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Bearsloths were fierce arboreal predators found in the forests of Arbooine. They had long furry bodies with six legs and four eyes. The species possessed a slow-acting venom and would bite prey and then hide while the venom weakened the target to a point where it could not defend itself.
Biology and appearance
The bearsloth had a long body with shaggy camouflage-patterned brown fur covering their backs and pale fur on their undersides and face. The face had four horns, two larger horns level with their four eyes and two smaller protruding down beside the mouthfull of sharp teeth. The species had six limbs each ending in sharp black talons.[1]
Bearsloth venom did not instantly kill prey, but slowly sapped their health as they exerted themselves, leading victims to often hasten their own demise by attempting to flee. The venom retained its potency long after the creature's death and being cut with a weapon coated in bearsloth venom was just as deadly as being bitten by the creature itself.[1]
Behavior
Bearsloths were arboreal ambush and pack hunters, living amongst the forests of Arbooine and using their fearsome claws to traverse the canopy effortlessly. The species were one of the world's most dangerous predators due to their strength, venom, natural ferocity, and fearlessness, posing a constant hazard to anyone visiting Arbooine. Of these attributes, the species was known primarily for its venomous bite, but also its ferocity.[1]
Naturally stealthy and aided by their camouflaged fur, the creatures struck unwary prey from the trees before hiding and letting their venom finish off the target. Once the prey was unable to defend itself, the bearsloth would ambush it again and move in for the kill.[1]
History
A crime lord captured several bearsloths and placed them in the forests surrounding the lord's manor, where the creatures acted as guards for the criminal and executioners for those that were exiled from the manor into the forest. Sathari hunters local to Arbooine would use bearsloth venom to poison their diiros. The venom became a hot commodity for one local arms dealer.[1]
The dealer hired a group of spacers to acquire the venom for an eager client.[1]
Behind the scenes
In the new Star Wars canon, bearsloths were first mentioned in the 2017 Fantasy Flight Games roleplaying game sourcebook No Disintegrations.[2] The species originated in the 2015 Star Wars Legends roleplaying supplement Chronicles of the Gatekeeper, which was also released by Fantasy Flight Games.[3]
Sources
- No Disintegrations (First mentioned)
- Allies and Adversaries