Wraith Jackals

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type:

Undead-beast

habitat:

Subalpine pines, cliff roads; common along Ironwood Pass and fringes of Duskfall Ridge

threat_level:

High

size:

1.2–1.5 m nose-to-tail; 25–35 kg (when manifested)

behavior:

Pack hunters; ambush-focused; drawn to fear and warm breath

weaknesses:

Bright flame, continuous bell tones, consecrated iron, coordinated counters

resistances:

Cold, fear, charmed effects, mundane arrows

notable_scenes:

Ironwood Pass: Lantern Trail, Waystone Bridge

Description

• Lean, long-limbed canids with translucent hide and wind-tattered manes.
• Eyes glow dim blue-white; jaws trail hoarfrost when breathing in.
• Paws leave shallow rime prints that sublimate within minutes.
• Bodies flicker between sinew and smoke; ribs show as pale bands when phasing.
• Pack dynamics mirror living jackals: scouts, flankers, and a dominant lead pair.

Habitat / Biome / Scene(s)

• Subalpine conifer belts and cliffside tracks along Ironwood Pass.
• Ravines and snow chutes near the Waystone Bridge and Lantern Trail.
• Occasional spillover to trade cutbacks in Duskfall Ridge.
• Avoid open, sunlit slopes; prefer shadowed terraces and fog banks.

Abilities / Attacks / Behaviors

• Phase Pounce: short-range blink through thin cover; first hit ignores light armor.
• Lantern-Shy: dim, steady flame reduces their aggression radius.
• Frost Howl: area fright effect; chills air and slows reactions.
• Carrion Sense: tracks spilled blood and panic-breath over long distances.
• Pack Harry: stagger from alternating nips; builds to a crippling hamstring.
• Mist Veil: briefly disperses into vapor to avoid ranged volleys.
• Grave-Tough: high resistance to cold and fear; immune to mundane charm.

Drops / Loot

• Rime-Pelt Scraps: alchemical fiber that holds cold; used in chill-ward linings.
• Hoarfang Shard: brittle fang that amplifies frost runes.
• Lantern-Soot Core: condensed shadow from throat; fuel for dim wards.
• Slate Fox Talisman (rare, snagged from victims): sometimes cracked but still blessed.
• Waystone Token (very rare): recovered near ravine ambush sites.

Stats

• Rank: Elite mob (pack of 3–7; alpha variant possible)
• Health: Moderate; phases reduce effective damage intake
• Damage: Piercing + cold
• Resist: Cold, fear, charm; partial to nonmagical missiles
• Weak: Bright fire, bell chimes, consecrated iron, sunlit exposure
• Speed: Fast on ledges; excellent leap and climb
• Vision: Superior in fog and dusk; poor in steady lamplight

Tactics / Strategy

• Keep lanterns lit and grouped; rotate bearers to maintain steady flame.
• Use bell tones from shrines or travel chimes to disrupt Frost Howl cadence.
• Force materialization with consecrated iron or sustained fire before committing melee.
• Do not pursue into fog off the road; hold lines at waystones and cutbacks.
• Assign a rear-guard; packs favor trailing porters and wounded mounts.
• If an alpha manifests, focus disables; breaking the lead pair collapses the harry pattern. Escorts like the Ronin excel at counter-burst during Phase Pounce windows.

Lore

• Local tales claim their first pack rose from smugglers who starved a caravan and left offerings at the Shrine of the Slate Fox; the pact soured during the Lantern Amnesty led by Lady Kayo.
• Bell ropes along the Lantern Trail are said to “cut the path” between worlds; single, steady peals work best.
• Old wardens note they will not cross a freshly chalked waystone; mixtures often include ash from Ironwood Pass lantern soot.
• Hunters from Hikari Province report increased sightings after disputes at River Gate shifted night traffic north.

Image Gallery

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A pack stalking the Lantern Trail at dusk

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Ambush near the Waystone Bridge

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Circling below the cliff shrine bell

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Vanishing into snow squall above the switchbacks