Hogger by Lauren D Austin

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE. THE WAR BAND PASSED THROUGH and ate all of the Riverwood’s livestock. They did deserve it after they tried to put me out of business. I think that the band will leave soon. They couldn’t possibly still be hungry.

— Aramas De’Ortez, blood-soaked diary

Gnolls remind the world of the horrors posed by the hordes of the Abyss, and the damage that even the briefest demonic incursion can inflict on the world. The will of the demon lord Yeenoghu is overpowering, driving these creatures to be in a state of insatiable hunger as they pursue a horrid apocalyptic version of the world transformed into a barren, empty ruin, with only the decaying corpses of the last few surviving gnolls.

The Hunger Never Fades

Through fate or the intervention of others, some gnolls have broken free of the bloodlust that drives their kin. Yet the call of Yeenoghu is ever present in their minds. Whispers and calls for violence ever plague them as they try to find a new place in the world. They are alone, yet perhaps they can forge new bonds and find a new pack to join.

Towering Predators

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, the race cuts an impressive visage. In part because of their height and lean musculature, gnolls are very quick compared with many other races such as humans. Gnoll skin is a greenish-gray, and their furry hide is light or dark brown marked sometimes with spots or stripes. Many gnolls also have a dirty yellow to reddish-gray crest-like mane that stands on end when a gnoll is angry.

Made for Bloodlust

Primal instinct remains a strong part of the gnoll psyche. Gnolls are natural predators and savor the thrills of the hunt. Many other races find the gnoll psyche feral and aggressive, male and female equally, and the behavioural tendencies of the race can certainly give this impression.

Gnolls start fighting among one another once they are spawned where they engage in vicious, often lethal battles. A gnoll is more likely to demand answers than it is to actually ask a question. Gnolls, however, do not see this as an act of hostility, but rather a basic demonstration of strength.

Savage Hunters

Some gnoll practices might seem strange, such as the gnoll propensity for scavenging. At its most basic level, this tendency leads many gnolls to collect trophies that remind them of past victories, items sometimes grisly though just as often simple and mundane, gnoll trackers sometimes use this to their benefit, keeping scraps of clothing or other objects with the scent of their prey on them, which they use to point them in the direction of their quarry.

This tendency can lead to the even more alien gnoll practice of carrion eating. Unlike most races, gnolls have few, if any, qualms about eating the dead of other races. When gnolls strike a village they do not only leave no survivors but no corpses, eating most of those whom they don’t take as slaves. There are even indications that some gnolls take this practice a step further, actually raiding graveyards for fresh corpses on which to feed.

Gnoll Traits

Your gnoll character has the following racial traits.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
• Age. Gnolls are spawned fully mature when the hyenas that follow a war band consume a corpse. After feeding the hyenas transform into a gnoll in a gruesome ritual. Gnolls can live up to 30 years, but often die within a few years during battle.
• Alignment. Gnolls are usually Chaotic Evil. Even those who break free from Yeenoghu’s influence often retain a Chaotic alignment.
• Size. Gnolls are between 7 and 7’6” feet tall and average about 300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.
• Bite. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
• Born Hunter. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
• Darkvision. You can see in dim light with 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Keen Smell. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
• Rampage. When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on your turn, you can use a bonus action to move up to half your speed and make an unarmed strike.
• Savage Hunger. You can spend ten minutes messily devouring the body of a humanoid, beast, or monstrosity and regain one hit die. Once you use this trait you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
• Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Gnoll.

Gnoll Names

As befits creatures that is little more than whines, growls, and shrieks, most gnolls lack a name and would have little use for one. However gnolls those that manage to break free of Yeenghou’s influence often assign themselves names based on what remains of their personality or their skills.

Gnoll Names: Barker, Bloodmouth, Boomfang, Butcher, Cacklekill, Cutsnap, Clawsnatch, Crackjaw, Flailgrind, Foultooth, Grimefang, Grimpaw, Howler, Quickbite, Razorclaw, Rendhowl, Ripper, Rotfang, Snapper, Tearmaw, Tracker, Yelpfang

Gnoll Personality

You can use the Gnoll Quirks table to determine a personality quirk for a gnoll character or to inspire a unique mannerism.

Gnoll Quirks

Personality

1d8 Quirks

Credits

Created by Rexen