Drucius
Considered one of the largest and most vicious feraxi hounds of modern history, Drucius is a famous wardog belonging to Emperor Lucianno.
He is a terror on command with a snarl that silences a room and a charge that scatters crowds.
Lord Aldric Fryth, trusted advisor of the Emperor, gave Lucianno the hound as a gift in 1392 to celebrate the engagement of Crown Prince Augustus and Aldric's oldest daughter, Cathryn. Supposedly born from the finest Feraxi bloodline, and the largest of its litter by far, Drucius is rumoured to have slain all of his littermates in the first few weeks of his life—a fact Lucianno found captivating. Lucianno personally trained the beast, and though the hound was usually vicious toward others, Drucius proved himself loyal to the Emperor. You can often find him lounging at Lucianno's feet, hoping to catch and choice morsels the emperor throws his way.
Drucius is eerily intelligent and understands all of Lucianno's commands. At court, Lucianno deploys him on a whim when he is bored or annoyed, ordering the hound to chase certain individuals out of court. As a result, Drucius terrorises courtiers as he sniffs around them for any whiff of deception or betrayal. In 1401, he saved Lucianno from an assassination attempt, snatching a gifted 'music box' with a concealed explosive device from the emperor's hands and muffling the blast. Drucius suffered injuries to his face, including burns, blindness in one eye, and the loss of part of his jaw, which has since been rebuilt with specialist steel.
Drucius' ferocity reflects the empire's unyielding power and materialistic opulence. Over the years, the animal's faithfulness has earned him many gifts, including an iconic golden muzzle with onyx stones, as well as a matching collar and leash. For special events, he has a full set of ceremonial armour made of plated steel, though he is no longer deployed for dogfights. Foreign envoys and dignitaries are often greeted by Drucius before meeting the emperor himself, a threat which needs little elaboration. Away from the palace, Drucius has become something of a legend. Many a tale has been spun by local bards and entertainers, telling of the Emperor's half-wolf, half-demon lapdog. Some claim he can sniff out magic and treachery., others that his howl foretells a coming conflict. Nevertheless, the legends rarely capture the truly terrifying nature of the beast.
Lucianno's devoted pet
Lord Aldric Fryth, trusted advisor of the Emperor, gave Lucianno the hound as a gift in 1392 to celebrate the engagement of Crown Prince Augustus and Aldric's oldest daughter, Cathryn. Supposedly born from the finest Feraxi bloodline, and the largest of its litter by far, Drucius is rumoured to have slain all of his littermates in the first few weeks of his life—a fact Lucianno found captivating. Lucianno personally trained the beast, and though the hound was usually vicious toward others, Drucius proved himself loyal to the Emperor. You can often find him lounging at Lucianno's feet, hoping to catch and choice morsels the emperor throws his way.
A ruthless judge of character...
Drucius is eerily intelligent and understands all of Lucianno's commands. At court, Lucianno deploys him on a whim when he is bored or annoyed, ordering the hound to chase certain individuals out of court. As a result, Drucius terrorises courtiers as he sniffs around them for any whiff of deception or betrayal. In 1401, he saved Lucianno from an assassination attempt, snatching a gifted 'music box' with a concealed explosive device from the emperor's hands and muffling the blast. Drucius suffered injuries to his face, including burns, blindness in one eye, and the loss of part of his jaw, which has since been rebuilt with specialist steel.
A legend and a symbol of the regime
Drucius' ferocity reflects the empire's unyielding power and materialistic opulence. Over the years, the animal's faithfulness has earned him many gifts, including an iconic golden muzzle with onyx stones, as well as a matching collar and leash. For special events, he has a full set of ceremonial armour made of plated steel, though he is no longer deployed for dogfights. Foreign envoys and dignitaries are often greeted by Drucius before meeting the emperor himself, a threat which needs little elaboration. Away from the palace, Drucius has become something of a legend. Many a tale has been spun by local bards and entertainers, telling of the Emperor's half-wolf, half-demon lapdog. Some claim he can sniff out magic and treachery., others that his howl foretells a coming conflict. Nevertheless, the legends rarely capture the truly terrifying nature of the beast.
Year of Birth
1392 AE
13 Years old
Birthplace
Malvarron
Children
Sex
Male
Eyes
Yellow
Hair
Short
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Grey
Feraxi Hounds
Native to the Ember Isles, Feraxi Hounds are bred by the empire for war and blood sports. With a size that can rival a wolf, the hounds are savage with broad muscular chests and powerful jaws with deadly grip. Feraxi usually have cream or brown coloured coats, though some are bred specifically to be different colours such as black or grey, whilst their eyes are usually yellowy and possessed of hair-raising intelligence. The breed is typically a working wardog, with nearly all military installations in the empire having specialist kennels to house the creatures. They are instrumental in keeping the peace due to their use by the Black Cloaks and Vanguard, and citizens of the empire are right to be scared of them. In recent years, they have become somewhat of a status symbol amongst the nobility, despite being incredibly expensive and difficult to control unless bonded with their handler. When they are not being deployed or off duty in their kennels, they are often seen wearing specialist muzzles or specialist armour.
I think he is a good boy, though I am less sure of the Emperor.
Explore Etrea | WorldEmber 2025
Ha! Thanks Emy :)
Gilly Hartill Fantasy world builder, aspiring author & lover of all things RPG.