Abyssal Hound

## Common Knowledge

Abyssal Hounds are the native canines of the Abyss. There are different types with varying skills and purposes but the one most often thought of is the fiery one. They are hard to kill and pretty powerful. Sightings on the surface are rare.

## Location

They are now bred in Narak, they were originally found on Ukatili’s Terraform, only a few will travel to the surface or are even able too, thus travel is very rare.

## Biology

All Abyssal Hounds are carnivorous and roughly dog shaped. They live longer than normal dogs but are certainly not immortal, generally living until 150 years old at max. Half-breeds will live about half as long due to their mixed heritage. Abyssal Hounds are genderless and reproduce through various ways that do not require another Hound. Abyssal Hounds are extremely loyal to their packs or Bonded Commander.

### Pitch Bane

The Pitch Bane are the most well known and used as the “stereotypical” Abyssal Hound as they were also the first to be discovered/created. They have fire lit ears and tails, which reinforces their connection to Elemental Magic, as well as four pupil-less eyes and a jaw that can unhinge. They have spiky growths protruding from their spine, unique two-toed forpaws and fur that absorbs a small amount of light which bends the shadows around them. They travel in packs of 5-7 and reproduce by spreading their flames which spawn new Pitch Bane. They can travel to the surface world if need be. They stand at a height of 5’9” - 6’5” at the shoulder and thus tower over many sapient races.

### Dusk Stalker

Dusk Stalkers are tracking dogs built for speed and endurance with their height being 4’ - 4’5” at the shoulder. They have massive, clawless paws perfect for gripping surfaces allowing them to maximize their speed. They have very short and translucent fur which shows their grey, corpe-like skin. They have eyes that are covered by a thin layer that still allows their glow to be seen in the night. Their sense of smell is superior even to the other Hounds which aids in tracking and they can scent with their tongues like snakes. Dusk Stalkers are lone beings and only bond with their Commander and never travel with a pack. They reproduce via inhaling a living being’s shadow which creates an incomplete Dusk Stalker, this incomplete shadow will follow the original body until it dies and consumes the soul to become whole. Only the being which the shadow originally belonged to can see the incomplete Dusk Stalker. Dusk Stalkers are often associated with Soul Magic due to their breath and the fact they create new Dusk Stalkers through eating souls. They are the only Abyssal Hound able to enter the Soul Plane.

### Shade Keeper

They are the largest of the Abyssal Hounds standing at 7’7” - 8’5” at their shoulders with massive ears and eyes. Their ears are extremely sensitive, which makes up for their horrible sense of smell, and they can turn up to 180 degrees and are used to echolocate objects they are unable to see. Their eyes have a clear film over them for protection as they do not have eyelids and cannot blink. They have a massive and strong tail which is tipped with three bone spines. They have a very tough hide but impossibly soft fur. Shade Keepers most often travel in pairs but can be found alone. They cannot survive outside the Abyss. Shade Keepers create new ones through gnawing out a round stone and mashing together bone, blood and their acid inside. This creates an egg which a new Shade keeper is born from.

### Woe Spinner

They are the smallest of all the Abyssal Hounds at just 6” - 9” tall at the shoulder and 10.5” - 16” long, including their tail. They have six, double jointed legs and extremely sharp fangs connected to two different venom sacks. Woe Spinner paws have special pads that grip surfaces and allow them to climb walls and even the ceiling. They are born into families of thirteen and this becomes their pack, they can only travel in this pack and bond with one Commander. These thirteen Woe Spinner share a hive mind and have minor phantasmal magic. Their coats are such that they can blend in with much of the environment of the Abyss. They reproduce by sacrificing their own body to birth a new pack. A full pack of thirteen Woe Spinner is often referred to as a Snare.

## Rarity/Power Level

### Pitch Bane

They can control the heat, colour and intensity of their flames at will and have a strong connection to Elemental Magics. They can unhinge their jaws and also lock them in place, making it almost impossible to escape their bite. They are the least specialized of the hounds thus they are technically less powerful but more versatile.

### Dusk Stalker

They breathe out a noxious, black smoke that can knock out any creature that doesn’t hail from the Abyss or are extremely powerful. Their sense of smell is such that they can track individuals even after a few years have passed. They are the only Abyssal Hound that can enter and traverse the soul plane and have a strong connection to Soul Magic.

### Shade Keeper

Shade Keepers have an extremely tough hide that nullifies magic, to a degree, and thus cannot cast or be targeted by any spells. AOE spells and rituals can still affect them, though they must be extremely powerful and perfectly executed. Tier 3 magic is also effective against them. They have ears sensitive enough to echolocate and can see into the infrared spectrum. Their bite force is such that they can pulverize bone in one monch. Their tail can rip through a being and even walls if swung hard enough. It is tipped with three bone spines which are coated in a corrosive acid that is secreted when the Shade Keeper is threatened.

### Woe Spinner

Their venom sacks carry two types, one is a potent venom which causes the bitten creature extreme pain and a second which is fatal and liquifies the bitten creature’s organs, bones, and muscles in preparation for consumption. They can project images and feelings into the mind of those they choose, there is little protection against this. They can protect their own Bonded Commander from other mental effects. They also have minor displacement magic that makes it seem as though they are a few feet from where they actually are, this does not affect their Bonded Commander.

## History

They were originally created by Velka, along with the race of Demons, and soon established other ways of reproduction. Pitch Bane were the first of the Abyssal Hounds, followed by Shade keepers, Dusk Stalkers, and then the Woe Spinner. After the Fracture those that were not saved were corrupted along with the demons left in The Mordant Realms, though enough of each were saved that their population is safe and growing in Narak.

## Further/Related Information

* The Abyss
* The Mordant Realms
* Narak