Gnoll Mercenaries

In times past, the Gnolls controlled the Dead Sands. They were a nomadic people, travelling across the desert and feasting on whatever they can find - including Carrionites. Those times have long passed, however, and now many Gnolls find themselves integrated with a civilised world. In the Dead Sands, there are many small clans of Gnolls that still practice the ancient ways of scavenging and nomadic desert life. But these packs are in the minority. Many Gnolls have joined the modern world, where they are employed as heavy units or private muscle for the very Carrionites their ancestors would once feed upon. In return, they are given food, shelter and a living wage. The natural strength and resilience of the Gnolls makes them ideal bodyguards and general muscle to ensure order is maintained and debts are repaid. In times of relative peace, hired Gnolls are often used by the Carrion Kings to ensure that order is maintained and debts are paid, not unlike the enforcer-types that are used by criminal gangs and mob organisations.

In times of need, the Gnoll mercenaries, like many of these hired forces, have their roles shift from one of order and defence into one of offence. The Gnolls are sent to battle, where their incredible strength proves to be a great benefit against the smaller and squishier races that commonly populate other armies. Unlike the state-made, standard-issue weapons that are provided to a majority of the mercenary forces, most Gnolls still choose to wield traditional and ritualistic weapons into battle. This often involves one-handed clubs, large stone blades, giant greatbows, and two-handed glaive-like blades. Though some of these weapons might seem crude by today's standards, the inherent strength of Gnoll fighters mean that they are incredibly effective at killing groups of enemies.

## **Variants**

Though they serve the same general purpose, some units in a country's military are given different equipment, in order to serve slightly different functions in the overall army. The severity and size of these differences varies on a case-by-case basis. Some units are given only slightly different weapons, whereas others are given new and unique technology.

### **Clubmen**

Gnoll Clubmen are physical embodiments of raw strength and power. They have trained all their lives for fighting and killing, reflected on their bodies with dense muscles and, in the case of experienced warriors, their many battle scars. Typically armed with brutal one-handed clubs, they are the elite killers in a Carrion Kingdom’s army. Using their weapon and natural strength, they can smash skulls like watermelons and crush armour like tin foil. Though the more traditionalist members of their ranks might wear armour made from hide or bone, if they wear any armour at all, it is also not uncommon to see Gnolls wearing parts of improvised plate armour. Though the weight of heavy plate makes their use impractical in the desert, the natural strength and stamina of the Gnolls allows them to use this armour without slowing them down.

### **Bowmen**

Gnoll Bowmen are devastating ranged units that wield large greatbows. These bows loose arrows that are more akin to ballista bolts than the standard arrows that most others use. As a result, their shots can pierce armour with ease and penetrates soft targets with such force that it can pin men to trees and walls. When one sees they are being targeted by a Gnoll Bowmen, they typically tremble in fear at the sight or attempt to flee; though this is in vain as the archers are excellent shots due to years of constant practice. Even in melee they prove to be incredibly vicious opponents, their bows being turned into improvised clubs that can bash in the heads of their enemies like smashing a watermelon.