Jheck

The Jheck are true-breeding beast-humans, a kind of Soletaken who veer into wolves or bears, and some among them are D'ivers who take the shape of several enormous beasts at once. Even in human form they are thickly haired, with oversized canines, extended claw-like nails and inhuman strength and speed; the Tiste Andii regard them as degenerate descendants of true Soletaken. They are territorial and aggressive, living apart in secret isolated communities in the desolate corners of the world. Their name means roughly standing wolves in the tongue of the neighbouring Tiste Edur, who cross the ice only in formidable groups, because the Jheck prey on hunting pairs and take body parts as trophies. None has ever been captured, and they always carry off their dead. They wear white-skinned hides and flat white masks, and fight with jagged black iron blades, antler weapons and stone-tipped stabbing spears.