✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ FAQ Board ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
The sound of soft rustling papers and turning pages fills the Library as you step in to take a peek at the books. Here you can find a compendium of general information regarding Frankenhounds, so please take a look around!
If you're still confused or want more in-depth information, feel free to ask on Discord or FrankenhoundOfficial.
Last updated 7 Nov 2023
- Appearance
⊹Basic Traits
⊹Other Traits
⊹Special Traits
- Basic Lore
⊹Guardianship
⊹Magic & Abilities
⊹Additional Abilities
⊹Omens⊹Soulmates & Relationships
- Historic Lore
⊹The First Cycle
⊹The Second Cycle
⊹The Third Cycle
✦ ✦ Appearance ✦ ✦
There are six basic traits that make up a Frankenhound: Detached ears, Nuts & Bolts, Charms, Stiches, a Hellfire tail, and Pawed Feet.
Additionally, Patched parts are the seventh, non-mandatory basic trait.
Apart from regular forms, there are also variant forms that appear on Frankenhounds of higher rarity.
Detached ears
• Frankenhounds have detached animal ears rather than attached ones. They float around the head and cannot be pulled far away from the body.
- Must be found near the head, around where they would be attached
- Can be the ears of any non-human animal (eg. rabbit, deer, tiger, etc ...)
- Can be the antenna of any invertebrate (eg. lobster antennae, insect feelers)
- Can be fins of any aquatic animal (eg. fish fins)
➢Variant: other materials, states of being, or living beings
Nuts & Bolts
• Frankenhounds rely on Nuts & Bolts (aka Bolts) that float around the body to contain their energy and restrain potentially unstable magic.
- Must be made out of metal
- Can be any shape (eg. nails, pen nibs, flowers, etc …)
- As long as the metal bolts are the focus, can have very small embellishments (eg. embedded gemstones, tassels, etc.)
- Can be located in locations other than around the head
➢Variant: other materials, states of being, or living beings
Charms
• Like the Bolts, frankies have two charms that contain and restrict the output of their magic.
• When a charm is torn or destroyed, the limiter is released and the Frankenhound becomes an Omen (check out Extended Lore below).
Charm Base
- Must be made of metal
- Must be located above the chest (eg. earrings location, forehead area, on the side of their head, etc…)
- Can be any shape
➢Variant: other materials, states of being, or living beings
Charm
- Must be made out of simple fabric, paper, or singular string
- Can be painted, embroidered, multi-colored, and patterned
- Can be located in locations other than around the head
- Can be torn to become Omen
➢Variant: fabric with special properties (ie. sheer, transluscent), other materials
- As long as the charm components are the focus, can have small embellishments (eg. embedded gemstones, tassels, etc.)
➢Variant: less than or more than two charms
Stitches
• A Frankenhound's stitches help contain power and keep the body together. For a frankie, they are as natural as hair and can be repaired.
- Must be made of typical thread or staples
-Can have different stitch patterns/methods (ie. different embroidery designs, seams, etc.)
➢Variant: no stitches, seals/rims, other materials, additional effects (eg. glow, sparkle, etc ...)
Patches
• Patches are superficial parts that help hold a Frankenhound’s body together.
• It is possible to not have any patches and instead only have stitches holding the body together. There is no difference between frankies with and without patches.
- Can have patches of common fabric
- Can be patterned or embroidered
- Can have patches of different skin
➢Variant: non-fabric textiles, other materials (eg. leather, porcelain), cybernetic or mechanical parts
- Prosthetics are considered different from patched parts, and they cannot function like a normal limb.
Hellfire Tail
• Hellfire Tails are the source of a Frankenhound's life and magic. The flame grows and shrinks respective to how much energy a frankie has.
- Must be made of hellfire
- Must be a singular tail
- Can be any shape (eg. fish tail, split end, super long tail, etc.)
- Can be any color
- Can be multiple colors
➢Variant: other materials, suspended objects, living or sentient.
Pawed Feet
• All Frankenhounds have pawed feet as a result of their hellhound lineage.
- Must be based off of a pawed animal type
- Can be represented in any style
Top
Frankenhounds may have other traits in addition to of their basic anatomy.
These optional traits also have their regular and variant forms.
• Frankenhounds can have up to three horns.
➢Variant: more than three horns.
• Frankenhounds can have one simple halo (i.e. ring shape).
➢Variant: more than one halo, more complex than a ring.
• Frankenhounds can have up to four eyes located anywhere on their body.
➢Variant: more than four eyes.
• Frankenhounds can have one set of wings (ie. bird or bat).
➢Variant: more than one set of wings, insect wings, wings that replace body parts.
• Frankenhounds can have up to two extra body parts.
➢Variant: more than four limbs of one type.
➢Variant: explicit gore.
• Frankenhounds can have paws for hands.
• Frankenhounds can have unnatural skin tones.
• Frankenhounds can have removeable plating anywhere on their body.
➢Frankenhounds often equip enchanted metal plating around their wrists, neck, waist, and ankles for protection and other magical properties. It’s encouraged to give frankies plating, but not required.
When stars align and unseeable forces shake the world, a Frankenhound is born with special traits that defy conventional norm. It is possible to come across a frankie with special traits on rare occasions.
• Abberant traits: Non-pawed feet, Multiple tails, Non-humanoid head.
• Attached traits: Ears, Tail, Bolts, Charms.
• Unexpected human features: Human ears, Human feet.
• Non-humanoid body: Anthro, Aquatic animal body, Sphinx body, Harpy body, Serpentine body.
✦ ✦ Life Cycle ✦ ✦
Frankenhounds can be born or formed through many ways, from springing out of a magical bean to being born from a child’s wishes. Some are born as an infant while others form fully matured.
Here are a few ways they form into existence:
• Naturally - Frankenhounds can be born to two Frankenhound parents, and they will grow until they stop aging at a certain point.
• Poof, magic! - Every once in a while, Frankenhounds are formed out of a strong will. They could be born from a bamboo shoot, peach pit, or regular stone; or they may suddenly exist for whatever reason.
• Reincarnation - When a creature has a strong will to protect something beyond the grave, they may reincarnate into a Frankenhound. They could suddenly wake up from dew carpeting the forest floor or perhaps be born to a Frankenhound parent. At other times there might not be a concrete reason for being reborn.
Young Frankenhounds are develop a small, weak flame as they mature and gain magical power.
Depending on their situation, a young Frankenhound might be able to attend school or gain mentorship to learn more about themselves, their powers, and their duty as a Frankenhound.
Some frankies are born knowing what they guard and protect, while others must search for their protective calling. Occasionally, there are Frankenhounds born with blank charms that later develop once the Frankenhound determines the Domain (see Guardianship) they wish to protect.
A Frankenhound will eventually stop growing at a certain point, typically ranging from early to mid adulthood. However, there are cases where frankies will stop aging when they are relatively young or relatively old.
Magical growth typically plateaus with aging and differs from individual to individual.
Once fully matured, Frankenhounds are expected to watch over their Domain. This can be done in a variety of ways, from interacting physically to protecting from another plane of existence.
Even though a frankie is supposed to protect and look after their Domain, there have been exceptions...
Despite their supposed immortality, death is not completely absent from a Frankenhound's life. Of the ways a frankie can pass on, a common way is to completely extinguish the flames from their tail, which will weaken the Frankenhound and leave them vulnerable to death or manslaughter.
If a frankie's desire to live and protect surpasses expectations, there is a chance to reincarnate once more. However, while their soul may be the same, it is likely that the reincarnated Frankenhound will no longer remember who they were in the past.
✦ ✦ Basic Lore ✦ ✦
Frankenhounds serve as Guardians of specific Domains: objects, places, actions, or concepts. These Domains can be simple or complex; broad or specific. While formed frankies typically know their Domain, most naturally born frankies must discover what they were born to guard or protect.
Examples of Domains:
➢ Guardian of sleep
➢ Guardian of firefighters
➢ Guardian of simsung galuxy X5 phones
It’s important to note that a Frankenhound’s abilities will relate to their guardianship, whether it be super speed to make faster deliveries or procuring medicine to help the injured. There are many ways to interpret different abilities, such as a guardian of firefighters having super strength and quick climbing skills.
Frankenhounds can wield almost any kind of magic. From summoning snow storms to mending dreams to blessing children with good will, anything is possible as long as it relates to the Frankenhound’s guardianship.
The extent of their abilities rely on the capacity of their soul, which is indicated through the strength and size of their hellfire tail. However, even a hellfire tail can be deceptive, as the size of one's tail does not necessarily indicate their strength and skill.
Additionally, all Frankenhounds are stronger than your typical human, and they will always find ways to compete in terms of combat and capacity. Even those with weaker energy hone their abilities and/or develop techniques to make up for their lack of magical capabilities.
Familiars - When a Frankenhound accumulates enough power, their tail can split into a separate entity known as a familiar. Familiars differ from individual to individual, and they can be any animal, mythical beast, object, accessory, etc.
Frankenhounds will usually have one familiar. If the familiar happens to be very small (eg. mouse, bee, sd card, etc.), it is possible to have two or three.
Coffins - Coffins are interdimensional pockets that act as a personal rest and recovery station. A frankie can take a nap, quickly refresh themselves, and store items in them.
When inside a coffin, it will remain sitting where it was placed until the inhabitant exits or teleports the coffin to a new location. If the coffin is destroyed, any inhabitants inside will be abruptly ejected and tossed outside. The entrance will become inaccessible, but a new coffin can be made to re-enter the pocket dimension.
Coffins come in many forms, and they can change shape or size for easier storage and carry. They take time to make, but those who go out of their way to make or order one say the end result is always worth it.
Feral Form - Frankenhounds are capable of transforming into a feral form based on their ears or feet. Feral forms display all traits from their humanoid form, just on their feral counterpart.
When a Frankenhound commits the taboo act of damaging their charm(s), they are called an Omen. Without the restraints of the charm, the Frankenhound gains more power at the cost of removing mental and/or physical inhibitors. They may become instabile due to the influx of power.
Appearance-wise, Omens are look like normal Frankenhounds with damaged charm(s). However, Omens have a larger power expenditure that requires the consumption of other energy sources. If their energy is drained, the lack of it will drive them into further ruin and insanity.
To stay sane, Omens must consume energy, of which souls are often the most tempting source. An Omen who looses self-control will attack other Frankenhounds, who’s bright souls are especially appetizing to a hungry Omen. On the rare occasion two hungry Omens cross paths, it is likely that the two will battle to eat the other’s empowered soul. Unfortunately, souls that are consumed are extinguished can no longer be reincarnated.
Despite their desire to consume, Omens are not evil. There are many reasons why a Frankenhound may choose to damage their charm, and it is possible that it was unknowingly or forcefully done.
Unfortunately, a frankie's impulse control and moral reasoning become hazy once the inhibitions are removed, raising the possibility of becoming a danger. Some Omens may even lose all reasoning if they are not capable of withstanding the mental strain of losing a charm(s). Certain groups exist in order to remove the Omens who pose the most danger to Frankenhound society.
Frankenhounds sentiment is largely fearful towards Omens, as many pose a legitimate danger to Frankenhound society. While they can amelioreate the symptoms, an Omen can never completely reapair their charms. While some Omens have reintegrated into society by constantly harvesting energy from smaller sources (ex. mountains of food), there are also Omens who have lost control and abandoned their original duties to chase their hunger. They are considered Frankenhounds who have lost their desire for guardianship or lost control over their Domain, no longer capable gatekeepers of what they once swore to protect.
✦ ✦ Historic Lore ✦ ✦
The First Cycle - The Beginning
During a time forgotten by most, the first Frankenhounds were created to hunt down and suppress humanity. They were imperfect creations, stuck between human and supernatural being. These progenitors were soldiers and would kill without hesitation as they blindly followed their orders. As time passed and their magic settled, they slowly developed into the Regular Frankenhounds known today.
The Second Cycle - The Great War
As centuries passed, the progenitors’ continual reincarnations caused mutations within the community, leading to the formation of Variant Frankenhounds. During this time, humanity learned to fight back, and the hunters soon became the hunted. Discontent with their current situation and questioning the nature of their origins, Frankenhounds and Omens alike struck back against the creators(s❍︎♋︎■︎⍓︎?) in what became the Great War. Years of fighting both humans and their creators eventually led to a final resolution that allowed Frankenhounds to be free of their original purpose; and to live as guardians of their own choice.
And here we are today, where the young Frankenhounds are unaware of their violent past, and where Frankenhounds of all ages and cycles have the choice to live harmoniously. It is a time where frankies can live peacefully within their isolated communities or explore the worlds and planes set before them. However, the progenitors seem to have mysteriously disappeared, and hints of something Special scatter in the wind. A new era has begun, and new dangers are approaching.
✦ ✦ To be continued ✦ ✦