Spirit Hounds

"One of the Non-Hostile Minor Races"

Glowing eyes, alert ears, stepping in and out of the shadows. The Spirit Hounds strike those who see them as ominous, dark creatures with an unnerving red gaze that pierces to the soul. Utterly devoted to their duty of guarding graveyards and churches, they are among the most loyal of spirits in their service to the Living God.

Legend
Unlike many other spirits, there are no tales of Spirit Hounds ever harming an innocent human. Their exact nature and the reason they tirelessly pursue their defense of their church home is unknown, but the results are undeniable. Many a gossiped rumor tells of a graverobber meeting a grizzly end or a nefarious warlock repelled from access to the corpses of believers due to the intervention of a shadowy beast. They serve without need for rest or reward, though particularly well-loved Spirit Hounds are given treats of freshly baked bread and are said to particularly adore meat pies.

Description
Spirit Hounds are rarely seen in person. When they manifest they most often appear as a shadowy mass capable of lashing out with inhuman speed. But should one manage to secure an audience with an unusually approachable Black Dog, they'd see the form of a canine humanoid with ash-gray skin and luminescent red eyes. Sporting a furry tail and arms that end in wicked claws, they are more beastly than the Wolfen but more so appear ghostly and evanescent. When she no longer wishes to be seen, a Spirit Hound will fade to a dark shape that seems to evaporate into wispy black smoke.

Capabilities
Spirit Hounds are famous for their guard duty of religious sites, and as such are extremely perceptive of nearby spirits, evil or otherwise. They can sense the use of magic or negation of it from a distance, even without line of sight, and their ears are tuned to hear the voices of the dead or incorporeal entities.

Even though the majority of their responsibilities are anchored by the graveyard they protect, a Spirit Hound is also said to be a guardian of the souls of the recently deceased, especially if they are kin to those buried in her care. They can protect the sanctity of human ghosts and prevent necromancy or other types of witchcraft that can compel the departed to obey the commands of warlocks and the sort.

Weaknesses
The only known way to repel a Spirit Hound is to employ the use of chimes or bells made of pure silver. The noises made are said to resonate throughout the spiritual realm and- while normally pleasing to any souls in the area- can overwhelm the Church Dog's sensitive hearing. They must be rung loud enough that the sound drowns out the Church Dog's ability to think, causing it to retreat until the ruckus ceases.