Clan Dreyrhund

Clan Dreyrhund is the second-oldest, and the second-most powerful, clan within the Neptunian Horde. They are quite infamous for their unabashed cruelty, cult-like behavior, slave trade and human trafficking allegations, as well as generally being the "most vile of the Neptunian savages" according to the writings of Martin Goodhound. Most notably, a great number of the Dreyrhunds work within Jovian space as bounty hunters and guns-for-hire.

### **Numbers:**

**Umbriel:** *~215000 (Civilians); ~7500 (Active Personnel).*

**Ariel:** *~120000 (Civilians); ~4500 (Active Personnel).*

**Miranda:** *~95000 (Civilians); ~2000 (Active Personnel).*

**Uranus:** *~7000 (Civilians); ~650 (Active Personnel).*

### **Notable People:**

* **Manfred “Manny” Gotthund** - one of the twin clan founders, former chief quartermaster to, and childhood friend of, Ulf Trygvasson, professional raider and pelter. Known for writing and implementing the Blutkultur - the Dreyrhunds’ code of conduct.
* **Matilda “Matty” Gotthund** - one of the twin clan founders, former chief spymaster to Ulf Trygvasson, professional raider and butcher. Known for starting some of the clan’s more gruesome traditions, alongside proofreading and enforcing the Blutkultur.
* **Matthias “Wintzy'' Gotthund** - incumbent clan leader, notorious raider and professional torturemaster. Known for his short, stout stature, bladework, smithery, and overall cruelty alongside the “normal” war crimes.
* **Martin Schwarzfeld-Goodhound** - former clan member. Escaped to Jovian space to avoid persecution thanks to his pacifist ways. Has become an instrumental mouthpiece of Jovian propaganda. Known for “painting a grim picture” of Neptunians and their culture, as well as his numerous autobiographical literary works.

### **History:**

The Dreyrhunds did not start out with that name. It is their history and heinous deeds that gave them the title of Dreaded Hounds. But before that, they were known as a meek, servile faction nobody acknowledged or even noticed - in spite of the essential jobs they’d done. The Gotthund Clan started off as a gathering of cooks, cleaners, healers, and tanners, seeking refuge on Triton thanks to the Uranian moons’ inhospitable nature. The Good Hounds bore their name thanks to the leaders amongst them - twins, Manfred and Matilda. They were some of the first supporters for Ulf Trygvasson’s plan of unification, went alongside him side by side - and so did the Gotthunds.

This went on for a while. Nobody really noticed the slight shifts of Trygvasson himself. He started to become angry, more violent and less tolerant with his subjects. Nobody pointed fingers on the twins, as they whispered to him about something. The twins aroused suspicion for the leader they followed closely - so closely, in fact, both were promoted to his second-in-command. Naturally, this also promoted paranoia and drove the White Wolf’s mental state to a further decline. Though not before long, the twins’ plans of a hostile takeover came to light, but not  before the Gotthunds could put it in action:

For months on end, the Gotthunds conspired together, in an attempt to seize the power from Ulf Trygvasson. When that failed - they went for the nuclear options, and tried to slit every single Ulfmund’s throat at one of the feasts during Juleblot. The Juleblot Massacre did leave a lot of Ulfmunds dead, but many survived - including Trygvasson himself. That was a declaration of war from the Gotthunds, and a subsequent offer of the peace treaty alongside it. With the army crippled by this event, the Ulfmunds were in no shape to fight a prepared, competent bunch of sadists hiding behind servile faces. And thus, clan Gotthund bore a new name from this point on, alongside the land they seized on the moons of Uranus.

Life of independence and self-reliance isn’t easy - especially this far out in the Solar System. However, the Dreyrhunds got used to it quick, and in fact, thrived in such an isolated environment. They managed to find a steady source of income in form of slave trade, alongside hunting that is, and they managed to build up their own, distinct identity among the Ice Giants. It was also at this point in time that Manfred and Matilda Dreyrhund wrote down the Blutkultur - a grimoire functioning as both a sort of Bushido and the Constitution itself for all belonging to the Dreaded Hounds Clan.

While Blutkultur was meant to be the foundation and concept of Clan Dreyrhund, the Ashen Bloodbath served as proof of said concept. Though the war was eventually lost, it took all three other clans to knock Dreyrhunds back to their territories before the war, and make a white peace without any concessions at that. With such a long and drawn-out, gruesome conflict, the Dreyrhunds managed to perfect their craft all the more, and the once-peaceful servants of Neptunian society turned its biggest, most harrowing butchers.

Nowadays, the Dreyrhunds keep mostly to themselves - as they found means to torment someone else, besides their brethren. All the better for Neptunians, since they no longer have to deal with the Hounds “upping their ante.” The Dreyrhunds haven’t fought in wars for a while, too, though their forces remain in peak condition as they seek to expand their influence elsewhere. And for the longest of times, their new leader - Matthias Gotthund - looked sunward with drool and envy. Hence why their new so-called “security contract” with the Syndicate is as concerning for other Hordyns as it is for those on the cushier worlds. Who knows what other devious schemes these bitches might already have in mind…

### **Culture:**

The best source to learn about the culture of Clan Dreyrhund is, of course, their most revered and beloved book of horrors - Blutkultur. Translated from their dialect as, quite literally, “Culture of Blood,” it has some essential points every Dreaded Hound must follow to a tee:

> ***“Brothers in arms are brothers in blood. Anything a brother does is for the good of his other brothers. If he does not do, or does malice - he is no brother at all.”***
>
>

The Dreyrhunds follow all axioms to a tee. The Hounds are, naturally, very loyalty and action-centered. Everyone must do something for the clan - from very young to very old. Even those that can’t go to the battlefield, such as the wounded. Dreyrhund society is, as mentioned before, obsessed with efficiency and productivity, so each member of their society produces until they’re no longer viable for production - and are fit for consumption. More on that later.

> ***“Do not rely on your brothers alone. You are the Dreaded Hound of Uranus. You are a hunter. You are your own army - superior to the pigs that may surround you. Slaughter them if necessary, preserve them for your brothers if you so wish.”***
>
>

This quote in particular outlines the overall hunting culture of the Dreyrhunds. The Hounds hunt, a lot - and not for conventional game, either. Their main business nowadays is slave trade, and has been for quite some time. They’re ready to use whatever means necessary to make the best (or the worst) out of anything they capture. The Dreyrhunds’ haughty attitude towards others is supported by their undisputed superiority in combat - though not all the time. But no one needs to know that, besides the field commanders themselves.

> ***“All meat is good meat. Do not discard the meat, the bone, or the marrow of  any unliving thing. If your brother cannot be saved, spare him the torment meant for the pigs and use his meat for the good of your living brethren.”***
>
>

And this is one of the more harrowing notions Blutkultur promotes. Indeed, the stereotype about Neptunians being cannibals comes mostly from the Dreyrhunds. They’re proud of their traditions, and they flaunt it by displaying others’ bones, limbs, and even flayed hides over their armor and on their banners. That, in turn, is an efficient means of psychological warfare against anyone that dares step into the vicinity of their space.

### **Specialties:**

* **Bluthund:** Both literal and figurative *Bloodhounds* of the Dreyrhunds. Bluthunds are trained to be a one-man army, specializing in surveillance, undercover operations, and search-and-destroy missions. Hence, they often act as sole operators in the field, rarely engaging in group combat. All Bluthunds are trained from a very young age in their sense of smell and surveillance, making them excellent hunters and trackers. They have a wide range of weaponry at their disposal, however - hunting rifles and micron-machetes are well-known favorites. Bluthunds also often have personal vehicles, which makes their “hunts” much faster and more efficient.
* **Gerber:** AKA *the Tanners.* Usually medical personnel, former or still on-duty, which specializes in overall work with prisoners of war - including capture, handling, and extraction of information if necessary. The Gerbers have a wide range of tools for ensuring their task is successful, ranging from physical weapons to drugs and means of psychological warfare. A cold mind and an absent conscience are both a must for this special task force. The Gerbers are also ones who promote the Dreyrhunds’ obsession with efficiency, as they’re pretty much the sole responsible force for enforcing Blutkultur within the clan.
* **Metzger:** AKA *the Butchers.* Perhaps the only special task force unit that prefers to operate in teams. The Butchers are, naturally, equipped with large, heavy blades and even heavier, protective armor. Usually formed into rows, their job is to clear out large gatherings of the enemy in close quarters - hence why pikes and greatswords are a popular choice among Metzgers. The trademark hound’s-head helm is their main distinguishing feature, as, much like the Bluthunds’ “scowl-cowl”, it protects the head from bullets, chemical attacks, and the vacuum of space.

### **Friendzone:**

Because of their habits and customs, the Dreyrhunds have been the blackest of sheep among Neptunians for centuries - perhaps even since their inception. They generally don’t see anyone as a potential ally, but rather - an asset to exploit and torment if necessary. In fact, one could argue the Dreyrhunds are the main rival and constant enemy to every other Neptunian clan. However, recently - they have been keeping up good contact with the Syndicate, as the latter don’t care who to trade with, so long as the product’s good - and the Dreyrhunds always provide quality products. Who knows, perhaps they’ll forge some form of buddyhood in the future.