Homebrew [HBRW] Gnoll Species Details

Gnolls are extremely tall, with the average member of the race standing between 7ft to 7′6ft (2,1m to 2.3m) and weighing between 280-320lb (127-145kg). A Gnoll's skin is greenish-gray, and their fur hides a light or dark brown hue sometimes marked with spots or stripes. Many Gnolls also have a dirty yellow to a reddish-gray crest-like mane that stood on end when they were angry, although their fur can cover their entire body depending on the case. Female Gnolls are indistinguishable from males by size, in spite of a reputation for being shorter. It is believed by some that gnolls had traces of demonic blood, which may be evidenced by unusual features found among some of the Gnoll such as talons, gleaming red eyes, or black fur with fiery orange spots.

Primal instinct are a strong part of the gnoll psyche. Gnolls are natural predators and savored the thrills of the hunt, preferring the wilderness to the civilized enclaves favored by other civilized species. Though Gnolls are not necessarily evil, the craving for the hunt and primal bloodlust that inhabits the Gnoll's mind make many of the race lean towards a chaotic evil alignment by reflex. Gnolls started fighting among one another at a very early age and many, as soon as they could walk, crawled into places away from the eyes of adults where they engaged in vicious, often lethal battles; what might seem as rudeness or harsh tones for other races is simply portrayed as a show of the Gnoll's strength. They are scavengers, collecting trophies that remind them of past victories and using scraps of clothing or other objects with the scent of their prey on them to point them in the direction of their quarry. Gnolls have no qualms about eating the dead of other races.

Some Gnoll societies were patriarchal and led by a chieftain, the biggest and strongest of the tribe; the species places a very strong value on the family, for instance, respecting blood ties perhaps more than any other aspect of a relationship. Though Gnolls within a pack commonly fight with each other for dominance, these battles are quickly forgotten after their resolution, and in most situations, Gnolls of the same bloodline are loyal friends and allies to one another. when a Gnoll is separated from clan and family their instinctive need for such blood ties has them form a surrogate "pack" from those they choose to befriend. Gnolls of all kinds have found an affinity with hyenas, whom many see as their brethren and whom they have kept as pets or for hunting. Besides hyenas, they were known to keep hyaenodons as pets.

Gnolls have very short lifespans when compared with other sapient humanoids, living only 30 or so years on average and maturing to adulthood at a remarkable speed. Gnolls do not, however, age particularly fast except at the end of their lifespans, at which point the decline quickly ended in their death. When a gnoll dies, its bones are occasionally harvested by the other Gnolls and their flesh eaten by their own companions.

[HBRW] Gnoll Traits

The Knoll share the following racial traits:

Creature Type

Humanoid.

Alignment

Gnolls are descendants of a demonic entity, giving them a never ending hunger and aggressive nature. Nearly all Gnoll are chaotic evil.

Size

Your Size is Medium.

Speed

You have a walking speed of 30ft along with the basic swimming speed of 15ft and a climbing speed of 15ft.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increase by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Bite

You can use your teeth and bite your enemy rather than dealing an unarmed strikes. When you bite an opponent, the bite deals 1d4 piercing damage instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Rampage

When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack on your turn, you can take a bonus action and bite another creature within your melee range(5ft).

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.

Thrill of the hunt

When you make an Investigation check, you have advantage on the role if you have an item that has belonged to who or what you are looking for.

Languages

You can speak, read and write in both Common and Gnoll.