The Grim-Specter

A dense morning mist crept in from the hills, enveloping the autumn forests in a pale blanket. Nestled within this ethereal shroud was a small town, still drowsy and awaiting the first light of dawn and the crowing of roosters. Down a cobblestone road, near a modest stone shrine, lay the town's graveyard. It possessed a quiet elegance with stone grave markers, a few statues, and a perimeter enclosed by a gate crafted from hewn stone and wrought iron.
In the early hours before dawn, the gate swung open, its lock compelled open by magical force. The intruder, clad in dark robes, strode purposefully through the graveyard. In her hand, she held an oak staff adorned with a ram's skull, and at her waist, a heavily-belted assortment of pouches, trinkets, wands, and bone artifacts – the tools of her trade.
Her trade was necromancy, and Theorosa Kalgas considered herself a master of the dark arts. Curses, soul-theft, the manipulation of life and death, all bowed to her command. She intended to make the town that had disrespected her pay dearly. They had treated her as a mere traveler, as if she were bound by their laws and customs. But in her mind, her power entitled her to do as she pleased with those weaker than herself, and she believed that the weak should serve the strong.
Consequences would befall the entire township, with blood, death, and destruction. The townsfolk would face their doom at the hands of their own deceased kin, reanimated as her servants. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of their suffering.
A sudden howl pierced the early morning air. It wasn't the ordinary howl of a town dog but something more unsettling. She felt it resonate within her, triggering a sense of dread. Could it be a black hound, one of those supernatural creatures she had heard of? They were dangerous but potentially valuable to someone who dabbled in dark magic.
As she contemplated the idea of binding a black hound to her service, an eerie silence fell over the graveyard. Unbeknownst to her, the source of this disturbance stood nearby. She hadn't heard any footsteps or panting breath, but when the deep growl and a loud bark echoed, she turned, her wand drawn, expecting a guard dog.
Her eyes met the gaze of a massive mastiff, once a fearsome guard dog but now an undead apparition. Its transparent body emitted a dim blue glow, and green sparks crackled from its fangs. An undead hound? This was more than perfect; it was an opportunity. She attempted to assert control, but the hound's unwavering loyalty and an ancient bond with its human kept it beyond her grasp.
"You are a good girl, a loyal girl to the end," were the last words Duchess had heard from her human. She was loyal to her humans, living in town and dead, who rested in this graveyard. The necromancer's vile scent of corruption and cruelty revolted her, and she reacted with a snarl and a lunge, ghost fire igniting across her fangs, striking down the intruder. The necromancer's demise went unnoticed in the early morning silence, and the old priest at the temple would only remark that Duchess, even after all these years, was still a very good girl.
The Church Grim
The Church Grim, also known as ghost hounds, Temple Cu, or Shrine Spirits, is a fascinating concept rooted in ancient traditions of the North. When a loyal and protective dog passes away, a divine spellcaster dedicated to a god of protectors, defenders, and heroism can perform a sacred ritual. This ritual involves burying the hound with honor in a specially prepared stone coffin, typically concealed within the walls of a temple or hidden within a graveyard. If the ritual is conducted correctly, the dog's spirit is reborn as a potent guardian imbued with hallowed powers, allowing it to continue its role as a protector and defender.
Regardless of the dog's size or breed in life, the Church Grim's spirit manifests as a large and formidable beast. It can easily overpower and subdue adversaries, except for giant-sized foes. Its spectral form possesses fangs that emit ghostly flames, which only harm those with malicious intent. Additionally, the Church Grim's ethereal body is highly resistant to all but magical attacks and the bite of enchanted weapons.
The Church Grim is believed to possess an acute ability to detect evil and a sixth sense for recognizing malevolent intentions directed at the places and people it is sworn to protect. Remarkably, Church Grims cannot be permanently destroyed, even through magical means, unless their physical remains are found and subjected to profane magic. Temples and graveyards fortunate enough to have a Church Grim, or a small pack of them, often leave offerings of bones, dog treats, and canine toys as tokens of gratitude for their unwavering defense of holy grounds. Many temples also erect statues in honor of the Grims, sending a clear message to potential desecrators that these hallowed spaces are under the dedicated protection of these guardians who tolerate no evil.