Whitemane Anjanath

Whitemane Anjanath is a Deviant of Anjanath.

Description
An aging Anjanath that is nonetheless impressive to behold. Its fur is longer and greying, its waddle is bigger, while its skin has lost some of its vibrancy. Uniquely, this Anjanath’s tail is equipped with functional quills that can inflict terrible lacerations. Its body is covered in scars, its dorsal sails are ragged, and some of its teeth are either chipped or missing, but there is still vigor in its eyes and in its movements.

Habitat Range
Since it is technically a common Anjanath, the Whitemane is found in the same places as its younger counterparts.

Ecological Niche
The Whitemane Anjanath rivals most apex predators.

Biological Adaptations
The Whitemane Anjanath is a paragon of its kind. Immense in size and unmatched in ferocity, it is still a prime specimen in spite of its advancing years. In fact, since few Anjanath ever reach old age before violence claims them, that the Whitemane has lived for this long is a testament to its strength. Yet the Whitemane’s most formidable asset is its mind. While still an animal, it is nonetheless a long-lived animal with keen instincts, a discerning eye, and decades of battle experience. It demonstrates remarkable problem-solving for its kind, and is familiar with certain hunter tools and tactics, which it will try to counter. Of course, like any creature, it is prone to making mistakes while angry, but its rage is enough to overwhelm most hunters. Indeed, when roused to fury, the Whitemane Anjanath can call upon a reservoir of strength that almost beggars belief. This infamous “berserker rage” allows it to compete with monsters normally outside of an Anjanath’s league, including the fearsome Savage Deviljho and even some Elder Dragons—though every documented occurrence of these titanic battles ends with the Anjanath limping away to lick its wounds, hurt but undefeated.

Behavior
The Whitemane Anjanath’s strength belies its cunning. Brute Wyverns aren’t especially well known for their intelligence, yet the Whitemane Anjanath exhibits a degree of critical thinking that seems almost human. It is certainly more cautious than its younger counterparts, but that isn’t to say it’s cowardly. It is still an Anjanath, but it doesn’t charge wildly into battle. It takes note of the environment and proceeds carefully when it encounters something unfamiliar. If engaged in an environmental hazard that can be used against them, the Whitemane Anjanath will take the fight elsewhere. Furthermore, it’s tangled with enough hunters in the past to recognize the function of traps, which it will try to disarm either by crushing the device with a boulder or using another monster to trigger it. However, this same forethought is thrown to the wind once the monster is sufficiently enraged.

Attacks

 * Corrosive Snot: The Whitemane Anjanath's snot contains corrosive properties and can inflict Defense Down.
 * Leap And Reap: Whenever the Whitemane Anjanath leaps, it immediately launches into a 360° spin with its tail.
 * Tail Quills: The Whitemane Anjanath's tail has sharp quills that can inflict Bleeding.

Place in the Food Chain
The Whitemane Anjanath sits at the top of the food chain, and can fight stand toe-to-toe with powerhouses and lesser Elder Dragons.

Monster Interactions
The Whitemane Anjanath can pick up smaller monsters and use them as a bludgeon, similar to Deviljho. It only does this to get the upper hand against a stronger monster or as a means to "disarm" traps.

Turf Wars

 * Anjanath/Fulgur Anjanath/Whitemane Anjanath: The two Anjanath circle each other as the younger one roars at the Whitemane, but the Whitemane remains quiet and unfazed. Frustrated, the lesser Anjanath charges the Whitemane, who whips around with its tail at the last second, slapping away its foe. While the Anjanath is still recoiling, the Whitemane clamps its jaws on its throat and slams it into the ground.
 * Rajang/Furious Rajang: Rajang pounds its chest before leaping toward the Whitemane Anjanath, leading into a colossal punch. The Whitemane Anjanath quickly recovers and clamps onto the Rajang's arm, briefly lifting it up and throwing it aside.
 * Deviljho/Savage Deviljho: The two Brute Wyverns roar at each other before charging and colliding. In a frenzy of bites and headbutts, the Deviljho manages to knock the Whitemane Anjanath onto its back and starts taking bites of its underside, only for the Whitemane to unleash a powerful gout of fire that the Deviljho is physically pushed away.

Tracks
The Whitemane Anjanath will leave behind Footprints and Mucus.

Armor

 * Total Skills: Earplugs 3, Focus 3, Heroics 3, Iron Skin 3, Latent Power 3, Maximum Might 3, Resentment 3, Tool Specialist 3, Whitemane Soul
 * Set Bonus (Whitemane Soul): Adrenaline + Stamina Cap Up + Stamina Surge 3