Gnoll

You hear them before you can see them. You're travelling along the Arta River when a series of howls erupt from the forest around you, sending chills down your spine. It sounds like something between a wolf's cry and a chuckle of laughter, and you and your companions immediately reach for your weapons.
Then you see them, running like dogs along the ground. They are wolf-like, with spotted brown fur all over their bodies. As they run towards you, their horrifically long tongues slip out from behind their pointed orange teeth. A couple of them have dark red blood dripping from their maws. Most only have sharp claws, but you see some with bone clubs and rusted daggers clutched in their grasp.
They howl again and growl and run straight towards your group, like a ravenous horde of hounds ready to feast on an animal caught in a trap. You steel yourself for their strikes, your legs shaking in fear. Is this the end?

Ravenous Demonic Hounds

Gnolls are lesser demonic in origin. Created by some powerful demonic lord believed to be named Yeenoghu, they have that lord's insatiable bloodlust and addictive craving for violence. They worship the Ripper of Flesh as a god, constantly creating unholy abominations in his name and dedicating their revolting feasts in his honour.
The gnolls have the appearance of demonic hounds. They have pronounced snouts, sharp canine-like teeth, and have a tendency to run on all fours like beasts do. They howl and growl like dogs, as well as a humanoid-like chuckle that has been known to drive many people insane.

Pack Culture

Gnolls very rarely run alone, as they are very social creatures. Each pack or group of gnolls is headed by either a religious figure - that is, a bloodpriest of Yeenoghu - or one of Yennoghu's infamous commanders, the Fangs. This leader is the most intelligent of the lot, and may know local humanoid languages or wear more well-kept armour. Being the only element of order in a gnoll pack, if the leader dies, the pack will begin to collapse due to infighting and lack of direction.
These creatures will initially arrive in the area through Abyssal portals. Due to their constant hunger, they will immediately search out any sources of meat in the area, whether it be animals or people. They will devour anything in their path, and bring back anything they don't eat immediately to be eaten or sacrificed to Yeenoghu later.

Distribution throughout the Multiverse

Orkanis contains the largest number of gnoll packs, as many of them have hid in the large forests and wide grasslands of the world. While there has been a concerted effort in the Kingdom of Loria to drive them out, other nations continue to have difficulty dealing with them.
The shrublands of Renath and the dry steppes of Dreandril have begun to see growing numbers of these creatures, as both of those locations contain isolated settlements that are easy pickings for a hungry gnoll pack. Due to their novelty there, the nations of those worlds haven't had the chance to fight back as successfully as the Orkanisans, and the number of gnolls is growing rapidly.

Lifespan

Less than 20 years

Average Height

1.8-2.1 metres in height if standing (1.2 metres when on all fours)

Average Weight

60-80 kilograms

Average Length

1.8-2.1 metres in length if on all fours

The Ever-Feasting

When a gnoll dies, the gnolls will likely cannibalize the dead body rather than let the fresh meat go to waste. When they do, some of them will feel a terrible corruption set in, leading to their death a few days later. But this death is only temporary, as this corruption is the sign of Yeenoghu's favour. When the gnoll dies, it will rise again as an Ever-Feasting, or undead gnoll. These creatures are brittle but insanely fast, making them ideal shock troops in gnoll attacks.