Homebrew Gnoll (Crocuta) Species Details

“I’ve seen gnoll before- horrifying, slavering, wide-mawed, rabid monsters heralded by demonic masters! Devouring and consorting with the dead, falling upon battlefields to feast ravenously once the battles were done...but these? I don’t think these are gnolls. Look at them! Fierce, yes, but healthy, hale, and...well….not driven to insanity by hunger, certainly. They’re kind of cute, aren’t they? With the little cubs and the playing...Don’t tell them I said that.”

- Gnomish Teratologist, upon meeting Crocuta Gnoll for the first time.

CROCUTA

While many Gnoll populations have fallen into demonic corruption, becoming abyssally-influenced monsters, the Gnoll of Crocuta are wholly mortal, and claim they are protected from demonic influence by the grace of their goddess- Crocuta, the Great Mother, Devourer of the Dead, the Laughing Goddess. Crocuta is said to be a warrior-goddess, the ultimate pack-queen, mother of all Hyena and Gnoll, who she will protect as her own pups. Her principal domains are Nature, Protection, Hunting, and Childbirth, and she holds a particular hatred of necromancy and the undead. Crocuta Gnoll are loathe to accept any form of necromancy, as it is seen as an affront to the balance of life and death. According to Gnoll mythology, the demons who corrupted the other Gnoll are the Firstborn Stillborn of Crocuta, who became necrotic abominations- thus they see the corrupted Gnoll as pitiable and dangerous, something to be avoided at all costs- or if they have the rare advantage, to be put out of their misery. Crocuta Gnoll will typically flee in evidence of corrupted Gnoll war bands, and as corrupted Gnoll have spread, so have Crocuta Gnoll suffered for the reputation they get from other races.

NOMADIC SCAVENGERS

Crocuta Gnoll packs can be found in the tropical grasslands, savannas, and dry, sparse woods of the Heartlands, as they prefer hot, dry weather- they seldom go into dense forest, mountainous areas, or coastlands, but the odd wandering family seeking to strike out their own tribe or seeking new prey and resources may still be encountered almost anywhere. Gnoll territories are ill-defined, often overlapping with neighboring packs or tribes of other creatures, but Gnoll are happy to dig through the refuse of others for anything left over, or to steal and borrow items as needed. It’s not uncommon for a pack of gnoll to chase a lone adventurer away from a kill or treasure, to take as their own, relying on surprise pack tactics to scare away others.

PACK HIERARCHIES

Every pack is ruled over by a Queen, who is the pack matriarch. The Queen is typically the largest, strongest, or smartest individual, which has allowed her to overcome her challengers and rise to the top of the pack. The Queen thusly gets first pick of kills and finds, the best weapons, the best armor, the best of everything, and if she doesn’t she will bully and push around those below her until she does. In turn, the Queen is expected to be first in line to care for a creche of pups, defend the pack, and be willing to engage in frequent combat, either against others seeking the title of Queen, predators seeking a meal of Gnoll, or other races looking to chase the Gnoll out of their territory. Queens also have the duty of interacting with other packs, and Queens will battle one another for territory and dominance when two packs meet. From the Queen down, the hierarchy is strictly enforced, typically with the larger females at the top as prize warriors, hunters, and clerics, followed by males, who are often lesser hunters, scavengers, or tasked with caring for pups alongside the Queen at her command or as her servants. While Gnoll may seem ferocious or aggressive to outsiders, amongst their own or amongst friends they are very playful and relaxed, sleeping in piles and socially grooming, even with those higher in the hierarchy than themselves, often time engaging in playfights or games of chase, particularly with young pups learning the ways of the world.

FRIENDS AND FOOD

Gnoll are often characterized as desperately hungry, and that isn’t terribly far from the truth. Gnoll have an incredible tolerance when it comes to taste and hunger, and long periods of little food have sharpened their society to enjoy food immensely. Gnoll celebrations are always feasts, and to celebrate is to gorge oneself to the point of lazy immobility. Food is enjoyed communally- while those of the higher status get to choose their cuts of a meal first, everyone eats. Gnoll will not let others of their pack starve, particularly not pups. To a Gnoll, there is no higher honor than to eventually be devoured at the end of their days, in order to re-join the tribe as nutrition. They believe that in devouring something, you take in part of it’s soul to feed your own in turn. And while their diet is mostly composed of meat- even if it’s been rotting in the sun for a few days, they will also eagerly eat just about anything that isn’t outright inedible, toxic, or currently fighting back. Even if something isn’t particularly edible, they may try to eat it simply because they can, or out of curiosity.

 

GNOLL PERSONALITY

A Gnoll’s personality is a variable thing, but almost all Gnoll have the same drive to form strong pack bonds with others, and all Gnoll detest being alone. Otherwise, they tend to be curious, and are strongly driven by their instincts, be it hunger, playfulness, or looking for a hunt.

Gnoll Quirks (d8)

1. You are loathe to waste a potential meal, even if it means scavenging everything from fallen foes to rotting carrion.
2. You prefer your food to have ‘ripened’ before being eaten, even when other races tell you it’s long since spoiled. (You like the juicy grubs, though…)
3. You feel the strong need to assist in grooming your companions- usually with your tongue.
4. You have selected someone other than you as the dominant "queen" of the pack, regardless of their actual position of leadership (or lack therof), gender, or desire for your loyalty.
5. You judge how much you trust others by how they smell, first and foremost.
6. You have little to no concept of private property, money, or public decency.
7. You have come to think of someone or something smaller than you as a pup, and thus you are compelled to protect and nurture them.
8. You detest bathing, and will avoid anything that may tarnish your glorious natural scent, particularly soap or perfume.

GNOLL NAMES

Gnoll generally have very short, simple names to use amongst others, followed by longer and more elaborate names entailing a description of, perhaps, a notable physical feature they have, a vision or an event that coincided with their birth, or a notable incident from their life.

Examples:

Common Name (d12)

1. Aargab
2. Arrak
3. Hawwn
4. Korrg
5. Kraka
6. Lorrk
7. Rrukka
8. Rrawrk
9. Snarr
10. Vorrak
11. Warrun
12. Wurruk

Meaningful Name (d12)

1. Many-many-dark-spots
2. White-patch-ear
3. Falling-star-from-the-sky
4. Lightning-storm-over-sand
5. Great-hunt-of-victory
6. Foolish-pup-stuck-in-tree
7. Killed-a-leopard-unarmed
8. Split-lip-buck-teeth
9. Honey-finder-bee-fighter
10. Fur-dark-as-night
11. Loudest-laugh
12. Eats-too-many-grubs

Gnoll (Crocuta) Traits

Crocuta Gnoll Traits.

Ability Score Increase.

Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Constitution score increases by 2

Age.

Gnoll mature rapidly, reaching adulthood by ten years of age, and can live to be sixty.

Alignment.

Gnoll tend towards neutral alignments, believing in a sense of balance in the world and that everything has a place and a reason, but individuals can vary greatly, from chaotic to lawful, from evil to good. While evil is not particularly an indication, selfish gnoll are unlikely to be accepted in a pack for long, as a pack relies heavily upon sharing and teamwork.

Size.

Your size is Medium. Gnoll females tend to be somewhat larger than humans, particularly if standing up to their full height instead of their usual hunched posture, while males tend to be human-sized or slightly smaller, but typically still heavier.

Speed.

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision.

You have a hyena’s keen senses, especially in the dark. 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 cannot discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Hyena's Senses.

Because of your powerful animal senses and instincts as a scavenger and hunter, you may choose proficiency from two of the following skills; Nature, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.

Hyena's Bite.

Using your powerful jaws, you may bite as a natural weapon attack. If you hit with a bite attack, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Scavenger's Resistance.

A boon necessary for their diet and their challenge of the undead, Gnoll have resistance against necrotic and poison damage.

Languages.

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