Artist's depiction of a Jantler, illustrated by Nexnap
Description[]
Jantlers are a hostile species of entities strongly resembling deer (Cervidae), although both male and female Jantlers bare this strong resemblance to deer hinds only, as the males do not possess antlers over their head, making them hard to distinguish from females if reproductive organs were not checked first.
Most Jantlers have well-marshaled brown fur that degrades into a less saturated hue as they age older, and noticeably thicker, snow-white or grey fur stretched across their chest and abdomen. Jantlers are known to be heavier and larger than deer, yet somehow more agile, despite their weight, which can reach up to 201.4 Kilograms/444.01 Lbs for males, and 194.8 Kilograms/429.46 Lbs for the females. As for their height, both males and females have been recorded to reach a maximum height of 2.8 Meters/9.186 Feet when upright.
However, despite the strong resemblance to deer, the most interesting signature characteristic of a Jantler is that they are devoid of any facial features. Instead, they have an unnervingly large mouth "carved" on their face, stretching out all the way to the bottom of their forehead, with two rows of large, crooked and unclean teeth (15 on each row, with a total of 30 teeth) affixed under a set of pale, solid and rough-textured pink gums.
Another interesting noteworthy characteristic is that they have a slender grey tongue coated with rancid, smooth saliva that appears to be the only supernatural characteristic Jantlers share, the tongue was attributed as this because it has been recorded to be capable of stretching out to an absolutely incredible 500+ meters, all while bending, contorting, and orienting in different directions. On their tongue, male Jantlers have small randomly generated and different protrusions that depict small, sharp structures of bone-like branches seemingly melded together, along with bits of fetid skin and flesh scattered across them, and stuck to them.
To date, the M.E.G has no explanation for this abnormal anomaly as of yet, although a proposed theory states that every Jantler is born with a sort of portal to a large pocket dimension somewhere inside their body, where the tongue is able to protrude and outstretch itself to insane lengths, even in comparison to entities far larger than Jantlers, although this is unconfirmed. Other theories propose that the tongue is infinite in length, but these theories often lack credibility or evidence, and have not been confirmed either. Wanderers claim that Jantlers smell like rain, for unknown reasons. They also vocalize loud sporadic groans and grunts, often consistent with the startling noise of their heavy footsteps.
Behavior[]
Much like regular deer, Jantlers live in herds, albeit smaller than regular deer herds, and despite being energetic, animate and hostile to other forms of life, they are very social and willing to communicate with other beings of their kind exclusively. Some of them are known to adopt orphaned young Jantlers, and will strictly and strongly protect them, and even other families that are in danger, no matter how seldom the two parties communicate and/or co-operate with each other. Their slow-paced reproduction is a significant part of their species' common traits, and consequently, Jantlers are uncommon to find, but not rare.
Jantlers are cunning and devious predators, and if starving, they could use any tactic at their disposal to locate and take advantage of prey. Speaking of prey, their main source of nutrition and preferred prey is humans, but sometimes, they are able to hunt smaller entities if hungry, although the latter is done mainly for sport. Their process of hunting is as follows, quoting an excerpt from a documentation file written by an unknown wanderer :
Jantlers are very brave and adventurous, and will even risk getting lost throughout The Backrooms and not being able to be relocated by their herd just because of their sheer lust for adventure. Reasons of this vary, although the most common reason is simply because these odd entities like to venture in darker, deeper areas, the most inscrutable and mysterious areas known to them especially, they also like to challenge themselves, and in the process, get stronger and have more knowledge of their surroundings and whereabouts.
Biology[]
Despite the lack of eyes or a nose, Jantlers seem to have a relatively enhaced sight and smell, which is potentially useful for tracking down prey from a long distance. Several tests have proven that both male and female Jantlers have impressingly durable and reflective bodies, as fire and other forces of pyrokinetic nature were the only mediums that have been known to severely damage Jantlers or frighten them, albeit unfortunately, these damages are never fatal, and could only be used to temporarily stun them and/or frighten them, but they cannot neutralize or exterminate the Jantlers in any way, especially considering their high reflexes and agility, as well as their sharp and fast tongue movements, which, in a documented case, was indeed powerful enough to slice an average human being's head in half.
Jantlers become more passive and less motivated to hunt as they grow older, and depend on their partner, children or herd to bring them food. Despite this, older Jantlers still possess impressive biological skills and movements, although they are less thought out and effective than in younger ages for obvious reasons, it is highly recommended that a wanderer crossing paths with one is wary and cautious.
If testing or capturing is required, attempt to weaken the target first via fire, then approach it with caution, and be attentive to other Jantlers nearby.
Discovery[]
The first case of an encounter with a Jantler was during a mission organized on May 6th, 1998. An M.E.G Research Team was sent out to wander various levels of The Backrooms in an attempt to discover new entities. Unfortunately, every member of the team has been killed during the mission, due to encounters with previously documented Entities, except for one member, who will be nicknamed "M35356" in the audio log's transcript, in order to keep his identity anonymous. Said member was the first and last of the team to serendipitously discover the new entity, only to also be killed later on.
M35356: I don't feel very well... I know I never felt well in the first place, but this? This is something else. I never expected to be the last surviving member of my whole team. Those cowards didn't last for eleven hours. I'm back in Level 1 right now.
Command: Proceed. I know you're anxious, but we can't have that now. And show some respect to your late teammates while you're at it. You always do this.
M35356: You're right, I'm sorry. I just hope I accomplish this mission's goal. Even if I die... I hate to say this, but maybe it's going to be worth it.
Command: Proceed.
(M35356 proceeds further for 5 minutes and 37 seconds, his footsteps consistent with slight audio disruption and his occasional coughing. After the nigh-complete silence, a thud is heard. Subsequently, several objects are heard falling. M35356 shouts from pain and mumbles incomprehensibly.)
Command: M35356, is all well?
M35356: (grunting) Yeah, don't worry about it. Fell and dropped my supply box. I think I hurt my face a bit. It's worse than I thought.
Command: Do you still have the bandages from David's first aid kit?
(M35356 is heard gathering all his supplies and tools)
M35356: Seems like it. Ha, these are more helpful than I thought.
(M35356 pauses to cover the damaged area. Suddenly, distant animal-like groaning is heard, along with heavy footsteps approaching.)
Command: What's that noise?
M35356: Beats me, I was just bandaging my wound.
Command: Doesn't seem like anything I have ever heard before. It's getting closer, watch ou-
M35356: (interrupting) I got this. Rifle equipped.
Command: Proceed according to protocol and approach with caution. You're our last hope here.
(Jantler groans at only a few meters away)
M35356: (incredulously) This is totally something new.
Command: What? Describe the entity.
(Groaning gets noticeably louder)
M35356: Yeah. It looks like a deer hind, but not quite. Its face-- it has no face. It has a mouth for a face! Mouthface deer! Well, time to put this rifle to the test. One shot and it should be curtains for him.
Command: Be cautious! Oh no.
(M35356 coughs while repetitively shooting at the entity. Jantler continues to roar with palpable aggressiveness)
Command: Sitrep demanded.
M35356: Unstable! Rifles don't even work on this thing! It's trying to run me over and capture me with its tongue! Is that even a tongue? It's ten times longer than the thing itself. Woah-
(M35356 is heard screaming for help. Screams are cut short after a strong and audible thud. His helmet is heard clattering on the floor.)
Command: M35356? M353-
<END LOG>
Survival Guide[]
Melee range pyrokinetic weapons such as flamethrowers are always recommended to be at one's disposal at all times. When distant signature noises and vocalizations of a Jantler are heard nearby, it is best to run away as far as possible, but without making a sound. Make sure to discard any scent or sound producers or enhancers, as those are known to agitate Jantlers and can make a wanderer an easier target to catch.