Legend says that if you see one, it means you're going to die soon. It's true - if you see one, there's a very good chance it's about to kill you. — Ranger at Fort Hanassa
They were wolves once. Grimhounds are a dangerous type of
not-beast that prowl the Forest. They are the result of wolves being infected by bloodsap.
Appearance
A grimhound is the size of an especially large wolf. They've lost their fur, and instead have glossy, round, black scales across their backs. The scales fade into a softer belly of black skin. The scales extends along their tails, which have grown thicker and about three feet long. The scales here flare out to form sharp blades on either side. A slash of a grimhound's tail can rip a man's intestines out.
Grimhounds have poor vision due to the thick scales that have grown into ridges around their eyes, nearly blinding them. They make up for this with an excellent sense of smell, even more refined than a natural wolf's. Their snouts are more snub-like than a wolf's, and they have two sets of teeth. The inner teeth are smaller and more needle-like, and make it nearly impossible to dislodge their grip on something.
Their final surprise is their second set of arms. The extra arms usually remain hidden in a pouch between their front legs. When needed, the thin, grasping arms extend out, deep red and moist from the pouch. The arms have opposable thumbs and enable grimhounds to climb trees or snatch prey. The grip is not especially strong, but all five fingers on each hand have a small talon that is sharper than the claws worn against the ground all day.
Behaviour
Grimhounds are pack animals. Often, an entire pack of un-changed wolves becomes infected together when they share a meal and they remain in the pack once mutated.
Like all not-beasts, the only sustenance they require is the sap from
bloodsap trees. They regularly roam the Forest in their packs, not to hunt but to patrol. If they come across a human in the woods, they don't attack until they've stealthily surrounded the person. While the person is focused on fending off the grimhound staring them down straight ahead, two more lunge in from the sides.
Name Origin
Grimhounds feature in
Taalish folklore. Tradition holds that the first person interred in a
burial mound will be trapped there as a ghost to guard the mound.
To save a person from that fate, a dog is sacrificed when a new mound is constructed. The dog's remains are burned on a funeral pyre, and its ashes placed in the centre of the mound. The spirit of the dog will take its position as guardian of the mound. Legend says that anyone attempting to break into a mound, or digging into the outside of it, will be attacked by its grimhound. Seeing a grimhound is an omen of death, as folklore says the dog is readying itself to welcome you to its mound.
Taalish
Border Rangers gave not-wolves their names, along with the grim joke that seeing one foretells your imminent death.