Devil Weasels

Carnivorous Marsupials

The small creatures that come out during the night are far from scared of the predators in the daylight. Some choose the darkness to hunt and make their kills when the much larger creatures are unsuspecting of what waits for them once twilight falls. Others prefer to hide their identities behind the face of the moon, the ghastly visage of a smile all that can be seen in the waning light. The creatures of the night are not scared, but they are something that many should fear, small teeth and claws with a want for blood far greater than those that walk in the daylight.
Devil Weasels are some of the smallest creatures that call the Scorched Plains home, but they are creatures that all travelers should fear, no matter their size. These creatures are considered violent towards most creatures, large or small, and have even been known to attack Giantkin without fear for their own lives. The only carnivorous marsupial in the world, these small creatures are often the source of nightmares.
Those who have crossed paths with Devil Weasels often return scarred and maimed. It is nearly impossible to stumble upon one in the wild and not lose an appendage or two to the voracious creatures. Seemingly without fear, these marsupials will climb, bite, scratch, and otherwise harm anything that comes even remotely close to their territory or dens, even if that means harm to themselves. Some travelers will even argue that these maniacal creatures cannot die, giving an ounce of truth to the name these creatures hold.

Basic Information

Devil Weasel Den

Devil Weasel Den by Image via Midjourney, created by Riverfang

Devil Weasels are typically solitary creatures but will keep their young in their dens until they reach roughly seven months old. At that point, the younglings are kicked out and left to fend for themselves.

Anatomy

Devil Weasels are small, carnivorous marsupials that can often reach lengths of close to forty inches, including their tails. These creatures can weigh upwards of fifteen pounds with their thick, squat builds. Over short distances, Devil Weasels can reach speeds of up to ten miles per hour, making them impressively fast for their size.
Both sets of front and rear feet have a distinct number of toes with non-retractable claws that allow these creatures to hold food with their fifth, thumb-like toe on the front feet. The rear claws are often used for kicking and clawing, along with using their impressive bite force. Relative to their size, Devil Weasels have the most powerful bite of most mammalian carnivores.

Genetics & Reproduction

The aggression of these creatures is part of all aspects of life, including reproduction. Males are extremely territorial of their mated females, often keeping them in their dens by force. This often continues until the babies, or "imps", are old enough to live outside of the female's pouch at roughly four months.
At this point, the females are allowed to leave the dens with the imps in order to teach them how to survive. This will last for roughly three months before the imps are kicked out of the dens to find their own territories.

A litter of Devil Weasels numbers between twenty and thirty, but the mortality rate is high, with only about five to eight surviving until they are forced from the den. The surviving imps will live on their own until about two years old when they will begin mating and continuing the cycle.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Devil Weasels can only be found in a very small portion of the world that is often considered to be a barren wasteland of some measure, similar to the Deadzones. The Scorched Plains of the Southern Continent are often plagued by wildfires caused by the Chromatic Dragons that call the area home. Due to this, the area is populated by more aggressive creatures that can survive the hardship that is brought about by the Dragons.
Gnolls who call the Scorched Plains home are often noted to be the only people who can cohabitate with the Devil Weasels without constant injury. Historical reports noted a wider spread of these creatures into areas of the Forest of Mytos and the Djinn Ruins, but it is unknown why the change in habitat, although this phenomenon was noted alongside an increase in aggression throughout the species.

Devil Weasel

Devil Weasel by Image via Midjourney, created by Riverfang

Devil Weasels are known for their aggressive and vicious temperament that often causes harm to anyone who crosses their path. They are voracious eaters and will quickly clean carcasses if given the opportunity.

Scientific Name

Sarcophilus sunden

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Average Weight

12 to 15 lbs

Average Length

20 to 40 in, including the tail

Group Name

Hoard of Devil Weasels

Geographic Distribution

• Scorched Plains

Confused History

Historical accounts kept by many different people have mentioned the Devil Weasel, but modern-day Scholars are questioning the truth of these accounts. The earliest accounts from near the birth of the Elder Races often note creatures that are docile but exhibit extremely territorial behaviors, nothing like the creatures known today.
Some Scholars have wondered if the extreme presence of Leylines, especially along the surface of Nótios, could have caused these changes in the creatures over millennia. Others believe the presence of Gnolls in the creatures' desired habitat added to their aggression as this is an extreme trait present in both Gnolls and the Devil Weasels.