Gnolls

Remnants of the Ancients

While there is some debate regarding the origin of Gnolls, it is agreed that they are far older than mankind. These gargantuan creatures are believed to have gone extinct centuries ago, though their existence is still whispered about today.

History

With a similar history to the Tabaxi, these behemoths are descended from the Primordial Giants. Sadly, due to their rarity and exotic nature, these creatures were sought after as trophies, often marking the ascension of a military force or presented to rulers as proof of loyalty. There are several mentions of Gnolls recorded in Human history, specifically surrounding folktale heroes and fables. True, scholarly documentation of this species is sparse, only providing rough details of appearance rather than societal impacts or behaviors. The last accurate representation of Gnolls in Human history was recorded in roughly 1200 A.T. by early Pesean raiders. The saga of Gorlogg The Mad and the Great Serpent tells the tale of a group of sea raiders encountering a sea creature "the length of fifty warships, with a maw the size of mountains". Scholars have combed areas of The Quiet Sea and nearby coastlines for potential remnants of this sea serpent but have thus far been unable to recover anything that provides definitive proof of the encounter.

Contrary to the disappearance of the Tabaxi, the Gnolls' extinction was a slow and prolonged process, outliving their counterparts by over a millennium. Just as the souls of the Tabaxi are responsible for the conception of Mageborn, Gnolls are theorized to be the ancestors of the Lesser Races.

Biology

Unlike other species derived from primordial souls, Gnolls initially existed alongside the Primordial Dragons and Primordial Giants, in the forms of ordinary fauna. However, the astronomical amount of souls that were released from the Ten Thousand Year War faced an early bottleneck. There was simply not enough vessels for the souls to enter new life, and so a vast majority of the Primordial Giants' souls were split amongst the wildlife. This accounts for the varieties of Gnolls that are said to have existed. Due to these inconsistencies, scholars have used the term "Gnoll" to refer to any anomalous wildlife that cannot be rationally explained via natural means.

These creatures could take the form of giant serpents like that suggested in Gorlogg The Mad's tale, a vastly increased intelligence, extraordinary mutations whether physical or behavioral, or simply one-of-a-kind appearances. One thing that remains consistent in identifying Gnolls from their unaffected cousins, is the environment surrounding the creatures. Even today, landscapes remain effected by the skeletal remains of dead Gnolls. These abnormalities in environment can be incredibly beneficial or fatally hazardous.

"I doubt there is much in the world that can compare to the majesty of fighting a mountain-sized lion, besides maybe a pride of normal lions...I wonder if they would taste the same."

-Lash Knappa

Information

Lifespan: Approx. 100 to 300 years

Size: Various

Homeland: N/A

Population: Extinct

Language: Unknown

Religion: Unknown

Genetic Descendants

• Lesser Races