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Alignment: Grey or Dark Arts
Classification: Passed Spirit Size: Breeds range from 6 inches to 4 feet at shoulder Experience Level: Intermediate+ |
Talents: Shadow Work, Death Work, Curses, Protection
Disposition: Suggested Offerings: Labradorite, Musk, Animal Bones, Charcoal, Obsidian, |
WARNING: The following page involves some discussion of both human and animal death. These mentions are not graphic and are respectful in nature. Because Gravekeeper Hounds are the passed spirits of dogs, and are naturally inclined to watch over cemeteries, this content is integral to understanding them and their culture. Thank you for understanding!
Gravekeeper Hounds are canine entities who work as guardians of the dead. They populate cemeteries, standing a silent vigil over the headstones, bestowing curses on those living humans who would treat the graves with anything other than reverence and protecting these sacred sites from spirits who would do them harm.
Although many of them are so ancient that they are unaware of their origins, it is often said that they are the souls of pets who sacrificed themselves to save another life, and were rewarded for their dedication and granted the position of eternal guardianship by some unknown deity. In their decades of afterlife, these beings have gained boundless wisdom and self-awareness. While, like many canines, they enjoy being given a job to do, many of them feel an urge to move on from this limbo-esque form of existence. It's their hope to reconnect with the living and following their potential partner into the unknown.
Although many of them are so ancient that they are unaware of their origins, it is often said that they are the souls of pets who sacrificed themselves to save another life, and were rewarded for their dedication and granted the position of eternal guardianship by some unknown deity. In their decades of afterlife, these beings have gained boundless wisdom and self-awareness. While, like many canines, they enjoy being given a job to do, many of them feel an urge to move on from this limbo-esque form of existence. It's their hope to reconnect with the living and following their potential partner into the unknown.
Biology
Gravekeeper Hounds are spectral beings, and for the purposes of classifying their race with the little information we have on their origins, we can assume they are passed spirits who have been granted powers and eternal life. They have vague memories of the life that came before, although it often comes through in vague knowledge, such as names or the items and food they gravitate towards. They often take the shape of the breed of dog they were in their lifetime - for those who passed away a long time ago, they may look more wolflike, while more modern hounds can be very diverse, ranging from tiny Chihuahuas to great Mastiffs. The majority of the time, when they are manifesting passively, they appear as a silhouette or shadow of their breed with glowing white eyes. Around the edges of their shape, they fade into swirling mist with rainbow light refracting through it, giving them a ghastly but colorful appearance. When they focus on manifesting their form more intently, they may appear more life-like, manifesting the fur colors and markings they may have had during their lifetime.
Being passed spirits, Gravekeeper Hounds are not bound by the constraints of mortality any longer, and they cannot be killed. Physical objects pass through them, even in astral settings. However, they can be hurt or injured by some magical effects, which tends to be rare because they have great mastery over warding and self-protection. They do not eat, nor do they require sustenance, and many of them cannot fully taste or enjoy earthen food any longer - however, they understand the significance of food as an offering, and will often accept it as such, many of them having food preferences based on aesthetic or what they think they might have once enjoyed during their lifetime. They do not reproduce nor have sexual relations with each other, although many of them are no stranger to sexual energies. They also do not have any cultural understanding of gender - they will sometimes use the pronouns assigned to them during their lives, but many of them, especially the older Hounds, do not have any such concept. New Gravekeeper Hounds simply come into existence at sunset on each New Moon.
Gravekeeper Hounds are inherently magical, and work best with darker energies related to binding, cursing, and exploring the shadow. They are innately able to place curses of bad luck on those who cross them, and find there is nobility in it. They are capable of learning more in-depth magics, and many of those who seek companionship desire expanding their knowledge alongside their keeper.
Being passed spirits, Gravekeeper Hounds are not bound by the constraints of mortality any longer, and they cannot be killed. Physical objects pass through them, even in astral settings. However, they can be hurt or injured by some magical effects, which tends to be rare because they have great mastery over warding and self-protection. They do not eat, nor do they require sustenance, and many of them cannot fully taste or enjoy earthen food any longer - however, they understand the significance of food as an offering, and will often accept it as such, many of them having food preferences based on aesthetic or what they think they might have once enjoyed during their lifetime. They do not reproduce nor have sexual relations with each other, although many of them are no stranger to sexual energies. They also do not have any cultural understanding of gender - they will sometimes use the pronouns assigned to them during their lives, but many of them, especially the older Hounds, do not have any such concept. New Gravekeeper Hounds simply come into existence at sunset on each New Moon.
Gravekeeper Hounds are inherently magical, and work best with darker energies related to binding, cursing, and exploring the shadow. They are innately able to place curses of bad luck on those who cross them, and find there is nobility in it. They are capable of learning more in-depth magics, and many of those who seek companionship desire expanding their knowledge alongside their keeper.
Disposition & Manifestation
Most Gravekeeper Hounds come into existence with the understanding of a mission, which is to protect the graves of dead humans. Although most of the souls of the bodies buried there have long since passed on, the ground they occupy is still considered to be a sacred and liminal place. It is a Gravekeeper Hound's duty to ensure that those who pass through their cemetery, whether they be human, fae, or something entirely different, treat these spaces with respect and reverence. Those who disturb the peace of the cemetery, such as stealing dirt or offerings without permission, littering, making fun of headstones, or otherwise disrespecting the dead, are acted on with a vengeance by the Gravekeeper Hounds. They will curse those individuals with poor luck until they have learned their lesson, or returned what they have stolen. In more egregious cases, such as those who deface graves or exhume bodies without permission, those individuals may be cursed with more intense consequences. Those who are savvy enough to sense the presence of Gravekeeper Hounds might be able to petition them for the removal of curses, or protection against those who would follow them into the graveyard and do them harm.
Because Gravekeeper Hounds are meant to watch over the bodies of humans, they are intrinsically linked with humans, even if they don't interact with them on a regular basis. They see the progress of the technology in the world around them, and they also see how humans interact with, and disconnect with, the concept of death. They often do not meddle in the affairs of humans beyond what they are assigned to do, but will sometimes appear as strange shadows or lights in a cemetery depending on the time of day, and one might hear their far-off barking when exploring a quiet graveyard. If you were to ask a Gravekeeper Hound, they would likely say that they interact with the dead closely, but they do not consider themselves to be death-aligned - in fact, many of them would tell you they are neutral benefactors simply doing their job. To them, cursing is not something that is to be ashamed of or even truly negative - they see it as an appropriate reaction to truly egregious acts, and the majority of them are proud of their actions. They feel that they are part of a natural cycle, and many of them seek connections with nature. However, their physical senses are rather dampened in comparison to living dogs, so they interact with nature in a way that is more spiritual and based on meditative connection.
When attempting to manifest to humans, Gravekeeper Hounds largely appear as shadows or as images of their strange, rainbow-esque spectral mist. They can carry with them the scent of funerary incense or embalming oils, namely lavender, frankincense, and clove. They might manifest to a person they are connected to in dreams or meditation.
Because Gravekeeper Hounds are meant to watch over the bodies of humans, they are intrinsically linked with humans, even if they don't interact with them on a regular basis. They see the progress of the technology in the world around them, and they also see how humans interact with, and disconnect with, the concept of death. They often do not meddle in the affairs of humans beyond what they are assigned to do, but will sometimes appear as strange shadows or lights in a cemetery depending on the time of day, and one might hear their far-off barking when exploring a quiet graveyard. If you were to ask a Gravekeeper Hound, they would likely say that they interact with the dead closely, but they do not consider themselves to be death-aligned - in fact, many of them would tell you they are neutral benefactors simply doing their job. To them, cursing is not something that is to be ashamed of or even truly negative - they see it as an appropriate reaction to truly egregious acts, and the majority of them are proud of their actions. They feel that they are part of a natural cycle, and many of them seek connections with nature. However, their physical senses are rather dampened in comparison to living dogs, so they interact with nature in a way that is more spiritual and based on meditative connection.
When attempting to manifest to humans, Gravekeeper Hounds largely appear as shadows or as images of their strange, rainbow-esque spectral mist. They can carry with them the scent of funerary incense or embalming oils, namely lavender, frankincense, and clove. They might manifest to a person they are connected to in dreams or meditation.
Social Structure
Gravekeeper Hounds do not follow any highly organized social structure. Although they generally form groups based on the cemetery they have been assigned to watch over, they do not assign leaders within their groups or locations, they are not territorial, and they do not follow anything similar to a pack structure. Gravekeeper Hounds see themselves as being equal entities, and often defer to the deity they believe in for guidance.
However, they do have some social rules that they follow strictly - they are not to harm each other, they are not to harm humans unfounded, and they are not to defile the graves they watch over. Breaching any of these laws could result in permanent exile, and when a Gravekeeper Hound that is naturally vile in its soul goes into exile, no one is very sure what might happen to them - many of the Hounds whisper rumors that they turn into terrible, twisted spectres in the woods, akin to cryptids, but there is no evidence of this.
Gravekeeper Hounds do not mate or have sexual relations, but they can sometimes closely bond in pairs or trios. These bonds are generally classified differently from how we would see romantic or even platonic love - they are simply a close, intimate bond of friendship and protection. Similarly, there are not generally parent and child relationships, since Gravekeeper Hounds do not experience a childhood. However, when a new Hound is brought into existence, they might take on one or a handful of mentors to teach them how to utilize their innate powers and teach them the loose laws they live by.
Religion is a fluid thing within the culture of the Gravekeeper Hounds, with many smaller sects frequently forming, disbanding, and reorganizing on a regular basis. Although many of them have beliefs regarding their origins that vary across the board, and most agree on the idea that they were blessed by a specific deity, there is some debate as to who that deity might be. The most popular theories are Yinepu (Anubis), Hekate, the Morrigan, Odin, Hades, and Yama, but there are more deities who cross their tongues often depending on the culture the Hound hails from and their knowledge of such matters. Some do not worship or believe in any deities whatsoever, and simply believe that the universe as a whole knew where best to place them.
However, they do have some social rules that they follow strictly - they are not to harm each other, they are not to harm humans unfounded, and they are not to defile the graves they watch over. Breaching any of these laws could result in permanent exile, and when a Gravekeeper Hound that is naturally vile in its soul goes into exile, no one is very sure what might happen to them - many of the Hounds whisper rumors that they turn into terrible, twisted spectres in the woods, akin to cryptids, but there is no evidence of this.
Gravekeeper Hounds do not mate or have sexual relations, but they can sometimes closely bond in pairs or trios. These bonds are generally classified differently from how we would see romantic or even platonic love - they are simply a close, intimate bond of friendship and protection. Similarly, there are not generally parent and child relationships, since Gravekeeper Hounds do not experience a childhood. However, when a new Hound is brought into existence, they might take on one or a handful of mentors to teach them how to utilize their innate powers and teach them the loose laws they live by.
Religion is a fluid thing within the culture of the Gravekeeper Hounds, with many smaller sects frequently forming, disbanding, and reorganizing on a regular basis. Although many of them have beliefs regarding their origins that vary across the board, and most agree on the idea that they were blessed by a specific deity, there is some debate as to who that deity might be. The most popular theories are Yinepu (Anubis), Hekate, the Morrigan, Odin, Hades, and Yama, but there are more deities who cross their tongues often depending on the culture the Hound hails from and their knowledge of such matters. Some do not worship or believe in any deities whatsoever, and simply believe that the universe as a whole knew where best to place them.
In Companionship
When it comes to companionship, Gravekeeper Hounds seek out human partners who can provide them with a close friendship. Many of them are very old with a great deal of knowledge, and they seek to pass that knowledge on. However, the majority of them have spent a very long time in service to the dead, and they wish to return to the world of the living, so to speak. Once a Gravekeeper Hound chooses a companion, they will no longer return to the cemetery they were assigned to - they are not bound permanently to those places, and have mostly stayed out of a sense of honor. Once they leave of their own volition, they will consider this to be akin to a retirement. Those Gravekeeper Hounds who become bonded with a human companion will likely follow them as far as they can go into the afterlife, whatever that means for them. They are extremely loyal beings, and once they have chosen someone, they are unlikely to wish to separate from them.
Gravekeeper Hounds love interacting with humans, as many of them were the pets of humans during their lives. They are likely to also get along well with other pets and canine entities in your spirit family - as beings with greater wisdom than living dogs, they are not territorial, and will not attack other beings unprovoked. Some of them have been around for so long that our technology is still unfamiliar to them, but there is a universal love for snuggling on a couch, as there has been for countless generations.
Gravekeeper Hounds are happy to assist their companions in magical endeavors. In particular, they'd be happy to be guides or partners when it comes to darker magics, including shadow work, introspective work, death work, psychopomp work, cursing, hexing, and breaking curses or hexes. They might help their companion connect closer with a certain deity, particularly if the Hound in question is connected to that deity. They are also great protectors, capable of helping you update your wards or create an anchor point for more intense protection. Visiting graveyards together for grave tending or paying respects to the dead is a great idea for bonding with a Gravekeeper Hound, but certainly not required. And more than anything, Gravekeeper Hounds are happy to provide their companionship with a sense of security and support. The love of a Hound is boundless, and they look forward to sharing that love with you.
Gravekeeper Hounds love interacting with humans, as many of them were the pets of humans during their lives. They are likely to also get along well with other pets and canine entities in your spirit family - as beings with greater wisdom than living dogs, they are not territorial, and will not attack other beings unprovoked. Some of them have been around for so long that our technology is still unfamiliar to them, but there is a universal love for snuggling on a couch, as there has been for countless generations.
Gravekeeper Hounds are happy to assist their companions in magical endeavors. In particular, they'd be happy to be guides or partners when it comes to darker magics, including shadow work, introspective work, death work, psychopomp work, cursing, hexing, and breaking curses or hexes. They might help their companion connect closer with a certain deity, particularly if the Hound in question is connected to that deity. They are also great protectors, capable of helping you update your wards or create an anchor point for more intense protection. Visiting graveyards together for grave tending or paying respects to the dead is a great idea for bonding with a Gravekeeper Hound, but certainly not required. And more than anything, Gravekeeper Hounds are happy to provide their companionship with a sense of security and support. The love of a Hound is boundless, and they look forward to sharing that love with you.
Please note that all The Dragon's Library Encyclopedia entries are based on my own personal UPG and may not reflect yours.
This entry represents the type of Gravekeeper Hound I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.
This entry represents the type of Gravekeeper Hound I conjure, while other conjurers may not work with the same exact type.