Draeven
A Boons and Banes Character File
I love lore and making connections between various tales which depict very different takes…on pretty much the exact same phenomena. Years ago, it dawned on me while watching a documentary about black dogs, the spectres often reported to haunt graveyards, through multiple cultures. Think about all the black dogs guarding the dead or dogs in general.
Then, they came down to the story about Greyfriars Bobby, which I believe is where I found this out, that the dog was so loyal, he remained by his master’s body even after his death. Whatever documentary it was, went on to note that black dogs haunting cemetaries was very common.
I looked it up, out of curiosity. Just a simple search for cemetery black dogs, because I’ve heard a lot of variations. In my searching, I ran across a little note, which I had heard before, that a dog would OFTEN be buried in a new cemetery before a human body, to act as a guard for the souls of the departed and to watch the graveyard.
It spurred on an idea, which I brought into The Arcane in the form of the Familarsis feralis hellhounds. Like many of my creatures, they are called by this name because it sounds vicious and dangerous. They are Arcadian Hunter companions, bred to assist their chosen masters. Associated with Arcadians means they are based in fire. These are funnily enough, one of the very few of my mythical creatures that have a truly physical presence as a DOG, with an alternate ash and fire form they keep hidden.
Most other Familarsis appear as their mythical variations and are basically ignored as not possibly being real by the human mind. There is no trickery with the hellhound. They are truly dogs. Loyal, loving, companions who will risk their lives for people. They range from large breeds, like wolfhounds and staghounds, down to tiny little fireball pomeranians for personal protection.
For Boons and Banes, I had a different thought. One in which these black dogs are messengers and guardians, sent out across the world to assist those in severe need. I’m not going to ruin their full purpose, but these are the dogs who appear out of nowhere to save lost and injured people. They slip into impossible crevices and comfort people. They are indeed black, or as I refer to Draeven, ash brindle. He has a gorgeous set of antlers, too. Walks around dropping ash all over the place.
They have a name. Wardhounds. Of which, Draeven is above them all, referred to as a Crossward hound. When he’s on the field, something serious is about to be handled and he only answers to one master…
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Awesome, TC. Put a dog in a story, and it's richer. 👍