An alphyn is an aggressive, carnivorous quadruped native to the forested hills and mountains of Ydra. It vaguely resembles a hunting hound, with long ears like a hare, a pointed nose, and a tufted tail studded with knots of muscle. Alphyns have talons like eagles and are excellent climbers. Their fur is long, silky, and usually a silvery gray, while their eyes are unusually large and yellow; alphyns' pupils rarely ever dilate, and their vision tends to be poor (particularly during the day). Any attempts to domesticate them have ended poorly.
These creatures are notorious for killing more prey than they need to eat, burying some for later but leaving the rest to rot; alphyns engaged in a battle for territory often kill the largest creatures they can and leave the corpses as a dominance display. They can and will attack sentients, even if vastly outnumbered, and prefer ambush hunting.
Alphyns live either alone or in small family groups. They mate for life, and have litters of 3-6 kits an average of once every other spring. Kits reach sexual maturity in a year and a half and are driven away from their parents' territory shortly afterwards.
Those who follow the Hroendir associate the goddess Roghasoldarian with the alphyn, both for its savagery and loyalty.
