Physical Characteristics
Dire Beasts look exactly the same as any other beast except for one thing: They are twice the size with some maxing out at three times the size of a normal animal. They are a rare occurrence, with no one really understanding what caused such a massive over growth to begin with. All Non-Sapient creatures have the potential to be Dire.
Natural Habitat
Dire Beasts are often found wherever their normal counterparts prefer to call home, just on a larger scale.
Procreation
Dire Beasts are thought to originally be a mutation, any creature has the potential to produce a Dire. The smaller the creature, the more likely they are to produce a Dire. There have been entire colonies of Dire Rats, but it is rare to see a Dire Bear. In the case of a Dire Beast mating with another Dire Beast they will produce Dire offspring.
Special Abilities
The only special ability above that of their normal animal counterparts is that Dire Beasts tend to show more intelligence and ability to understand the world around them. This often leads to Dire Beasts leading groups or packs of their non-Dire counterparts.
Weaknesses
Dire Beasts do not have the ability to Glamour and do not have the capacity to access magic. They share the same weaknesses as their normal counterparts.
History
Dire Beasts have been the source of stories and tall tales throughout time. Stories of terrifying beasts holding villages hostage or hunters rescuing a Dire Beast when they were young and forming a bond. They are a part of nature, one that cannot be ignored or forgotten. Especially now as so much of the New World has returned to their roots in the Old and are upsetting their ways of life.