl northern coasts and estuaries, hunting among the fragmenting pack ice each summer. ![]() Skraeling shamans sometimes make climbing charms from these talons, or use their gnashing fangs to make arrowheads, necklaces of strangulation, and tooth-studded clubs of wounding. Their pectoral fins feature stubby, claw-tipped proto-paws used for scrabbling across ice. Their bodies are covered in short, white fur, which is highly prized by skin traders for its warmth and waterproof qualities. long and looks like a small orca with a serpentine neck and lupine head their huge maws are filled with rows of triangular, serrated teeth adept at tearing flesh and sundering bone. Northern kennings call it Ice gnawer, child of wolf and seal, Mara’s hound, and the spirit of sudden death…Ī hybrid of fish and mammal, a sea wolf is 8 ft. The sea wolf is a totem beast for many tribes and is known by many names: sisiutl, wasgo, and haietlik to name but a few. A mighty harpoon-thrust eventually broke its back, but still, the monster snarled and pawed and thrashed.” The men it snatched were torn apart like rags worried in the mouth of a rabid dog. It had the body of a shark, the neck of a snake, the face like a wolf, and a mouth of dragon’s fangs. The white bears had their aloof majesty, the lindwurm serpentine grace, but the monster that gnawed away the pack ice beneath our feet and savaged any who fell into the waters was a thing of nightmare countenance. ![]() “I saw no more terrible beast on all my journeys north than the sea wolf. To celebrate the release of Open Design’s Northlands: Roleplaying in Winter’s Chill, Chris Harris and Dan Voyce bring you the sea wolf. ![]()
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