Gnoll Characteristics

Gnolls are large, sinister humanoids that resemble Hyenas, typically around 7 to 8 feet in height and around 300 pounds in weight. They are nocturnal creatures much like their Hyena relatives, but will hunt in the day if necessary. Their heads are that of the animal, but their bodies are closer to that of a man, excluding their hind quarters and the brown or yellow matted fur that covers their bodies. Gnolls are dangerous, aggressive creatures with a predatory pack mentality. To make matters worse they are intelligent and cunning, often laying out traps for their victims, then attacking with abandon as they taunt their opponents with the heckling akin to a jackal.

History

Gnolls are largely known for their habit of teaming up with other evil humanoids such as Orcs, Trolls, Goblins and even Giants, as their powerful bodies and violent, reckless nature make them ideal front line attackers. These alliances are often shaky at best, however, as Gnolls tend to think with their stomachs first, and have been known to turn on their allies if they see a good meal, sometimes if they see their allies as a good meal themselves. Despite being powerful combatants, Gnolls have not made much of an impact on the world around them, quite possibly due to their general disorganization and below average intelligence. They seem content for the most part to simply inflict mayhem wherever they tread and consume what they kill. Some sages suspect that they are waiting to serve the purposes of an ancient eastern god long forgotten should he arise to prominence again. Ancient texts and wall paintings found in distant tombs far away from the general gnoll population suggest as much, but why and how they came to reside further to the west is a mystery, and gnolls are not prone to explaining themselves to outsiders.

Culture

Gnolls were mostly a tribal community upon first discovery, but have since become slightly more industrious after introducing themselves to the ways of civilization through conquering and pillaging. They reside mostly in fortified encampments that they construct themselves. Leadership is taken by an Alpha of the pack in most cases, usually the largest and most dangerous of the Gnolls, although leadership is a term used loosely when describing the Hierarchy of such a society. Leaders are replaced just as soon as they display weakness, most often from being devoured by the usurper amongst the cackling approval of his or her peers. Gnolls live be the creed "What is taken, is earned", and this applies to each other as well as those that they eat or enslave. It is fortunate for most that Gnolls prefer long, rolling plains far away from larger settlements.

Gnoll Types