Gnolls are a minor spacefaring race in the Spelljammer campaign setting,[1] and are associated with the goblinoid races, including orcs, hobgoblins, goblins, bugbears, and ogres.[2][3]
Overview[]
Gnolls are large, hyena-like evil-natured humanoids that roam about in loosely organized bands.[3] At heart a race of nocturnal carnivores who prefer to hunt sentient creatures because they scream more, the gnolls have never had a large, organized presence in wildspace. At the time of the first Unhuman War, they were loosely allied with the various goblinoid fleets;[2] but since their destruction at the hands of the Elven Imperial Fleet, the gnolls have, true to their nature, fractured into small groups of independent raiders or simply sought sanctuary with their groundling cousins.[4] Some spacefaring groups of gnolls have found employment with more powerful creatures,[1] while certain individuals have joined various pirate crews.[5]
Description[]
Gnolls are large beastial humanoids that resemble 7 1/2-feet tall bipedal hyenas. They stand erect on two legs and have human-like hands. They have greenish-gray skin, darker near the muzzle, with a short reddish-gray to dull yellow mane. Gnolls speak their own language and many also speak the tongues of flinds, trolls, orcs, or hobgoblins.[3]
Combat[]
Gnolls prefer to overwhelm their opponents through sheer numbers, basically relying on uncomplicated horde tactics. When under the command of a flind or some other strong leader, they can be made to hold rank and fight as a unit. While they do not often lay traps, they will attempt to ambush or attack from a flank or rear position. Gnolls favor swords, pole arms and battle axes in combat, but will also use bows and morningstars.[3]
Society[]
Gnoll society is ruled by the strongest member, using fear and intimidation to remain in power. If a chieftain is killed, the strongest warriors will fight among themselves to become the new chieftain. Gnolls are nocturnal and will most often be encountered underground or inside abandoned ruins. Quite often groups of gnolls will keep pets such as hyenas or hyaenodons which will serve as guards.
Gnolls will often work together with orcs, hobgoblins, bugbears, ogres, and trolls. However, the two groups need to be of relatively equal strength or the gnolls will kill and eat their partners (hunger comes before friendship or fear). They dislike goblins, kobolds, giants, humans and any type of manual labor.
Gnolls eat anything warm blooded, favoring sentient creatures over animals because they scream better. They will completely hunt all available prey in an area before moving on, and it may take several years for game to return.[3]
Flind[]
Flind are typically more intelligent and charismatic than their gnoll cousins, and are generally regarded with awe and reverence. They resemble gnolls except that they are slightly shorter and more muscular than their cousins. While their heads are still hyena-like, their foreheads do not slope as far back, and their ears are more rounded. Their bodies are covered in short, dirty, brown and red fur.
Flinds use clubs or "flindbars" in battle. A flindbar is an exotic weapon consisting of a pair of chain-linked iron bars which are spun at great speed, and can be used to entangle an opponent's weapon.[3]
Notable Gnolls[]
- King Argargon was the chieftain of the gnoll community onboard the Spelljammer.[6]
- Harnakh was the flind first officer onboard the Wasp, a pirate wasp ship captained by Dorin Twostar.[5]
Signature Spelljammers[]
None. The gnolls do not have an organized presence in wildspace nor do they have ships of their own.
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Gnoll article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Gnoll article at the Dragonlance Wiki, a wiki for the Dragonlance campaign setting.
- Gnoll article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
- Gnoll article at Greyhawkonline.com, a wiki for the Greyhawk campaign setting.
- Gnoll article at the Dungeons and Dragons Lore Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from every edition.
- Gnoll article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeff Grubb, The Legend of Spelljammer, The Grand Tour, 1991, (TSR Inc.), The Gnoll Ruins, pages 30-31
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nigel D. Findley, SJR4 Practical Planetology, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Plata section, chapter 6: Unusual or "Non-Standard" Worlds, pages 48-49
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Tim Beach et al, Monstrous Manual, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Gnoll entry, page 158
- ↑ Jeff Grubb. AD&D Adventures in Space; Lorebook of the Void, TSR, Inc., 1989, Goblin Races section, chapter 3: Spacefarers (pp.59–60)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nigel D. Findley, SJA2 Skull & Crossbows, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Small Package Trade section, chapter 1: Pirates & Corsairs, page 12
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, The Legend of Spelljammer, Captains and Ships, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Personalities of the Spelljammer, page 29