Gnolls

Typical Attributes

Bod 7, Chi 3, Mnd 4, Ref 5

Schticks

Gnolls have the same schticks as transformed hyenas.

• Caper (#)
• Infect
• Mockery (#)
• Warning (#)

Description

Gnolls are proud and tall humanoids, standing 180 to 200 cm tall and well built. They are furred and have fanged snouts similar to a hyena's or dog's. Their fur is a motley brown, black or yellowish, often with stripes or pots. They exhibit animalistic behavior, and have an embarrassing tendency to move on all fours when exited or afraid.

Gnolls don't distinguish between the sexes much; both sexes appear identical and even gnolls can have trouble telling them apart under all that fur. Females go into heat about once a year, attract males and mate. They then give birth to a litter of puppies; unintelligent jackal-dogs, about six inches long. These puppies can take care of themselves from the very beginning, and live of scraps and leftovers in the Gnoll lair, first growing into large jackals and then into full-fledged gnolls. Adult gnolls have few memories of the time they spent as puppies.

Gnolls are rarely accepted into Zakharan civilization, but often live on the fringes of it, as bandits, trackers, caravaneers or herdsmen. They are a chaotic bunch, with little regard for laws, customs and rulers, though they have a sort of honor and rarely break their own traditions or word.

Gnolls once had a magnificent civilization in the lands of Akota. They curbed their own bestial instincts, instigated rulers and built temples and pyramids to various animal-headed deities. But this civilization fell long before the time of the first caliph, and now undead dominate the former kingdom. Gnolls have fled the land, and now roam the desserts of Akota in loose tribes.

Flinds are a bloodline among the gnolls that are considered especially noble. They are somewhat larger than ordinary gnolls, and resemble lions. They also have a secret weapon, the flind-bar, that only they employ. Common gnolls usually hold them in reverence.