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|---|---|
| Creator | DragonFlight |
| Homeworld | Kynn |
| Agency | Eldiheim |
| Bonding | Special |
| Hybridization | Special |
| Maturity | 6 mo. |
| Birth | Live |
| Gestation | 2 mo. |
| Offspring # | 3-5 |
General Info
Developed through a long and arduous process of regulated balefire corruption and flesh sculpting, blighthounds are a species of highly intelligent - albeit non-sapient - pack-oriented hunters, created as companions - and even protection - for the children of Anathema. Though not originally intended for any particular purpose beyond seeing if they could design such a creature, Nathair Balechild was nonetheless willing to accelerate their research timeline to produce favorable results in support of their family.
This led to their first appearance being amidst numerous Balespawn of Eldiheim at the hatching of Death Court Queen Takith's children by Kaszas Balechild, but others readily appear within Eldiheim as part of Nathair's ongoing breeding and maintenance of the species.
Bonding
Blighthounds are capable of forming an empathic bond at any time during their life, to an individual they become attached to or feel loyalty towards. This is exclusive to Balespawn - they will accept commands and mastery only from the Great Family. Once a blighthound has bonded, it will remain absolutely loyal to its master, unless commanded and released to the care of another of Anathema's children. Blighthounds communicate telepathically with their master through colors, images, and general impressions, and are intelligent enough to understand spoken commands only, but also benefit greatly from their master’s intent transmitted through their emotional link.
Those to which their master has a strong emotional connection, but do not belong to the Great Family, such as pair-bonded mates, adopted children, or familiars, can be recognized as individuals to be protected, though not necessarily wholly obeyed.
Appearance
Blighthounds do not have a particularly canine appearance, despite their moniker. While pups are often vicious little balls of fluff, they grow very rapidly, easily outpacing a hatchling Balespawn in order to offer additional protection. The fur they have is extremely thick, often leaving claws and teeth of opponents tangled before ever reaching flesh. The areas of their bodies without such fur are covered in armored chitin. They are heavily built and extremely bulky, but with a speed and flexibility unexpected for their size, sometimes moving in ways that seem impossible or wrong to the eye.
Their bladed whiskers are prehensile, and sensitive to vibrations and minute environmental changes that are easily missed, giving them an uncanny spacial awareness and making them nearly impossible to surprise. Blighthounds can also move these limbs very quickly, snapping them in nearly any direction like a whip.
These creatures possess balefire, and cannot be unwillingly altered by it further - they will not corrode or warp in any way without Balespawn intervention, to which they will willingly submit.
Blighthounds are also extremely venomous, capable of secreting a cocktail of toxins from their claws, and the stingers on their tails, whiskers, and even a hidden one on the tip of their surprisingly long tongues. Balespawn will find that they are immune to blighthound toxins if ever exposed to them. Blighthounds can be commanded to withhold their venom by their Balespawn master, and this poses them no difficulty. The beasts themselves are immune to their own toxins and those of their species.
Blighthounds range in size between 10' and 14' at the shoulder upon reaching adulthood, making them larger than many dragons.
It is unknown at this time how long blighthounds will naturally live.
Variant Traits
Blighthounds have three different known horn styles. They can also have up to two additional sets of eyes, set back on their heads from their main eyes, but higher or lower. None of these traits, or combinations thereof, are rarer than any other, nor do they have any particular meaning to the blighthounds themselves.
 Type 1 |
 Type 2 |
 Type 3 |
Colors & Patterns
Blighthounds can come in a full spectrum of colors, with few limitations. Their skin, most commonly only fully visible at their feet, is most commonly black, gray, or brown, but all other colors can appear. Their whiskers and tail chitin always match in color, as do the color of their blades, claws, and horns, with the latter generally in metallic colors. Their eyes are always green on red sclera, just like their Balespawn masters. Their fur has been seen to carry numerous different patterns, and more may appear over time.
Patterns can appear on a solid base coat, or a multi-color gradient. Currently identified patterning includes (but may not be limited to):
- No Pattern
- Thick Jagged Stripes
- Thin Jagged Stripes
- Medium Rosettes
- Small Spots/Dapple (Up To Three Colors)
- Medium Spots/Dapple (Up To Three Colors)
- Large Spots/Dapple (Up To Three Colors)
- Two-Color Calico
- Three-Color Calico
Behavior
Blighthounds will form packs with one another, where they test one another's strength, and permit the strongest among them to lead, following a strict hierarchy. The only exception to this is if their Balespawn master designates a specific blighthound as leader instead, which the pack will follow without question, with their strength hierarchy as their backup style of organization.
They are exclusively carnivorous, and will hunt and consume any living thing they come across, even other tainted creatures, unless commanded otherwise. This will at least render the bonds and minions of their master safe from harm by the beasts.
Abilities
- Telepathy: Mind-to-mind communication involving colors, images, sensations, and general impressions.
- Empathic Bond: The supplemental mental connection formed between blighthound and Balespawn master, allowing for complete and precise understanding of complex verbal or mental commands.
- Naturalized Balefire: Additional exposure to balefire does not alter the blighthound, unless intentionally applied by a Balespawn.
- Venomous Cocktail: Intensely powerful toxins can be secreted from any sharp bodily protrusion. Effects can vary. Balespawn are innately immune.
- Superior Regeneration: Rapid healing of damage, including restoration of limbs, barring injuries that are immediately lethal, such as decapitation or dismemberment.
- Eldritch Locomotion: Capable of movement that seems to break physics, including bending in unusual ways or slipping outside of reality mid-stride. This includes following in the wake of their master's teleportation or realm-traveling abilities, or warping space to reach their master if they have moved in a different way. Simply put, they cannot target a an independent location, but can never be left behind by or forcefully separated from their master.
Reproduction
Blighthounds will mate and produce offspring within their own kind with little to no encouragement. Left to their own devices, they will challenge one another and mate between the strongest of them, in an instinctual effort to produce even stronger offspring. They can be directed to mate with specific individuals by their Balespawn master, but no intervention is required unless the Balespawn is attempting to introduced new abilities or alter traits.
Blighthounds are capable of hybridization with other non-sapient species, but will not do so without direction from a master, as they will otherwise identify the other species as food, rather than a partner.
Rules
Balespawn other than Nathair can breed and produce blighthounds at their leisure. Nathair ever remains available to his family for assistance and advice on the topic, should they ask. The introduction of additional or alternate traits, or hybridization of species, is permitted, but the resulting breed or species should be labeled with the name of the Balespawn (or their homeworld) responsible for the change. For example, the default blighthound could be considered 'Eldihund' (Eldiheim Blighthound) or 'Nathairan' if compared to other branched breeds.
Naming System
None. Blighthounds will immediately respond to the name their Balespawn master gives them, and do not cling to them should they be passed to a different master in the future.
Credits
The original blighthound template features fur, shading, fire and lighting effects from Phoenix, with design, lines, and patterning from DragonFlight.
 Full Silhouette |