A spotted Gnoll mercenary of the Bareds
G N O L L, Homo Hyaenidae
Race: Gnoll
Class: Hýaina
Specie: Beast-men
Other names: Al-Dabeyoun, Kaftar, Dhubba, Hyenasmen, Hyenpeople, Hyenas, Hyaeni, Jokers, Laughers, Jesters, werehyenas
Allegiance: Unaligned. Dark Legion of Demons.
The Gnoll or Hyena-people are a kind of beast-men that live in Zarhuy and Hieyoks.
Although phylogenetically close to cat-people Loranor, gnolls are behaviourally and morphologically similar to the cannid K'Nir in several aspects.
Although long reputed to be cowardly scavengers, gnolls, especially spotted gnolls, kill as much as 95% of the food they eat, and have been known to drive off Loranor Leoparths and Leonids from their kills. Gnolls are primarily nocturnal beast-men, but may venture from their lairs in the early morning hours. With the exception of the highly social spotted Gnoll, hyena-people are generally not gregarious beast-men, though they may live in family groups and congregate at kills.
Gnolls feature prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures with which they are sympatric. Gnolls are mostly viewed with fear and contempt, as well as being associated with witchcraft, as their body parts are used as ingredients in traditional medicine. Among the beliefs held by some cultures, gnolls are thought to influence people’s spirits, rob graves, and steal livestock and children.
There are several types of Gnolls, such as the spotted gnoll, brown gnoll, striped gnoll and aardgnolf.
When attacked by Leonids or K'nir, striped and brown gnolls will feign death, though the spotted gnoll will defend itself ferociously. The spotted gnoll is very vocal, producing a number of different sounds consisting of whoops, grunts, groans, lows, giggles, yells, growls, laughs and whines. The striped Gnoll is comparatively silent, its vocalisations being limited to a chattering laugh and howling.
Spotted gnoll cubs are born almost fully developed, with their eyes open and erupting incisors and canines, though lacking adult markings. In contrast, striped gnoll cubs are born with adult markings, closed eyes and small ears. Gnolls do not regurgitate food for their young and male spotted gnolls play no part in raising their cubs, though male striped gnolls do so.
The striped gnoll is primarily a scavenger, though it will occasionally attack and kill any defenseless animal or person it can overcome, and will supplement its diet with fruits. The spotted gnoll, though it also scavenges occasionally, is an active pack hunter of medium to large sized preys, which it catches by wearing them down in long chases and dismembering them. The aardgnolf is primarily an insectivore, specialised for feeding on termites of the genus Trinervitermes and Hodotermes, which it consumes by licking them up with its long, broad tongue. Gnolls are also known for their characteristic calls which sound like laughs.
Striped Gnolls are frequently referenced in Caritz literature and folklore, typically as symbols of treachery and stupidity, which is a recurring stereotype for the Gnolls.