Holtan (Gnoll)
Cursed Nomads of the Holter Deserts
Naming Traditions
Unisex names
Knoz, Grri, Tihz, Muhn, Kerr, Ka, Grrurtho
Family names
Most Holtan gnolls have only a first name, but occasionally their tribe will bestow an honorary name that reflects their personality in some way. They generally translate to two simple words compounded together from either Holterian or the gnoll language.
Examples are Murkbash, Fastmaw, Brineclaw, Duskskin
Other names
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Holtan gnolls speak the local dialects of the gnoll language, and an orcish pidgin. Most learn to write orcish more formally than they speak it, and often keep extremely detailed daily journals.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Ritual scarring or branding is sometimes used as a way to mark trustworthy outsiders that might not be seen again for a long while. A Holtan gnoll that deeply trusts someone may offer to give them a small scar, and a matching scar on their own body. These scars are generally in out of the way places of the body, often in places covered by fur, rather than displayed openly.
The custom allows a gnoll to effectively mark another as a trustworthy person, a mark to be trusted above all else - regardless of whether a gnoll even remembers the person, they will fight to the death to protect them.
The custom is less common among two gnolls, but still finds some use when individuals have to leave for many years.
Coming of Age Rites
Gnolls do not have any coming of age rites and largely push their adolescents to be ready to help their tribe as early as possible. Children aren't exempt from helping or defending the tribe, and the only terms gnolls have for different ages are "young" and "full-grown".
Funerary and Memorial customs
When approaching the onset of The Agony , many gnolls opt for death by combat rather than suffer the fate of slowly losing their mind. Gnoll beserkers are often lead by the tribes oldest members regardless of their fighting prowess, and always fight to the death.
Others find their death by challenging others to duels as a way of both testing their skill and of meeting their end. To the aging gnoll, it is a fight to the death, and the term "a gnollish duel" is derived from this phenomenon - a duel where only one of the participants is truly willing to fight to the death. While many gnolls will spare those they defeat in these duels, it is never guaranteed and the duels should always be accepted with caution.
Though weddings and formal vows are rare among gnolls, it is generally accepted that one's partner is the first person you must challenge to a duel if one feels themselves slipping. These are often ferocious battles between lifelong sparring partners, and lasting injuries to the partner are common though deaths are rare. It is considered one of the greatest acts of disrespect and cowardice to refuse the duel, or to be unwilling to slay the aging partner upon victory. Scars from these duels are displayed proudly.
Deceased gnolls are simply dumped far from where they live, often in mass graves. These can sometimes become a sacred place to a tribe and, despite their lack of decorum in burial, treated with some measure of respect.
Common Taboos
The Holtan gnolls hold a great fear of religion and gods in general, and any worship is strictly forbidden. Outsiders known to be devout worshippers of any god, especially any of the Ancients are forbidden from entering gnoll settlements. This stems from Qamara's Agony, and this distrust extends to feyfolk and elves as well. Most gnolls are taught from an early age that gods exist only to trick mortals into being their slaves, and it assumed that anyone who worships them is there to do the same.
Most traders who frequent Holter have learned to hide any holy symbols or scriptures, or simply do not bring them anymore. Being caught hiding one is generally worse than simply displaying it though, as it feeds into the gnoll's fears of deception.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Beauty in gnoll culture is almost entirely tied to physical traits rather than any form of fashion or social actions. Strength and size are most highly prized, with aesthetic features such as the sheen and thickness of ones fur, facial structure and teeth being secondary factors. As such, gnolls are rarely attracted to other humanoids unless one is able to easily defeat them in combat or another physical task. Considering the average gnoll's size and strength, this remains quite rare.
