Gnoll Page

Gnolls are large, evil, hyena like humanoids that roam about in loosely organized bands. They are tribal and live in such tribes scattered along the desert fringes not far from grasslands or forests and jungles.

While the body of a Gnoll is shaped like that of a large human, the details are those of a hyena.  They stand erect on two legs and have hands that can manipulate as well as those of any human.  They have greenish grey skin, darker near the muzzle, with a short reddish grey to dull yellow mane.

Gnolls have their own language and may also speak the tongues of Flinds, trolls, orcs or hobgoblins.

Combat:  Gnolls seek to overwhelm their opponents by sheer numbers, using horde tactics.  They will sometimes have mounts with them, such as camels and horses but this is rare.

When under the direction of strong leaders they can be made to hold rank and fight as a unit.  While they do not often lay traps, they will ambush or attempt to attack from a flank or rear position.  Gnolls favour swords, scimitars (15%), Spears/Lance (35%) and great Scimitars (20%) in combat but also use bows (15%) and Morningstars or Maces (15%).  They all carry a Jambiya (Dagger)

They despise Liontaur and Katta (Rakasta) and will avoid them at all cost unless they considerably out number them.

Ecology: Horses and other mounts, Only the most civilized amongst them will be seen on such beast.  They tend to treat such beast poorly and their ecology and their scent makes keeping such beast more of a hindrance than an asset.

Their use of Hyenas as pets and hunting animals also inhibits the use of such beasts of burden. Gnolls are large creatures and will carry what they need on their person, not afraid to scavenge or take what they need from others.

The gnoll tribes (when found in such numbers) travel light and fast.  When in a hunting party they will almost certainly have Hyenas with them (approx. 1d6 of them) while their hunting parties number 2d6.

They are usually not found deep within the deserts but will travel some miles in pursuit of an enemy or in the employ of powerful masters.  They generally dislike the desert and will not attempt to go deep within without such reasons.

There will some times be Flind amongst them either as the personal guard of a great Gnoll chief or as chiefs them selves. This only relates to the nomadic dessert raiders and those gnolls found in the wilds and jungles of The Emirates.  There are a few enlightened and civilized gnolls in society and they come under the guidelines of the society of which they are a part of.

They often war amongst each other and against other nomadic tribes, and they thus lend them selves to banditry and other such nefarious activities.

For more information on these and other creatures, go to the monster manual

All this information is from the official monster manual by TSR except where some minor editing has been made for the purposes of the campaign, and as such it is not my property.