Kroot Hound
Kroot Hounds (Krootis canis) are space-chicken-dogs of the Kroot genus. Considered as a evolutionary dead end. They are quadrupedal pack hunters and are often utilized by the Kroot for hunting and in war.
They are highly intelligent creatures, able to understand orders, but highly temperamental, prone to attacking their keepers. They are the size of a large dog, with a series of sensory ganglia running along their spine. They have wiry frames, just like the Kroot themselves, and possess a toughness that belies their apparent fragility. Facially, Kroot Hounds are ugly beasts, sharing the underbite beak of the Carnivores. It is unknown what would happen if you put a Space Wolf next to a Kroot Hound, chances are that the Wolves of Fenris are going to do something illegal again.
Overview[edit]
Kroot Hounds serve many functions within Kroot society. They serve as watch-beasts in Kroot settlements, in this role, they are able to detect the approach of even the stealthiest foe, through a combination of sensory input gathered by the ganglia along their backs. Should any creature other than one of the Kroot genus approach, the Kroot Hounds will emit a fearful shrieking and snarling sufficient to deter most infiltrators from pressing on. When accompanied by a handler, the Kroot Hounds can be trained to emit low sounds that do not alert the intruder to discovery, allowing the Kroot to set up and spring an ambush on their foe.
They are also used to patrol the area around a Kroot camp. If there are no Tau around, the Kroot sometimes set the hounds free in the knowledge that they will hunt as a pack, ambushing any they encounter. If there are Tau or other allies in the vicinity, the pack is accompanied by one or more Kroot handlers in order to avoid any unpleasant incidents.
They also serve as guards for high-ranking Kroot such as Shapers and Master Shapers. The handlers must be fleet of foot indeed to keep up with their charges, for the Kroot Hounds are used to move swiftly around the flanks of the enemy and launch lightning-fast attacks upon exposed foes.
Kroot Hound Pack[edit]
Kroot Hound Packs are large groups of Kroot and Kroot Hounds that work together. Often the Kroot attack and break the enemy's morale, and then the Kroot Hounds are unleashed onto the retreating unit.
The pack numbers at least 10 Kroot, 1 Shaper and 5 Kroot Hounds, and can be increased to up to 20 Kroot, 1 Shaper and 20 Kroot Hounds. The Kroot Hounds fight with their teeth, while the Kroot and Shaper are armed with Kroot rifles. The Shaper also has access to the Kroot Armoury. The Kroot may be armed with Frag Grenades and may also be given the Hyperactive Nymune Organ.
Kroot Hounds are an evolutionary dead-end (Niche Trophic), but unlike other dead-ends they are not hunted to extinction by other Kroot. It is likely a Kindred consumed too many quadrupedal animals and changed into Kroot Hounds. They can be released into combat and have their own special attacks.
Kill Team[edit]
Kroot Hounds are also playable in the Gallowdark Kill Team set.
Here, on the Kill Team tabletop, Kroot Hounds are the zippy beasts of the Farstalker Kinbands, but it would be a bad idea to consider dedicating them to being anything beyond harassers.
While they can pick up objectives through a special action that also lets them move or dash when doing so, they cannot perform any other objective actions and are unable to take any equipment. Fortunately, their fangs are pretty strong with Rending for deadly crits.
Another bright side is that they come with a few models, and no players of the Farstalkers would only equip their Kinbands with just one Kroot Hound. Their more Imperial counterparts would be the Canids from the Elucidian Starstriders.
They are categorize under Kill Team as a Combat and Scout unit.
