| Other Names | - |
| Climate/Terrain | Mountains |
| Frequency | Rare |
| Organization | Solitary |
| Activity Cycle |
Any |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The dread wolf is an enormous canine species native to the northern forests and mountains of the world. It appears as a much larger and more powerfully built type of wolf with larger fangs, a larger head and a large chest cavity. An average dread wolf is 1.5 meters tall at the shoulder and weighs 200 kg. Dread wolves have shaggy fur and very thick hides over layers of fat that provides them with very good protection against weapons. Their fur is typically mottled grey, dark grey or black.
A dread wolf has huge jaws and a very powerful bite which it uses to great effect in combat. Unlike normal wolves, dread wolves are solitary creatures and always hunt alone.
Dread wolves are quite agile for their size and difficult to strike. They are also excellent runners and can sprint at tremendous speed for short distances, even over rough and rocky terrain.
Dread wolves prefer the colder northern climates. They can be found in the forests, hills, highlands and mountains throughout the north.
Dread wolves are predators and strictly carnivorous. Their prey is primarily elk, deer, wild boar and wild hares. There are reports of large specimens bringing down young behemoths. It will sometimes prey on livestock and a single dread wolf can be a major threat to farming villages. Dread wolves have also been known to attack travelers on the road.
Dread wolves have excellent hearing and smell and will smell an adventuring party from 3 kilometers away.
Due to their excellent sense of smell, dread wolves can fight invisible opponents with reduced penalties. Treat the dread wolf as if it had blindfighting at skill rank 6.
It is widely believed that the dread wolf was magically created by a wizard as a weapon for use in the Great War centuries ago. Given the abnormally large size and aggressive nature of the beast, this is quite possible. In any case, it seems that the dread wolf has managed to survive and thrive as an apex predator in the north.
This website was last updated March 31, 2026. Copyright 1990-2026 David M. Roomes.