Threadhound

ENTITY FILE: THREADHOUND

Overview
Threadhounds are remnant-fauna of the Briar Reaches—semi-domestic creatures believed to have once served fae households before degenerating into erratic hunters. Though canine in structure, they are woven from old threads, discarded roots, and shreds of childhood garments. They are tactile creatures of lost affection, seeking emotional scent over physical prey.

They do not bark. They unravel.

Appearance

• Size: Medium-dog scale (roughly 3–4 ft at the shoulder), but flexible in structure.
• Colour: Threadbare browns, greys, faded blues—often with patches resembling old pajamas or knitted jumpers.
• Limbs: Asymmetrical. Some appear as knotted sticks, others braided cloth.
• Face: Mask-like. Often resembles a dog’s head sketched by a child.
• Eyes: Button-like or mismatched beads. Some are missing entirely.
• Tail: Always frayed.

Behaviour and Abilities

• Scent-Memory Tracking: Follows the psychic trails of strong emotional events—especially abandonment, grief, or forgotten love.
• Entanglement: On contact, they can tether themselves to a victim’s past. Victims may relive old memories involuntarily.
• Echo Bonding: Sometimes attach themselves to a single individual as a pseudo-familiar. This can be symbiotic or parasitic.

Signs of Presence

• Threads on tree branches that flutter without wind.
• Barking or whining sounds that come from below ground.
• Old childhood clothing found where none should be.

Folklore and Signs

• “The Rag Dog Follows”: An old tale says if a child forgets a beloved toy too long, it may become a Threadhound and return for them.
• Funeral Stitching: In some forest-border communities, mourners bury scraps of garments with the dead to prevent ‘unravelling visits.’

Effect on Earth and Human Minds

• Mild Exposure: Nostalgic disorientation. Feelings of being watched by something that once loved you.
• Prolonged Exposure: Sudden regressions into childhood memories. Hallucinations involving former pets or guardians.
• Long-Term Contact: Deep attachment disorder. Victims may begin sewing or knotting obsessively.

Summary for Field Operatives

Trait	Detail
Threat Level	Moderate. May be non-aggressive unless provoked.
Signs of Presence	Tattered cloth, emotional déjà vu, invisible barking.
Containment Risk	Low. Can be trapped with crafted decoys or memory tokens.
Engagement Advice	Avoid sentimentality. Do not carry personal keepsakes.
	Use fresh thread barriers and iron-tipped tools.

Quote from Field Report #178:

“It didn’t growl. It… whined. Like my old dog used to when I left for school. Then it followed me, wagging that awful little tail of socks and wire. When I looked back again, it had my brother’s voice.”
—FDG Interview Log, Operative B., Thistlegate Ruins