Gnoll

:"For the sports ground in Neath, see The Gnoll"

Infobox D&D creature


caption=Gnolls battle adventurers on the cover of "Return to the Keep on the Borderlands".
name=Gnoll
alignment=
type=Humanoid
subtype=
source=
first="Dungeons & Dragons" (1974)
mythical=
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG130.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersG.html#gnoll

Gnolls are a fictional race of humanoid creatures, usually described as anthropomorphic hyenas. They are strongly associated with the "Dungeons & Dragons" role-playing game, but while that is the origin of their appearance and character, the name may originate from that of an undescribed Fairy creature in the works of Lord DunsanyFact|date=February 2008: in Middle English the word "noll" meant a troublemaker or hooligan.

Publication history

Gnolls are the literary descendants of Lord Dunsany's "gnoles", who were clever, evil and nonhuman. This connection is evidenced by Gary Gygax's description in the earliest edition of "Dungeons & Dragons" (1974): "A cross between gnomes and trolls (...perhaps, Lord Dunsany did not really make it all that clear) with +2 morale. Otherwise they are similar to hobgoblins..."

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The gnoll was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described as a "cross between gnomes and trolls." [cite book
last =Gygax
first =Gary
authorlink =Gary Gygax
coauthors =Dave Arneson
title =Dungeons & Dragons (3-Volume Set)
publisher =TSR
date =1974
isbn = ]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

With the 1977 publication of Gygax's "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual" gnolls were described in greater detail as hyena-men, a characterization that continues to the present. [Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977)] This book also describes Yeenoghu, a demon lord that many gnolls devote themselves to.

The flind, a more intelligent but less physically powerful relative to the more common gnoll, was introduced in the "Fiend Folio" (1981) [Turnbull, Don, ed. "Fiend Folio" (TSR, 1981)]

The mythology and attitudes of the gnolls are described in detail in "Dragon" #63 (July 1982), in Roger E. Moore's article, "The Humanoids." [Moore, Roger E. "The Humanoids." "Dragon" #63 (TSR, 1982)] The article also describes the shoosuva, servants of Yeenoghu that have characteristics of both gnolls and ghouls.

The first "Creature Catalog" article, an insert in "Dragon" #89 (September 1984), featured the ghuuna, a lycanthrope-like creature that could transform between a gnoll and hyaenodon form.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the gnoll, in the "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (1977, 1981, 1983). [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by J. Eric Holmes. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1977)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Tom Moldvay. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1981)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Frank Mentzer. "Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules" (TSR, 1983)] The gnoll was featured as a player character race in the "Orcs of Thar" gazetteer (1989). Gnolls were also later featured in the "Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1991), the "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (1991), [Schend, Steven E., Jon Pickens, and Dori Warty (Editors). "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (TSR, 1991)] the "Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1994), and the "Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game" set (1999).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The gnoll and flind appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), [Cook, David, et al. "Monstrous Compendium Volume One" (TSR, 1989)] and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). [Stewart, Doug, ed. "Monstrous Manual" (TSR, 1993)]

The flind is also detailed in "Dragon" #173 (September 1991), in "The Sociology of the Flind," a variation on the "Ecology of..." column. [Jones, Spike Y. "The Sociology of the Flind." "Dragon" #173 (TSR, 1991)]

The gnoll and flind are detailed as playable character races in "The Complete Book of Humanoids" (1993). [Slavicsek, Bill. "The Complete Book of Humanoids" (TSR, 1993)] The gnoll and flind are later presented as playable character races again in "Player's Option: Skills & Powers" (1995).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The gnoll appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000). [Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The gnoll appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

The flind appears in "Monster Manual III" (2004). [Burlew, Rich, et al. "Monster Manual III" (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The gnoll appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the gnoll huntmaster, the gnoll claw fighter, the gnoll marauder, and the gnoll demonic scourge. [Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)]

Gnolls in Dungeons & Dragons

Physical description

Gnolls appear as anthropomorphic hyenas. They are usually around seven feet tall and use armor made of horn, metal plates, and leather, and large weapons. Gnolls are generally depicted as savage, barbaric creatures that often practice cannibalism, and enjoy eating the flesh of other sentient species. Gnolls are not especially strong or intelligent, but they are cunning and, when pressed, will fight to deathOr|date=February 2008.

ubraces

Within the context of the "Dungeons & Dragons" role-playing game, one notable subrace of gnoll is the flind (alternately spelled flynd), which is shorter, broader, and stronger than other gnolls; flinds are often found leading a tribe or settlement of gnolls. Flinds use a nunchaku-like weapon called a "flindbar", which consists of a pair of metal rods linked together by a chain.

ociety

Gnolls were usually depicted by Gygax in Original and Advanced Dungeons And Dragons as primitive demon-worshippers. In recent years, however, other authorsWho|date=February 2008 have depicted gnolls more and more often as "noble savages," hyena-like scavengers, as opposed to monstrous killers. Additionally, in "Monster Manual IV", it is stated that gnolls possess a female-dominated society, comparable to the hyenas they are related to.

Religion

Gnolls in most "Dungeons & Dragons" settings are worshippers of the demon lord Yeenoghu, who also holds domain over ghouls. Gnolls indulge in humanoid flesh in imitation of this aspect. [cite book
last =Sargent
first =Carl
authorlink =Carl Sargent
title =Monster Mythology
publisher =TSR
date =1992
isbn =1-56076-362-0 ] . Some gnolls also worship the evil Erythnul, god of slaughter. The gnolls' vile disposition is most likely due to the influence of their demonic patron.

The original deity of gnolls was known as Gorellik, but years of Yeenoghu stealing his followers has left Gorellik with little command of his people.

Gnolls in general

Gnolls in folklore and literature

Gnolls are similar to the were-hyenas of African bushman folklore, and the tall dog men (Cynocephales) of early European travellers logs and bestiaries. Hyenas were associated with death because they dug up and ate human corpses.

Gnolls in the "Discworld" series are small, matted and dirty enough to sprout fungi and grasses on their hides (and seem to relate to soil as trolls relate to rock), and act as street-cleaners in cities like Ankh-Morpork; as Captain Carrot Ironfoundersson puts it, they "pick up this, pick up that, maybe bang it against the wall until it stops struggling..." In the case of at least Stoolie, if not every gnoll on the Discworld, there seems to be a tendency to drop the vowels in words, reflecting a croaking sort of voice.

Wolflike creatures called gnawls exist in the novel "The Scions of Shannara" by Terry BrooksFact|date=February 2008.

Gnolls in games

Gnolls are included in the "Warcraft" universe in the strategy game "", where it is said that 'if they ever stopped fighting amongst themselves they could form a formidable army' and in the MMORPG "World of Warcraft" in many of the mid-level areas.

Gnolls are also featured in Pixel Mine's "Dransik", a 2d MMORPG and are civilized humanoids in a city named Ayle.

Gnolls are featured prominently in the western part of the continent of Antonica in the MMORPG "EverQuest" and in "EverQuest II".

Gnolls appear as enemies in Final Fantasy IX and XI (Wings of the Goddess expansion).

Gnolls appear as minor enemies in "Tales of Phantasia".

Gnolls appear as level 1 creatures for the "Fortress" castle in "Heroes of Might and Magic III".

Gnolls are in the game "Kingdom of Loathing", as a civilised race of humanoids.

Gnolls appear in the MMORPG "Lineage II" under the name "Ol Mahum."

Gnolls are a player race in [http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk Maelstrom] , a UK based live action roleplaying game. Maelstom's gnolls are represented as anthropomorphic hyenas and have a matriarchal culture marked by Swahili loan words.

Gnolls In the Baldur's Gate RPG series are often hostile NPCs that travel around in packs and will attack the party on sight. Armed with Halberds, they are a low-level monster, but Gnolls magically summoned by a wizard in the player's party can have their abilities enhanced by the same spells used on the party, making them fairly decent backup in combat.

The Skath in Dungeon Siege 2 are also very similar to gnolls

Master of Magic by Microprose allows Gnolls as a starting race.

Gnolls appear with the name "Hyena Men" in the fantasy tabletop wargame "Song of Blades and Heroes"

References

Additional reading

*Pramas, Chris. "Chainmail: The Gnolls of Naresh." "Dragon" #289 (Paizo Publishing, 2001).

External links

* [http://www.cenobite.34sp.com/maelstrom/ Customs, society and slang of one Clan of Gnolls existing in the Maelstrom system.]
* [http://www.furry.org.au/Drhoz/furry/aurastorm/aura.html Society, history, maps and fiction for and of the "Aurastorm" roleplaying setting.]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/gnollish_clan/profile "gnollish_clan", a LiveJournal community for gnoll fans.]