Homebrew Awakened Gnolls Species Details

Awakened Gnoll

Over the centuries, Gnolls have always been under the influence of their creator. Wanting nothing more then blood to be spilled and the spread of their pack. Yet under certain circumstances, a Gnoll can be freed from their bloody ties to the demon who made them. Through the seperation and solitude of surviving the wild without any assistance of their pact, they have grown to understand what needs to be done. Forgetting what they once were with their tribe they have evolved past their bloody history, growing and becoming a superior race.

Brutal Ways

Seperating has assisted with growing past their agrressive ways of devouring and spreading like a plague through the area they once laid claim too. Now they seek to grow and make themselves known as one of the mightiest races to exist and surpass their once weaker siblings. Unforturnally their personality has not changed their habits of killing. Devouring and making sure nothing left is standing is traditiional to each pact under this means. Nothing left wasted and nothing done without reason.

Group Leadership

No longer is the tribe dominated by strength or gender, but by unison achievements to a higher goal. Males and females of this race have adapted to use each others strength to grow stronger. Making sure to assign each pact mate to an area they can contribute has allowed for the tribe to outlive its old weaker race.

Physical Qualities

Gnolls tower over humans, with the average gnoll standing over 7 feet tall. Despite their physical strength, gnolls are lean; gnolls are rarely musclebound, and they move with remarkable speed. Their eyes are bright green or yellow, and gleam whenever they catch the light. Gnolls are covered with a thick coat of fur, which generally ranges from light to dark brown,; depending on the clan, this might be a uniform color, or broken up by stripes or spots. A number of gnoll bloodlines have members (both male and female) who possess crest-like manes of hair that run from the head and down the spine; these rise up when gnolls are frightened or angry. Although these are general traits, the traces of demonic blood in gnolls can produce unusual features. An obvious example of this are the talons of the gnoll claw fighter, but this can manifest in lesser ways. A gnoll might have gleaming red eyes, or black fur with fiery orange spots; a wide range of variation is possible. Gnolls mature with remarkable speed for intelligent humanoids; some cite this as proof of their demonic heritage and suggest that it is unnatural for a creature to be ready for battle so soon after birth. Unlike regular Gnolls however, they have much higher life span due to their overall stronger vitality. They can live as long as 150 years because of the demon blood still coursing through them.

Awakened Gnolls Traits

The mighty Awakened Gnolls gain the following traits

Ability Score Increase

Due to your stronger heritage you gain +2 to Constitution, and +1 to Strength.

Bite

Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d10 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Claws

Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike

Darkvision

Due to your Fiendish lineage 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.

Mad Dash

So long as your hands remain empty (you may stow your weapon as a free action for this feature once per turn) you may drop to all fours and double your move speed until you choose to stand up again.

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.

Savage Attacks

 When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.

Proficiencies

Due to your size and appearance, you have natural proficiency in the Intimidation skill. Your Heritage as a creature hailing from harsh landscapes affords you proficiency in the Survival skill.

Languages

You can speak, read and write Common and Abyssal.

Gnoll Speak

When speaking to another Gnoll for at least a few minutes you have advantage on skill checks when interacting with them.

Age

Awakened Gnolls reach Maturity at a mere 5-10 years of age usually, but live far longer lives than other races, usually around 100 to 150 years if they are lucky.

Alignment

Awakened Gnolls value neutrality, only offering help to others when it interests them on a personal level or betterment of their clan. Those in civilization are Lawful as needed to maintain a level of trust with locals and some may find themselves leaning towards evil or good depending on how accepted they feel.

Size

 Awakened Gnolls tower over humans, few - if any - stand less than 7 feet tall and can grow as tall as 8 feet. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base movement speed is 35 feet.