Gnoll

Basic Information

Anatomy

Gnolls are extremely tall, with the average member of the race standing on average between 7' and 7'6". Though gnolls are relatively lean for their height, weighing in usually between 280 to 320 lbs, they cut an impressive visage. In part because of their height and lean musculature, gnolls are very quickly compared with many other races such as humans. Gnoll skin is greenish-gray, and their furry hide a light or dark brown hue, sometimes marked with spots or stripes. Many gnolls also have a dirty yellow to a reddish-gray crest-like mane that stands on end when they are angry.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Gnolls are a carnivorous race, often feasting on the corpses of their victims. It would not be uncommon for a gnoll pack to scavenge a battlefield, eating the dead bodies that lay there.

Additional Information

Social Structure

In spite of the savage nature of the gnolls, there are some aspects to their culture that are not inherently repulsive. Gnolls have placed a very strong value on family for instance, respecting blood ties perhaps more than any other aspect of a relationship. Though gnolls within a pack will commonly fight with each other for dominance, these battles are quickly forgotten after their resolution, and in most situations, gnolls of the same bloodline are loyal friends and allies to one another. These bloodlines have almost always traced maternally, through the female line.
Gnolls were most often worshipers of the demon lord Yeenoghu. Though some paid only nominal reverence, many gnolls were fanatically devoted to their dark overlord, his influence having been the primary cause of their savagery. Some gnolls believed it was their purpose as Yeenoghu's servants to cleanse the weak from the world, serving a higher purpose through the slaughter they had spread. Gnolls venerated Yeenoghu by celebrating their victories with demonic rituals and blood offerings. Occasionally, Yeenoghu rewarded such a celebrant by allowing the gnoll to be possessed by a demonic spirit, marking them as one of his chosen. Such gnolls were known as fangs of Yeenoghu. Hyenas that feasted upon the slain foe of one of the Fangs were transformed into full-grown gnolls, allowing fangs to quickly increase their population.

Civilization and Culture

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Though gnolls of all kinds had a strong loyalty towards family, they have not extended such courtesies to those outside their pack, and gnoll culture has had a much deserved reputation for brutality. Most gnolls are nomadic, wandering from land to land and living off of raids on the local populations. Victims of these attacks can expect no mercy from their attackers and those who are not killed would be taken as slaves to be brutalized and abused both physically and mentally. Gnolls detest physical labor and so to ensure utter loyalty from slaves have taken their brutalization and maltreatment to an art form. For this purpose most packs have specialized slavers known as tantekurash or "spirit breakers" who have made it their business to break the will of a slave through repetitive torture. The process wreaked on a slave's mind by the tantekurash is brutal and often irrevocable. Those captives who will not submit are eaten, often in front of other slaves as yet another form of torment. Slaves who will not accept their fate often live short and brutal lives, which are ended by them being devoured. Few victims are lucky enough to be rescued and those that are may take months to shake the scars from their psyche and recover.

Lifespan

30 years

Average Height

7' - 7'6"

Average Weight

280 - 320 lbs