Wolverine (EvilHack)

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For the monster in SLASH'EM and similar variants, see wolverine (SLASH'EM).

A wolverine, d, is a type of monster that appears in EvilHack. The wolverine is a medium-sized and carnivorous rodent-like woodland animal that is strong, thick-skinned, can be seen via infravision, and can follow a hero to other levels if they are adjacent. Wolverines cannot be scared by an engraved Elbereth, and may go berserk at less than 13 of their maximum HP. Druids that reach experience level 14 can wildshape themselves into the form of a wolverine.

A wolverine has two bite attacks and a claw attack, and possesses cold resistance.

Generation

Randomly-generated wolverines are always created hostile. They can appear in the Ice Queen's Realm. A wolverine can grow up into a dire wolverine.

The summon animal spell has a 425 chance of creating a tame wolverine when cast at Expert skill in evocation spells.

A wolverine is randomly placed in each of the upper filler levels on the Druid quest during level creation.

Origin

The wolverine, also called the "carcajou" or "quickhatch" (from East Cree kwiihkwahaacheew), is a carnivorous animal that is the largest land-dwelling member of the family Mustelidae, which includes weasels, otters and badgers. It is an elongated and low-slung animal about the size of a medium dog, with a body length ranging from 65–109 cm (26–43 in), and it has strong limbs, a broad and rounded head, small eyes, and short rounded ears. Males are often 10–15% larger than the females in linear measurements and can be 30–40% greater in weight.

The wolverine is found primarily in the remote reaches of the northern boreal forests in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as the subarctic and alpine tundras, with the greatest population numbers in Northern Canada, the U.S. state of Alaska, the mainland Nordic countries of Europe, and throughout western Russia and Siberia. Its population has steadily declined since the 19th century owing to trapping, range reduction and habitat fragmentation: wolverines have low population density and live in large territories, bringing them into conflict with human development; as of November 2023, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have added the wolverine to the threatened list in the United States' lower 48 states.

The wolverine is a solitary animal with a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself. Though it has short legs, its large five-toed paws and posture enable it to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease. Wolverines are primarily scavengers, with most of their food being carrion left by wolves, especially in winter and early spring; they may find carrion themselves (e.g. by following wolf and lynx trails), feed on it after the predator has finished, or simply take it from another predator. Wolverines in "Old World" locations, such as the Scandinavian and Kola peninsulas and the mainland Finland, hunt more actively than their North American relatives—this may be because competing predator populations in Eurasia are less dense, making it more practical for a wolverine to hunt for itself than to try and snatch another animal's kill.

The wolverine has a reputation as an insatiable glutton: this is reflected in its Latin genus name Gulo ("glutton"), though this may be in part due to a false etymology resulting from its less common name in Norwegian, fjellfross ("mountain cat") possibly working its way into German as Vielfraß ("glutton", literally "devours much"). The wolverine's feeding style appears voracious, which plays a large part in its reputation and is the basis for the scientific name, but this is believed to be an adaptation to food scarcity (especially in winter). They are also known to occasionally eat plant matter.

Encyclopedia entry

The wolverine, also called the carcajou or quickhatch, is the
largest land-dwelling member of the family Mustelidae. It is a
muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The wolverine has a
reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its
size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger
than itself.