Gnoll
Gnolls are the canid folk of Asaluk. They run counter to Tabaxi and Aarakocra, specifically, and are fiercely loyal and uncannily intelligent. While they were once subservient to humans and genasi, gnolls were able to acquire their freedom through a fierce and bloody war and found their own city-state. It is uncommon to find gnolls outside of this city state, but before Skyfall gnolls had established more deliberate trade routes, and some of the major ports of call on those routes are home to substantial gnoll populations today.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Gnolls are upright bipedal humanoids with thick, dense fur and canid facial structures. They closely resemble jackals, foxes, and wolves, though there is no distinct difference between the breeds beyond phenotype. They have two arms, two legs, and tails that are cropped as a rite of passage. Gnolls have black sclera and dark to light irises.
Their nails extend slightly outward and naturally come to a point. The pads of their hands and feet are a dark grey, the hide sufficiently denser and rougher there than the rest of their bodies; while their fingers and toes are similarly colored, the skin there is often softer and more pliant to yield more dexterity and fine motor skill functionality. Given the choice, most gnolls prefer to use their claws as writing utensils over pens, quills, or charcoal sticks. They typically coat their claws--usually of the index or middle finger--in their pigment of choice and reapply from a well as needed.
Gnolls are more heavily set than tabaxi, with thicker necks and wider shoulders and hips.
Genetics and Reproduction
Gnolls are either born from sexual reproduction between other gnolls or created from a blood rite in honor of their old god. The subject of the rite is likely an adult hyena that has been honored by the tribe or clan, but most details about the ritual and the effects of the transformation are closely guarded secrets within the clans. Created gnolls and born gnolls cannot reproduce a living being.
Growth Rate & Stages
A born gnoll reaches adulthood at about 15 years of age and lives to just under the 80 years of age. A gnoll that has been created from adult hyenas in a ritual that has, for the most part, fallen out of favor in civilization may only live to around 30.
Ecology and Habitats
They typically live beneath the city and tend to be in charge of crematoriums, funeral homes, and cemeteries. While their diet can facilitate cadavers, they do not typically consume the dead unless given express permission by the funerary officiator and next of kin.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Gnolls are omnivores by need and carrion by tradition. Often, gnolls in densely populated cities act in tandem with funerary and mortuary services. This helps twofold in staving off corpulent diseases and feeding the gnoll populace, thereby cutting back on the amount of land required for pastoral and agricultural pursuits. They are highly resistant to disease.
Biological Cycle
Gnolls shed an undercoat in warmer climate. Those native to warm climates tend to have shorter, thinner fur year round than those from colder climates. They are diurnal.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Originating from the plains of the Heartland, now populous to varying degrees within different city states. Central Relict has the highest percentage of gnolls per capita.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Their eyes are suited for hunting in the dark of a forest, a cave, or dusk (darkvision 60 feet) but the real showstopper sense is their nose. Gnolls can track and find almost anything by smell (proficiency in survival checks).
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
A series of snaps, snarls, laughs, and pants. They have a Gnoll name and a Common name. The Common name is often chosen by the gnoll during their docking ceremony.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Their known languages are Common and Gnoll. They understand Abyssal, but cannot communicate in it without further training.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The tails of gnolls are docked as a rite of adulthood. Before then, tails are considered necessary for a gnoll to learn to balance themselves. During the ceremony a gnoll can choose to have their ears cropped in different patterns to reflect their accomplishments or aspirations, but this custom has fallen out of favor as gnolls integrate more deeply into society with other species.
Gnolls tend to mark their criminals with ring brands on the neck inscribing their atrocities. The worse the crime, the thicker the ring. When there is no more room on the neck, the gnoll is exiled and an appeal is made to the governing body of the territory to execute the criminal. Before the Skyfall, a clan would simply impart the death penalty in a manner befitting the gnoll's crimes.
It is common for reformed criminals to wear coverings such as collars or scarves to hide the details of their crimes.
The dead are buried with their accomplishments and lives marked on the walls of their entombment. Possessions reflective of the dead's values--hobbies, trophies, sentimental keepsakes, family tokens--are interred with them in accordance with a will that is started upon their docking ceremony and maintained as a living document throughout their lives.
Common Taboos
To gnolls, death and its rites are sacred. One does not desecrate the sites of funerary preparation or procedure, nor the remains of those interred.
Similarly, one does not consume the corpse of a person who has not expressly willed their body as a source of nourishment. To do so taints the meal and afflicts all who participate with a blood curse. It is a crime greater than the taking of another life.
Gnolls have no qualms regarding cannibalism. Often, a gnoll may will their corpse to feed their descendants. Such an act is considered benevolent, even holy, and the gnoll is honored with special markings in their then-empty entombment.
Gnoll by Wizards of the Coast
Scientific Name
Homo sapiens canis
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
2.1 - 2.3 meters
Average Weight
72.5 - 100 kg
Average Physique
Tall, thin, lean, muscular, long torsos compared to body size, thick necks
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Masked, striped, spotted, piebald; varying shades of red, gold, brown, grey, white, and black.
To Play A Gnoll
Apply these traits as a base. Defer to the current page regarding age, customs, and appearance. Replace the innate proficiency in Intimidation with an innate proficiency in Survival. In addition, grant yourself advantage on all saving throws to resist disease.
Apply these traits as a base. Defer to the current page regarding age, customs, and appearance. Replace the innate proficiency in Intimidation with an innate proficiency in Survival. In addition, grant yourself advantage on all saving throws to resist disease.