British – A Northern English version of the supernatural Hellhounds, that fly across the heavens looking for the souls of unbaptized children. Some legends link them to the Hounds of Tindalos of blasphemous lore. The sound of their diabolical yelping can indicate a pending death. They are said to travel in pairs, and described as having the body of a dog with the head of an infant. – Owen, Rev Elias, Welsh Folklore, pp 179. 1887.
“For overhead are sweeping Gabriel’s hounds
Doomed with their impious lord the flying hart
To chase for ever on aërial ground.”
– Wordsworth, William, The Miscellaneous Poems of William Wordsworth, Volume 3, pp. 156. 1820
“Monstrous human-headed dogs, who traverse the air, and are often heard although seldom seen.” – Henderson, William, Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties of England of 1879, pp 202. 1880
The Gabriel Hounds are said to be related to the Black Dog, Hellhound, and Yeth Hound legends of English folklore. They possess the heads of human infants, with glowing white eyes and rubbery, dog-like bodies. Heard more often than they are seen, their presence is made known by eerie, wailing cries. They have been known to travel in pairs.
If a Gabriel Hound is witnessed flying over a house, legends say doom will fall upon that household. If a person is on their deathbed, the hound’s cries are said to indicate it will hunt the poor unfortunate’s soul after death. The hounds are rumored also to be the souls of unbaptized children, fated to fly above the homes of their parents.
Other names for a Gabriel Hound are Gabriel Ratchet, Gabble Retchet, and also “sky yelper.”
Once a Gabriel Hound appears in a region, it may remain for weeks or months, seeking victims and terrorizing the locals with horrific cries.
It is rumored black magicians summon the hounds to perform evil deeds and reveal hidden treasures. It is also said a Gabriel Hound’s organs may be utilized for powerful magics.
SPECIAL POWERS
Power: Blink. By expending a single Magic Point, a Gabriel Hound may disappear then rematerialize anywhere within 50 yards of its original location. This ability requires 2 rounds, the hound’s disappearance preceded by a shimmer across its body. Should an investigator be in physical contact with the hound ( by being bitten, or having taken hold of it), they are teleported with it, falling to their doom should it rematerialize at a great height.
Power: Enduring Curse. a Gabriel Hound sometimes attaches itself to a person. It begins by attacking a victims POW, which they may resist with a successful opposed roll. A failure mean the victim loses 1D6+6 POW per day until the statistic reaches zero. At this point the victim dies. The attack may be resisted once per day with a successful opposing POW roll. The only other way to end the curse is by destroying the hound. Each time POW is drained from a victim, a hideous yelping will be heard above their place of residence.
Power: Invisibility. a Gabriel Hound may become invisible at will. When it is draining a victim’s POW, it will remain visible for a number of rounds equal to the points of POW loss. It cannot use physical attacks when invisible.
Spells: None.
The Gabriel Hounds, spectral hunters
STR 82 (3D6+6 x 5)
CON 82 (3D6+6 x 5)
SIZ 65 (2D6+6 x 5)
INT 65 (2D6+6 x 5)
POW 70 (4D6 x 5)
DEX 82 (3D6+6 x 5)
HP: 14
Average Damage Bonus: +1D4
Average Build: +1
Average Magic Points: 14
Move: 8/20 flying
ATTACKS
Attacks per round: 1
Fighting attacks: A Gabriel Hound may use its paws or bite to attack.
Fighting 90% (Hard 45; Extreme 18), damage 1D6 + damage bonus
Dodge 41% (Hard 20; Extreme 8)
Armor: 2-point rubbery flesh; regenerates 1 hit points per round, unless on 0 hit points; mundane weapons have minimum effect on a Gabriel Hound: all damage inflicted is reduced to 1 point. Enchanted weapons and spells do full damage.
Sanity Loss: 1D3/1D12.
Marginalia: Certain practitioners of the Dark Arts believe there is an organ within a Gabriel Hound which allows it to teleport to other locations. They further believe that possessing this organ will allow the owner to teleport themselves.
