Hound

No one really knows how the Hound got into the lair to begin with - some mages only finding a young spiral curled in a forgotten corner, nearly starved to death. No one ever found out his given name - his adoptive parents eventually passing through other clans. and the Hound grew up mute and alone. He found comfort in a ragged wolf pelt and trash from a passing traveler's circus - and given his habit of growling at unfamiliar dragons, the Hound's name simply fell into place.

Rather like an overcautious (if mostly toothless) guard dog, the Hound spends his days slinking the labs, staring, unblinking, at the various bubbling cauldrons and dripping burets. Various theories abound on his mental abilities - from him being a genius, simply mute and illiterate, to the less flattering assurances that he's simply deaf and dumb, cute to keep but - ultimately - quite useless. Neither is true - the Hound is perfectly capable of speech, but is quite terrified to do so at this late stage - he understands his lairmates' insults, and knows that speaking at this stage - and even removing the wolf's mask that hides even his expression - could result in his losing his only home. His fears are quite unsubstantiated, but a silent wolf the Hound remains.