Jo Baylis
creature designer
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Chansent - Bison gelidochandrillensis

"16:47 Rotation 259, 25059 GSC

For hours, we had been marching in the haze, remnants of a whiteout that raged for weeks. Conditions were abysmal—we could scarcely see the ground beneath us. The temperature had plunged 40 below. Our scanners were shot, our blasters jammed, and coms could not be restored until the storm lifted. But the directive from Hanna City was quite clear: return with a Chansent horn, or not at all. The new governor was eager to exploit weakening Imperial wildlife protections, and it had been many centuries since one of these gargantuan creatures was trophied in a noble's palace.

2:21 Rotation 260, 25059 GSC

We were startled from our tents by the booming sounds of a thousand warhorns. They began low, nearly imperceptible, before quickly rising into a relentless series of high-pitched wails and hellish shrieks. For hours, the pattern repeated itself before fading into the wind and darkness. Nothing, not even during the war, has sounded quite so haunting.

10:23 Rotation 261, 25059 GSC

We had mere seconds before we saw the Chansent. We had felt it minutes prior—the ground shaking as the herd approached—but unable to see, we could do nothing but wait in the blinding white. Whether they smelled us, or felt us, or heard us was irrelevant. There was no avoiding it. Breaking from the fog to our six, a bull—larger than an AT-PT—reared its head and charged. The beast trampled Jax, crushing the plastoid-alloy composite—and the man inside, before delivering the same fate to an Imperial officer and a local guide. Dropping my gear, I ran, hiding behind the nearest mound of ice and snow. The rest of our unit scattered, fearing the beast would continue its rampage. However, satisfied, it bounded towards the drove. The governor would not be receiving a horn today, or ever."

The descendants of imported wisents, the Chansent, free from human and natural predators, have grown to immense sizes.

The descendants of imported wisents, the Chansent, free from human and natural predators, have grown to immense sizes.

Herds range from the dozens to the hundreds, but during the brief spring and summer months, tens of thousands are often seen congregating in large social gatherings.

Herds range from the dozens to the hundreds, but during the brief spring and summer months, tens of thousands are often seen congregating in large social gatherings.

Chansents exhibit a range of colors, whether they live in the steppe-tundra, arctic, taiga, or alpine biomes. Herds of orange-backed Appelsiidna are the most numerous, thanks to their preference for the abundant northern grasslands.

Chansents exhibit a range of colors, whether they live in the steppe-tundra, arctic, taiga, or alpine biomes. Herds of orange-backed Appelsiidna are the most numerous, thanks to their preference for the abundant northern grasslands.

During the short northern summers, both sexes shed their large winter undercoats, and for males, their manes grow some three or four feet taller in a bid to attract mates.

During the short northern summers, both sexes shed their large winter undercoats, and for males, their manes grow some three or four feet taller in a bid to attract mates.

Although towering above most animals on the steppe-tundra, Chansent cows are noticeably smaller than the bulls, with lower manes and shorter horns that bear a closer resemblance to their Wisent ancestors.

Although towering above most animals on the steppe-tundra, Chansent cows are noticeably smaller than the bulls, with lower manes and shorter horns that bear a closer resemblance to their Wisent ancestors.

Often traveling dozens of kilometers a day, Chansent droves roaming the great northern frontier are a common sight on the rare occasion that the sky is clear of northern storms and haze.

Often traveling dozens of kilometers a day, Chansent droves roaming the great northern frontier are a common sight on the rare occasion that the sky is clear of northern storms and haze.

Some marginal sketches and early horn explorations; Chansent horns continue to grow throughout their entire lives and are highly prized amongst both local elites and outside officials as statement pieces within their lavish trophy rooms.

Some marginal sketches and early horn explorations; Chansent horns continue to grow throughout their entire lives and are highly prized amongst both local elites and outside officials as statement pieces within their lavish trophy rooms.

While healthy, adult Chansents rarely fall prey, their young, old, and sickly serve as the primary source of food for the Chandrilan Iga, a large catlike predator endemic to the polar regions.

While healthy, adult Chansents rarely fall prey, their young, old, and sickly serve as the primary source of food for the Chandrilan Iga, a large catlike predator endemic to the polar regions.

Igas hunt in a manner very similar to canids, they often exhaust their prey through long chases before using their weight, powerful forearms, and jaws to tackle and collapse them.

Igas hunt in a manner very similar to canids, they often exhaust their prey through long chases before using their weight, powerful forearms, and jaws to tackle and collapse them.

Some poses and early feet exploration. Toyed with the idea of it evolving non-cloven hooves, with hooves more similar to those of rhinos or tapirs.

Some poses and early feet exploration. Toyed with the idea of it evolving non-cloven hooves, with hooves more similar to those of rhinos or tapirs.

Some quick pose sketches for the Chansent. Largely herd animals, there are usually multiple bulls per drove. Nearly as large as an elephant, adults, even when isolated, are often avoided by native predators.

Some quick pose sketches for the Chansent. Largely herd animals, there are usually multiple bulls per drove. Nearly as large as an elephant, adults, even when isolated, are often avoided by native predators.

The Chansent is one of a multitude of Wisent species that have splintered off into their own as humans imported them to various planets over the last several millennia.

The Chansent is one of a multitude of Wisent species that have splintered off into their own as humans imported them to various planets over the last several millennia.

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