Tinnitus Hound

(Normal Tinnitus Hound)

## Information

Tinnitus Hounds were creatures created by Marxieto to infect other species and turn them into werewolves, which would then in turn serve as his servants as well. Their bites delivered a venom that transformed other humanoid beings into werewolves. Their key feature was the fact that they gave everyone around them varying degrees of tinnitus due to how they communicated.

## History

### 2022 Halloween Event

Tinnitus Hounds were the primary threat during the 2022 Halloween Event within Anor Londo. Many were dispatched for a total of 21 days within the walls, and they proved relatively successful at turning the populace into werewolves. However, upon the arrival and defeat of Viordrux, many were recalled to serve Marxieto once more. Some, however, escaped Anor Londo and remained as a menace for some thousands of years.

### Aftermath

The Grand Channeler took some of the flesh and blood samples from the Tinnitus Hounds and used it to produce a cure for werewolves. He also used the samples to help create a new type of Unit, although we have yet to see the specifics.

In DS3, Jessie turned into a werewolf on contact with the moonlight. It is implied she was sent on a mission to kill a highly evolved Tinnitus Hound and was bitten in the process, suggesting that Tinnitus Hounds survived for a very long time after the Halloween Event.

## Characteristics

All Tinnitus Hounds are shaped like slightly unnatural wolves with segmented, bony tails and varying numbers of glowing yellow eyes on their heads. Their lower jaw is two bone mandibles with spikes that can deliver werewolf venom. Normal wolves typically have gray fur, and most of them are characterized by large numbers of injuries along their body, varying from fur-lacking patches of leathery skin to missing all muscle down to the bone in some parts.

A key feature of these hounds is that they have indestructible bones and are nearly impossible to kill through any normal method, excluding fire and acid. They're quite fast and strong, hunting in packs most of the time, led by an Alpha. They communicate on a different frequency of sound than other animals, though it can be heard as tinnitus for others that gets louder or quieter depending on the hound's mood.

#### Alpha Tinnitus Hounds

Alpha Tinnitus Hounds have silver fur and are notably stronger and faster than other Tinnitus Hounds. They lead packs of Tinnitus Hounds, which ordinarily have 10-15 hounds.

Alphas are usually a little older than their regular brethren. The average pack of hounds with an Alpha will regularly have some of the hounds die due to fire or acid-wielding opponents, but the alpha will usually survive the encounters and continue to lead the pack as the members are replaced one by one.

#### Elite Tinnitus Hounds

Elite Tinnitus Hounds have pitch-black fur, a snow-white underbelly, and more organized eyes. They personally guard Marxieto and as such rarely see combat, meaning they don't typically have many injuries, though they're substantially more powerful than even Alpha Tinnitus Hounds.

These hounds are also capable of using more advanced tactics via communicating with one another quickly.

#### Werewolf Tinnitus Hound

Werewolves are people of various humanoid species who were bitten by a Tinnitus Hound. They look like humans covered completely in mottled gray fur and whatever injuries they happen to have sustained, along with having heads like Tinnitus Hounds and sharp, bony tails. They also have claws on their hands and feet. While mutations are rare, in some instances a person can become a Werewolf Elite, with black and white fur. This has no known bearing on ability.

They only become werewolves upon contact with moonlight; otherwise, they remain as their original race.