Hello, lovelies!
English folklore, both ancient and new, has always had the tendency of leaving its prints on the landscape (pun intended). The ghost dog is one of those motifs which can be found all over the British Isles in some capacity.
So, if you're seeking to write a story set in this part of the world, and plan to have it include folkloric creatures, particularily of a scary and unnderving variety, this may be a good choice!
General Description:
There are usually some slight differences depending on the region, but generally, ghost dogs follow this description: They have large, often emaciated, bodies, with wild, black hair, sharp teeth and glowing, red eyes. Sometimes, the dog will have blood around their mouth or around their paws, indicative some poor soul has fallen prey to them, and other times you hear its long, mournful howl before you see it, as a warning that you might need to head home.
Death omens:
Many cultures have dogs associated with death, either as companions to deities of the Underworld, guard dogs, or bringers of destruction. So, it's not that surprising that superstitions have risen up about seeing a large, black dog, and it meaning that you won't have long to live. The dog is here to drag you to the afterlife, either as a warning, or as the perpetrator itself.
This can be useful to invoke tension and dread within the characters, as they now know, or at least think, that they are on borrowed time. So, the element of a time limit can be introduced through the introduction of a ghost dog, whether it be real or just perceived.
The reason for its appearance, aside from being an omen of death, can be varied as well. It's possible this particular ghost dog only appears as a death omen to certain people, like murderers or traitors, adding an extra bit of lore to it, which you can then also use as characterisation in your narrative. However, it could also simply appear to whoever it fancies, with little regard for who they are or what they have done. In this case, the ghost dog won't be as malevolent, since its only job is being a warning, not an executioner.
Another choice you could make is whether it can appear anywhere, or just in certain regions. If it's a literal ghost, for example, it may only be able to appear where it died or was buried. If it's simply a death-related entity, its reach could potentially be wider. This will depend on how large or small the setting of your story is, as well as how aware the characters are of this ghost dog as a death omen. If they live in a region that is known to have a ghost dog, for example, they may be less surprised when it appears.
Dangerous Predator:
Similar to werewolf hunts, having the ghost dog as a predator can provide a classic 'monster to vanquish' storyline, full of brave hunters and helpless victims. However, it can also provide a narrative of seeking out danger, and coming face to face with something unimagineable.
In this case, the ghost dog is a purely malevolent, wild force, posing a threat to the characters and their surroundings. Why it became like this is a question you don't necessarily need to answer, unless the creature's origin is meant to drive the narrative forward, or if it will contribute to your worldbuilding. Part of this can include whether the creature has a personal connection to one of the characters, or if it's tormenting some people in particular.
Off course, its motivations can simply be that it wants blood and flesh to feast on, but you can also choose other primal reasons for its slaughter and hunting, like revenge, anger or territorial urges.
Something you do have to consider is how long you plan for the ghost dog's presence to linger in the story. It's possible the ghost dog is simply passing through and doesn't have a real home, meaning it either won't be a permanent threat to the characters, or culminates in some sort of chase. On the other hand, the ghost dog may have been in the same region for years, or even decades, becoming an almost ever-present threat to anyone close to its home.
This will both inform how much time to spend on this creature, and what role you want it to play in your story.
Protector:
Not all ghost dogs! While, yes, this creature will always be a dangerous one, there is plenty of folklore giving a much more positive, protective image of the ghost dog. One of its origins, for example, is that it used to be a normal dog, that was buried in a church yard so that its ghost could protect the graves and the church building itself.
So, if you want to, this creature can absolutely be used as a guard dog of some kind, either to a place, a region, or even a person, or as a form of protection. How long it has been at its post, or if it even cares about the time it has spend there is up to you, but it could add to its history and character building should you choose to do so.
Whether it will be an antagonist or a helping force to your characters will depend on what exactly the ghost dog is guarding, and such, if it will be hostile towards them. For example, if it's guarding something the characters are looking for, it will probably do everything in its power to stop them from getting it. If, instead, it's guarding one of the characters' homes, it will probably a lot more amiable and helpful, maybe even just act like a regular dog.
Familiar:
While the guarding persona of a ghost dog is typically bound to one place, the familiar aspect is bound to a person. This is done by creating a bond with someone practising magic and essentially makes the ghost dog something akin to a servant, though mostly in name. As a familiar, they are not just a companion, they share a mental and spiritual connection with whomever they serve, and, in some cases, if their master dies, they perish too.
You can use this creature as a source of help, companionship, and comfort for the character they are a familiar too, as well as show just how powerful said person's magic and connection to non-human creatures is. However, you can potentially also write from the perspective of the familiar themselves, in which case their loyalty to their master should be at the forefront in some way. Whether this is a positive or a negative for them is up to you. For example, is the ghost dog happy or angry that they are bound to this person?
Something else to consider, if they are a familiar, is whether they are a literal ghost or some other entity. If they are a ghost, you could potentially make it the person's former pet or a dog who has lost their owner. If they are another entity, like a fae creature who has taken on a more intimidating, ghostly form. So, the fact that they became a familiar must have a reason for it, potentially ranging from friendship to the person binding them being exceedingly powerful.
I hope this has been fun and helpful for you, and that reading this won't somehow conjure up a ghost dog in your life.
My apologies if it does!
Goodbye, lovelies!
Comments