Gnoll (5e Race)
Gnoll[edit]
Gnolls are infamous among races such as humans and elves for their brutality and demonic heritage. For the most part, they aren't wrong. Many gnoll packs are indeed aggressive and have a demonic side to their affairs. Typically they worship the demon lord Yeenoghu. They also tend to be rather aggressive and are still mistrusted and avoided. To them, the pack is more important than anything else.
Physical Description[edit]
Demon-worshiping is not the only reason many races are wary of gnolls. A lean, hyena-headed muscular 7-foot tall gnoll can be an imposing sight. Despite their musculature, they move rather quickly, often outpacing other races. Gnolls also outpace most other races in how quickly they mature, reaching adulthood by the age of 5 and only living to be about 30. Oddly, a gnoll's vitality will remain with them until very soon before their natural death.
Gnolls have reflective eyes that are typically bright green or yellow. They also have a thick coat of fur, which is generally some shade of brown. Certain clans may possess a single-colored coat, a spotted coat, or even a striped coat. Some gnolls possess crest like manes of hair going from their head down their spine which rise up when they become frightened or angry. A gnoll may rarely be born with eye and coat colors beyond these, which is often taken as an omen sent by Yeenoghu.
History[edit]
Gnoll history begins during the wrath of the demon lord Yeenoghu upon the Material Plane. In the wake of his destruction, packs of hyenas gathered to feast on the corpses of his fallen, and were twisted into the first gnolls. These gnolls gathered under his banner as demons, but when Yeenoghu and his demons were banished to the Abyss, the gnolls were not.
Society[edit]
Gnoll society exists across a number of independent packs, each lead by an alpha gnoll and consisting of a number of matrilineal bloodlines. While internal conflict to determine an alpha are common, there is often little fallout from these conflicts. To gnolls, the good of the pack is far more important than any personal glory. As a result, gnolls can be loyal to a fault to their chosen pack. In battle, many gnolls strive to prevent their packmates from being harmed, even taking on injury themselves. Most gnoll societies primarily specialize in hunting and trapping in flatlands, being primarily carnivorous and using pelts and sinews to manufacture rudimentary armor and weaponry.
Gnolls are widely known as raiders and slavers. Stories of terrifying gnoll night raids, which only leave broken homes and half-eaten corpses in their wake, and the feared tantekurash, or spirit breakers who torture even children into slaves and kryshantel thralls that follow them into battle or even infiltrate towns in preparation for a raid, haunt the minds of townfolks.
However, not all gnoll tribes are evil. While Yeenoghu's followers make up the majority of gnoll packs, it's entirely possible for a rare gnoll pack to be accepting or even welcoming of outsiders, though most are likely to still treat outsiders with some level of suspicion.
Gnoll Names[edit]
The brutality of gnolls is reflected even in their names which tend to have many harsh consonants.
Male: Dagnyr, Dhyrn, Doryc, Ghyrryn, Gnasc, Gnoryc, Gnyrn, Hyrn, Lhoryn, Lhyr, Mognyr, Sorgnyn, Thyrn, Toryc, Yrgnyn, Yrych
Female: Dagnyra, Gnara, Gnora, Gnyrl, Hyra, Hyrgna, Lhyra, Lhyrl, Malgna, Myrl, Sargna, Shyrla, Tarnyra, Yrgna
Gnoll Traits[edit]
Gnolls are brutal hunters with a demonic ancestry who are fiercely loyal to their pack.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. Gnolls reach adulthood by the age of 5 and live to around 30.
Alignment. Gnolls are usually chaotic neutral or evil, though there are exceptions.
Size. Most gnolls are between 6 and 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Bite. Your bite is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. You may only make one bite attack on each of your turns.
Rampage. When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on your turn, you may use a bonus action to move up to half your speed and make a bite attack.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Gnoll. You can also understand spoken Abyssal, but not speak, read or write it.
Random Height and Weight[edit]
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5′11" | +2d6 | 210 lb. | × (2d4) lb. |
See Also[edit]
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races
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