Gnoll

History

Native to the savannah and plains of Uldaar, Gnolls are a race of hulking, humanoids that resemble hyenas in more than mere appearance; they show a striking affinity with the scavenging animals, to the point of keeping them as pets, and reflect many of the lesser creatures’ behaviors.

## Description

A gnoll looks like (and in many ways is) an anthromorphic hyena. It has a hyena’s blunt muzzle and rounded ears, coarse hair (which covers its entire body except the pads on its feet and the leathery skin of its palms), hairy tail, and doglike hindquarters.

As a humanoid, a gnoll mostly moves about on its legs, carrying weapons and food with its human-like hands. When agitated, a gnoll frequently drops to all fours, yapping and laughing like a hyena and jumping straight up and down. A gnoll walks and trots on its hind legs with an inefficient loping movement that resembles a half-hop, but when it needs to cover ground quickly it again drops to all fours and breaks into a smooth run reminiscent of the locomotion of a normal hyena.

### **Lifecycle**

A gnoll begins life as part of a litter of three to five siblings. At three years of age, a gnoll is dangerous. At eight years it is considered physically mature and is forced to hunt or otherwise contribute to the band. Females become fertile as young as 10 but sometimes not until 18.

Many gnolls die or are killed in their 20s, but most survive into their 30s, giving the species an average life span of about 28 years. Only the most wily, clever, and lucky gnolls live into their 40s

## Culture

Strong believers in the power of community, most gnolls cannot comprehend the lure of independence exhibited by other humanoids. That is not to say gnolls do not have individual tastes and desires, but rather that they cannot imagine living alone or without the presence of other gnolls nearby.

Gnolls are capable hunters, but are far happier to scavenge or steal a kill than to go out and track down prey. This laziness impels them to acquire slaves of whatever type is available, whom they force to dig warrens, gather supplies and water, and even hunt for their gnoll masters.

Creatures other than hyenas and other gnolls are either meat or slaves, depending upon the temperament of the tribe. Even a dead or fallen comrade is a fresh meal for a gnoll, who might honor a distinguished tribe member with a brief prayer, or thoroughly cook one that has died of a wasting disease, but otherwise view a dead gnoll as little different from any other creature.

Gnoll society is heavily divided by gender, with females serving exclusively as mothers or clerics of the Stillborn Queen. Meanwhile, Males are relegated to hunting, scavenging or overseeing the tribe's slaves. Gnoll leaders are typically the female Clerics or Shamans, whose powers are absolute to enforce pack unity. Gnoll tribes have few laws and those they have can be summed up as 'do not hurt the pack' anything else is fair game.

### **Religion & Faith**

Faith among gnolls varies by tribe, many are shamanistic, but long ago, the Stillborn Queen made a pact with the Gnoll's ancestors, trading their worship in exchange for her blessings.

### **Naming Convention**

**Male:** Daag, Fekkur, Garrour, Gegg, Gurr, Hakk, Hurrurr, Kaggur, Kurrmrr, Lok, Nrurr, Tarr-Kurr, Tukrr, Vogg, Vorum

**Female:** Aaturr, Akaam, Arruggurr, Eag, Ekurrn, Errnhor, Ilnn, Irrok, Itrugg, Ok-Ur-Okk, Orrot, Ovvurr, Ukramak, Urmmnmarr, Uud

## Gameplay

### **Ability Scores**

Gnolls are strong and tough, but otherwise well rounded. (+2 STR +2 CON)

### **Base Traits**

* ***Size:*** Medium
* ***Speed:*** 30'
* ***Darkvision 60':*** Gnolls have darkvision and so can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
* ***Natural Armor:*** Gnoll hides are remarkably tough, granting them a +2 natural armor bonus.
* ***Carrion Sense:*** Gnolls have a natural ability to sniff out carrion. This functions like the scent ability, but only for corpses and badly wounded creatures (creatures with 25% or fewer hit points)