A Study on Darkhounds

Lord Dobraine of House Taborwin has requested that this study be made available to his men after a disturbing incident when a patrol claimed to have come under attack by wolves the size of small horses. The Cairhien Institute hopes that this document will allay fears, as well as inform servants of the Lord Dragon how to deal with this Shadowspawn.

Origins

Darkhounds were created initially as guarding beasts within the War of Power. Soon, the Dark realized just how powerful the creatures they had created were. They were put to work as roving assassins, able to track an enemy through nearly any terrain. The limitations on Darkhounds are not quite understood (See Theories below). Aginor once again played a large part in their creation. Taking domesticated canine stock (ancient passages refer to a "chichua"), he broadly drew upon the True Power and corrupted them. Darkhounds are said to be very far from their ancestors.

Characteristics

A Darkhound averages at a height of a small pony, and weighs up to 300 pounds. Their fur is deep black, dark enough that it absorbs a shocking 90% of the light striking it. Darkhounds hunt in packs, usually half a dozen to a full dozen beasts. Extremely territorial, Darkhounds who are not members of the same pack will abandon their target and fight until one pack is dead, then resume the hunt. Darkhounds can run faster and longer than any horse or wild beast.

The genetic makeup of Darkhounds is unique. Ordinary creatures predominately are made up of water (H2O is the chemical designation). During the creation of the Darkhounds, H2O was replaced with HCl, or hydrochloric acid. One of the most powerful acids in existence, the acid is 6 molar strength in the bloodstream. It joins other neurotoxins and chemicals in the saliva of the Darkhound. Even one drop can kill, as it spreads cell to cell from the point of contact to the heart and brain, rupturing cells as it goes.

Escaping a Darkhound Attack

1. Do not seek safety within a building. Darkhounds routinely have chewed their way through steel doors in attacks.

2. Always seek high ground. If you cannot see a Darkhound, you have no way of knowing whether the pack has split and begun to circle.

3. If possible, put running water between yourself and pursuit. Although Darkhounds will simply trace around until they can cross without entering the flow, it may gain you enough time to seek safe refuge.

4. The only safe refuge that exists is an island that cannot be reached by land. Even Tar Valon might fail, unless a Sister was at the bridge the Darkhounds chose.

5. In other words: go to the Sea Folk islands. They will accept refugees.

Defending against a Darkhound Attack

If all else fails, you must face the pack or die.

1. Seek the highest ground you can reach. Anything that slows them gives you additional time.

2. Have all archers target the lead Darkhound as they run towards you. Even an arrow to the side will not stop them. Only by killing the beast outright can they be stopped.

3. Attempt to light Darkhounds on fire. While this has not been proven, it should stop the beast from attacking until the fire has gone out. Since the beasts fear water, they may die before the fire extinguishes itself.

4. Hope that a passing Aes Sedai defends you.

Legends

Darkhounds do not course with the Dark One. All scholars agree that even at his height, the Dark One could do no more than stretch out his hand into the world. Needless to say, Darkhounds casing you is worry enough without throwing Old Grim into the mix.

A New Breed?

Reports from the Lord Dragon state that someone on the side of the Shadow is once again experimenting with the Darkhound genetic code. He records that three Darkhounds who attacked him were sliced into several pieces. They then reassembled before his eyes. He had to resort to balefire to destroy them.

If true, then any such pack would be indestructible for the common army.

Theories

Reports from Lord Perrin Aybara have led to an interesting study. Every time in history that wolves have been endemically killed, Darkhound numbers have swelled. The suggestion from Lord Aybara is that the soul of the wolf is captured by the Dark One's agents and is then corrupted until it fits within the body of a Darkhound. This would explain the peculiar relationship seen in confrontations between wolves and Darkhounds. The Lord Dragon has issued a proclamation that no man may kill a wolf. To do so is punishable by death, decided by a jury of your peers.

Despite the Lord Dragon's account, the scholars of this report would like to state that they have arrived at a different conclusion than that of him in the matter of the Darkhound attack. Rather than a new genetic experiment, the scholars tentatively put forward that the Darkhounds in question were actually Gholam who had shapeshifted. While not shared universally at the University (see: A study on Gholam, for an account of Gholam theory), "shapeshifting" Gholam could have played the part of Darkhounds so as to deceive the Lord Dragon into using half measures. Fortunately, he first used a sword, and then balefire. If he had used a directed weave, then the "Darkhounds" would have had enough time to kill him without revealing that there were Gholam loose.

A Final Note

The University is proud to have finished its fourth and final report on Shadowspawn. We wish to extend our thanks to those whose research made it possible. We also would like to thank our late companion, Herid Fel. Without the aid of his notes, the program would never have made it so far. While the University has no further goals on Shadowspawn, we will regularly update an Errata and Corrections database for our current articles.