Battle dog is a dog of the Hallow, bred for war and hired out with the handlers who run beside it. It is an ordinary beast. It has no affinity and is Plain, unlike the affinity-born beasts that live where an affinity runs strong.
Hiring one costs geld, people and a little mana, and the Barracks organise the contract. The folk say the people in the price are the handlers, and the small mana cost is part of the handlers' fee. Upkeep is paid mostly in geld, with a small mana cost as well.
It fights hand to hand and bites back hard when it is struck. The card shows how hard.
The flock wardens, a kind of Wanderer, have their own account. Every flock warden shares the same knowledge, and they say the first war dogs were flock dogs that learned to turn on wolves. A dog that guards a flock, the wardens say, will guard a line.
Unpaid service ends. A Battle dog can be sent home with its handlers.
Player-visible facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | 400 |
| Counter attack (defensive strike) | 200 |
| Hit points | 400 |
| Recruitment cost per unit | 700 geld, 0.20 mana, 2 population |
| Ordinary upkeep per unit per spent turn | 16 geld, 0.02 mana, 0 population |
| Can be dismissed | Yes |
These are base unit values. Battle reports show effective attack and hit points after current effects. Defence uses resistance; no single defence score is exposed.