Spectans canis (Eyeing hound)

Common names: four eyes, watching hound, beholder pooch

Basic info

The skull of the Spectans canis has a wider cranium in comparison to other canines, in order to accommodate the four eyes and their eye-stocks. There are four eye sockets arranged around the skull, a frontal pair in the approximate location expected in canine skulls, and a hind pair that mirrors the frontal pair on the back of the skull. The eye-sockets are enlarged, allowing the eye-stocks to be pulled in comfortably.

The eye-stokes are somewhat similar to that of snails, which made some suggest that the Spectans canis should be considered mixturidae. However, the operation of the eyestalks in Spectans canis is based on muscles and therefore the resemblance is in appearance alone, and even that is debatable, as the Spectans canis eye-stakes are covered with fur and have eyelids.

Spectans canis have inferior hearing to most canines. This is because the additional eye sockets in the back of their skulls necessitate a much shorter ear canal than that of most canines. However, their eye sight is much improved, not only in range, but also in adaptability to different light conditions.

The flexible mobility of the eye-stokes covers every angle around the hounds. Furthermore, because the eyes blink consecutively, unless the hound is asleep, there is never a moment when all of them are closed.

The spectans canis has excellent vision in all light condition. Their day and night vision are nearly identical and they have the ability to switch to heat vision in complete darkness. Their eyes emanate a low glow in dark conditions, a greenish glow at night and a reddish glow when switching to heat vision, suggesting that these abilities are magical in base.

A less obvious feature of the Spectans canis anatomy is their poisonous molar teeth. The back molars on their upper jaw contains a cavity filled with a unique paralyzing poison known as Vrac̆ Extract, Venenum Vracis or VV, named after Lyda Vrac̆ (1107-1185), who was the first to find a way to extract the poison safely.

The poison-molars have a protruding sharp tip that can puncture the skin of the victim to inject the poison into the blood stream. Their location at the back of the mouth may seem odd, but is connected to the location of the poison glands right above the jaw and the pressure-based distribution. The poison filles the cavity in poison-molars constantly, and is dispensed from the glands when the pressure inside the molar is reduced, i.e., when the poison is injected into a victim. The location of the poison-molars also gives more the Spectans canis control, allowing them to choose whether to inject it or not when they bite down on a creature.

The Spectans canis poison numbs the victim by slowing the blood flow, thus reducing heartrate and causing sleepiness. In small doses it can be used as a sleeping drought, but in larger doses it can cause irreversible damage to bodily systems and death.

Habitat: Spectans canis used to be found in Eurasia and north America, particularly in forests and woods of cold climate, but they are no longer found in the wild. The specimens currently in our world are all domesticated and registered for monitoring under the Magion Protection creed.

Diet: The Spectans canis are primarily carnivorous, but do enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables as well. They are very capable hunters, but because all specimens in our world are domesticated, none of them lives off hunting and many live on human produced dog food.

Habits & Culture

Eyeing hounds are related to non-magical Canidae, and it is unclear whether they are a natural breed or the result of magical breeding by magic-folk*. In the past, some Spectans canis were found in the wild, but it is highly likely that they originated in lost or abandoned domesticated specimens. The majority of Eying hounds were always found in domestic environment. The oldest records of Spectans canis are from the 8th century, in a grimoire of the Vrac̆ family** that includes journal-like entries. The text suggests that the Vrac̆s were breeding Eyeing hounds, and that the species became favoured house pets of magic-folk.

Similar to other domestic dog breeds, the Spectans canis have a close and loving relationships with their owners. They show great loyalty, and their magical attributes make them wonderful watch dogs and hunting companions. They are also very playful, both with each other and with their humans. Young pups enjoy chasing and wrestling each other, and adult too would play fetch for hours.  

Sadly, the Spectans canis were as misunderstood by the general human population as their magic-folk owners. They were victims of witch persecution and hunted down by so-called monster hunters. By the 15th century the Spectans canis became extinct in our world.

The species was saved from complete destruction because a few specimens were adopted by fae, and thus taken off-world during The Departure***. It seems that they have adapted well in a number of fae worlds and prosper there.

In the mid-20th century, a few specimens were re-introduced into our world. They were all placed into loving magion homes and registered for monitoring under the Magion Protection creed. Their numbers are kept low in order to ensure their safety, and only about 30 individuals live in our world at one time.

The Spectans canis history is a cautionary tale and a reminder of the mistreatment magions can suffer in our world, and the reason they stay in hiding. We are lucky to have these loving, loyal creatures back in our world, and can only hope that their future will be far brighter than their past.

* A general term for humans with magical capacities, from spellcasting to prophetic visions.

** The Vrac̆ family is a renowned witch line going back to at least the 1st century BCE.

*** The Departure is the name given to the mass exodus of fae from our world during the 14th century in reaction to the rise of intolerance toward magic.