David/Voldon Dog/War dog

Name: David
Gender: Male
Age: 5 years old
Race: Canine
Breed: Voldon Dog
Occupation: Serpentfang's companion.
Title: War Paws

Overview:
David is a loyal canine bred to be a guard and a war dog. Although he is often feared as the "one with jaws that can swallow your head whole", he also has this gentle and playful attitude that makes him a perfect playmate for babies and children.

Height: 1 ped and 2 palmspans at the withers.
Length: 2 peds and 2 fores
Weight: 1 pygge and 8 hebs
Hair Color: Dark tan
Eye Color: Gold

Physical Appearance:
David is a bit larger than most Voldons, having grown a couple of palmspans taller than them. He has a coat of short, thick hair in the color of a dark tan, almost brown. The underside has a more lighter color. All four paws are large, and the front paws look like they can be used to slap a thief into submission. Perhaps it can, if the dog can be trained to do such. His body is muscular and the muzzle is black, albeit a bit on the light side.

Clothing: A leather collar with a dog tag made out of iron attached, with his name engraved on it.

Personality:
Although his appearance intimidates many people, those who become acquainted with the dog will find that he is gentle, playful, and energetic. He is the direct opposite of his master, who is stoic, aloof, cold, silent, and unfriendly. He is very, very loyal to the psyrpent, and is not one given to prejudice. This is because any dog, regardless of breed, will love you no matter what you look like or what race you hail from. David is a prime example of what the words "unconditional love" mean. Although his master obviously needs no protecting, the dog is willing to give up his life for the psyrpent's safety. In turn, the psyrpent coddles him, often giving the dog the best parts of a piece of meat and sometimes none for himself.

Strengths and weaknesses:
Strengths:

Powerful: The Voldon dog is a breed most notable for their strength. These dogs can tackle a full grown man and pin him to the ground, or otherwise grab an arm in its jaws and subdue him.

Intelligent: David can understand a few verbal commands as well, making him useful as a form of distraction or as a source of entertainment.

Sense of smell: All dogs have powerful sense of smell. They are useful for tracking objects and missing people.

Weaknesses:

Dependent: The dog is not trained to survive in the wild and is entirely dependent on his master.

History:
The history of the dog, and indeed every living thing, begins with its birth.
David was born along with eight of his brothers and sisters. The breeders of the dog, a wealthy silks merchant and his wife from Voldar, derive their extra income from breeding these dogs. They tended and raised the puppies, and were willing to put in the extra effort because this particular breed sells rather well to other people. The couple hired trainers for the dogs, and taught them basic commands that they are expected to know, such as tackling and subduing someone.

After they have come to an age where they can leave their mother's care and protection, they were sold to another merchant, this one with contacts outside Voldar. Thus the pups were caged and food packed for the journey. However the merchant knew the danger that the road possesses, and hired a few caravan guards to serve as escorts. Common sense told him to hire those with menacing features. So he visited a tavern, one he frequents regularly, and inquired with the barkeep, who pointed him to a few individuals in line with mercenary work. His gaze fell upon a huge black lizard, eating a beef leg, tearing the flesh apart with toothed jaws, as well as a few more men with bulging muscles and unkempt beards.

Talking with the psyrpent seems futile at first, until he mentioned the payment for his services. At this the lizard man nodded, and the merchant went on to hire others. The psyrpent then went out to have a good look at the cargo they're supposed to guard. His gaze fell upon the puppies in their cages, and a playful one jumped and stood up, leaning on the wooden bars and wagging his stumpy looking tail. The psyrpent gave it a quizzical look. What kind of animal is this, he wondered, and if it would taste good over the fire.

The party began its journey the next day. He told the guards to use the commands the dogs learned regularly so that they won't forget them. Every time the caravan stopped for rest and meals the psyrpent would go to the animal and give it a share of his meal. Whenever the caravan is moving and the psyrpent felt like having a little snack, he would open his pouch of dried beef jerky and eat some. The energetic puppy would stand up and beg. The demeanor of the animal is such that the psyrpent felt compelled to toss one to it. A female servant of the merchant once saw this and giggled at the lizard. Originally she was scared of him, but seeing a huge, armored psyrpent feeding a puppy changed her views about him.

"I saw what you did there."

"Grunt?"

"You were feeding the puppy. How cute!"

"...."

"You're a big softie!"

"Snort."

"Softie!"

A few weeks later they arrived on their first stop. The merchant called the all the guards and started handing out pouches of coin. The psyrpent's turn came in next. He shook his head and pointed a claw towards the puppy, the one that he grew fond of.

"Eh, that there's merchandise, not food. Here's your payment, now off you go."

The psyrpent shook his head again, and pointed at the pup. His glare more stern than the last one. The merchant, being unaccustomed to his people, was under the assumption that psyrpents eat just about anything.

"I told you, he's not for eating. Might as well give you a pickled carroot on a leash."

The psyrpent's patience is ending. He leaned forward so that he is face to face with the short fat merchant, and growled ominously.

"Right, right! You can have the dog! He's not worth much anyway because he doesn't have black fur! But I'm not paying you a single san, you hear me?"

The psyrpent didn't bother to listen. He tore off the wooden cover of the cage, carried the pup and went away.

Weapons: The huge paws and jaw full of teeth.

Belongings: The leather collar which his owner gave to him.

Familiars: Serpentfang, a large psyrpent who acquired him in a recent trade mission.