Wolf

Wolves refer to several species of canines in the genus Canis, most notably the Grey Wolf. Between 105 and 160cm long and can weigh between 25-79 kg, wolves are intelligent social predators that live in packs of up to 15 members. Wolves are not particularly fast, but they are built for endurance running. This social behaviour has made them one of the apex predators of the Quaternary period. It also meant that about 15,000 years ago the wolf was likely the first animal domesticated, with the wolves that went along with the upright apes eventually giving rise to dogs.

Wolves in Fantasy

People have had several views of wolves. Traditionally in Europe the view of wolves have been negative, making them out as crazed bloodthirsty man-eaters. In truth, wolves generally avoid humans and unprovoked attacks on humans by wolves are rare. In the 20th century there has been a backlash against this narrative and a certain level of romanticism about Wolves as noble beautiful loyal creatures, this is going a bit towards an opposite extreme.

Either way, the mythic man-eaters and proud moon-howlers both have found a place in fantasy fiction. If you want something which is wild and sometimes brutal, but free, social and loyal a wolf can be a fitting symbol for it. Wolves are also often used in fantasy heraldry, especially by the more wild, northern-like warrior factions - in these cases, the wolf motif are a moniker for the savage and fierce, yet loyal pack animal that will always act with the group's best interest. At other times, wolf heraldry is used to conjure the idea of a ravening pack of carnivores, and are used for raiders, bandits and other violent ne'er-do-wells.

While real world are chunky lupines, they aren't really a good riding animal for anything but very brave, hopefully awful-tasting babies. In fantasy, however, they are often riding mounts for certain monstrous races - for example, in Middle Earth Goblins often ride wolves into battle, a trait carried over into Warhammer Fantasy. Here they are close to both romantic ideas of the wolf; pack animals that are loyal to their riders, but savage to their enemies.

Finally, any classic European-style fantasy setting has wild wolves out to grant the heroes some early XP; wolf packs are common early enemies in many RPGs and settings alongside bandits, goblins and, in eastern fantasy, slimes.

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