Hellhound
by Kay
Singular -- Hellhound
Plural -- Hellhounds Group -- Terror of Hellhounds Communication - Mindspeech Size Ranges – 3ft at shoulder, 6ft nose to tail Colorations – Dark gray to Black fur, Orange-rd eyes Naming Convention -- None |
Description
The progenitors of current hellhounds used to serve as the literal guard dogs of the abyss, tormenting those doomed to their fiery home and ensuring none escaped. But at some point or another in their history, they were brought to the moral realm during a demonic raid, and some escaped. They have since interbred with other canines, becoming what today is known as the Hellhound. Large canines standing on average of three feet tall at the shoulder and six feet from nose to tail, Hellhounds are fearsome creatures of fire and aggression. Generally dark gray or black in color, with fiery orange-red eyes and specifically-placed crimson markings identifying their ranks, they still hold much of the fiendish demeanor of their forebearers, and it takes a firm hand to control their behavior. It is easy to tell when a hellhound is becoming enraged, as smoke rolls from their muzzle, though only those of those of the Warrior rank and higher can actually breathe a cone of black-red hellfire. All ranks of Hellhounds are also completely immune to fire unless it has a divine element, in which case they are only strongly resistant. While they are somewhat social in the manner of wolves and live in packs with a distinct hierarchy and something or an order to it, Hellhounds plot and scheme to advance in rankings within the Terror, and are not oppose to backstabbing to get their way. Hellhounds are quite capable of mindspeech, though a listener must be careful because more often than not their words are self-serving in one way or another. Given that their rank is so universal among the Hellhound Terror, either gender can be any rank. Mating Information Hellhounds that are ready to mate become even more aggressive than usual, snapping at others and if they are capable burning them before they finally are ready. The process for choosing a mate is rather straightforward: the caller will wait until several suitors have gathered, then lunge to attack them. Their objective is to survive the attacks, while at the same time ensuring they are the last one standing. It isn't uncommon for the suitors to take cheap shots at their fellows to ensure that they don't remain in the competition for long. At the end of the melee, the last one standing to face the initiator, or the one with whom they were best pleased if there are none left, become their mate. Bonding Information Hellhound pups are born always in the dark of night, and are ready to bond after only a couple of days. At this point, their starting ranks are unknown; Hellhound pups are a uniform, solid color. It is not until after they form a Bond or go wild that their rank markings will appear. Offerings of meat will sometimes tempt the pup to bond, though others will utterly ignore food and bond with someone who is powerful (or alternately, someone who is weak that they can bully around). Ranks Alpha 5* Alphas are the powerful leaders of the Hellhound Terrors. They have to be strong, as they only hold their position as long as they are strong enough to do so. It is the Alphas who make decisions and oversee fights in the Terrors, keep as much of a sense of peace as could be expected and takes the best of the hunt's kills. Many have scars of the battles they've won, and they hold to their rank fiercely. All Alphas share one thing in common: their Rank Mark - two scar-like lines across one eye. The females amongst them birth between 3 and 4 pups. Beta 4* The second-in-command in Hellhound Terrors, Betas have a rank of dual lives: On the one hand, they have respect seconded only by the alphas, and can order most other ranks around. On the other, they are often the targets of plots for advancement, for if one cannot rule, is it not best to be the next in line? They decide the actions of the Terror when the Alpha is not around, and issue orders from the Alpha to the others. Just seeing the flash of the three red stripes down one shoulder can cause other Hellhounds to jump to their paws, ready for their next command or just getting out of the way. Females of this rank bear around 3 pups after mating. Breeder 3* Perhaps a bit surprising given the name of this rank, Breeders have quite a bit of respect from the other ranks as their task is an important one: remain healthy and strong to produce more offspring to keep the Terror strong. When the Terror's territory is threatened, they are often moved first so ensure their safety, and aside from the Alpha and the Beta are given the choicest food and selection for lairs. Breeders never engage in the battles that sometimes erupt between Terrors in the wild, and oftentimes in such battles the winning side will incorporate Breeders into their own Terror, if they are able. Breeders are always easy to identify, as their crimson red splotching along their flanks announces them quite well. Not surprisingly, the females of the rank produce the most pups: on average, they birth 6 or 7 at a time. Warrior 2* Warrior Hellhounds are just that, the warriors of the Terror. While all Hellhounds are capapble of fighting, and doing so quite well, the warriors take this martial prowess to a whole new level. Regardless of individual personality they train relentlessly, as battle is their one task in the Terror. When conflict breaks out between wild Terrors, or comes to a Bonded Hellhound Warrior, they are utterly fearless and throw themselves against their foe with a determination to destroy them. It is hard to pull them back should death not be a preferable outcome, and even their Bondeds have taken injury trying to stop their lethal rages. As if a mantle of their deadly lives Warriors are marked by two bands across both shoulders, one always wider than the other. Female warriors, when they bother to breed, have in general 2 or, rarely, 3 pups. Hunter 2* By nature of their rank and purpose in the Terror, Hunters have the ability to be the most quiet of the Hellhound species, capable of stalking along the underbrush with less noise than a butterfly when it suits them. They also by virtue of their training and purpose have cunning steaks in their otherwise varied demeanors: You don't succeed in hunting unless you can outthink your prey. Many of the battle strategies approved by Alphas and employed by Warriors are at least convieved by Hunters. They know of their importance as the bringers of food for the Terror lending some towards arrogance though this is by no means a hard and fast rule; some can be quite generous for their species. They even bear marks that recall facepaint worn by hunters: a red band over their eyes and each paw crimson as if dipped in blood. Female hunters have 1 or 2 pups at a time. Omega 1* The lowest rank, Omega have to do all the dirty work in a Terror. Omegas are oftentimes mistreated by others in the Terror, forced to live off of scraps and take the worse sleeping arrangements. The only way they survive at all is through obedience to all members of the Terror - even unranked pups have more respect than an Omega. How they react to this mistreatment is shaped by the individual's personality. Some accept it, some scheme to advance themselves quickly, others tend to come off as whiny, shiveling, cringing individuals, and given their position within the Terror it's somewhat understandable. But don't discount them entirely: these Hellhounds above all else they have absolutely nothing to lose. Not even a marking, as they have none to begin with. If an Omega female is lucky enough to find a mate after a chase, they only bear 1 pup. Note: an Omega who fails at a challenge obviously just remains an Omega; there is no lower rank |