-The Ipooh-
Few would think it wise to attempt the domestication of the ferocious Gold Bears that inhabit the caves of Figaro during the winter months of that region. But there must have been one such rare individual who, through a combination of sheer brawn and cleverness, saw the utility of such an endeavor, long ago in the murky past. This brave soul's accomplishments have proved a vital training tool for all aspiring martial artists straight up to the current day, and no novice of the Blitz technique goes without several months of schooling on how to control this unique derivation of the feral Figaro bears.
I speak of the deceptively lovable Ipooh, of course. Once an odd beast only known to those interested in martial arts, the advent of Sabin Figaro's own branch of the Blitz school has popularized these trained bears to almost unheard of levels. Indeed, one of the major problems nowadays is untrained amateurs trying to use the bears as bodyguards in our dangerous new world. Some foolhardy Jidoor nobles have even gone so far as to keep them as luxury pets, thinking their feral natures completely lost through breeding.
Make no mistake, the Ipooh is still an animal of nature, and it is only through an intense regiment of training and familiarizing oneself with the bear's habits, tempers, and cravings that any human can hope to control one. Sabin once claimed his master Duncan forced him to spend an entire month living in an Ipooh family's cave dwelling to learn their ways inside and out. Sabin himself takes a somewhat less strict approach, and only asks his students to spend a week in the life of the bear before allowing them to resume proper training in his dojo. I must admit, sometimes I am glad I chose the path of a Blue Mage, and am only required to see the abilities of a beast to learn its ways. My delicate senses would not be able to cope with the smelly, sticky creatures for long, I fear.
An Ipooh is still a marvelous specimen for study, even if it possesses no useful abilities for the practicing Blue Mage. The complex, and often unknown breeding history of the creature has produced a distinct variety of Gold Bear that cannot be simply reproduced by trying to tame a Gold Bear straight from the wild. These more honey-colored bears have a slightly stronger constitution than the regular Gold Bear, making them excellent sparring partners, and giving them amazing stamina when properly motivated. Ah, but there is the catch, and the genius of our long-lost benefactor!
The Gold Bear is an intensely lazy animal, by design I suppose. Generations of careful breeding have produced a beast with formidable claws and teeth, and a hefty bulk to endure the furious training of the martial artist...but a slothful nature that severely suppresses their more violent instincts. How many ignorant owners have thrown their hands up in disgust as their prized fighting bears refuse to pay any heed to their masters? The secret of the Ipooh is hinted at by their extremely slick and oily coat of honey-colored fur, which sets them apart from their more metallic-sheened wild cousins.
What is this secret, you ask? Why, honey of course! This substance, extracted from the sticky, slime-based organism known as the Mousse, is the favorite food of the Ipooh. One cannot even begin to treat with the indolent Ipooh without first offering a hearty supply of honey. The bear's love of honey is legendary, and obviously an intentional part of its breeding. A dollop of the stuff will endear the creature to you forever, provided you continue to feed it. As long as the honey keeps flowing, the creature will follow any command of its user.
Beware the Ipooh who is denied its daily share of honey, though! Like an addictive drug, the honey both mollifies the bears when sated, and enrages them when withheld. This is a useful tactic when an experienced fighter wishes to truly test his mettle against a savage opponent, but woe to the stingy Jidoor noble who thinks the gil he is spending on the Ipooh's voracious appetite is too great! The bear will lash out against its master in a heartbeat, rending him to pieces unless he is capable of defending himself...or giving the bear the precious food it desires so madly.
There are few creatures as uncontrollable as a honey-starved Ipooh, and more pitiable. As a lover of animals, I find this in-bred and unslakeable thirst for honey a rather harsh sentence for the poor beast. It is through no fault of their own that they must be continually supplied with honey to lead a happy existence. I understand the intention of the initial decision to create such a beast, and I am sure the ancient creator of this stock did what he felt he must to ensure the bears timidity, but it is sad to see a raving Ipooh locked up behind bars, unable to feed its honey madness.
I have personally looked into trying to breed this addiction out of the Ipooh, but to no avail. A greater mind than mine implanted the trait into the bear's genes, and I fear there is no hope of removing it at this late date. I am reminded of the strange and stony Bug that also carries many genetic secrets inside its tiny frame when studying the Ipooh, and I suspect the same master hand guided the unusual evolution of both creatures. For now, I can only guess at its origins, and leave the proper care of the beast to the martial artists, who, I have on good account from Sabin, take excellent care of the creatures, even into old age. To the rest of the folk who think such an animal is a mere pet or sideshow attraction, I can only give this warning: Bring lots of honey.