MiniWatto

I can't draw, and have no friends! (That can draw, I mean. I have some friends.) So I did what everyone else does nowadays, and asked an AI! It actually made something kinda cool: Species: Hoplophoneus Insidiator Time: Eocene Diet: Carnivore Temperament: Cautious Wild: Hoplophoneus Insidiator is a species that has adapted to the nature of this derelict ARK like no other. While many creatures simply have adaptions to let them survive here, Hoplophoneus thrives. While not a true cat, it is the closest to filling that ecological niche in the environment. An ambush predator, it is capable of near physics-defying feats of climbing and leaping in pursuit of its prey, thanks to its emphasized claws for grip, and prehensile tail for balance. It has bioluminescent patterning that allows it to blend in seamlessly with its environment, and as such can be found in various biomes, but is equally hard to spot in all of them. It will modify the colouration of its patterning, or even extinguish the light it produces, to gain a stealth advantage wherever it is. It will then perform a lightning-fast leap, at which point its prey stands little chance of escape. In the few situations it feels threatened, it will exhibit strange, colourful patterns to attempt to confuse and intimidate its foe. It seems particularly cautious around particular species native to this ARK, such as Ravager packs and Basilisks. Domesticated: Hoplophoneus makes for a fine addition to any tribe. A fiercely loyal pet, it seems to gain endurance when ridden by its master. It makes for a supremely speedy mount, and all its abilities seen in the wild can be trained to use on command. Light shows to intimidate would-be attackers, and stealth for hunting, it is suited for the more cautious explorer of these hostile caverns. Its climbing prowess also comes in handy for reaching high ledges, but don't expect it to be able to climb for very long while ridden. It can even use its prehensile tail to carry small creatures, such as light-pets! Attempting to tame a Hoplophoneus via traditional methods is difficult. Its high metabolism renders narcotics weak, but the survivors on this ARK have found other methods. By allowing Hoplophoneus to attempt an ambush on oneself, and dodging at the last second, it will enter an intimidation state, attempting to ward you off with lights while slowly backing away. Keep up with it, pet it, and feed it, and it will start to grow tolerant of you. Just don't back it into a corner, or move too fast, otherwise it may attack. Repeating this a few times will allow you to tame it, and Hoplophoneus tamed this way rather than knocking them out seem to be slightly stronger in battle, likely due to the bond it forms via this process. So I always wanted Aberration to have a predator like this, not just surviving, but thriving. With the lack of Thylas, I feel a stealthier option with a bit less bulk is appropriate for the setting. Camouflage would be paramount to a creature like this, so the ability to change or even extinguish the bioluminescence would not only be cool aesthetically, but offer a tactical advantage. Naturally, being a slimly-built medium-sized carnivore, it would be fast to offset its lower health. As you can figure from the dossier, it also has the ability to use light patterns to intimidate foes, which could apply a short debuff to a charging carnivore or hostile mount. Being a fast climber it could then escape, or it could fight the weakened enemy if you so choose. I wanted a unique taming method, and I like the idea of tricking it and slowly bonding rather than just knocking it out. TL;DR: Kinda like a cat but isn't. Climbs and ambushes from high. Has wacky light show for scaring. Fast, lowish bulk. Can grab small stuff with tail. Oh, and it's based off Hoplophoneus Primaevus, obviously gave it bioluminescence to fit Aberration, and took some other creative liberties. Let me know what you think, and if you have suggestions, bring them on!