Gnolls

Wanna big the biggest and tallest of Mortals? Do you like wild landscapes? Are you absolutely certain you aren't a furry? Play a Gnoll!
+1 Con +1 Str
Pick Two:
+2 Intimidate 1d6 bite attack +2 to AC naturally +2 to survival checks Choose either the Throw Anything or Improvised Weapon Proficiency feet in addition to any other first level feats. 30 feet of movent
Begin play speaking Gnoll and Common Lowlight vision 30 feet

Move speed 30 ft.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Gnolls reproduce as humans do with the same general timing and process.

Growth Rate & Stages

Gnolls, like the other beastkin, grow at the same rate as humans do.

Ecology and Habitats

Gnolls favor warm environments, generally planes or jungle.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Like all humanoids, Gnolls are omnevores, but tend to favor red meat when they eat. This is a source of conflict as no red meat is consumed in Jahlbar where they live.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Gnolls are very familial. Generally they live in very close family groups that live set apart on farms or tent settlements on swaths of land. These tribes are led by their patriarchs who oversee the care, protection, and spiritual guidance of their families. These families often grow to a very large size, into the hundreds because of siblings and cousins and sons and daughters.
These family groups in turn generally answer to a wandering judge and that wandering judge in turn answers to the priests and sages of the Lost Temple, deep in the jungle where the center of Gnoll culture is. The Lost Temple is a temple to a god which is not known now, in this age, or perhaps to all gods, its mystery is both fascinating and maddening. Many go on pilgrimage there and have wildly different experience.

Facial characteristics

Gnolls resemble hyenas, but as with other beastial races, have manes that resemble hair for humans.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Gnolls are by nature nomads who wander back and forth around the southern world, between the jungle by the sea and up across the oases and deserts of Jahlbar, up into the edges of Stereos. They travel as a tribe, moving with the seasons, while others settle down in villages or towns to serve as way-points, or some have broken off to live by themselves as ascetics. Many have been captured or forced by need and poor conditions of the desert to serve as slaves in Jahlbar.

Average Intelligence

Generally somewhat lower in education than humans as they view wisdom, and a more mystic approach to life that strays away from traditional education and intelligence.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Generally Gnolls have accepted the naming traditions of the Tabaxi and humans of Jahlbar.

Major Organizations

The Prophets of the Lost Temple

Beauty Ideals

Gnolls have a deeply esoteric view of beauty, viewing at a divine presence and interaction with the world, for all things of the flesh are inherently ugly without the intervention of the mystic powers of divinity. Beauty is an aspect of the divine.

Gender Ideals

Gender ideals are deeply meaningful for Gnolls. Beyond the leadership of the family being exclusive to male Gnolls, Gnolls also believe that the male should be the ones who carry out the fighting and animal husbandry whereas women are to deal with farming and much of the business side of operations. Judges and sages can either male or female, but priests can only be male.

Courtship Ideals

Courtship is slow process, often taking many years, starting as teenagers. While it is considered proper for the parents of families of the two courters to introduce them, either party may refuse to carry on with the relationship until the bride-price is payed by the groom at which point the relationship is confirmed, may not be broken on pain of recompensing the the dumped party threefold. Marriage than follows a month from the day of the payment.

Relationship Ideals

The ideal relationship is one that helps both parties uncover the presence of divine beauty in their flawed existence. Gnolls also desire to have a large family so that they can assure their name for generations to come.

Average Technological Level

Lower than humans.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Gnoll: Gnoll is a animalistic language very different from others, it has no written form as is spoken aurally only with a whining and barking type language.

Common Etiquette Rules

Never pass someone on the road without greeting them.

Strangers and foreigners are supposed to be protected and given great hospitality in your home.

Your home is considered to be the heart of the society and your home is yours absolutely.

Common Dress Code

Gnolls generally dress very simply, head coverings, turbins, keffiyahs, and headbands are very common for male gnolls, headbands and veils are common for female gnolls because of the sun. Generally male gnolls dress with a tunic and a long skirt of sorts whereas female gnolls wear dresses which generally come to the knee or mid shin.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Culture passes down by telling, those who tell stories are deeply valued.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

A Gnoll patriarch may wed more than one wife, but he is supposed to give any wives he may have perfectly equal treatment in every way.

Gnolls always bow when entering a building or tent, it is considered polite to humble ones self before their host.

Common Taboos

Public romantic gestures or non-platonic affection are frowned upon, though physical contact between friends of any gender, such as paw-holding or hugging and kissing is very common.

Drunkenness is strictly societally forbidden.

Blasphemy against the gods, any god, is deeply forbidden and may have punishment attached to it.

History

Gnolls are quite possibly the oldest of the civilizations in the Inner Realms, living in the lands beyond the borders of Jahlbar since the days of the first kings came to pass. Gnolls claim that their first memory in the new world was of discovering the Lost Temple, the center of their culture. This is the root of their species and kind. They slowly spread out into the deserts learning how to live in the wilderness and encountering the powerful creatures of Jahlbar, the Tabaxi and the humans who traveled down from Stereos. Many gnolls tried to join the society, only to kept at its fringes and become slaves. The frequent wars between the Jahlbari and Gnolls over resources led to an entire slave society of Gnolls in Jahlbar's cities and towns.
The rule of Varien was welcomed by Gnolls as they were told or convinced themselves that they would be freed by this great new conqueror, the savior from the north, alas he did not free them. Gnolls were generally left alone by Varien, though they paid him tribute, but little of it.
Since Varien, little has changed and life goes on as it always had, some living hard out on the deserts, but others in slavery in Jahlbar, little else to their name but their heritage. This is the world of the Gnolls.

Common Myths and Legends

The Lost Temple Mythos: This is an incredibly complex tale, all of which has yet not come to light. The Lost Temple is said to contain the entire history of the universe on its walls which run for miles upon miles. A deep spiritual energy dwells here.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Gnolls are the most isolated species in the Inner Realms as they live far away from nearly every race with the exception of the Tabaxi and humans of Jahlbar who view them as less, as slaves. Generally the Gnolls will accept any other races and will be considered as deeply exotic, but not marginalized as they are in Jahlbar.

Lifespan

60 years give or take

Average Height

M: 7' F: 6'8"

Average Weight

M: 250 lbs F: 225 lbs

Average Physique

Gnolls tend to be large, lean, and muscular.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Generally Gnolls have light colored, short fur with dark spots, dark paws, and dark-tipped ears and tails.

Related Ethnicities

• Jahlbari