Adult Rift Panther

The Rift Panther is a breed of carnivorous panther known for its increased size, as well as its cleverness in outsmarting prey. This breed originated from an area of Vankiden known as the Rift, a place of deep gulleys and dense, overgrown forests in the lowlands, with crags and steep cliffs in the highlands.

The Rift Panther is known to stalk the ruins of abandoned cities within the rift, making their homes in the upper floors of wizard towers, the spires of castles, or other high places such as craggy hilltops, where they can keep their young away from the other vicious predators that permeate the Rift's lowlands. 

Rift panthers' hunting patterns change with the seasons. During the warmer months, they hunt mostly at night, but during the Rift's especially brutal winters, they are forced to hunt during the day to avoid risking hypothermia, as the beasts are very lean, which aids in stealth but does little to keep them warm. Because of this, rift panthers will also seek out the steam vents that dot the Rift's landscape. However, if the steam vent is occupied by a larger predator such as a dire bear, the rift panther will simply move along in search of another vent.