Dire wolf

A dire wolf was a dire version of a grey wolf, being a larger and more primitive or feral breed of wolf. Dire wolves were favored by the gods Garagos and Ilneval.

Description
Dire wolves grew to about 9 feet (2.7 meters) long and weighed up to 800 pounds (363 kilograms), about the size of a horse. Their fur was thick and a mottled grey or black in color, and they had fiery eyes.

Behavior
Dire wolves were far more aggressive than normal wolves, attacking and killing anything they could catch. They could be found singly as lone wolves or in packs numbering five to eight dire wolves.

Ecology
They could generally be found in temperate forest environments.

Abilities
They had keen senses, including a sharp sense of smell, allowing them to track their prey by scent. They could also move stealthily on the hunt.

Combat
Dire wolves fought in packs, fighting efficiently and surrounding their prey and flanking it to gain an advantage. Their bite was their only weapon, but they could drag a creature to the ground once they had gotten a hold of them.

History
In the Year of the Prince, 1357 DR, Conner and a young boy were traveling on a moor when fog swept in and they were beset by starving dire wolves. However, before the beasts closed in for the kill, a shaft of moonlight transported them to Waterdeep.