In most fantasy settings, the Hounds of the Blade are rarely noble knights. Instead, they occupy the gray area of morality—mercenary companies or secret societies that specialize in "impossible" hunts.

Common symbols include a wolf’s head superimposed over a broken sword or a blood-red fang etched into the crossguard of their weapons. 3. Integrating "Hounds of the Blade" into Your World For Tabletop RPGs (D&D/Pathfinder)

Throughout history, there have been scattered reports of encounters with the Hounds of the Blade. Some claim to have seen them roaming the countryside, their ghostly forms undulating in the moonlight. Others believe that the hounds have been known to appear to those on the brink of death, serving as guides or psychopomps.