Xenartha

The Event has brought true chaos to Apoc-Earth, decimating civilizations and ecosystems alike. As such, the empty niches left by species driven to extinction by the Event have been filled by other, unusual creatures. Some of these creatures range from the familiar but strange, such as the Apoc-Shark; to the truly bizarre and terrifying such as the Ruinstalker. The Xenartha is an oddity that falls somewhere in the middle.

The Xenartha's biological origins are somewhat humble, tracing it's descent from the lowly armadillo of pre-Event Earth. Considered little more than a pest in pre-Apoc times, the Xenartha has evolved to become one of the New Earth's premier survivors. Found in large numbers on both American continents, ranging from just below the Arctic circle down into the very tip of South America, the Xenartha is a well adapted and flexible creature.

Xenarthas are quite large, ranging from 11 to 15 feet tall, and weighing in at a whopping 5,000 lbs. Most of its body is covered in a thick, leathery hide that thickens to form a flexible shell on its back, covered in small spikes. Its two forelegs have razor sharp, spade like claws, capable of digging through earth and armor equally well. The Xenartha also boasts a maw of razor sharp teeth that are incredibly strong, making it's bite incredibly damaging.

Most encounters with Xenarthas have been violent. Xenarthas are renowned predators, and have been known to take a test bite out of anything. This "test biting" habit most likely developed as a result of the Xenartha's relatively poor eyesight but highly developed sense of smell. The Xenartha's poor eyesight is also a contributing factor to one of the creatures other major characteristic: violence. Xenartha's are incredibly violent, capable of causing incredible destruction in a small amount of time. Many scientists believe that the Xenartha's poor eyesight has caused this species to become extremely defensive, using it's considerable size and strength to fight off any threat and possibly gain a meal.

Xenarthas are not social creatures, nor do they establish territories as other predators do. Instead, if the ecosystem can support them, several Xenarthas can be found in relatively close quarters. Xenarthas also have a tendency to burrow; making large but simple dens that can go several yards deep. These dens may not have very large openings, and are often hidden behind rocks or bushes. This is often another cause of the Xenartha’s violence. Many unsuspecting victims have incurred the wrath of a Xenartha by accidentally stumbling across its den. The noise or smells of the newcomers often awaken and startle the Xenartha, sending it into a defensive mode. Once the Xenartha has begun to attack, it is not easy to stop.

Tactics: Xenarthas are not incredibly intelligent. As such, they are often very focused and unrelenting, especially when feeding. Surprisingly stealthy for their size, Xenarthas will often track prey for miles, ambushing them at the earliest opportunity. Xenarthas will also build what the NAU refer to as "Death Beds". The Xenartha will dig a shallow den next to a game trail, and wait for prey to come along, blending in to the local terrain. After catching and consuming their prey, they will often settle back down in this "death bed" and wait for another creature to come a long, most likely another predator or scavenger of some sort, which the Xenartha will then catch and eat. These dens can quickly accumulate a graveyard’s worth of bones in just a few days.

However, if caught in the open, the Xenartha is even more dangerous, especially if cornered. Large and strong, Xenarthas will often rear up on their hind legs, slashing at their attackers and biting if possible. Their thick hide makes them resistant to all but the strongest of attackers.