Breed Name: “Ghoulhound”

(Commonly known as the Siberian Corso)

1. Origin & Lore

After decades of exposure to radiation and selective breeding in wasteland kennels, a hybrid emerged from experimental crossbreeding between Siberian Huskies and Cane Corsos. Initially bred by traveling scavenger-hunters known as Ghoul Reclaimers, this hybrid was designed for tracking, cornering, and neutralizing feral ghouls before they could infect settlements.

Rumors suggest that some were bio-enhanced in secret Enclave or Brotherhood labs—improving their olfactory sensors to detect necrotic tissue and residual rads.

2. Appearance

Size: Muscular and broad like a Cane Corso, but slightly leaner.
Fur: Double-coated, thick, resistant to radiation dust; hues range from ashen gray to black with silver streaks.
Eyes: One blue (Husky lineage), one amber (mutation side effect). At night, their pupils glow faint green due to minor rad adaptation.
Distinct Feature: Hardened snout ridge and reinforced jawline for latching onto ghoul flesh.

3. Behavior & Abilities

Trait	Description
Scent Tracking	Can detect feral ghouls from up to 400 meters—highlighted via player HUD when companion command is activated.
Fearless Temperament	Immune to ghoul screams and psychological effects that spook regular animals.
Rad-Tolerant Metabolism	Takes 75% less radiation damage than normal companions.
Pack Loyalty	Will howl if surrounded by ghouls, granting a temporary morale buff to allies (+10% damage to ghouls for 30s).
Execution Bite	When a ghoul’s HP < 20%, the dog performs a takedown animation (cinematic execution).

4. Gameplay Integration

Companion Questline:
“The Sound of Flesh” – help a Ghoulhound handler rescue captured pups from a cult that worships feral ghouls as “The True Survivors.”
Skill Tree Options:
- Tracker Line: Expands detection range; can mark ghoul dens.
- Protector Line: Learns to defend settlements and alert players of ghoul raids.
- Alpha Line: Summons stray Ghoulhounds as temporary allies.

5. Audio & Animation Notes

Deep growls and “broken-breath” snarls when detecting ferals.
Distinct “three-tone howl” before combat—used to warn nearby survivors.
Attack animations mix Husky agility with Corso power: lunging bites, shoulder slams, drag attacks.

6. Optional Variants

Albino Variant: Immune to radiation entirely; found near irradiated craters.
Cyber-Augmented Variant: Used by high-tech factions (Brotherhood or Synth-enhanced hunters).
Pup Companion: Adoptable through a mini-quest; grows over time with increased stats.

7. AI Integration

Uses a multi-state AI tree:
- Scent Mode: Active tracking; increased awareness radius.
- Defense Mode: Circles player during ghoul swarm attacks.
- Recovery Mode: Licks wounds, minor passive HP regen.

Ghoulhound: The Siberian Corso

A hybrid breed bred for the hunt — loyal, lethal, and forged in radiation.

I. Overview

Type: Canine Companion / Combat Tracker
Breed: Siberian Husky × Cane Corso Hybrid
Codename: Ghoulhound (also known as “Siberian Corso”)
Role: Ghoul Tracker, Settlement Protector, Companion Dog
Alignment: Neutral Good (defends player and allies, hostile to ghouls, raiders, feral mutants)

II. Lore & Faction Background

Centuries after the Great War, ghoul infestations reached crisis levels across settlements. Scavenger clans known as Ghoul Reclaimers began selectively breeding Huskies (for their stamina and sensory sharpness) with Cane Corsos (for their protection instinct and strength). The result was a breed able to smell necrotic radiation and differentiate living humans from ferals.

The Brotherhood of Steel later adopted several as patrol assets, modifying some with cybernetic respiratory filters and ocular implants to survive deep radiated zones.

“We don’t just track ghouls. We hunt death itself.”
— Handler Rhea Voss, Brotherhood Ghoulhound Division

III. In-Game Introduction Quest

Quest Name: “The Sound of Flesh”

Trigger: Player discovers an injured Ghoulhound in a ruined kennel near a feral nest.

Objectives:

Investigate the kennel ruins (find handler logs, “Rhea’s Whistle”).
Rescue the captured pups from cultists of “The True Survivors.”
Defeat the cult leader, who commands trained ferals.
Decide: Turn pups over to the Brotherhood for augmentation or raise them at your settlement.

Outcomes:

Brotherhood Route: Unlock cyber-enhanced Ghoulhound companion (mechanical eye, increased detection range).
Settlement Route: Unlock Ghoulhound kennel structure, allowing breeding and training new pups for defense.

IV. Base Stats

Attribute	Value	Notes
Health	350	High endurance due to mixed genetics
Damage	45	Scales with player’s level and perk synergy
Detection Range	400m	Special: “Ghoul Scent”
Radiation Resistance	75%	Breed mutation
Speed	1.25× standard dog	Agile like a Husky
Armor Rating	30	Thick fur and bone density

V. Perk Tree: “Hound of the Wastes”

Each level unlocks new tactical behaviors or abilities.

Tracker Line

Rank	Perk	Description
I	Scent of the Dead	Marks ghouls in VATS range.
II	Trail of Rot	Reveals nearby ghoul nests on map.
III	Hunter’s Instinct	Critical attacks against ghouls do +25% damage.

Protector Line

Rank	Perk	Description
I	Guardian Bark	Howls when surrounded, boosting ally damage +10%.
II	Body Block	Intercepts melee attacks aimed at player.
III	Alpha Guard	Reduces damage to player by 20% for 10s after bark.

Alpha Line

Rank	Perk	Description
I	Pack Call	Summons a temporary allied Ghoulhound.
II	Fearless Charge	Rushes and knocks down groups of ghouls.
III	Reclaimer’s Fury	Unleashes cinematic execution when ghoul HP < 20%.

VI. AI Behavior Tree

STATE MACHINE:
- IDLE → SCENT_MODE → ALERT → ATTACK → DEFEND → RECOVER

SCENT_MODE: Active ghoul tracking
ALERT: Emits growl, camera shake
ATTACK: Target feral; lunge or bite animation
DEFEND: Circle player, guard radius 5m
RECOVER: Low HP; retreat, lick wounds, regen 10 HP/sec

VII. Settlement Integration

Kennel Blueprint: “Ghoulhound Den”
- Provides +5 defense rating per trained Ghoulhound.
- Can breed and assign hounds to patrols.
- Requires: 6 wood, 2 steel, 2 leather.
Training Station: “Reclaimer Post”
- Assign handler NPCs to increase hound experience gain.
- Unlocks custom commands: Track Nest, Patrol Route, Protect Trader.

VIII. Visual & Audio Design

Model: Stocky frame, dense fur with scar lines and radiation burns.
Eye Glow: Blue/Amber dual hue under low light.
Sound Set:
- Growl Pitch: Deep and rolling (Cane Corso base).
- Howl Layers: Arctic tone mixed with metallic echo (implies mutation).
- Idle Sounds: Huffs, short rumbles, low barks when idle.

IX. Pip-Boy Entry

Species: Ghoulhound (Siberian Corso)
Temperament: Loyal, Rad-Resistant, Anti-Ghoul Instincts
Handler Notes:
"They know the smell of decay better than a doctor knows blood.
Don’t pet them near a ghoul corpse—they’ll assume you’re infected."

X. Faction Applications

Faction	Purpose
Brotherhood of Steel	Patrol radiation zones, guard transport convoys
Railroad	Used to detect synth infiltrators mimicking ghouls
Minutemen	Protect settlements and traders from ghoul ambushes
Ghoul Reclaimers (New Faction)	Worship these dogs as sacred hunters

XI. Expansion Possibilities

Albino Variant: Pure white coat; 100% radiation immunity.
Cyber Variant: Brotherhood cybernetic version with targeting lens.
Ghost Variant: Spirit hound appearing during rad storms, phasing through terrain.

XII. Sample Dialogue

Handler Rhea Voss:

“Don’t be fooled by that soft coat — these beasts can chew through bone and concrete.”

Companion Reaction:

When spotting a ghoul: “Low growl, tail straight — it’s close.”
When idle at base: “Soft whimper, resting beside fire — loyal until the end.”

Ghoulhound: The Siberian Corso (Expanded Companion Design Sheet)

XIII. Tactical Usage & Player Commands

Ghoulhounds aren’t simple companions — they are tactical partners with specialized command behavior tied to their AI tree.

Command Wheel Additions

Command	Description
“Track Scent”	Engages Scent Mode — follows ghoul scent trails highlighted in yellow. Marks nests with glowing paw icon on HUD.
“Silent Hunt”	Dog lowers posture and hunts quietly. Increases sneak detection radius for ferals by +50%, no barking until attack.
“Bite Hold”	Pins target ghoul for 5 seconds; player gains 2× melee/VATS bonus on pinned enemy.
“Stay Guard”	Holds position and guards corpse piles or choke points.
“Bring Item”	Searches nearby corpses or junk piles for medical supplies, bones, or rare Ghoul DNA samples.
“Mark Alpha”	Growls at the strongest ghoul in view; this enemy becomes the “Alpha Target” — player and allies deal +15% damage to it.

XIV. Relationship & Trust System

Ghoulhounds respond to care, tone, and behavior.
They remember how you treat them — shaping obedience and combat performance.

Trust Level	Title	Gameplay Effect
0–20	Cautious Beast	Follows commands slowly; may growl when ordered into danger.
21–50	Trained Hound	Obeys standard commands; small XP boost (+5%) from kills.
51–80	Bonded Companion	Faster obedience, executes commands instantly; shares +10 Carry Weight.
81–100	Soul-Linked Guardian	New passive “Pack Heartbeat” — when player HP < 25%, the hound goes berserk for 15 seconds, dealing +30% damage.

Raising Trust: Feed clean meat, use Pet interaction, win fights together, or build a kennel with their nameplate.
Lowering Trust: Friendly-fire, neglect hunger, or command suicidal actions repeatedly.

XV. Kennel Economy & Breeding System

Kennel Types

Structure	Function	Upgrades
Basic Den	Houses 1 hound; boosts settlement defense +5.	Add food trough for auto-feed.
Training Grounds	Allows handlers to level Ghoulhounds; XP gain +25%.	Upgrade to Combat Arena (+10% damage to all trained hounds).
Breeding Compound	Combine two Ghoulhounds → offspring with randomized traits.	Add gene sequencer for controlled mutation traits.

Economic Benefits

Settlement Defense Bonus: Each trained hound +5 defense.
Trade Goods: Ghoulhound hide → chem-resistant armor component.
Special Product: “Rad-Scent Salve” crafted from hound saliva = temporary Ghoul Detection perk.

XVI. Mutation Variants

1. Ashen Howler

Found near crater zones.
Emits low radio-pulses that disrupt feral senses.
Passive Aura: Ghouls within 10 m have –20% speed.

2. Graveborn Variant

Jet-black fur with faint green veins.
Can enter “Spectral Phase” for 5 seconds → passes through walls and ambushes targets.
Unlockable through Reclaimer ritual quest.

3. Cyber-Corso

Brotherhood version with metallic jaw and targeting lens.
Damage +25%, but requires fusion cells to maintain systems.
Optional companion upgrade if you side with the Brotherhood in the questline.

4. Frostbreed Hound

Evolved from Siberian ancestors in snow biomes.
Immune to cold weather and slows ghouls by biting frost wounds.
Perfect for northern expansions or DLC zones.

XVII. Environmental Behavior

Weather Condition	Behavior
Rad Storms	Growls and circles player; rad resistance aura extends to player (+30%).
Rain or Fog	Switches to Silent Hunt mode automatically for better tracking.
Night Time	Eyes glow brighter; detection range +50 m.
Settlement Downtime	Lies near fire or hunts vermin (utility animation).

XVIII. Animation Set

Category	Description
Idle	Scratches ear, sits upright, sniffs air, shakes off dust.
Combat Idle	Tail raised, slow pacing, drool effect on snout.
Attack	Dual bite variants: throat grab and leg drag.
Execution	Leaps onto feral ghoul chest, bites neck, snaps head back (Cinematic).
Fetch Item	Picks up item, drops at player’s feet; optional bark.
Pack Howl	Raises head to sky — audio reverb adds territorial echo.

XIX. Crafting & Utility Integration

Item	Source	Effect
Ghoulhound Tooth	Loot from feral kills while hound assists	Used in crafting anti-rad blades (+5 radiation resistance).
Reclaimer’s Whistle	Quest reward	Summons hound anywhere outdoors.
Rad-Salve	Crafted from hound saliva + blood leaf	60 s temporary rad resistance +25%.
Gene Tag Collar	Built at Chem Lab	Tracks companion location via Pip-Boy signal.

XX. Dialogue and Behavior Depth

Handler Rhea Voss – New Dialogue Lines

“You ever hear a ghoul scream before it dies? That’s the Ghoulhound effect — pure fear.”
“They smell death on you before you smell them. Don’t lie to ’em either — they hate dishonest souls.”
“This breed’s a miracle and a curse. They love you so hard it hurts when they’re gone.”

Companion Reactions

Positive: Brings you bones or tools after combat.
Negative: Growls if you attack innocents or ghouls that speak (civilized ghouls).

XXI. Progression Events

Milestone 1 – “Bond Forged in Ash”
- After 20 ghoul kills together → unlocks Execution Bite animation.
Milestone 2 – “Sound of Flesh” Quest Completion
- Gain access to Reclaimer Faction trades and kennel blueprints.
Milestone 3 – Max Trust
- Unlocks cinematic cutscene where hound defends player from an ambush, taking a fatal hit but surviving with scar (saves player life).

XXII. Faction Sub-Quests and Expansions

🎖 Brotherhood Sub-Quest: “Steel and Fur”

Help a scribe install experimental armor plating on your Ghoulhound.

Outcome 1: Gain Cyber-Corso version (+armor, +intelligence).
Outcome 2: Refuse augmentation → dog stays natural, trust bonus +15.

Reclaimer Mini-Quest: “The Silent Den”

Hunt down a feral Alpha Ghoul pack leader with your hound.
Completing unlocks “Pack Call II” (3 temporary Ghoulhounds spawn during rad storms).

XXIII. Optional Stats for Mod Balancing

Level Scaling Formula	Value
HP = 350 + (Player Level × 2.5)	Dynamic health growth
Damage = Base 45 + (Strength × 0.5)	Strength dependent
Carry Weight = 50 + (Charisma × 5)	Encourages Charisma builds
XP Gain Multiplier per Kill	1.15× standard Dogmeat

XXIV. Advanced AI Features

Smart Target Filtering: Ignores non-feral ghouls unless commanded.
Terrain Adaptation: Adjusts pathfinding on rubble and stairs for smooth animations.
Pack AI: When multiple Ghoulhounds exist in settlement, they form defensive groups that flank enemies.
Learning System: Tracks player combat style (melee vs ranged) and positions accordingly to avoid crossfire.

XXV. Legendary Perks (Unlocked via Rare Encounters)

Legendary Perk	Requirement	Effect
Rad-Eater	Kill 50 ghouls in rad storm	Converts radiation damage to HP regen (+10 HP/s).
Bone-Collector	Fetch 25 rare items	Auto-search dead ghouls for junk and aid.
Wasteland Howl	Howl during 3 faction raids	10 s stun to ghouls within range once per day.

XXVI. Endgame Narrative Hook

If the player completes the main story with Ghoulhound alive and max trust, a secret ending triggers:

As the player walks into the Wasteland’s sunset, the Ghoulhound howls.
The screen fades to a soft white — and a narration from Handler Rhea Voss plays:
“They say the last sound heard after a ghoul dies is silence… But to the Ghoulhound, that’s the sound of peace.”

“A New Kind of Wasteland Hound: The Siberian Corso That Hunts Ghouls”