(see also Chaos Hound, Canidor)
MOON DOG (#7/30, #219/365) [OOTP IV]
STAMINA: 10
ATTACKS: 1
WEAPON: Large Bite
ARMOUR: None
DAMAGE MODIFIER: +1 to Damage Roll
HABITAT: Towns, Ruins, Anywhere master is
NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-3
TYPE: Animal
REACTION: Hostile
INTELLIGENCE: Average
Once thought to be identical to the horrible Death Dog of southern Allansia and elsewhere, recent research from Ruddlestone has revealed that the hideous canine known as the MOON DOG is in fact a very different type of creature! Some say this is because the beast is tainted by Chaos, or that it exists half-within the Ethereal Realm, or even that it materializes on Titan when the lunar event of Moon Dogs appear in the sky, mysterious celestial bodies that flank the actual moon as dogs would follow their master.
Regardless of reason, the Moon Dog, named for their habit of baying at the moon with shrill howls, is the most savage of all dogs. A huge beast, stronger than four men, its pelt is normally midnight-black but sometimes silvery-white in hue. The size of a fully grown Wolf, Moon Dogs are truly vicious creatures with razor sharp fangs better suited for a beast four times their size. Very cunning by nature, they can be sent to hunt and kill specific enemies, and are often equipped with spiked collars, and sent forth in battle to charge and attack horses and their riders.
Each encountered Moon Dog may have mutations on the roll of a 6 on a 1D6 roll. Roll on the table below to determine what they are:
Roll Mutation Effect
1 Two Heads: +1 SKILL, +1 STAMINA, +1 Attack
2 Silvery Coat: Attacks count as magical weapons
3 Rabid: Wounded enemy must deduct an extra 2 STAMINA after the battle as they cut the poison from their wounds.
4 Shrill Howl: All enemies have -1 to SKILL unless have Ear Plugs or similar.
5 Tough Hide: Counts as Light Armour.
6 Two Mutations: Roll twice, ignoring further rolls of 6.
The Night Prince Zanbar Bone kept six Moon Dogs in the kennels at his Dark Tower, with which he would unleash against those that vexed him, such as the inhabitants of the nearby town of Silverton. The Order of the Black Shroud, undead Death-Knights from Bathoria, a chapter of whom have recently settled somewhat surprisingly at Valsinore Castle in western Ruddlestone, were known to keep Moon Dogs as guard hounds within the walls of their dread keep.
RAZAJACKAL (#8/30, #220/365) [OOTP IV]
STAMINA: 7
ATTACKS: 1
WEAPON: Large Bite
ARMOUR: None
DAMAGE MODIFIER: None
HABITAT: Deserts, Plains, Wilderness, Hills, Ruins
NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 2-7
TYPE: Animal
REACTION: Unfriendly-Hostile
INTELLIGENCE: Average
Out there in the wilderness, hunting in howling, snarling packs of two to seven slavering beasts, is the dreaded RAZAJACKAL! Like a Jackal but bigger, and similar to a desert wolf in appearance, the Razajackal has large canine teeth for savaging its prey, and communication among pack-members is via a series of howls, screams and snarls. Indeed, such are the skin-crawling sounds made by the creature, particularly when fighting, all who face it in combat must reduce their SKILL score by 1 for the duration of the battle (unless they have Ear Plugs, Goblin Ear Wax, or something similar).
Razajackals typically prey on camels, antelope, gazelle, goats and sheep, but have been known to attack humans crossing the desert as well. They will flee however, if their numbers are reduced by half, retreating to their den, which is generally a series of burrows lined with the chewed bones of their victims. Razajackals are known from the Scythera Desert in Khul and the White Bone Desert in Amarillia, where the clear night air transmits the sounds of their howls far and wide as they hunt for fresh meat among the star-lit dunes!
Dealing with Dogs
Assuming a breeder or animal trader can be found that sells them, different types of dog can be purchased at the prices listed below. It is assumed the price includes basic training relevant to the dog type's proclivity; Sled Dogs will be able to draw a sled, Attack Dogs will be trained to attack, and so on. Training a dog by oneself is identical to the process for training horses and other steeds given in the Combat Companion (p. 44).
Dogs require food! The amount of food a dog needs every day is related to their SKILL score as follows (and is taken from the Adventure Creation System, p. 15):
SKILL Daily Provisions required
5 or less 1 Meal/Day
6-9 2 Meals/Day
10 or more 4 Meals/Day
Each Provision is equivalent to a typical human-sized provision. For every Provision required per day, dogs will also require a full waterskin of water.
Dogs that are not fed regularly suffer the same penalties to their STAMINA score as Heroes, and their ability to follow instructions has a -1 penalty per day of not being fed. In addition, if they or their owner rolls a Critical Fumble, the hungry dog will turn on its master or mistress and attack them instead!
Dog Type Prices
Type City Cost Town Cost Village Cost
Attack Dog 35gp 40gp 40gp
Bloodhound 25gp 30gp 32gp
Brician War-Hound 35gp 40gp 40gp
Death Dog 50gp 70gp 80gp
Dog 6gp 8gp 10gp
Elven Hound 45gp 60gp 70gp
Fang Hound 45gp 60gp 70gp
Great Hound 33gp 38gp 38gp
Guard Dog 10gp 8gp 8gp
Hunting Dog 15gp 20gp 20gp
Kalagarian Ridgeback 30gp 36gp 38gp
Mastiff 35gp 40gp 40gp
Moon Dog 50gp 70gp 80gp
Orc Hound 10gp 11gp 12gp
Retriever 8gp 10gp 12gp
Rottwild 20gp 22gp 24gp
Sheep Dog 8gp 10gp 12gp
Sled Dog 30gp 25gp 25gp
Snuff Hound 30gp 40gp 40gp
War Hound 35gp 40gp 40gp
Whippet 10gp 12gp 15gp
Wolf Dog 16gp 18gp 18gp
Wolfhound 20gp 25gp 25gp
Dog Armour
Similar to the barding worn by Warhorses and the like (e.g. see Return to the Pit, p. 10), it is also possible to equip dogs with armour to protect them in battle from injuries. Spiked Collars can be worn by any dog, but other types of armour may only be worn by the following breeds: Attack Dogs, Brician War-Hounds, Death Dogs, Elven Hounds, Fang Hounds, Great Hounds, Kalagarian Ridgebacks, Mastiffs, Rottwilds, Orc Hounds, War Dogs, Wolf-Dogs or Wolfhounds. It may also be worn by slightly more supernatural canines, including Hellhounds, Moon Dogs and the Xlaia, but not flying breeds, including Aakor, Canidor or Devil-Hounds.
Dog Armour Prices
Type City Cost Town Cost Village Cost
Spiked Collar 5gp 7gp 9gp
Leather 8gp 9gp 16gp
Mail 12gp 18gp 30gp
Plate 16gp 22gp 46gp
Spike 30gp 35gp 50gp
Dog Armour Roll Tables
Armour Type 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+
Spiked Collar* 0 0 0 0 0 +1 +1
Leather 0 0 0 1 1 1 2
Mail 0 0 1 1 2 2 3
Plate 0 1 2 2 3 3 4
Spiked** 1 1 2 2 3 3 4
* = If the Spiked Collar blocks or partially blocks a melee attack, the assailant suffers 1 STAMINA damage from the spikes on the collar. Spiked Collars can be worn in addition to all other Dog Armour types except Spiked Armour (in which they are included).
** = Spiked Armour causes 1 STAMINA point damage to any adversary that successfully hits the Dog that wears it.
Collar of the Immortal Nightmare (#9/30, #221/365) [EA:V2] (Enchanted Item)
This is a black leather colour studded with thick silver spikes. When worn by a large dog, such as a Mastiff or Rottwild, it provides protection as per a regular spiked collar. In addition, the hound that wears it is immune to damage from normal weapons; they will appear to suffer wounds, but once they reach 0 STAMINA, they will be reborn again with their full STAMINA intact! Only silver or magic weapons can harm a dog that wears the Collar of the Immortal Nightmare. One such creature was the black Mastiff 'Midnight' kept by the Salamonian tax-collector Odious Pinchpenny, and used to menace those that were tardy in paying revenue to the man regarded as the most detested person in Salamonis.
Unavailable to buy
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