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Ice Hellion a biological summary
Overview
The Ice Hellion (Diabolus Glacialis Hectorii) is a quadruped native animal living in Packs on Hector. It has blinding white fur, claws and a beak which seem to be its primary weapons and tools, measuring up to one meter in length, 50 cm in heighth and weighing up to 25 kg. They have a high grade of organization within their pack and use complex patterns to attack, hunt and defend. It is also the totem for the Clan of the same name.
This is a summary of the vast (considering the difficult nature of the subjects) reports the scientists have developed on the subject. There are multiple Terabytes of Data available, the Vid-Data excluded, so this can only be a small part of the results.
Hector as it's only home
Since Hector has been colonized, the Ice Hellion has been an important subject of surveillance. Due to its aggressiveness, cunning and hunger, it has been a threat to unwary colonists ever since and a crucial subject for the scientists not only because of its importance as a totem animal for the Clan but also to assess its danger to the people and its influence on Hector's fauna.
In 2795 Hector was chosen as one of the first Planets in the Kerensky Cluster to be colonized. Despite being a frigid world, an intact flora and fauna was already in being, also, the mineral riches found onworld made it a sought after place to be. The temperatures on most of the planet, except the equator are deadly to humans outside of shelters, unless appropriate equipment is chosen. Vast underground facilities were therefore built to the extent of making Hector a formidable industrialized world.
Well fitted for the climate, this already insulated animal complements its heat economy by living in close-knit packs that rest together. Although there is little proof due to the problems involved in observing them, it is assumed that each Pack has a lair as its home, although Packs have been seen to live in the open for long periods of time, evidence points to a year maximum, in which only wind-protected places or other convenient places like caves are used.
Top of the chain
As a predator, the Ice Hellion is at the top of the food-chain of Hector, it has no natural enemies except for one, the Ice Ferret. This smaller creature seems to live off the Ice Hellion in a parasite-like manner, following weakened packs and feeding on the leftovers or dead Ice Hellions and probably taking on outcast individuals too weak to defend themselves.
The Ice Hellion Packs also fight each other for terrain and hunting grounds which are vast, although there have been occurrences where only one individual, usually the leading ones fight the other. Depending on the outcome, the rest of the Packs hold on to the result, however this happened only in relatively rich hunting grounds where new food was not the issue, in lesser areas (which are the norm and which are subsequently fought over by less potent packs), fights have been known to be relatively bloody. In a few occurrences whole Packs were wiped out by the superior ones.
Pack Organization
The Scientists made out a complex structure in the organization, which points to a considerable level of intelligence of the subject. A Pack is usually led by a pair of male and female Ice Hellions, one of them the most powerful and fastest, while the other is not always as big, there seems to be some kind of acknowledgement of superiority within the pack.
In regards to the order of respect: The lowest in the chain are called Skin snappers, usually the youngest or weakest of a pack. Then there are the Brain Suckers, Bone Crushers, Gut Gnawers and Muscle Munchers. Each of these names already tell the preferred or allowed part of the victim to eat, although the Brain Suckers are entitled to the usually very energy-rich brain and thus can be either older females or young offspring too inexperienced and young to digest other parts.
On a hunt, there are also distinctive roles within a pack, even though there have been occurrences of whole Packs hunting, most of the time only parts of it hunt as it can be rather dangerous. However, once sufficient prey has been slain, the rest of the Pack gathers to feast.
Hunting Classes are: Chasers, only used if the prey is too strong to attack in one strike, to wear it down; Snappers, aiding the Chasers with biting at the prey, those have, given the appropriate prey, a high rate of casualties; Seekers, they seek new prey and obviously assign the appropriate prey to the group; Guiders, usually the most experienced and old Hellions with knowledge of terrain, good resting places etc. Can work together with Seekers but will mostly guard the Pack. And finally the Attackers, the strongest and fastest, usually taking down the prey as a team, if worn out or not. Those are obviously Muscle-Munchers, although there have been occurrences of Bone-Crushers able to kill prey as well.
Communication: it is assumed that they talk via growls, snarls, and body language, but it cannot be counted out that there might be infrasound and clicks to augment the communication. Louder screams are reserved for intimidating other packs.
On a side note: the beaks of Ice Hellions belong to the toughest natural materials on Hector, their fur is sought-after and only allowed bloodnamed Warriors to wear with their ceremonial garb.
Usual prey
Ice Lizards, big 4 legged creatures that move slowly unless attacked. Can injure or kill with their whip-like tails and have thick skin. They are usually digging into ice and snow and graze on the abundant lichen that can grow fast in the cold and on almost any surface.
Hector Walrus: Land-Sea habitable, 6 legs, march long distances inland to breed. Males become extremely powerful and fast to protect their kin. If encountered in groups only elaborate tactics can be used to wear them down.
White Elks, 4 legged. Sharp spear-like horns used to defend and attack (top to down, spear their victims to the ground. Pack based. Under threat form at least double rings that cannot be easily broken. Thorned legs to protect their soft underbelly. Slain Elks must be pushed upwards by stronger Ice Hellion's horns to gain access to the belly. If not enough Ice Hellions are remaining to assist, it cannot be eaten.
Seldomly: Hectosaur, huge amphibious creatures that move slowly on land but are armored and at least in parts undigestable. Carrion feeders or fish eaters, they have strong and sharp teeth. Their only weak point is the relatively long neck. If attacked, mostly younger individuals are accounted as victims as their armor is still softer/thinner. Only Packs that have nothing to lose attack fully grown creatures as Hectosaurs have repeatedly been seen to wipe out whole hunting parties.
