SKILL: See below
STAMINA: See below
ATTACKS: 1
WEAPON: See below
ARMOUR: None
DAMAGE MODIFIER: See below
HABITAT: Towns, Ruins, Anywhere master is
NUMBER ENCOUNTERED: 1-3
TYPE: Animal
REACTION: Neutral-Hostile
INTELLIGENCE: Average-Low
The humble DOG of Titan has been bred by humans and other races into a bewildering diversity of different types. Out of the Pit covered such kinds as Death Dogs, Wild Dogs, Wolf Dogs (all pp. 38-39), and Wolfhounds (p. 120), while Snuff Hounds were described in Beyond the Pit (p. 129). Eighteen further breeds of Dog are detailed on the table below, which can be chosen as needed, or determined randomly by rolling two dice separately:
1st Roll 2nd Roll Type SKILL STAMINA Weapon Damage Modifier
1-2 1 ATTACK DOG 6 6 Large Bite -
The ATTACK DOG is an especially vicious breed of canine, similar to a Guard Dog, but trained to mercilessly attack any intruder venturing into a designated area the dog is protecting. They are large dogs of variable coloured pelage, with a heavy powerful muzzle and slavering jaws, that will attack to the death. Attack Dogs tend to be used by those who want something scary to guard their property and they don't mind how dangerous the creatures are. The compound containing Hog House, home of Lady Francesca de la Vette, in the city of Chalice was known to be guarded by Attack Dogs, likewise Krest Ironeyes of the Crowbeak Bandits in the north kept several as canine bodyguards (see Vault of the Old Kingdom, p 19).
1-2 2 BLOODHOUND 5 5 Small Bite -
This is a large breed of dog with a reddish-brown to black coat of short hair. BLOODHOUNDS can be used for hunting deer, boar and rabbits, but are more famed for their inexorable tracking ability with regards to humans. Across Khul and elsewhere, bounty-hunters and militia are known to employ Bloodhounds to successfully track down their prey, because once the dog has the scent of its quarry, it can be very difficult to shake it off. Bloodhounds are cowardly creatures however, and prefer not to fight, letting their master take care of their prey once the dog has tracked it down.
1-2 3 BRICIAN WAR-HOUND 7 6 Large Bite -
Similar to the War Dog, the BRICIAN WAR-HOUND is a powerful breed of canid used in battle against human infantry, especially peasant levies. The national dog of the warlike kingdom of Brice, the Brician War-Hound is a large wolf-like creature with a black and tan pelt, a strong physique, fearsome toothy jaws and a brooding natural intelligence. They saw action in the first and second wars against Ruddlestone and also during the War of Four Kingdoms, and their breed has spread across the Old World to other nations such as Gallantaria and Ruddlestone. In times of peace the Brician War-Hound is used in bear-baiting, or being set against other creatures in a fighting pit, including human gladiators!
1-2 4 ELVEN HOUND 8 6 Large Bite +1 to the Damage Roll
Like other races Elves have been known to breed dogs, the most fearsome of which are the near-wild ELVEN HOUNDS. These are large dogs, strong with toothy jaws but also sleek, fast and agile, whose coat is often brindled or spotted with a variety of colours. They are usually kept by Mountain or Wood Elves, but it is rumoured that Dark Elves, particularly of both Clan Tesarath and Clan Camcarneyar also have kennels of Elven Hounds. Indeed, in his youth, the evil sorcerer Malbordus the Storm Child was renowned for his ability to hypnotize wild Elven Hounds that roamed the subterranean streets of the Dark Elven city of Tiranduil Kelthas simply by staring deeply into their bestial eyes.
1-2 5 FANG HOUND 7 7 Large Bite +1 to the Damage Roll
The FANG HOUND is a strange breed of dog from the obscure principalities of the central Mauristatia highlands, such as Mortvania and Lupravia. There is something evil and other-worldly about these creatures, and they are large, lean and hungry dogs with a red-eyed stare. When confronting intruders, their snarling muzzle will curl back threateningly, revealing horribly elongated canine teeth, hence their name. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Fang Hounds are used as guard dogs by the various corrupt and decadent nobility of these cursed lands. Countess Isolde, rumoured by some to be a Vampire herself, kept two Fang Hounds at Maun Tower, wearing heavy iron spiked collars, their fur matted with the dried blood of any intruder they had slaughtered.
1-2 6 GREAT HOUND 7 6 Large Bite +1 to Damage Roll
The GREAT HOUND is one of the biggest breeds of regular domestic dog. This very large hound has a powerful muscular build with a sleek pelt whose colour ranges from fawn to brindle to grey, black or a harlequin mix of black and white. The Great Hound is used for hunting bears, boar and deer, often in addition to regular Hunting Dogs, usually to apply the coup de grace or incapacitate the quarry until the hunters arrive. They also make excellent and intimidating guard dogs due to their size, and have been used by nobility to protect themselves against assassins.
3-4 1 GUARD DOG 7 8 Large Bite -
Given the dangerous nature of many of Titan's environs and inhabitants, it is perhaps no surprise how popular the standard GUARD DOG is! This is a huge, black-furred beast with awfully big teeth, equally happy barking at intruders as well as flying at them, eager to tear out their throat! Guard Dogs are very common in Port Blacksand, where many of the inhabitants own at least one, such as Ben Borryman the silversmith, J. B. Wraggins the locksmith, or Captain Marlin. They were also used to patrol the corridors of Baron Sukumvit's Deathtrap Dungeon, at least in its first incarnation, though rumour has it the smart adventurer could distract the Guard Dogs by tossing them old bones to chew on.
3-4 2 HUNTING DOG 6 6 Small Bite -
Packs of HUNTING DOGS are used by various people across Titan to pursue prey such as foxes, boars and deer. They are medium sized dogs, with short hair of any colour, usually quite lithe and lightly built, in order to keep up with their quarry while running full tilt. Duke Blackhill uses a pack of Hunting Dogs to hunt within Darkwood Forest, for example, as does Lord Hever of Fallow Dale in Khul when hunting in Affen Forest, while Felder the Hunter and his legendary pack of hunting hounds tracked down the Great Boar of Lein in Ruddlestone. The Hunting Dog is also a symbol of Fourga, the God of Pride.
3-4 3 KALAGARIAN RIDGEBACK 7 6 Large Bite -
Also known as the Kalagarian Hound, for they originated in the north Khulian port of Kalagar, the KALAGARIAN RIDGEBACK is a large breed, half-dog half-wolf, and a snarling, highly intelligent killer. They have short red-brown fur and a crest of bristly forward-pointing hair running along the length of their spine to the base of their tail, hence their name. The Kalagarian Ridgeback can be used as a guard dog, or for hunting Arctolyce and Nandibears, and they have spread far beyond Kalagar. For instance, the animal trainer Koepa the Horsemaster of Arion (see Travels in Arion, p. 32), has several loyal Kalagarian Ridgebacks that accompany her at all times.
3-4 4 MASTIFF 7 7 Large Bite +1 to Damage Roll
One of the biggest breeds of dog, and also known as a Bull Mastiff, the MASTIFF is a muscular, thickset beast with short wiry brown, grey or black fur, and a broad powerful muzzle full of large sharp yellow teeth. Mastiffs have a ferocious bark and are used as guard dogs, or in blood-sports such as bear-baiting, beast-fighting and even gladiatorial combat (Ripper and Slasher were two infamous bear-baiting Mastiffs from Ruddlestone). Some say the biggest and toughest Mastiff breeds are those of the Mauristatian provinces of Mortvania and Lupravia. The Salamonian tax-collector Odious Pinchpenny was accompanied on his rounds by a great black vicious Mastiff called Midnight; rumour has it the beast was immortal and could not be slain by normal weapons!
3-4 5 ORC HOUND 4 8 Large Bite -
The ORC HOUND is a large, aggressive mastiff-like breed of dog used by tribes of Orcs as a guard and attack creature. They are not particularly agile but have plenty of stamina and a strong bite. One such great hound, named 'Axemouth' was kept by the Orc Warlord Grark Gutburster, who recently launched an assault on the Khulian city of Ludria (see the Adventure Creation System, pp. 302-303).
3-4 6 RETRIEVER 4 5 Small Bite -
Unlike Hunting Dogs which actively chase prey, RETRIEVERS are a breed of dog so named because they retrieve prey brought down by a hunter wielding a bow or primitive firearm. They are medium-sized dogs with a short waterproof coat in a variety of colours, and adept at swimming and traversing marshy terrain. Retrievers are a popular breed of dog, particularly among the nobility; Lord Hever of Fallow Dale kept several in his castle.
5-6 1 ROTTWILD 6 6 Large Bite -
The ROTTWILD is a large dog with a black and tan coat kept by people such as Flintskins (see Return to the Pit, pp. 81-82), and used as guards, hunters and trackers. These huge hounds can be quite ferocious and are trained to fight to the death, racing towards their target to leap at their throat, fangs bared in a snarl!
5-6 2 SHEEP DOG 4 4 Small Bite -
The SHEEP DOG is a medium sized dog breed used for herding sheep and goats, and kept by farmers and shepherds across Titan. They come in wide variety of colours and coat types depending on the climate and terrain; Sheep Dogs in warmer areas will have shorter coats that are yellow, orange or brown in colour while those in colder regions will have thicker coats that are white, grey, brown or black. While highly intelligent, trainable, and able to warn their owners as to any threats to the herd, Sheep Dogs are not guard animals and that role is generally taken by larger more aggressive breeds of hound.
5-6 3 SLED DOG 5 5 Small Bite -
The SLED DOG or Husky is a medium to large-sized breed used to pull a sled over snow, usually in cold or mountainous regions of Titan. They have thick coats that are white, grey or black in colour and may have a wolf-like appearance. Depending on the size of the sled and its cargo, a team of Sled Dogs may number between 2 to 12 animals. They can also be trained to defend the sled against threats such as Polar Bears or Snow Wolves, but are not especially effective as guard or attack dogs in these situations.
5-6 4 WAR HOUND 7 7 Large Bite +1 to Damage Roll
Also known as a Wardog, the WAR HOUND of northern Allansia is a very large breed of dog used especially for battle. Related to the Brician War-Hound above, they are huge slavering creatures with variable-coloured pelage, sharp fangs, wild-eyed and always ready to attack. Although predominantly used in combat by barbarian tribes, local despots and grim Northmen, if bought as puppies War Hounds can be reared as faithful companions, always eager to defend their master. The horse trader Harold Hogget kept two War Hounds named Chewlia and Jawge at his hut near the town of Hamelin.
5-6 5 WHIPPET 5 3 Small Bite -1 to Damage Roll
The WHIPPET is a smaller version of the Hunting Dog, but much faster, and in fact one of the fastest breeds of dog. They are used for hunting smaller prey, such as hares, rabbits and Fenzels. The best Whippets are said to come from the Arrowhead Archipelago.
5-6 6 WORM DOG 5 4 Small Bite -
These are wiry-looking hounds with red eyes and slavering jaws. Although the WORM DOG is small and not particularly strong, a bite from them can be fatal, since they are riddled with disease-carrying parasites called Gungh Worms (hence the dog's own name). Anyone who is bitten by a Worm Dog will be infected by its saliva, causing the onset of Gungh Virus, unless they have some Worm Paste or other type of healing or disease-curing magic available. The symptoms of Gungh Virus include the presence of thread-like white worms in the infected wound, as well as a raging sweat-inducing fever, and it causes the loss of 10 STAMINA points, 1 SKILL point, and unconsciousness for 10-30 minutes. Only those with a strong constitution can survive the Gungh Virus! Worm Dogs typically live in burrows and dens they dig themselves, which they defend by yapping and biting manically. A colony was known to live offshore on Snake Island, but like most wild canines they can be found dwelling in a variety of terrain.
