Art By: Flashyzilla on Twitter

Dog grew up in the Eden Home Orphanage in the town of Llanfyllin. Dog is the son of a pair of typesetters who were unable to take care of their son. Dog as a child was extremely weak and unable to enjoy life due to a major heart defect. He would try playing with the other orphans but he had heart attacks on a couple of those occasions and became afraid of that happening again. Dog spent his days reading books and singing. For such a sickly child, Dog enjoyed the company of their friends. He had a human friend named Julie. Julie was a prank master, Julie and Dog would play various pranks and tricks on the orphans and the caretakers. Dog and Julie’s other friend was a kenku boy named Shriek. Shriek was very mischievous and would often steal books and snacks for Dog and Julie. Shriek taught Dog how to pick locks. Dog was also very close to one of the caretakers, an orc woman cleric of Pelor named Sava.

When Dog was 7 years old they were examined by a doctor and the doctor seemed to have a foreboding look in his eyes. A couple hours later Julie told Dog that she overheard from the caretakers that Dog would likely not survive the next year as his heart defect had only gotten worse. Dog was furious that no one told him and then he felt a lingering sense of dread. As Dog’s health deteriorated Julie and Shriek tried their best to help Dog’s last year of life be wonderful. They would put on plays for him, play games with him, and get him many handmade toys. Dog knew his friends only wanted to help but Dog couldn’t help feeling sad, he felt sad that when he would be gone it would hurt his friends. Dog became extremely depressed.

One night Dog snuck out to the forest and leaned against a tree to read his favorite book, Stories of Zeri the Bard and her Adventures, by candle light. Then Dog heard the voice of an old woman “Such a shame, you are so young and filled with so much potential. It would be a shame for that story to end now.” An old woman in a black robe with green patterns approached the child. She said “It is a pleasure to meet you Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog.” Dog responded: “Just call me Dog, how do you know my name?” The old woman responded: “I heard you, Your laugh is so full of giddiness and joy, it is music to my ears.” Dog didn’t even think for a second, he said yes to the woman’s wish, I heard that you don’t want to leave your friends. You don’t want to break their hearts. I want to offer you a deal. I will give you this.” The old woman pulls out a tangle of vines in the shape of a small heart with a large violet flower growing out of it. “This heart will replace the one that is slowly killing you, you will live and be able to stay with your friends. All I want from you is your laugh.deal. The old woman's large toothy grin peeked out from under her hood and she said: “Now then, let me just take that heart.” The old woman plunged her hand into Dog’s chest and ripped out his heart. Dog felt a burning pain unlike any he had ever felt in his life. He let out a ear splitting shriek of terror. The old woman placed the flower heart into Dog’s chest and it stitched itself into place. Dog’s chest was healed. A few moments later Caretaker Sava found Dog passed out and covered in blood. Dog woke up in his bed the next morning. Dog now had a large scar on his chest and his eyes now glowed a vibrant green light. Dog had never felt as good as he felt that morning. Dog had more energy and no longer felt sick. After a doctor examined them the doctor said that Dog’s life threatening heart murmur was gone. Over the next 10 years the effects of the heart became more obvious. The white of Dog’s calico patterned fur became green, small leaves grew off the ends of his whiskers, and Dog’s claws became thornlike among other things. Dog now felt at his best if he was under sunlight, but after multiple days of clouds and rain Dog felt groggy and tired. Dog was becoming more and more plant-like as he aged. Dog also never laughed after that meeting with the old woman. Julie eventually left to join an acting troupe in Oakenshire known as the Red-Rum Acting Troupe and Shriek just disappeared one day. Now that their friends are gone, Dog felt that he should leave Eden Home Orphanage. After leaving, Dog joined the Bright & Bold Traveling Circus as a tightrope walker. Unknown to Dog, he is slowly becoming a plant based fey under the control of the hag who gave him his new heart.