Bears

Bears are found in several varieties throughout Rokugan. The brown forest bear is the most commonly found bear, living mostly in Shinomen Mori and mountainous regions near water such as the Phoenix lands. All bears are extremely territorial, and will defend their lairs violently without provocation. Trespassers are chased well beyond the bears borders to ensure they do not return. Bears are solitary by nature and will rarely be seen together unless it is a female with one or two cubs. If left alone bears are generally inactive and would not instigate violence outside their territories. In rare instances a bear had been known to acquire the taste of human flesh. Such bears have been hunted down and destroyed in order to keep them from slaughtering peasants or samurai. Black bears are capable of climbing treet to pursue trespassers. Brown bears usually adopt caves as their homes, and are more aggressive than a black bear. If a trespasser is chased up a tree the brown bear will attempt to knock the tree down, or at least shake it's quarry out of the tree. Standing, a bear can reach about six feet tall and weights usually reach fivehundred pounds. (3E p. 278)