Jay Galore
- Intent: Create a predator for Epica.
- Image Credit: Avatar
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Name: Viator, "Screamer"
- Designation: Non-sentient
- Origins: Epica
- Average Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Estimated Population: Planetary
- Description: A six legged predator that can be found either alone or in a small pack, Viators can be easily identified by their exposed front teeth, moving head plates, and smooth, black colored skin. While they aren't massive predators, they are still pretty big, and will occasionally let out a very humanoid scream. While it's unknown what this call really is, it's noted some people on Epica go missing investigating screams they hear.
- Breathes: Type I
- Average Height of Adults: .75 m
- Average Length of Adults: 2 m
- Skin color: Black
- Hair color: None
- Distinctions: Viators are an Epica predator denoted by their strong, six-legged build that comes out to 2 m in length, including their tail. They notably have set of moving head plates that are used for communication and display. The plates have long extensions that seem to only be for display, with males have blood red tips to these otherwise pale yellow structures. Young Viators lack these extensions. It's also notable that Viator's behaviors do seem to change with environment. While they do live in spall groups, they hunt alone when in wooded areas. In contrast, they will hunt together when in open fields to take down larger prey, such as Caoineadh.
- Races: N/A
- Force Sensitivity: Non-Sensitive
- Strong build.
- Sharp teeth and claws.
- Intelligent for a creature.
- Their skin is kind of thin.
- Exposed teeth can be more easily damaged.
- The display structures of their head plates can be easily damaged.
- Diet: Carnivore
- Communication: Growls, Low hissing roars, head plates, screams.
- Technology level: N/A
- Religion/Beliefs: N/A
- General behavior: Viators have been seen to live in loose group, and either hunt solo in the forests, or in groups in the plains. They also show a caring side when it comes to their young, and seem almost surprisingly cautious with them, with the entire group helping to feed and rear them. Their use of their head plates in communication has lead to some interesting discoveries, particularly that groups in different areas of the planet seem to use different opening and closing patterns to get the same point across. It's also noted that both males and females seem to display their head plates during mating season, as opposed to one or the other trying to attract a mate, which has been seen as curious by those who study the species. Strangely, despite their black skin, Viators don't appear to be nocturnal hunters for the most part, suggesting that it's camouflage to hide from something else.
A strange predator found on Epica, the Viator, sometimes nicknamed "Screamers," is a capable, six-legged hunter that can often be seen stalking prey on the planet. Considered a prize by the planet's wealthy thanks to their stealth and striking head plate displays, the realities for the planet's poor is much less glamorous. While they don't actively hunt the planets poor, there are stories of people hearing a scream and running off to help, only to never be found after the fact. Viators have however been seen hunting livestock and pets, not seeming to be too scared to approach the planets inhabitants when they can get close without being spotted.
