Species: Esterrin Lupis
Commonly Known As: Phantom Hound
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Appearance:
Height: 1-2 feet
Length: 3-4 feet
Unique Characteristics: They are born with a secondary external skull that protects there faces, they are most commonly canine in form but some are dragon and the rarest is a Dios De Los Muertos candy skull.
Regular Skull
Uncommon Skull
Rare Skull
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Their are three types of feet the Phantom Hounds can have. The most common of the three is a basic wolfish clawed paw with the back spur. The second has a much softer spur with no claws. Finally the rarest is a cloven hoof with a sharp spur. The cloven hoof generally develops in rougher terrain such as the Crystal Mountains.
Common Paw
Uncommon
Rare
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All Phantom Hounds are connected to an ethereal flame known as a wisp.These wisps are the Phantom Hounds Life Blood. They are the same color as the markings that adorn their body and skull. Sometimes in the more powerful hounds the wisps will incarnate into two flaming wings.
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The hounds themselves are not generally hostile towards other species. In fact they will often breed in between species and create multiple subspecies. The Phantom Hounds do not eat like normal animals. They gain there power from drinking liquid moonlight. Liquid Moonlight is moonlight that has become infused with the dying life force of plants and animals. This mixture then solidifies and there are even entire lakes filled with the magical substance.
They are a tribal, migratory society. Each tribe is connected to a Liquid Moonlight lake. They live in large underground burrows that can stretch for miles underground. They live off the main continent of Equestria in a place called the Firelight Woods. Aptly named for the flaming wisps that are the Hounds tail. Phantom Hounds are nocturnal and exposure to sunlight accelerates the aging process.
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Wisp Study
Wisps are the souls of large or powerful creatures that once lived in the Firelight Forest. Once these creatures die they are drawn into the Ether until The Eternal Star at the Life Tree opens a portal to release the soul into a embryonic Phantom Hound. The Wisp is also the source of all the hounds magical capabilities, for example, Phantom Hounds communicate through telepathy. The larger the Wisp the better the connection.
The Eternal Star
The Eternal Star is a large orb floating over the Life Tree. It is brighter than a star and illuminates the entire area. Small crystals float around the mass and when it is ready to draw out a Wisp electricity jumps between these crystals. The star then shoots a beam into the sky and tears open a rip in the Ether, where it extracts the Wisp and then closes off the tear. The star itself seems to be a well of raw magic. It sends off high levels of magical interference which causes it to always be night and the plants and wildlife to have strange properties not found anywhere else in Equestria.
The Grove
The Grove is a large clearing in the forest where a huge lake of Liquid Moonlight sits. It has small crystals floating around it and one huge crystal floating over the middle. When a creature is ready to die it journeys to the lake and lays down. The center crystal then does one of either two things. If the soul is small or weak it absorbs it into the lake to become Liquid Moonlight. If the soul is large or powerful it sends it to The Eternal Star. The Grove also radiate large amounts of magic.
The Life Tree
The Life Tree is a humongous tree that sits below The Eternal Star. It's roots go throughout the entire forest and it is directly connected to The Grove. It is a harbor for new life and many Phantom Hounds come here to worship The Eternal Star.
Tribal Life
The Phantom Hounds never leave The Firelight Forest, nor do ponies enter. The only way for a pony to enter is if it is chosen by The Eternal Star. Guards block all the entrances to the forest and they are highly respected. Each tribe is ruled by a Matriarch and a Patriarch. These two are usually mates. The Matriarch and Patriarch both have the large wisp wings and are larger than the others. Their wisps are also significantly larger. Underneath them are the Guard and below that is the Magus. He has the largest Wisp of all. He collects all the knowledge and is the most powerful in magical terms. Below the Magus are the common folk who are just normal Phantom Hounds.
