Welak
The welak are a species of large, four-legged wolves native to the jungle planet of Eryn. They are the distant, non-intelligent evolutionary ancestors of the upright rylak. Despite lacking the higher intelligence of their bipedal cousins, they are exceptionally fast, fierce, and equally dangerous.
Biology and Appearance
Welak are beautifully muscular animals with thick coats. The populations found further south in the Wilds are described as a brown variety, streaked through with occasional patches of gray. Unlike the rylak, welak run exclusively on all fours.
Ecology and Behavior
Welak are pack animals that instinctively protect their own. When resting or threatened, a pack will arrange itself into a strategic triangle formation, positioning the three strongest wolves at the points while keeping the smaller members and vulnerable pups safely in the center.
Unlike the rylak, welak cannot be reasoned with and do not possess a complex, constructed language. Instead, they communicate using an instinctive, signal-based system of barks and howls. In the wild, they directly compete with kabul wildcats for the same food sources, making the two species natural enemies. While they are deadly predators, welak do not typically hunt or eat rylak, and a one-on-one fight between a rylak and a welak is generally considered to be an equal match.
Key Events
The Taming of Kharad
While traversing the Wilds, Jascyn, Lysa (Lys), and the young dragon Aena accidentally disturb a sleeping welak pack. The pack attacks Jascyn, forcing him to fight the packleader in self-defense. Jascyn uses his fingerclaws to severely wound the wolf, but rather than finish it off, he uses his unique demisoul magic to form a peaceful souljoin with the dying beast, stopping its bleeding and saving its life. Meanwhile, Aena uses dragon vocalizations to assert her dominance as the new "packleader," causing the rest of the pack to respectfully retreat into the jungle. Jascyn names his new companion Kharad, making the welak his first true animal ally.
The Battle of Kryptan Fortress
Later in their journey, Jascyn and Kharad encounter another welak named Vorad and his pack of twenty-six warriors. Adding them to his rapidly growing animal army, Jascyn leads the welak wolves into the final battle at Calarel's Kryptan Fortress. The welak fight ferociously alongside the rest of the unified army, but Kharad is tragically killed when he is speared beneath the claw of a mind-controlled dragon.
Notable Welak
- Kharad: A welak packleader who is defeated and subsequently souljoined by Jascyn, serving as a fiercely loyal companion until his death in the Kryptan Mountains.
- Vorad: A welak wolf who, along with his pack of twenty-six warriors, joins Jascyn's massive animal army.