Medium Humanoid (Gnoll, Shapechanger), Chaotic Evil
Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 50)
Speed 30 ft.
STR
19 (+4)
DEX
14 (+2)
CON
18 (+4)
INT
7 (-2)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
9 (-1)
Skills Perception +4
Damage Immunities Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Senses Darkvision 90 ft., Passive Perception 14
Languages Gnoll (can’t speak in giant hyena form)
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +3

Shapechanger. The ghuuna can use its action to polymorph  into a Large hyena-humanoid hybrid or giant hyena, or back into its true form, which is humanoid. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same in each form. Any equipment it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. It reverts to its true form if it dies.​ 

Keen Hearing and Smell. A ghuuna has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or smell.

Iron Vulnerability A ghuuna's damage immunity does not protect it from bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons made of cold iron or meteoric iron.​

Rampage. When the ghuuna reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on its turn, the ghuuna can take a bonus action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.

 

Actions

Multiattack. The ghuuna makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.​ 

Bite (Giant Hyena or Hybrid Forms Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 14 (3d4 + 7) piercing damage in giant hyena form, or 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be cursed. Gnolls are cursed with ghuuna crocutanthropy while other humanoids are cursed to contract a random disease (roll 1d4 with 1=filth fever, 2=mind fire, 3=seizure, 4=slimy doom) with effects as described in the contagion spell. The diseased target must immediately make another DC 15 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned. This disease lasts for 7 days or until it is cured. Every 24 hours the target can repeat the saving throw to either remove the disease's poisoned condition or, if they are unpoisoned, be cured of the disease.

Claws (Hybrid Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) slashing damage.

Greatsword (Gnoll Form Only). Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d6 + 7) slashing damage.

 

Description

A ghuuna is a gnoll with the ability to fully or partially transform into a demonic hyena the size of a horse. They shun the use of armor or shields in their humanoid form and are usually armed with the largest sword they can find. Like werewolves, ghuunas often form packs that may include hyenas and giant hyenas.​
Gift of Crocutanthropy. Ghuuna are similar to lycanthropes in many respects, including being forced into their beast or hybrid form during a full moon, but are not vulnerable to silver weapons; instead being harmed by special forms of iron. A nonmagical silvered blade is as useless as a steel one when fighting a ghuuna.​
Ghuunism is considered a blessing by gnolls, a gift from their Demon Lord, giving ghuunas a high position as champions and leaders in gnoll society. Ghuunas are jealous of their status so rarely create potential rivals by afflicting other gnolls with their crocutanthropy. Most ghuunas are natural born shapechangers whose gift can only be removed with a wish, but a remove curse can strip an afflicted crocutanthrope of ghuunism.​
Beasts of the Gnoll Lord Since a ghuuna was granted its powers by the demonic Gnoll Lord, some priests and shamans of the Beast of Butchery have a special spiritual authority over them. This manifests as the ability to cast geas on a ghuuna once a day as an Innate Spellcasting ability. The most powerful gnoll clerics can use geas on ghuunas multiple times a day and have other powers over them, such such as dominate person or locate creature.​
.​

(Originally created by Tomas Willis; appeared in Dragon Magazine #89 (September 1984) as part of the "Creature Catalog" centrefold insert.)

Previous Versions

Name Date Modified Views Adds Version Actions
11/24/2022 8:01:42 PM
38
0
--
Coming Soon

Monster Tags: ShapechangerGnoll

Environment: DesertGrassland

casliber

Comments

Posts Quoted:
Reply
Clear All Quotes