Entity 14-FR - "The Grisdos"
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⚠️Warning⚠️

This article is included in an on-going canon which will be published soon.

IETS

Entity Number : 14-FR

Habitat : Level 14-FR

Description :

Missing alt text.

Sketch made by a level 4-FR resident named Alicia, following her visit to the Marine Gallery.

Grisdos, (Greybacks in French), are a sort of unknown semi-aquatic mammal of the Frontrooms that lives in different groups in the heart of the Marine Gallery. They are often described as "bears mixed with otters", on average measuring 3.2 meters and weighting 470 kilos for males and 3.7 meters and 530 kilos for female adults. They are covered with white and grey fur. They are generally not aggressive towards humans and will avoid them most of the time; however, they won't hesitate to attack if someone gets too close to them or their "nest". Nevertheless, a wanderer underwater may stir the curiosity of the entities who will approach to interact with them. Although most of these interactions end well, with some wanderers having pet them, sometimes the Grisdos will attack if that person makes too many abrupt movements or panics, resulting in their death.

⚠️ Warning : Although generally passive, Grisdos remain wild animals, and, on top of that, very intelligent. Attacks may not be common, but are always deadly.1

Biology

Grisdos have a polar bear-like morphology, although less imposing and more stretched, slender, and aerodynamic (see sketch above), in the manner of a quite muscly otter. They have four impressing limbs (that they only use in water to stay static,) as well as an elongated and powerful tail they use to swim the way sea lions do. They are provided with light but extremely dense, to the point of being almost hydrophobic, fur, which increases their swimming speed (with the all-time record being attained by Prator, a young 3.4 meters' male who reached 75 km/h, or 46 mph, when he was hunting a swordfish2). The fur's colors are the reason why they're named Grisdos. Indeed, the lower part of their body until their shoulders is white that fades to grey on their back. This distinctive feature resembles the Countershading phenomenon from the Frontrooms , which is a form of passive camouflage that can be found in sharks. However, there are still questions about how it appeared in the species, as the level is constantly illuminated, making this type of adaption completely useless.

These Entities have quite elongated canine jaws with two sets of ribbed teeth, each facing a different way supposedly to get a better grip of the prey. Their long tongue helps them orientate vegetation to the back teeth, which are flat and adapted for plant mastication. As there is no freshwater or Almond Water, Grisdos are capable of hydrating through their food. They can hold their breath underwater up to about 30 minutes too, as the water pressure is constant and uniform. Grisdos did not need great anatomic adptations to achieve this result.

They usually hunt in pack and bring their prey back to their "nest" to consume them. The nest is a build-up of fur, bones, animal tissue, and leftover plants roughly arranged in a circle with a "softer" ground than the paroi (wall). They have a low fertility rate, and indexed births happen every two to three years which is counterbalanced by a very low child mortality rate. The babies reach adult height in approximately 9 to 12 years.3

Behavior

Grisdos are omnivorous, and find themselves at the top of the Gallery's food chain. While they can attack the most massive animals, they generally prefer to consume molluscs, crustaceans and little fish, way more abundant, as well as dense seagrass mats.
This behavior may seem insignificant but in reality, it has a primordial impact on the level's ecosystem. Indeed, it is widely known that the Grisdos feed on the largest populated species, which in result avoids overpouplation and ecosystem collapse. From this fact, they are considered a keystone species and have the rank of super-predator in the level. They also adopt its characteristics, namely :

  • A vast territory,
  • A low population,
  • A quite long lifespan4.

Due to the lack of season (and day/night cycle) in the Gallery, marine species are continuously reproducing at a slow pace. A cycle based on the consumption of specific species by Grisdos was then established: in about two weeks, they will reduce the population of a target species by 20%, in parallel with other prey, before switching to another. Fishing managed by the Ariane Circle is therefore aligned with these hunting cycles; it is forbidden to fish a species under "regulation". The hunting cycle of these Entities has been known for two years, and fishermen focus on the species that will be hunted last. Fishing itself is also regulated to prevent ecosystem disruption.

Specific Case: Spine

Spine is a young female Grisdos abandoned by her group because of her handicap on her hind limbs who has been taken in by the Bouteille à la mer's (message in a bottle in French) staff.

Show the annex on Spine

To do and Not to do

For safety reasons, signs are placed at various locations in level 4-FR and 14-FR to inform people about the potential risks incurred when entering the level. Below is the section about the behavior to adopt when dealing with a Grisdos.

Note from the Ariane Circle: Safety instructions to minimize the risk of accidents related to Grisdos


The Grisdos are conscious mammals that are relatively intelligent. For this reason, certain rules are to be applied every time you find yourself in level 14-FR:
  • Keep a reasonable distance between you and the Grisdos

The Grisdos are passive most of the time. However, if they do attack, their speed won't spare you any chance, so it is better to stay a reasonable distance away.

  • Stay armed when interacting with a Grisdos.

Interacting with one or more Grisdos is only authorized in the presence of a specialist in order to minimize risks. Otherwise, you will need to slowly move to an exit. You are obligated to be in possession of a weapon which is effective underwater to protect yourself in those types of situations.6

  • Do not get too close to a group of Grisdos

Without supervision, reason or especially, with little experience, it is wholly prohibited to go near a Grisdos or a group of Grisdos. Doing so will result in sanctions depending on severity.

  • Do not move abruptly

Grisdos are predators; moving abruptly and behaving erratically can appear to be panic for them, and therefore an opportunity to attack (See Dive Incident #01 of the Vitrine).

  • Do not attempt to feed a Grisdos

Although the risk of an attack if the protocols are followed is comparable to the risk of being attacked by a shark in the same circumstances, they remain wild animals, which makes them unpredictable.

  • Do not approach a Grisdos nest

Like the majority of mammals adopting the K selection theory, the Grisdos will fiercely defend their nests and young. In fact, if you cross a nest, even unoccupied or visibly dilapidated, flee.

  • Do not fish a species that the Grisdos is hunting

For the reasons mentioned in the "Biology" section, the Entities are essential to maintain the ecosystem of the Gallery thanks to their hunting cycle. Fishing or exploiting a species during hunting will affect its population beyond the equilibrium threshold, meaning it will not be able to recover a sufficient number of individuals to properly survive the next hunting cycle, which could lead that species to become threatened.

  • Do not hunt Grisdos

For these same ecosystemic concerns, it is strictly prohibited to hunt Grisdos because of their crucial importance in the balance of the level, as well as their low population.


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page revision: 14, last edited: 26 Feb 2025 10:37
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