Bears (Black, Brown, Cave, Polar)

Bears are the heavy lords of forest and frozen waste: thick-furred, broad-shouldered brutes that stand head and shoulders above a man when they rear. Coats range from the small woodland black bear through the aggressive brown, the cave-dwelling giant, to the white northern swimmer. All share blunt strength, raking claws, and crushing jaws. Their sight is poor, but nose and ears miss little. Bears usually shun people, yet a startled, hungry or cub-guarding bear is among the deadliest wild encounters, swatting with both paws and dragging the victim into a bone-snapping embrace. The cave and northern kinds will charge armed parties outright. Cubs taken young can be tamed; full-grown, a bear yields pelt, fat and meat enough to outfit a household.