Hound, the Iron Tracker

Hound, the Beast of the Wilds

Throughout Thedas, there are stories told by merchants, soldiers, hunters, and terrified bandits about a massive man known only as Hound.

No family name.

No noble title.

No allegiance to king, chantry, or faction.

Just Hound.

Many believe the name comes from his unmatched ability to track anything that breathes.

The truth is more unsettling.

The name comes from the fact that he is never seen alone.

Where Hound walks, two colossal hounds walk beside him.

The Man

Hound is a giant of a man.

His frame is immense, built from muscle, bone, and years of hardship. He towers over most warriors and appears more like a living fortress than a person.

His shoulders are broad enough to carry wounded soldiers.

His arms look capable of bending steel.

His hands are scarred from countless battles with beasts, darkspawn, and creatures few can identify.

He wears heavy furs, leather, and armor crafted from trophies taken from monsters throughout Thedas. Claws, teeth, scales, and strange relics hang from his gear.

When he enters a village, conversations stop.

Not because he is threatening.

Because people immediately know they are looking at someone extraordinary.

The Hounds

Accompanying him are two enormous Tibetan Mastiffs unlike anything most people have ever seen.

Brutus

The larger of the pair.

Brutus is nearly the size of a pony.

His thick black-and-gold coat makes him appear even larger than he is. His jaws can crush darkspawn skulls, and his deep growl has caused hardened mercenaries to abandon contracts.

Brutus is fiercely protective.

He positions himself between Hound and danger without command.

Titan

Slightly smaller but faster.

Titan possesses reddish-gold fur and amber eyes that seem almost unnaturally intelligent.

He scouts ahead, circles enemies, and frequently senses danger before anyone else.

Many swear Titan can see spirits.

Others claim he can smell demons.

Neither rumor has ever been disproven.

Together, the mastiffs have become legendary.

Entire groups of bandits have surrendered after realizing they were being hunted by Hound and his dogs.

Children adore them.

Darkspawn fear them.

Even mabari war hounds treat them with unusual respect.

The Greatest Tracker in Thedas

Hound can track almost anything.

Missing children.

Escaped criminals.

Darkspawn warbands.

Lost relics.

Ancient monsters.

Entire noble houses have sought his services when their best scouts failed.

He studies the ground for only moments before beginning his pursuit.

Once he starts tracking something, few believe escape is possible.

A common saying among smugglers has emerged:

"You can hide from templars. You can hide from Grey Wardens. You cannot hide from Hound."

Powers Still Awakening

The most fascinating aspect of Hound is that his abilities continue growing.

No mage can explain them.

No scholar fully understands them.

No spirit has claimed responsibility.

Every few years a new ability manifests.

At first it was enhanced senses.

Then supernatural endurance.

Then visions.

Now something far stranger.

Echo Sight

By touching an object or location, Hound sometimes witnesses fragments of the past.

Moments of terror.

Acts of betrayal.

Murders.

Battles.

Ancient secrets.

The visions arrive without warning and become stronger every year.

Beast Communion

Animals instinctively trust him.

Birds gather near him.

Wolves follow him.

Wild creatures often choose observation over aggression.

Even dangerous predators hesitate before attacking.

Hunter's Instinct

Hound occasionally knows things he should not know.

The location of hidden paths.

The direction of prey.

The presence of danger.

It is as though the world itself whispers clues into his mind.

Theories

No one knows what Hound truly is.

Some claim a powerful spirit watches over him.

Others believe he descends from an ancient bloodline predating recorded history.

Certain mages suspect he unconsciously touches the Fade while awake.

Dalish Keepers tell stories that he may be connected to forgotten gods of the hunt.

The only thing everyone agrees upon is this:

Whatever Hound is becoming has never existed before.

Companion Questline

As a companion, Hound would be a tank, tracker, and monster hunter.

His story would slowly reveal that something ancient is awakening within him.

Not corruption.

Not possession.

Evolution.

With every discovery, his abilities grow stronger.

His mastiffs become more intelligent.

His visions become clearer.

And eventually he learns a terrifying truth:

For years he believed he was hunting monsters.

In reality, something ancient has been hunting him.

Waiting.

Watching.

Preparing.

And now it knows exactly where to find him.