Ashhounds

Ashhounds are vicious, spectral canines that roam the cold, ashen landscapes of the Abyssal Gloom. These fiendish creatures are born of the land’s perpetual sorrow and the souls of those lost in the cold. Their bodies are formed from swirling, smoldering ash and dark, necrotic energy, giving them an almost ethereal appearance. Ashhounds are predators of the highest order, relentless in their pursuit of the living and driven by an insatiable hunger for warmth and vitality. They are both a physical and magical threat, embodying the harshness and despair of the Abyssal Gloom.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The bodies of Ashhounds are composed of swirling ash and darkened smoke, which constantly shifts and fluctuates, making them hard to pin down. Despite their ethereal nature, they can solidify enough to tear through flesh with their razor-sharp claws and bite.

Behaviour

Ashhounds are fast, agile, and highly territorial. They hunt in packs, using the cover of mist and ash to stalk their prey. Their acute senses allow them to track living creatures over great distances, and once they’ve locked onto a target, they will relentlessly pursue it. These creatures hunt in small packs, working together to wear down their prey. Their howls echo through the landscape, and when one Ashhound senses something nearby, others quickly follow. They do not abandon each other, and if one is wounded, they will fight fiercely to protect it.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

While not fully composed of flame, Ashhounds can expel a burst of heated ash and necrotic energy from their mouths, which can cause burning wounds and frostbite simultaneously. Ashhounds can smell fear, sadness, and the heat of life. This makes them dangerous adversaries for those who are weakened, sick, or emotionally vulnerable. The deeper into the Abyssal Gloom one travels, the stronger their presence becomes, especially near areas saturated with sorrowful magic or despair.