"Today he tore into the settlement, ... He'd changed almost beyond recognition. He'd become a huge bear with a spiked pelt and the strangest, curling claws. He attacked people! He rampaged through the campfires and hammocks, knocking down huts and tearing up crops. He's gone again, thank goodness but ... we don't know when he might come back."
- Brendan on the subject of Ursus
Ursus is a bear who lives in the land of Seraph. He acts as a guardian of the forest dwelling people, helping them defend from the dangers of the realm, and being highly respected and loved by the various communities for his role. The bear enjoys music, which soothes him greatly, and as such it is common for children to play for him. Ursus has a taste for beehives and spends much of his time searching the Eastern Forest for them to sate his stomach. Ursus was one of the victims of Malvel's and Petra's dark magic, which turned him into the Clawed Roar, a large bear Beast sporting large, curved claws and a series of orange spikes running along his back, created in order to buy the dark magic-users time to burn the Warlock's Staff. Ursus takes his name from Ursa, Latin for bear.
Guardian of the Forest[]
For decades, Ursus lived in the Eastern Forest of Seraph, helping protect the inhabitants of the forest. Ursus was beloved by all those who made their homes in the forest, who often brought him honey, his favourite snack. The bear often enjoyed listening to music, and it became common for him to be found among children playing music.
The Warlock's Staff[]
Ursus was looking for honey at the edge of the forest when Petra and Noctus arrived, having been sent to stop Tom and Elenna from pursuing Malvel to the Eternal Flame. After Peta and Noctus were forced to retreat, the young witch cast a spell on the bear, who paused his eating, went rigid, and began to growl as his body grew. Ursus rolled over as spikes erupted from his back and his claws grew. Ursus, now transformed into the Clawed Roar, stood, roared, and slashed at trees as he left the area. The Beast charged into a nearby settlement, where he slashed at houses and people, destroying many homes and crops before leaving.
Ursus resting under the waterfall.
Ursus falling from the cliff due to the rockfall made by the Purple Jewel.
Ursus pursuing the Avantians through the Eastern Forest.
Finding a waterfall, Ursus chose to sit under it and rest. As he rested under the crashing water, Tom and Elenna tracked the Beast to the waterfall. Detecting their approach, Ursus stood up and began to look around, missing the Avantians as they hid behind a rock. The Clawed Roar began to listen for his foes, picking up the sound of clattering rocks when Tom accidentally kicked pebbles down the slope towards him. Ursus began to sniff the air, picking up Tom's scent, as the droppings covering his arm to mask it had been washed off by the waterfall. Ursus roared in anger at his inability to fully locate the Avantians, making Tom and Elenna look from over the rock, however Elenna slightly overbalanced, picked up by the Beast, who whipped round, meeting Tom's eyes. Ursus roared, lowered himself onto all fours, and began to advance on his foes, climbing up the cliff towards them. Tom used the Purple Jewel to cut away a chunk of the cliff, creating a rockfall that struck the Clawed Roar and knocked him from he cliff with a roar of anger. Ursus shook his body and began to climb again. Realising Ursus's love of music could make the harp in Storm's saddlebag effective against him, Tom leapt down from the waterfall and began to swim across the river, watched by Ursus, who leapt down from the cliff and pursued the group through the forest.
Ursus rising up on his hind legs before Tom.
Ursus destroying the harp strings.
Ursus falling back into the water as he is shot near the heart.
Ursus (in his normal form) allowing Myra to bury her head in his fur, having been freed from the spell.
Storm's hoof became stuck in ivy, allowing the Clawed Roar to approach him. Ursus slashed at Tom as he helped out his horse, missing Tom as he ducked and recovered the harp. Furious, the Beast rose up onto his back legs and bellowed, however Tom caught the look of pain in his eyes from the transformation. The Clawed Roar lunged with his teeth, being struck on the snout by Tom's shield. Ursus began to rake his claws at his foe until he was distracted by an arrow sinking into the tree next to him, which he crushed. Continuing to distract the Beast, Elenna shot an arrow into a branch near his head, which he shattered with his teeth. The Clawed Roar leapt towards the archer, striking the bow from her hands. The Clawed Roar bounded forward and tried to crush her with his body, but failed. The Beast then located the bow and destroyed it with his teeth, forcing Elenna to retreat. As the Beast moved to attack Elenna in the tree she was hidden in, Tom plucked the harp, making the Clawed Roar whip around. Using what he knew from Aunt Maria's lyre playing, the warrior played a simple set of notes, allowing Ursus to stalk towards him. The Beast grew calmer from the music, laying down on the grass. However, Malvel and Petra, who were watching, used dark magic to create a flash of lightning and the noise of the dark wizard's laughter, snapping the Beast from his trance, who rushed forward and grabbed the harp's strings in his teeth and tugged, snapping them as he pulled against Tom. Ursus loomed over his foe, but was snapped at by Silver. The Clawed Roar slashed at the wolf, who twisted away, almost making the Beast topple. While Silver distracted the Beast, Tom and Elenna made an improvised bow from a bamboo shoot and fired an arrow into a branch near his head, making Ursus rock backwards in panic. Storm and Silver shepherded the transformed bear backwards to the river bank, scaring him for the first time as he struggled to retain his balance. Elenna fired an arrow, which struck the Clawed Roar's ankle, forcing him back onto all fours. Tom advanced on Ursus and slashed his blade to keep the Beast back. Elenna then aimed an arrow at the Beast's leg and fired. But at the last moment, Ursus reared up with a roar, only to slip on the mud, and the arrow entered the flesh near the area where his heart is, causing the Clawed Roar to fall backwards into the water. The Beast survived the attack and, defeated, began to revert to his true form, being freed from the spell. Realising Ursus was back to normal, the people of the forest quickly embraced him again and brought him a pot of honey, making the bear roll onto his stomach and begin to drink.
Powers, Abilities and Weaknesses[]
Powers and Abilities[]
- Natural Weaponry: Ursus has sharp claws and teeth.
- Enhanced Durability: Ursus has enhanced durability, as he can survive getting hit by multiple falling rocks.
Weaknesses[]
- Music Soothing: Ursus can be soothed by music.
A - Z of Beasts[]
"Like the other Beasts of Seraph, Ursus was not always so fearsome and brutal. He was once a gentle bear who protected the inhabitants of the forest, but he was turned evil by Malvel's cruel magic. This Beast terrifies his enemies with his deafening roar, dagger-like teeth and colossal claws."
Compass Text[]
" Ursus can smell the fear of his prey."