Hellhounds

## Overview

 File:Hellhound (Female).jpg
(*Submitted by Four-Eyes*)

Hellhounds (also known as Terror Dogs, Black Dogs, Demon Dogs, Moddey Dhoo, Mauthe Doog, Barghests, Bearers of Death, Cŵn Annwn, Gwyllgi, Yeth Hounds, Church Grims, and the Black Dogs of Bouley) are voracious, tenacious, and intelligent creatures of the Infernal realms of the Void. Once a hound has the scent of its target, it usually has it for life and will never give up the hunt until one or the other is dead, or its master calls off the pursuit. These beasts can be quite clever, making it difficult to trick or distract them. They are not afraid of improvising new tactics in order to get to their prey.

Hellhounds appear as ferocious black quadrupedal beasts with red eyes. They vary in size, ranging from the size of dogs to that of a small horse. Though not actually canine (they appear to be closely related to a type of lizard or dinosaur), they usually share many characteristics with wolves and dogs. Similar to the domesticated dog, there are many different breeds among the hellhound species. Some have long snouts, while others have short snouts. Some have horns that protrude forward, others to the side of their head, and others that have antlers or horns like a rhinoceros. Likewise, many have long, spiked tails and others have short, stubby tails. These aesthetics aside, hellhounds are always muscular, have three front-facing claws, and a fourth rear-facing dewclaw on each of their four legs. They also have spinal ridges that make it difficult for anyone to tackle them without risk of severe injury.

 File:Hellhound (Male).jpg
One of the most famous hellhounds is also one of the oldest. The creature Cerberus is a three-headed divine hellhound, born of Echidna and Typhon, and remains the beloved pet of its master Hades. Cerberus is an exceptional beast that is not only one of the oldest, largest, and strongest of the hellhounds, but also each of his heads has a ferocious power not common to most hellhound breeds. For these reasons, Cerberus is often regarded by some occult scholars to be a cousin to the species rather than an actual hellhound.

Since the founding of Hell, or before such a time, hellhounds have become favored pets of demons. Many devils and even sorcerers also retain hellhounds as house pets. However, the species is most commonly known to be used as the companions of infernals belonging to the Guild of the Crossroads. These deal-making demons and devils use the hellhounds to venture into other realms to collect the souls of those unfortunate persons whose contracts have expired. Hellhounds are known to physically rip their victims to shreds in order to collect their souls. In some cases, particularly among older victims, the hounds' mere presence is enough to literally scare their prey to death. Other times, the victims will be driven to commit suicide when a hound or a pack of hounds torment their prey, often howling for several nights or stalking their prey until they are driven to death - often as a means to allow the hound's demon master to collect an early return on their investment.

### Notable Hellhounds

* Estrith - Familiar of Zuul
* Sasha - Familiar of Pandemonium
* Urog - Familiar of Vinz Clortho

## Threat Assessment

### Resources

* **Invisibility:** Hellhounds can make themselves invisible (and inaudible) to all except those with psychic abilities, supernatural senses, or those who have made an infernal contract.
* **Invulnerability:** Hellhounds cannot be killed by conventional means or weapons, though pure iron weaponry can be effective. Enchanted weapons, particularly supernal weaponry, can harm and possibly kill them. The natural weapons of magical beings can also harm such beasts.
* **Enhanced Senses:** All of a hellhound's senses are extremely heightened.
* **Enhanced Speed:** Hellhounds are much faster than humans, able to keep pace or exceed the speed of most ground vehicles. The top speed varies by breed, size, and individual beast.
* **Enhanced Stamina:** Hellhounds at rest can be mistaken for being lazy, but when they have been let loose on a hunt or are hungry, these creatures rarely rest until sated.
* **Enhanced Strength:** Hellhounds are very strong. They can smash through doors, walls, overturn vehicles, break bones, and even rend metal in pursuit of their prey.
* **Immortality:** Hellhounds are immune to most illnesses and will usually not die except through violence, starvation, or dehydration.
* **Psychic Bond:** Hellhounds create a psychic bond to their masters and their alphas (if they are part of a pack). These bonds are quite intense and allow the master to call off or signal an attack at will, regardless of the distance between master/alpha and the hellhound. With some focus, masters can learn to even project their consciousness into these beasts, taking control of the beast's body. Without practice, this can be a very taxing exercise for both master and hellhound though many demons, particularly those with limited ability to materialize in the mortal realm, have become masters of this tactic.
* **Psychic Torment:** When witnessed, those of weaker wills may be terrorized by horrific hallucinations, panic, and elevated levels of stress.
* **Tracking:** Hellhounds can locate any person they are sent after if they have the scent of their soul.
* **Travel Resistance:** Hellhounds have become such useful creatures for infernals due to their ability to use ascension chains to travel without difficulty or strain on their bodies. Hellhounds automatically materialize with a fully-functioning physical body when crossing over to the material realms.

### Weaknesses

* **Adamant:** The touch of adamant causes serious discomfort for hellhounds. Prolonged exposure can cause their flesh to sear and blister. Sustained exposure can be fatal. Furthermore injuries caused by adamant weapons tend to rot and poison the hellhound's blood, causing weakness until sufficiently treated.
* **Infernal Magic/Weaponry:** Though they themselves are infernal, hellhounds can be harmed or killed by other infernal beings or those armed with weaponry enchanted by infernal power.
* **Iron:** Weapons made of iron, particularly cold iron, are sufficient to harm these beasts. It is difficult to kill them outright with iron though. The prolonged touch of pure iron against their flesh can cause serious discomfort.
* **Master's Commands:** Hellhounds establish a psychic bond with those they accept as their master or alpha. They have great difficulty resisting their understood commands and cannot show aggression toward them without causing severe psychic feedback which racks their mind with pain.
* **Salt Barriers:** Hellhounds cannot cross a line of salt or similarly symbolic or consecrated barrier lines or venture into warded rooms or residences.
* **Supernal Magic/Weaponry:** Such weapons can kill a hellhound.

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

* One known member of the Guild of the Crossroads is a demon named Crowley.

### Notes

* Design of the Hellhounds is based on the Terror Dogs from the *Ghostbusters* movie.
* Some of the lore of the Hellhounds is similar to their portrayal in the *Supernatural* TV series.

## Links and References

1. ↑ Dinkley Files: Hellhounds
2. ↑ Network Files: Zuul
3. ↑ RepCap: Pandemonium
4. ↑ Network Files: Vinz Clortho