Jin'Hu
Known for its radiant fur and kingly appearance, the Jin’Hu is called the king of the Cleova. This territorial, apex predator rules over its domain in the northern regions alone, constantly on the prowl for prey with its sharp eyesight and acute hearing. Armed with a bone-crushing bite and a powerful pounce, the Jin’Hu is a very efficient killer. It’s low, rumbling growl causes other fearless Venari predators, such as the Leolis and Valtri, to stop in their tracks and flee. For much of the Age of Ignorance, humanity avoided all Venari, including the Jin’Hu. It wasn’t until after the Legendary Collector’s infamous encounter with them during one fateful Yue’Guxiang Festival, that the Jin’Hu were understood to be peaceful around humans - provided the proper respect be given to these proud predators.The Legendary Collector’s account has been widely popularized as one of the many tales celebrated during Yue’Guxiang, leading to the formation of one of its most well-known traditions; preparing food for one another to share a meal as respected equals.
Using its sharp claws to pierce directly into the icy rock, the Ice Jin’Hu is capable of scaling snowy mountain faces quickly. It’s thick white coat helps it stay warm and blend into the snowstorm, leaving its prey almost no time to react to seeing this terrifying ghost. This variant also tends to share territories as prey is extremely scarce in the high mountains and any successful hunt draws many Ice Jin’Hu together to feast.
A more southern variant, the Nature Jin’Hu has adapted well to its native home. Using it’s dark green fur, it has become a master of camouflage in the dense jungle as it lies quietly in wait in the trees and brush. Once a potential prey is spotted, it strikes as swiftly and silently as the wind, disappearing once again into the leaves without so much as a trace.
The Golden Jin’Hu is extremely rare but is easily distinguished by its famous golden coat. As they grow older, streaks of brilliant red begin to appear, creating a truly magnificent appearance. It is said that they earn these red stripes through long hours of basking under the hot sun, changing the colors of their hide underneath. As a result, they are often found in the open cliffsides where they can truly enjoy the radiant rays of the sun.
The Leolis is one of the most terrifying predators that roam Caerras. Travelling often in large packs, they’re famous for their piercing eyes and wide tails. Equipped with a thick hide resilient to scratches and a powerful snout that never forgets a scent, the Leolis can often track its prey across hundreds of miles. It is rumored that the Talasakan Tribe used to raise Leolis as hunting partners with children playing with young pups to forge a strong bond. Neria Axe, the founder of Talaw, refuted these claims, stating the Talasakan Tribe would commonly defend their people from Leolis attacks and proudly bore her scars as proof.
The Ice Leolis is very different from its other variants as it does not travel in packs due to the harsh climate that it resides in. However, even as a singular hunter, it’s incredibly lethal in prowling the snowy mountains, successfully hunting and devouring any prey it comes across.
Nature Leolis there isn’t really much known about this specific Venari variant, given how this vicious variant of Leolis leaves no survivors. In fact, the only reason we have records of this Venari is due to a remote camera catching glimpses of it camouflaged within brushes and tall grasses. If you encounter one, be extremely careful as it may be your final moments.
