Hellhounds

An artist's impression of a Hellhound/Black Shuck.

### Appearance

Usually invisible however when they are seen they usually appear as a Large black dog with red eyes with sharp teeth and claws.

### Episode(s)

1.07 The Gateway

Hellhounds are supernatural creatures with a long history in various mythologies and folklore around the world, they are said to be the servants of Demons and are used to either collect humans that have made deals with Demons in the past or to assassinate anyone that their superiors deem a threat, these mythical beings are therefore portrayed as fearsome entities associated with the Underworld and demonic realms. They are often considered harbingers of death.

In certain parts of the United Kingdom, Hellhounds are known as Black Shucks and have been documented to be roaming various parts of the country for centuries.

## Characteristics

Hellhounds are depicted as large, powerful, and ferocious creatures resembling monstrous dogs. They possess glowing red or fiery eyes, black fur, and sharp teeth and claws. Their appearance can be intimidating and imposing, instilling fear in those who encounter them causing some to die of fear alone just by being in the presence of one.

## Powers and Abilities

* Claws and teeth - Hellhounds possess sharp Claws and teeth that can easily rip apart a human in minutes making their attacks extremely graphic.
* Dreamwalking - Hellhounds can appear in dreams where they torment their target, this isn't seen as true dreamwalking like other beings, like Djinn, can perform.
* Enhanced senses - Hellhounds have heightened senses of smell and hearing, making it easier for them to track and locate their targets.
* Fear inducement - Hellhounds possess an aura of terror that can cause fear and panic in their victims, weakening their resolve.
* Invisibility - Hellhounds are usually invisible to humans, adding an element of surprise to their attacks.
* Invulnerability - Hellhounds simply shrug off attacks from conventional weapons such as guns.
* Long Life span - Hellhounds can live for hundreds of years, they can't die from old age.
* Superhuman speed - Hellhounds are incredibly fast and agile, capable of swiftly moving and striking their prey.
* Superhuman strength - The strength of a Hellhound is greater than the strength of a human as they can pin down and tackle humans with ease.
* Walking on Holy ground - Unlike regular Demons, Hellhounds have been sighted on multiple locations roaming church yards however their presence in those yards always lead to a freak accident occurring at the church they visited.

## Weaknesses

* Holy fire - Whilst Holy water is ineffective against Hellhounds - Holy fire can be used to repel and, when expertly used, harm a Hellhound due to its holy nature.
* Iron - Like Demons, Hellhounds can be severely harmed with Iron objects and some hunters say it does more damage than Silver which is also fatal.
* Religious icons - Hypothetically, Religious icons like a crucifix can be used to repel a Hellhound for a short period of time but this likely won't work against a group of them due to the sheer amount of dark energy that would be present.
* Salt - Like many supernatural creatures, hellhounds are vulnerable to salt. Creating a barrier of salt can hinder their movements or prevent them from crossing certain areas whilst throwing Salt at a Hellhound (which is difficult due to their invisibility) can cause them minor discomfort.
* Silver - Weapons made of silver are effective against hellhounds and can kill them if used in a certain way however Iron is proved to be more effective against them.
* Spirit Guides - Spirit Guides can see Hellhounds and have been known to be more than capable at taking them on in combat and coming out on top despite some large cuts and bruises.

## Episodes

### 1.07 The Gateway

Fiona and Shane find themselves in the quiet hamlet of Cawthorpe in southern Lincolnshire. As they explore, they come across a mysterious stone structure that Fiona identifies as an ancient gateway or portal with ties to dark magic. Shane, intrigued, touches the stone and experiences a strange, kinetic-like energy, their exploration takes an unexpected turn when they hear barking and discover the presence of a Hellhound, also known as a Black Shuck. Fiona explains that Black Shucks are demonic, pitbull-like creatures known to be aggressive and associated with death. Despite being invisible to Shane, the Hellhound is drawn to their presence and begins to circle them.

Fiona advises Shane to act as if he hasn't seen the Hellhound (which Shane can't), but the situation escalates when a second Hellhound appears. The two creatures attack Shane and Fiona, who are forced to defend themselves. Shane manages to injure one Hellhound with a silver blade, while Fiona battles the other. He eventually throws the blade at the Hellhound attacking Fiona, causing it to choke on the metal as it lodges inside the creature's throat causing it to puke due to an allergic reaction, Fiona then uses her blade infused with holy fire to kill both Hellhounds. Despite their victory, Fiona realizes that the gateway is now unsafe due to the risk of more Hellhounds arriving. They decide to leave the area but hear another howl, indicating that they are not out of danger yet before moving onto another location.