A dire wolf was an ancient ancestor of a Wolf, being a larger and more feral breed of canine. They had thick fur that was mottled grey or black in color, and could grow to be the size of a Horse. Many forms had bone-like protrusions spiking from their back, making them more difficult to be attacked from above and giving another offensive option.
Dire wolves fought in packs, fighting efficiently and surrounding their prey and flanking it to gain an advantage. Their keen senses, especially smell, allowed packs to track down prey with ease, and they could move stealthily while on the hunt. This ability to hunt, combined with their strength and coordination in numbers, made them formidable adversaries.
Though dire wolves were feared by many Mortalkind, particularly in the icy tundras, dense forests, or mountainous regions they called home, Orcs and Ogres often tried to tame these Beasts. Though domestications were rarely successful, tamed dire wolves typically used as guardians or attack-dogs, and in exceptional cases, tribal chiefs would use them as mounts.