The Hound Through Other Eyes

The Hound's existence in Ironwood is not a secret to the city's other supernatural denizens, though their true nature and purpose are often misinterpreted or dismissed. Each faction views the werewolf hunters through the lens of their own struggle and reality, forming a complex web of indifference, concern, and quiet manipulation.

The Kindred (Vampires): A Problem for the Anarchs

The Kindred of Ironwood, largely a fractured collection of Anarchs, see the Hound as a dangerous but distant threat. Werewolves are their ancient enemies, and a group of mortals hunting them is, at first glance, a beneficial development. The Camarilla Elders, if they were present in force, might see an opportunity to manipulate The Hound, using them as an unwitting tool to thin out their lycanthrope foes.

The Anarchs, however, are more cautious. They understand that mortal hunters, once successful, often broaden their targets. A group dedicated to "monsters" could easily turn its attention from the Garou to the Kindred. While they might allow The Hound to operate, they will be watching them closely, ready to intervene if the hunters stray too close to a vampire's territory or develop a means of tracking them. They see The Hound as a necessary evil, a tool that could become a liability.

Changelings (The Lost): The Echoes of a Different War

To the Changelings of Ironwood, The Hound's mission is both alien and deeply unsettling. Changelings are concerned with the Fae, with the True Fae who stole them, and with the concept of Banality. The Hound’s cold, scientific approach to hunting is a jarring contrast to the Changelings' world of emotion, memory, and spiritual resonance.

Most Changelings see The Hound as a human problem, a side-effect of a human world trying to assert control over forces it doesn't understand. They are not their enemies, but they represent a dangerous potential. A mortal who has captured a Garou is a mortal who has breached the veil of reality; such a person might one day stumble upon the Wyrd. The Changelings are more likely to simply avoid The Hound, seeing them as a part of the "mortal world's war" that has little to do with them, unless the hunters' activities somehow threaten their own freehold or mask.

Wraiths (The Restless Dead): Whispers in the Labyrinth

Wraiths, bound to the Maelstrom and the Shadowlands, have a unique perspective on The Hound. They do not perceive them as living threats, but as cold, methodical agents of a force that drains spiritual energy. The Wraiths are most concerned with the Garou's Rage, which is a powerful, spiritual force. When a Garou dies violently, their death releases a torrent of emotional and spiritual energy.

To the Wraiths, The Hound are little more than silent harvesters of this energy. They are the instruments of a larger conflict that creates a bounty of new spirits and emotional echoes. The Wraiths might observe The Hound’s activities with a mix of macabre fascination and detachment. They don't see them as a direct threat, as mortals can’t harm them, but their actions impact the spiritual economy of Ironwood in ways the Wraiths find interesting. A few desperate Wraiths might even try to "haunt" The Hound, hoping to guide them toward a particularly powerful Garou death, but for the most part, they are simply observers of the ongoing spectacle.

Mages: The Looming Threat of Hubris

The Mages of Ironwood, particularly those with an interest in protecting the mystical side of the city, see The Hound as a dangerous manifestation of human hubris. Mages understand that the Garou are not just monsters but are deeply connected to the spiritual world of Gaia. The Hound's use of technology and scientific methods to hunt them is a direct assault on the supernatural world itself.

A Mage might see The Hound as a dangerous group of "Prosaic" hunters, a cult of scientific materialists who, by their very nature, threaten to expose the world's magical secrets. While they may not be able to actively counter the hunters, they would be wary of them. The Mages understand that The Hound's success could weaken the veil between worlds and bring more mundane scrutiny to magical practices. Some Mages might even see the rumored experiments as a violation of a fundamental law of the universe—the attempt to quantify and dissect what is inherently spiritual.

Are the Humans of Ironwood Aware?

No, the humans of Ironwood are, for the most part, not aware of The Hound's existence. The very nature of the organization requires absolute secrecy. They operate under a series of fronts, likely using their Briarbrook base to maintain a cover story. The "abandoned dairy plants" are a key part of this deception, providing a reason for their presence and movements without raising suspicion.

Any werewolf encounters that are witnessed by humans are typically dismissed as animal attacks, cult violence, or the result of gang warfare. The Garou's ability to trigger supernatural fear in humans further ensures that anyone who witnesses a transformation is unlikely to remember it clearly. The Hound is a whisper in the dark, a rumor among the fringes of society, and for now, that is exactly how they want it to be.