Skull Hound

Canis lupus familiaris

Before the fall of the ancient Iwi Empire, the great walls and gates surrounding the cities and outer settlements were guarded by the oldest of man's allies; the Dog. These canines, known as Skull Hounds, are massive in size and great in strength. While genetics show they are descendant from grey wolves like other dog breeds, they share very little in common with dog breeds found else where in the world, and any similarities are superficial. Myths of the modern day Iwi involving these canines suggest they may have their origins in the Hollow Earth, the exodus myth of the Iwi tells of the ancestors forced from their home along with their Kong guardians, only able to take what could be carried on their back or walk beside them.

Comparable in size to a great dane but with the overall mass of a mastiff, and the general shape of many shepherds. These dogs were perfectly bred to fit into many professions within Iwi culture, although most are guard dogs. Skull Hounds in their prime are stationed around the walls of the village at night where they act as an alarm system and first line of defense against the plethora of predators that scourge the Iwi. With a biteforce of 230 psi and usually equipped with collars and armour similar to wolf collars, any assailant attempting to break into the village would be wise to be cautious when engaging this fierce protector.

While most Skull Hounds are considered to belong to the village as a whole, some Iwi hunters adopt personal hounds to hunt alongside them, usually one or two depending on their quarry. Decent retrievers for fishers, great flushers for bird hunters and excellent hunting dogs. During hunting, Skull Hounds are deployed to harass and tire the target, usually a wild gaur or Skull Island deer. After which their hunter will come in for the kill.

Despite their dangerous roles in the village, these dogs are surprisingly gentle, very individual is well socialized in the village to the point every villager is considered a part of their family. The villagers return this affection in kind, when a hound is disabled, old or otherwise unfit for service, they are kept in the village to live out the rest of their life as a companion or neighborhood watch, it is a common sight to see a few lounging around areas children are known to play, keeping a watchful eye over them. However due to their breeding as guard dogs, and training to see anything unfamiliar as a threat, GDF agents visiting the Village usually warrant wariness and even aggressive reactions from these dogs, at least at first.

The Skull Hound is a testament to the tenacity and usefulness of man's best friend, for even in one of the most hostile and inhospitable places on Earth, the dog will be right there beside their masters every step of the way.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis
Species: C. lupus familiaris