Yeth hound
| Yeth hound | |
|---|---|
 A yeth hound, from the Monster Manual (2000). Art by Sam Wood. | |
| General information | |
| Alignment: | Neutral evil |
| Type: | Outsider |
| First appearance: | Monster Manual II |
The yeth hound is an outsider from the Lower Planes.
Ecology
Eager carnivores, Yeth hounds hunt humans, demihumans, and fey, although they need to hunt only once every lunar month. They run with evil huntsmen and other powerful evil beings such as vampires, night hags, evil wizards, and so on. Their tactics resemble those of other pack hunters such as dogs and wolves.
No natural animal hunts the yeth hounds, and many unnatural ones avoid them as well.
Environment
Yeth hounds have been seen on the plane of Pandemonium, the Ethereal Plane, and the Plane of Shadow, but can be found throughout the neutral and evil planes. Some serve the Queen of Air and Darkness. Yeth hound packs lair in subterranean dens in the remote wilds, sleeping or pacing until night falls. They cannot be persuaded to venture into the daylight.
Physical characteristics
The yeth hound is a quadruped that stands five feet tall at the shoulder. Its head, while distinctly canine, is at the same time oddly humanoid, flat with noses instead of muzzles. Their pointed ears curve like short horns. It is long and skinny. It is deep, nonreflective black color with glowing red eyes. The yeth hound hates light, especially sunlight and, even if its life depends on it, never ventures out at day.
Yeth hounds can magically fly, and move with absolute silence.
If exposed to sunlight, yeth hounds fade from the Material Plane to roam the Ethereal Plane forever. If killed on the Ethereal Plane, they are permanently dead.
Society
Within a pack, the most powerful yeth hound leads the others, who give their leader instant cooperation and obedience.
Languages
Yeth hounds understand the language Infernal, but cannot speak. Their ghastly howls chill the blood from up to a mile away.
Publication history
The yeth hound was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. The yeth hound appears in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983).
The yeth hound appears in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Appendix (1990). The yeth hound is detailed for the Planescape setting in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994).
The yeth hound is in the third edition Monster Manual (2000). The yeth hound appears again in the revised 3.5 Monster Manual (2003).
Apocrypha
In Dance of Demons by Gary Gygax, the unleashed god Tharizdun creates three unique yeth hounds called Mephisto, Thrax, and Graz. Mephisto has the head of a devil, Thrax has the head of a bugbear, and Graz has the head of a demon.
Creative origins
According to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, yeth-hounds are dogs without heads, said to be the spirits of un-baptized children, which ramble among the woods at night, making wailing noises, probably from Devonshire's folklore. Yeth-hounds are also mentioned in The Denham Tracts.
Bibliography
- Breault, Mike, ed, et al. Greyhawk Monstrous Compendium Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
- Gygax, Gary. City of Hawks (New Infinities, 1987).
- ———. Dance of Demons (New Infinities, 1988).
- ———. Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Varney, Allen. Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.
- Williams, Skip, Monte Cook, and Jonathan Tweet. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- ———. Monster Manual. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeth Hound | Monster | City of Hawks | 321, 323 | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | Dance of Demons | 344, 345, 348, 350, 357, 373, 396, 398, 401, 408, 409, 413, 414, 415, 416, 418 | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | Monstrous Compendium - Planescape Appendix I | 116, 117 | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix | Insert (Hound, Yeth), Encounter Tables | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) | 260, 261, 262 | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | 1991 TSR Trading Cards - Factory Set | 534 | |
| Yeth Hound | Monster | WG10 Child's Play | 16, 17 |