Gnoll
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gnolls are formidable predators, with a striking hyena-like appearance that sets them apart from other humanoids. Their broad heads, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth are perfectly adapted to tearing apart their prey. In fact, their razor-sharp teeth are one of their most distinctive features. Their necks and hunched shoulders give way to massive and muscular torsos, making them larger than most humans. This not only gives them a commanding presence on the battlefield but also makes them a fierce opponent to any other creature that dares cross their path. Adding to their impressive build are their long, powerful legs. These limbs end in razor-sharp claws, which they use to chase down their prey with unmatched speed and agility.
Biological Traits
Recent studies have observed that female gnolls possess a larger and more robust physical build compared to their male counterparts. They also exhibit a more aggressive disposition, which can be attributed to their role in safeguarding their young and protecting them from potential predators. However, in the past, some scholars who held misogynistic beliefs had suggested that gnolls were hermaphroditic or capable of changing their sex at will. Although these theories have been debunked by modern research, they still remain prevalent in folklore and mythological tales.
Genetics and Reproduction
Gnolls are viviparous, meaning that they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. The gestation period for a gnoll is typically around 6 months. After birth, the entire clan will care for and protect the young until they are able to fend for themselves. Gnolls are capable of giving birth to litters of up to 6 cubs.
Growth Rate & Stages
Gnolls reach maturity at around 3 years of age, at which point they are roughly equivalent in size and strength to a human adult. They continue to grow and develop throughout their lives, becoming larger and stronger with age. Gnolls typically live for around 40 years in the wild, although some may live longer with access to better resources and outside the traditional clan structure that so frequently means an early death for a gnoll.
During their early years, gnoll cubs are raised communally by the entire clan, with adults taking turns caring for and feeding them. As they grow older, they begin to participate in hunts and other clan activities, learning the skills necessary to survive as a gnoll.
Young male gnolls within large clans leave at the age of five and undertake a dangerous journey to another region known to have gnoll clans. This journey is fraught with peril, as they must navigate treacherous terrain and evade predators to reach their destination. Along the way, they often trail or stow away on trade caravans for at least part of their journey, scavenging for scraps to sustain themselves. These young gnolls must also learn to rely on their instincts and survival skills, honing their abilities to hunt and gather resources in order to survive in the wild. Once they reach their destination, they must integrate themselves into a new clan, learning the customs and hierarchy of their new home. This process can be challenging, as they must earn the respect and trust of their new clanmates, often through displays of strength and cunning. However, this journey and subsequent integration into a new clan is crucial for the survival and growth of gnoll society, as it allows for the exchange of ideas and genetic diversity among different clans.
During their early years, gnoll cubs are raised communally by the entire clan, with adults taking turns caring for and feeding them. As they grow older, they begin to participate in hunts and other clan activities, learning the skills necessary to survive as a gnoll.
Young male gnolls within large clans leave at the age of five and undertake a dangerous journey to another region known to have gnoll clans. This journey is fraught with peril, as they must navigate treacherous terrain and evade predators to reach their destination. Along the way, they often trail or stow away on trade caravans for at least part of their journey, scavenging for scraps to sustain themselves. These young gnolls must also learn to rely on their instincts and survival skills, honing their abilities to hunt and gather resources in order to survive in the wild. Once they reach their destination, they must integrate themselves into a new clan, learning the customs and hierarchy of their new home. This process can be challenging, as they must earn the respect and trust of their new clanmates, often through displays of strength and cunning. However, this journey and subsequent integration into a new clan is crucial for the survival and growth of gnoll society, as it allows for the exchange of ideas and genetic diversity among different clans.
Ecology and Habitats
Gnolls prefer open areas where they can see their prey approaching from a distance and take advantage of the environment to increase their momentum during a chase. Despite their large size, they are stealthy creatures and use long grass and gentle hills to their advantage, allowing for cover and elevation without stopping their charge. They are not skilled builders, but their toughness allows them to withstand the elements. Their camps have a rough circle of flattened grass as a communal area, with higher-status females commanding the center and males on the periphery. The borders of a clan's territory are marked with effigies, usually a stick topped with the painted skull of a venerated gnoll or hyena of the clan, which is considered a great honor to continue watching even after death. A circle is cleared of vegetation around a prominent landmark, such as an ancient stone circle or unusual outcrop, at the center of each camp. Some consider gnolls to be only semi-nomadic since clans have been known to return to the same landmark repeatedly as long as the area around it remains hospitable. In the mountains, canyons, and badlands, gnolls that have been driven out exist almost solely as scavengers among larger humanoid communities. They can be found on the fringes of civilization, with larger settlements often containing a handful of menacing sewers and communal middens that may be utilized by local thugs as a "waste disposal service." Within their territory, groups of these outcast gnolls will have a main den, an area large enough to fit the entire clan but small enough to be easily defended. The area contains all of the clan's "treasures" strewn among bits and pieces of cloth, furnishings, and other piled detritus, horribly stained and damp.
Dietary Needs and Habits
After a battle, gnolls engage in squabbles over the right to loot and feed on the fallen. Those who are killed by a single individual are claimed without argument, while the stronger gnolls fight for the right to claim the rest of the bodies. Weaker individuals circle at the peripheries, hoping to snatch whatever scraps they can after the stronger gnolls have had their fill. If an area has been claimed by outcast gnolls, it is not uncommon to find caches of items that range from rotting offal to discarded leather, all of which are saved for later consumption. Although the people of a settlement may never have seen a gnoll outcast, their presence is often felt. Outcast gnolls prefer to keep their diet to rats and a few stray dogs, but this is only a temporary solution. Eventually, a laborer will need to maintain the sewers or a vagrant will choose the wrong alley to bed down for the night.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
An unscarred gnoll is almost unheard of, as is one with full, unnotched ears. Their frequently violent lives often leave nasty remnants, and it only adds to the intimidating presence of a gnoll. They often hold their mouths partially open and salivate, revealing their sharp fangs.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Gnolls have a keen sense of smell and hearing, which they use to locate prey from a distance. Their eyesight is also good, allowing them to spot movement and potential threats. Given their carnivorous diet, they have a strong sense of taste and are able to discern the freshness and quality of their food. Finally, their sense of touch is acute, particularly in their sharp claws, which they can use both in hunting and combat.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
As creatures with a language that consists of little more than whines, growls, and shrieks, gnolls lack names and have little use for them due to their cultural emphasis on community over individuality. However, powerful gnolls may receive names directly from the gods of Chaos, though such instances are rare. Instead, gnolls refer to each other by a particular call, often based on a trait associated with an individual gnoll. This naming convention is a testament to the gnolls' deep-rooted communal nature, with each member being identified by their unique qualities and contributions to the group.
Gender Ideals
In gnoll culture, gender plays a significant role in determining hierarchy and social status. In gnoll society, the lowest female outranks the highest male, emphasizing the importance of female leadership and strength and all male gnolls obey the matriarch's commands unquestioningly, even the gnoll pack lords who lead the war bands. The matriarch's daughters also obey her unquestioningly for as long as she is perceived as the physically strongest in the group. This complex, hierarchical structure underscores the communal nature of gnoll society and highlights the importance of strength and power in determining social status.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The gnoll language, a complex system of communication, is comprised of a mixture of various sounds, including low, guttural chatters, trumpeting hoots, wails, whines, cackles, and howls. In addition to these sounds, gnolls use gestures and expressions to convey meaning, making their language even more intricate. Due to the lack of a common alphabet or other written form, gnolls do not rely on written notes or signs to communicate with one another. This makes transcribing the language accurately a nearly impossible task, as the nuances in tone and pitch that differentiate one call from another cannot be fully captured. Interestingly, hyenas have a basic understanding of the gnoll language, which further supports the idea of a shared ancestry. While gnolls rarely speak Common, they may pick up bits and pieces of it, using it primarily for desperate, pleading last words or expletives. For outcast gnolls, a basic grasp of the dominant language of the settlement they inhabit is often necessary for survival. They often mix elements of their own language with the dominant language to form a simple pidgin language that they use to communicate primarily with criminal elements.
Common Dress Code
Gnolls have a unique way of dressing that often intimidates their enemies. Their ragged hide clothing, which they incorporate scraps of chainmail and steel plate into, is often stained with the blood of previous owners, giving them a fearsome appearance. Not only that, but they also wear ruined finery, such as moldering silk shirts, rotting doublets, and even ball gowns, haphazardly forced over whichever body parts will fit, which they might have acquired from their raids of human settlements. This peculiar dressing habit, which seemingly stems from their love of collecting and hoarding treasures, also serves to instill fear in their enemies and opponents, making them think twice before crossing their paths.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Gnolls are a species that place little value on honor, glory, or individual achievement, instead prioritizing strength, hunger, and fear. While strength allows them to overpower and consume their prey, hunger motivates them to acquire what is necessary for the clan's survival. Gnolls use fear as a weapon against enemies, making them easy prey. However, while they may not trust non-clan members, including those among their species, gnolls will communicate with others if it means obtaining something that the clan needs. Outcast gnolls are driven by the need to survive and can be easily bribed or intimidated by those who are clearly stronger, making them a potentially valuable resource for obtaining information about criminal activity if law enforcement is desperate. However, it is important to not underestimate the gnolls, as they can be a fierce opponent.
Scavenging is a central pillar of gnoll culture, with their patchwork armor and weapons being adorned with trophies from fallen foes. Due to their nomadic lifestyle, gnolls do not often build permanent structures or create items of lasting value. Instead, they prefer to rely on their scavenging skills to sustain themselves.
While the clan is everything to a gnoll, disagreements and fights can occur among individuals. However, the good of the clan comes before all else. Children of the clan are raised communally, with most adult clan members contributing to their education and growth. All male gnolls obey the matriarch's commands unquestioningly, even the gnoll pack lords, who lead the war bands of a given clan. The matriarch's daughters obey her unquestioningly for as long as she is still perceived as the physically strongest in the group. Gnolls form huge clans numbering up to one hundred and can easily become the dominant species over a large area. Clan hierarchy is complex, strict, and competitive, with those at the top being the most able to physically dominate those below. They constantly scrap amongst themselves and show barely more regard for each other than they do for their enemies. The clan seldom splits, but small bands of three to ten will split off to range about, looking for targets or hunting as examples.
The gods of Chaos show support to the gnolls by sending them omens in the form of visions, dreams, and signs. As such, gnolls instinctively look for such omens to guide their activities, and they find them in many places. Among the signs that gnolls rely on are the blood trails and spatters left behind after making a meal. They attach significance to a number of other phenomena as well, including the sight of arrows in flight, the rush of the wind, and sounds of howling or cackling laughter that have no discernible source.
Gnolls never set up permanent camps, though they might linger for a few days at the site of a particularly great slaughter. To keep from being detected between major raids, the gnolls move through the wilderness with as much stealth as they can marshal. They never leave survivors in any group they set upon and will pursue a fleeing enemy for days to prevent it from getting to a town or a city and raising an alarm. If the area they hunt in becomes too well-defended, the gnolls relocate in search of easier prey. Large tracts along the fringe of civilization might be devastated before the wider world becomes aware of a gnoll threat.
Scavenging is a central pillar of gnoll culture, with their patchwork armor and weapons being adorned with trophies from fallen foes. Due to their nomadic lifestyle, gnolls do not often build permanent structures or create items of lasting value. Instead, they prefer to rely on their scavenging skills to sustain themselves.
While the clan is everything to a gnoll, disagreements and fights can occur among individuals. However, the good of the clan comes before all else. Children of the clan are raised communally, with most adult clan members contributing to their education and growth. All male gnolls obey the matriarch's commands unquestioningly, even the gnoll pack lords, who lead the war bands of a given clan. The matriarch's daughters obey her unquestioningly for as long as she is still perceived as the physically strongest in the group. Gnolls form huge clans numbering up to one hundred and can easily become the dominant species over a large area. Clan hierarchy is complex, strict, and competitive, with those at the top being the most able to physically dominate those below. They constantly scrap amongst themselves and show barely more regard for each other than they do for their enemies. The clan seldom splits, but small bands of three to ten will split off to range about, looking for targets or hunting as examples.
The gods of Chaos show support to the gnolls by sending them omens in the form of visions, dreams, and signs. As such, gnolls instinctively look for such omens to guide their activities, and they find them in many places. Among the signs that gnolls rely on are the blood trails and spatters left behind after making a meal. They attach significance to a number of other phenomena as well, including the sight of arrows in flight, the rush of the wind, and sounds of howling or cackling laughter that have no discernible source.
Gnolls never set up permanent camps, though they might linger for a few days at the site of a particularly great slaughter. To keep from being detected between major raids, the gnolls move through the wilderness with as much stealth as they can marshal. They never leave survivors in any group they set upon and will pursue a fleeing enemy for days to prevent it from getting to a town or a city and raising an alarm. If the area they hunt in becomes too well-defended, the gnolls relocate in search of easier prey. Large tracts along the fringe of civilization might be devastated before the wider world becomes aware of a gnoll threat.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Gnolls are a major threat to settlements along the frontiers and borderlands of civilization. They have a reputation for attacking without warning, leaving no bodies as evidence of their attack. Even clumps of grass where blood has been spilled will be ripped up and devoured. They are known to keep a collection of items taken from their victims, sometimes coins or something similarly ubiquitous. Gnolls are especially dangerous because they strike at random, emerging from the wilderness, plundering and slaughtering, then moving elsewhere. They attack like a plague of locusts, pillaging settlements and leaving little behind but razed buildings, gnawed corpses, and befouled land.
Despite gnolls' seemingly mindless fury in battle, they exhibit a great amount of cunning. They prefer to avoid protracted battles and instead slaughter those who can't defend themselves. Gnolls attack intelligent prey that is capable of resisting only when it is the most opportune moment, when powerful omens from the gods of Chaos compel them to do so, or when they have no other choice.
Gnolls often cooperate to pick off their prey one at a time for a small group, or if the prey is more numerous, they rush forward in waves. They typically carry a bow scavenged from a past victim, using ranged attacks mainly to prevent their prey from fleeing rather than softening up their targets with an initial barrage of arrows before an assault. A target wounded by a bow shot becomes easy prey for any gnolls near it.
Some particularly clever gnolls have been known to use burning arrows to spark fires, cutting off their prey's escape routes and driving victims into their jaws. Occasionally, gnolls settle briefly in the ruins of a settlement they have sacked, especially if there is more than the usual amount of plunder or corpses to devour. This may attract the attentions of other clans, and if there is food to spare, old rivalries are set aside temporarily. These periods of coming together are a time of ritual and mating.
The alpha of a gnoll pack is the pack lord, ruling by might and cunning, and earning the best of a gnoll pack's spoils, food, valuable trinkets, and magic items. It ornaments its body with brutal piercings and grotesque trophies and dyes its fur with fiendish sigils, hoping the gods of Chaos will make it invulnerable.
Shamans play a central role in gnoll culture. Usually, the oldest female and previous matriarch, often the mother of senior clan members, imparts the will of the gnoll gods to the clan. They also perform rudimentary rituals and rites, including healing and simple divination, generally fueled by a great deal of blood. Many shamans possess abilities similar to lycanthropy: they can change form to that of a large hyena at will, allowing them to hunt with the pack and travel at speed. These abilities are the result of grisly rituals centered around the desecration of graves and consumption of disinterred corpses, preferably those of notable virtue in life.
Gnolls celebrate their victories by performing demonic rituals and making blood offerings to the gods of Chaos. Sometimes these are rewarded by allowing one of them to be possessed by a fiendish spirit, resulting in the lucky recipient becoming the chosen of the gods.
Despite gnolls' seemingly mindless fury in battle, they exhibit a great amount of cunning. They prefer to avoid protracted battles and instead slaughter those who can't defend themselves. Gnolls attack intelligent prey that is capable of resisting only when it is the most opportune moment, when powerful omens from the gods of Chaos compel them to do so, or when they have no other choice.
Gnolls often cooperate to pick off their prey one at a time for a small group, or if the prey is more numerous, they rush forward in waves. They typically carry a bow scavenged from a past victim, using ranged attacks mainly to prevent their prey from fleeing rather than softening up their targets with an initial barrage of arrows before an assault. A target wounded by a bow shot becomes easy prey for any gnolls near it.
Some particularly clever gnolls have been known to use burning arrows to spark fires, cutting off their prey's escape routes and driving victims into their jaws. Occasionally, gnolls settle briefly in the ruins of a settlement they have sacked, especially if there is more than the usual amount of plunder or corpses to devour. This may attract the attentions of other clans, and if there is food to spare, old rivalries are set aside temporarily. These periods of coming together are a time of ritual and mating.
The alpha of a gnoll pack is the pack lord, ruling by might and cunning, and earning the best of a gnoll pack's spoils, food, valuable trinkets, and magic items. It ornaments its body with brutal piercings and grotesque trophies and dyes its fur with fiendish sigils, hoping the gods of Chaos will make it invulnerable.
Shamans play a central role in gnoll culture. Usually, the oldest female and previous matriarch, often the mother of senior clan members, imparts the will of the gnoll gods to the clan. They also perform rudimentary rituals and rites, including healing and simple divination, generally fueled by a great deal of blood. Many shamans possess abilities similar to lycanthropy: they can change form to that of a large hyena at will, allowing them to hunt with the pack and travel at speed. These abilities are the result of grisly rituals centered around the desecration of graves and consumption of disinterred corpses, preferably those of notable virtue in life.
Gnolls celebrate their victories by performing demonic rituals and making blood offerings to the gods of Chaos. Sometimes these are rewarded by allowing one of them to be possessed by a fiendish spirit, resulting in the lucky recipient becoming the chosen of the gods.
Common Taboos
Gnolls are known for their strict adherence to societal taboos, which can result in severe consequences. For instance, subterfuge and betrayal are considered the most grievous crimes in gnoll society. Transgressors are often punished through execution by ritual cannibalism, a fate that is feared by all gnolls.
Moreover, gnolls are extremely territorial creatures, and crossing into another clan's territory unannounced is a major taboo. If a gnoll finds themselves in such a situation, they will make their way to the clan's landmark. However, even at the landmark, gnolls must be cautious. Spilling gnoll blood around this area, where the clan's shaman spends most of her time, is considered a major taboo. If a gnoll is unable to plead for leniency and their pleas fall on deaf ears, as is often the case, they will usually face death as they attempt to flee.
Moreover, gnolls are extremely territorial creatures, and crossing into another clan's territory unannounced is a major taboo. If a gnoll finds themselves in such a situation, they will make their way to the clan's landmark. However, even at the landmark, gnolls must be cautious. Spilling gnoll blood around this area, where the clan's shaman spends most of her time, is considered a major taboo. If a gnoll is unable to plead for leniency and their pleas fall on deaf ears, as is often the case, they will usually face death as they attempt to flee.
Common Myths and Legends
According to gnoll mythology, the Chaos gods once walked the Material Plane, bringing along with them packs of ordinary hyenas scavenging from their carnage. It was said that the strongest among these hyenas were transformed into the first gnolls, who then paraded after the gods of Chaos until their departure from the Material Plane.
As the gnolls scattered across the world, they served as a dire reminder of the gods' wild unpredictability. Their existence was a constant source of fear for the other creatures that roamed the land, as the gnolls were known to be ruthless and unpredictable. The gnolls were often viewed as a curse, and many believed that the gods had brought them into existence to punish the world for its sins.
Furthermore, gnoll mythology suggests that when a hyena feasts on a slain foe of a gnoll chosen by the gods, it undergoes a horrible transformation. The hyena becomes bloated and unable to move, before transforming into a gnoll in a shower of blood and gristle. This gnoll then immediately joins the clan that brought it into existence.
This phenomenon can have a significant impact on the gnoll population in a region, depending on the number of hyenas present. A chosen gnoll can lead to a startling increase in the gnoll population, adding to the already existing fear and chaos that gnolls bring. Overall, gnoll mythology serves as a testament to the unpredictable and terrifying nature of the gods of Chaos, and the lasting impact that their presence can have on the world.
As the gnolls scattered across the world, they served as a dire reminder of the gods' wild unpredictability. Their existence was a constant source of fear for the other creatures that roamed the land, as the gnolls were known to be ruthless and unpredictable. The gnolls were often viewed as a curse, and many believed that the gods had brought them into existence to punish the world for its sins.
Furthermore, gnoll mythology suggests that when a hyena feasts on a slain foe of a gnoll chosen by the gods, it undergoes a horrible transformation. The hyena becomes bloated and unable to move, before transforming into a gnoll in a shower of blood and gristle. This gnoll then immediately joins the clan that brought it into existence.
This phenomenon can have a significant impact on the gnoll population in a region, depending on the number of hyenas present. A chosen gnoll can lead to a startling increase in the gnoll population, adding to the already existing fear and chaos that gnolls bring. Overall, gnoll mythology serves as a testament to the unpredictable and terrifying nature of the gods of Chaos, and the lasting impact that their presence can have on the world.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
A gnoll war band is typically made up of various gnolls, often from different clans, as well as other creatures. The composition of each band is unique, with no two groups being exactly the same. One constant, however, is the presence of a pack of hyenas, which can be just as numerous as the gnolls themselves. In rare cases, a war band may even include other humanoids who have pledged allegiance to the gods of Chaos and have attached themselves to the group in order to prove their worth. Occasionally, a chosen gnoll who is devoted to the gods of Chaos will even receive the cosmic insight required to summon fiends. And, under the right circumstances, a war band may be joined by fiendish creatures to help bolster their ranks. Some bands may even attract the attention of the undead, who will follow in their wake, feeding on the remains of their victims and sometimes merging with the group over time.
Lifespan
~40 yrs.
Average Height
6-8 ft.
Average Weight
200-250 lbs.
Average Physique
Gnolls possess infamous stamina and tenacity. When they choose a target, whether it be a merchant caravan or a military scouting party, they relentlessly pursue it for days, weeks, and even months, never relenting in their considerable pace. This approach to persistence hunting guarantees that the gnolls will ultimately encounter a worn-down and exhausted foe when combat is eventually forced, assuming the target doesn't turn and fight early on in the proceedings.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Gnolls have a fascinating appearance due to their coarse fur, which comes in a blotchy ochre color with a great variation of greys, tans, and browns, making each gnoll unique. Along the back of their necks, a scraggly, darker mane ranges from short to quite long, making gnolls seem taller than they actually are. It's worth noting that gnolls that let their pelt grow long and shaggy tend to become matted with all manner of dirt and filth, which can be quite unsightly.
Ultimate Bestiary: Revenge of the Horde by Nord Games
Gnoll
ability score increase:
Strength by 2, Constitution by 1
age:
40
alignment:
Typically Chaotic
Size:
Medium
speed:
35 ft.
Languages:
Gnoll, Common
race features:
Darkvision. As part of your bestial heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. Within 60 feet of you, you can see in dim light as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. However, you can only discern shades of gray in darkness and not color.
Bite. Your jaws are a natural weapon, and you can deliver a bite as an unarmed strike. On a hit, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the normal damage. At 8th level, the damage increases to 1d6, and at 14th level, it increases to 1d8.
Sprinter. As a bonus action on your turn, you can move up to half your speed.
Darkvision. As part of your bestial heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. Within 60 feet of you, you can see in dim light as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. However, you can only discern shades of gray in darkness and not color.
Bite. Your jaws are a natural weapon, and you can deliver a bite as an unarmed strike. On a hit, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the normal damage. At 8th level, the damage increases to 1d6, and at 14th level, it increases to 1d8.
Sprinter. As a bonus action on your turn, you can move up to half your speed.
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