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Gnolls

2020-03-17T14:31:35Z

Streetwind: Should be up to date to the birthday interlude extravaganza now.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. On the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Bearclaw|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Bekia|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.
[[File:Krshia by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Female Gnoll (Krshia as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
[[File:Brunkr by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Male Gnoll (Brunkr as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
[[File:Mrsha by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Gnoll child (Mrsha as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Most adults can bench press 200 pounds without prior training.<ref>[[Interlude – Lifting Ants]]</ref> Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them at least around 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Both genders reach the same heights and body mass.<ref>[[Chapter 6.57]]</ref> Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. The ability of Gnolls to smell blood is a recognized aspect of law enforcement in Drake cities.<ref>[[Chapter 6.58]]</ref> Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref> As is the case with smell, young Gnolls also hear better than adults.<ref>[[Chapter 6.61 L]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies,<ref name=":12" /> and typically behave somewhat animal-like.<ref name=":66" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> At some point, but no earlier than age seven, each Gnoll child experiences what is known as their 'shifting year', during which their bone structure changes into one optimized for a bipedal lifestyle.<ref name=":70">[[Chapter 7.06]]</ref> For most of their childhood, they remain fairly compact,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt - possibly in conjunction with the 'shifting year'. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref> Females hit puberty sooner than males do.<ref name=":70" />

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes. Chocolate is not a problem either.<ref>[[Interlude – Chocolate Alchemy]]</ref>

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter 2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often also quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.18]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.46]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.41]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls still have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

[[Mrsha|Two]] [[Ferkr|Gnolls]] have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> [[Teriarch]] also considers it weird that anyone would think or claim that a Gnoll couldn't learn magic.<ref name=":45" /> Still, even Grimalkin admits that there seems to be something odd going on in recent generations with regards to Gnolls accessing their own innate mana reserves, and that it requires an unusually high amount of effort to overcome.<ref>[[Chapter 7.02]]</ref>

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older.<ref name=":70" /> However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is expected to be true for Gnoll and Drakes. But where nature fails, magic can help out. Special fertility spells have enabled various Gnoll/Drake pairings to produce healthy offspring.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref><ref name=":68">[[Chapter 6.50 I]]</ref> Children born with the aid of fertility spells do not count as Half-Gnolls, however. They tend to be visually pure members of one of the parents' species, with no hints of mixed ancestry. The spells are so rigorous that, in one known case, a pair of twins ended up split into different species.<ref name=":68" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly whenever he can.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the [[Silverfang Tribe|Silverfangs]], who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the gathering of tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that tribal Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll. The only counterexample seen so far is [[Bearclaw|a wanted criminal of the worst sort]], and not affiliated with any tribe.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among [[Drakes]], who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among [[Antinium]] workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among [[Goblins]], who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the [[Silverfang Tribe|Silverfang tribe]] is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Small tribes may count their members in the hundreds or thousands, while large tribes have tens of thousands, or even more.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and enclosed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref name=":66">[[Chapter 2.42]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus; each tribe has something they specialize in.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> These specializations are often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot. Horses, for example, although Gnolls are good at running and often prefer it.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> They also have to be pretty large to comfortably carry most Gnolls.<ref name=":28" />

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

Among the [[Walled Cities]], Oteslia is the one with the highest relative percentage of Gnoll citizens.<ref name=":71" /> However, [[Liscor]] likely has even more. A decade ago, the [[Silverfang Tribe|Silverfang tribe]] sent a large number of crafters and traders to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the gathering of tribes,<ref name=":3" /> or as [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] calls it, "the Gnollmoot".<ref name=":67" />

The gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the gathering of tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" /> [[Bekia]], a female Gnoll in [[Magnolia Reinhart|Magnolia's]] employ, used to be a chieftain but screwed up in some way and got ousted from her tribe.<ref name=":72">[[Chapter 6.68]]</ref>

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. A majority vote is not recognized as a valid decision-making method, as it would sidestep the concept of individual worth.<ref name=":67" /> Similarly, there is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes tend to be possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in democratic systems, City Gnolls tend to do better. In Pallass, one has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)|Chapter 5.54]]</ref> And when Liscor held a surprise election for its ruling council, Gnoll candidates won the popular vote in four out of eight districts.<ref name=":67" /> Even there, though, the incumbent Drakes managed to trick them out of one of those seats.<ref name=":67" />

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.26]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.40]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who are said to bring it, earning white furs the epithet of "doombringer".<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> Another, very similar case occurred during the eradication of the Saltstone tribe, where more than a dozen surviving children spontaneously turned white.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll, likely involving traumatic stress and/or the severing of their tribal bonds.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

It is, however, not a fully-featured native language. It is described as more of a secret tongue, used by Gnolls when they don't want outsiders to overhear something.<ref name=":69">[[Chapter 6.63 P]]</ref> Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to at least passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that Gnolls grow up bilingual, learning Common and their own tongue at the same time.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, they generally do so heavily accented, with a distinctly 'growly' pronunciation and a halting cadence.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":69" /> They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for some time.<ref name=":34" /> They frequently use awkward grammatical patterns, forgo contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, or frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref> It is quite likely that these structures come from the Gnoll language, and that tribal Gnolls living isolated from other species tend to meld the two languages together somewhat - both in grammar and in sound. This frequently happens in the real world, too.

A typical example of tribal Gnoll speech, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among other native Common speakers, you will find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. A Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking,<ref name=":58" /> and a Gnoll [Actor] gained perfect mastery of speaking Common via his class.<ref name=":69" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23 L]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and borrows from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and their parents will refuse to make life-changing decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.43]]</ref> Even the youngest can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> They learn a wide variety of basic crafts and survival techniques that way. And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" /> They learn to swim as well<ref>[[Chapter 7.07]]</ref> - though that's probably a lot more fun than grammar lessons!

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Gembows Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/02/26/7-10-k/ Chapter 7.10 K]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Dustfur Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Saltstone Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K" />
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Weatherfur Tribe<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/12/11/interlude-foliana/ Interlude – Foliana]</ref>
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref name=":67">[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7.10 K" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref><ref name=":7.10 K" /> and the Gnolls still have not forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" /> There are areas in the Drake lands that Gnolls do not go near, where ancient customs like making clothes out of Gnoll pelts remains popular to this day.<ref name=":71" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.14 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== [[Reim|Kingdom of Reim]] ===
King [[Flos Reimarch]]'s widely publicized call for all those who claim allegiance with him to travel to Reim inspired a few small and destitute Gnoll clans from southern Izril to seek a new life on [[Chandrar]] as his subjects. When a number of these Gnolls were persecuted and slaughtered with extreme prejudice on their way to Reim, Flos reacted by visiting harsh vengeance on those who had committed these crimes, going as far as to declare war on another nation.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> This has caused Gnolls all over the world to view Flos with great respect, shedding previously held prejudices about the infamous King Of Destruction.<ref name=":71">[[Chapter 7.11]]</ref>

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.25]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[[Interlude - Krshia]]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* At the end of the month of Rerrk, there is a tradition among tribal Gnolls to sit together, crack open the strongest alcohols they can find, and toast the coming of summer.<ref name=":72" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* If you don't want a Gnoll to eavesdrop, it would be a mistake to change your voice to a whisper. All you just did was draw attention to yourself - and they can hear you whisper just fine.<ref>[[Interlude – Burning Alcohol]]</ref>
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* Many City Gnolls in Pallass, and sometimes Drakes too, pay money to experience "authentic" wilderness lifestyle via a canned hunting service provider run by Plains Gnolls. It is not really authentic at all. But much of the clueless city folk would probably not survive any more authenticity...<ref>[[Chapter 7.01]]</ref>
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2020-03-04T15:48:12Z

Streetwind: Turning my accumulated notes into content. Ongoing work - not done yet.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. On the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Bearclaw|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Bekia|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.
[[File:Krshia by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Female Gnoll (Krshia as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
[[File:Brunkr by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Male Gnoll (Brunkr as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
[[File:Mrsha by flauschesoeckchen.PNG|thumb|Gnoll child (Mrsha as imagined by flauschesoeckchen)]]
In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them at least around 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Both genders reach the same heights and body mass.<ref>[[Chapter 6.57]]</ref> Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. The ability of Gnolls to smell blood is a recognized aspect of law enforcement in Drake cities.<ref>[[Chapter 6.58]]</ref> Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref> As is the case with smell, young Gnolls also hear better than adults.<ref>[[Chapter 6.61 L]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies,<ref name=":12" /> and typically behave somewhat animal-like.<ref name=":66" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> At some point, but no earlier than age seven, each Gnoll child experiences what is known as their 'shifting year', during which their bone structure changes into one optimized for a bipedal lifestyle.<ref name=":70">[[Chapter 7.06]]</ref> For most of their childhood, they remain fairly compact,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt - possibly in conjunction with the 'shifting year'. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref> Females hit puberty sooner than males do.<ref name=":70" />

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter 2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.18]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.46]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.41]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Two Gnolls have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> [[Teriarch]] also considers it weird that anyone would think or claim that a Gnoll couldn't learn magic.<ref name=":45" />

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older.<ref name=":70" /> However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is expected to be true for Gnoll and Drakes. But where nature fails, magic can help out. Special fertility spells have enabled various Gnoll/Drake pairings to produce healthy offspring.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref><ref name=":68">[[Chapter 6.50 I]]</ref> Children born with the aid of fertility spells do not count as Half-Gnolls, however. They tend to be visually pure members of one of the parents' species, with no hints of mixed ancestry. The spells are so rigorous that, in one known case, a pair of twins ended up split into different species.<ref name=":68" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly whenever he can.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref name=":66">[[Chapter 2.42]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the gathering of tribes,<ref name=":3" /> also called "Gnollmoot".<ref name=":67" />

The gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gnollmoot, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. A majority vote is not recognized as a valid decision-making method, as it would sidestep the concept of individual worth.<ref name=":67" /> Similarly, there is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes tend to be possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in democratic systems, City Gnolls tend to do better. In Pallass, one has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)|Chapter 5.54]]</ref> And when Liscor held a surprise election for its ruling council, Gnoll candidates won the popular vote in four out of eight districts.<ref name=":67" /> Even there, though, the incumbent Drakes managed to trick them out of one of those seats.<ref name=":67" />

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.26]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.40]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

It is, however, not a fully-featured native language. It is described as more of a secret tongue, used by Gnolls when they don't want outsiders to overhear something.<ref name=":69">[[Chapter 6.63 P]]</ref> Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to at least passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that Gnolls grow up bilingual, learning Common and their own tongue at the same time.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, they generally do so heavily accented, with a distinctly 'growly' pronunciation and a halting cadence.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":69" /> They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for some time.<ref name=":34" /> They frequently use awkward grammatical patterns, forgo contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, or frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref> It is quite likely that these structures come from the Gnoll language, and that tribal Gnolls living isolated from other species tend to meld the two languages together somewhat - both in grammar and in sound. This frequently happens in the real world, too.

A typical example of tribal Gnoll speech, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among other native Common speakers, you will find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. A Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking,<ref name=":58" /> and a Gnoll [Actor] gained perfect mastery of speaking Common via his class.<ref name=":69" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23 L]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and borrows from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.43]]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Gembows Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/02/26/7-10-k/ Chapter 7.10 K]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Dustfur Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Saltstone Tribe<ref name=":7.10 K" />
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Weatherfur Tribe<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/12/11/interlude-foliana/ Interlude – Foliana]</ref>
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref name=":67">[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7.10 K" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref><ref name=":7.10 K" /> and the Gnolls still have not forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" /> There are areas in the Drake lands that Gnolls do not go near, where ancient customs like making clothes out of Gnoll pelts remains popular to this day.<ref name=":71" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.14 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== [[Reim|Kingdom of Reim]] ===
King [[Flos Reimarch]]'s widely publicized call for all those who claim allegiance with him to travel to Reim inspired a few small and destitute Gnoll clans from southern Izril to seek a new life on [[Chandrar]] as his subjects. When a number of these Gnolls were persecuted and slaughtered with extreme prejudice on their way to Reim, Flos reacted by visiting harsh vengeance on those who had committed these crimes, going as far as to declare war on another nation.<ref name=":7.10 K" /> This has caused Gnolls all over the world to view Flos with great respect, shedding previously held prejudices about the infamous King Of Destruction.<ref name=":71">[[Chapter 7.11]]</ref>

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.25]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[[Interlude - Krshia]]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* Many City Gnolls in Pallass, and sometimes Drakes too, pay money to experience "authentic" wilderness lifestyle via a canned hunting service provider run by Plains Gnolls. It is not really authentic at all. But much of the clueless city folk would probably not survive any more authenticity...<ref>[[Chapter 7.01]]</ref>
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-11-28T11:41:07Z

Streetwind: Various smaller updates related to the recent couple chapters.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them at least around 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Both genders reach the same heights and body mass.<ref>[[Chapter 6.57]]</ref> Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. The ability of Gnolls to smell blood is a recognized aspect of law enforcement in Drake cities.<ref>[[Chapter 6.58]]</ref> Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies,<ref name=":12" /> and typically behave somewhat animal-like.<ref name=":66" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly compact,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter 2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.18]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.46]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.41]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Two Gnolls have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> [[Teriarch]] also considers it weird that anyone would think or claim that a Gnoll couldn't learn magic.<ref name=":45" />

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is expected to be true for Gnoll and Drakes. But where nature fails, magic can help out. Special fertility spells have enabled various Gnoll/Drake pairings to produce healthy offspring.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref><ref name=":68">[[Chapter 6.50 I]]</ref> Children born with the aid of fertility spells do not count as Half-Gnolls, however. They tend to be visually pure members of one of the parents' species, with no hints of mixed ancestry. The spells are so rigorous that, in one known case, a pair of twins ended up split into different species.<ref name=":68" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly whenever he can.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref name=":66">[[Chapter 2.42]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the gathering of tribes,<ref name=":3" /> also called "Gnollmoot".<ref name=":67" />

The gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gnollmoot, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. A majority vote is not recognized as a valid decision-making method, as it would sidestep the concept of individual worth.<ref name=":67" /> Similarly, there is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes tend to be possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in democratic systems, City Gnolls tend to do better. In Pallass, one has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)|Chapter 5.54]]</ref> And when Liscor held a surprise election for its ruling council, Gnoll candidates won the popular vote in four out of eight districts.<ref name=":67" /> Even there, though, the incumbent Drakes managed to trick them out of one of those seats.<ref name=":67" />

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.26]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.40]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23 L]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.43]]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref name=":67">[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref> and the Gnolls still have not entirely forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.14 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.25]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[[Interlude - Krshia]]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-11-21T15:11:22Z

Streetwind: Another eleven misdirected book 2 references fixed

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them around at least 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter 2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.18]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.46]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.41]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Two Gnolls have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> His opinion hasn't made it far beyond Pallass' walls, though.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is probably true for Gnoll/Drake pairings. There is a passing mention made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son,<ref name=":6" /> and one Drake soldier mentions being born to a Drake mother and a Gnoll father.<ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref> However, at least in the latter case, special fertility magic was required to allow conception, and the resulting offspring was for all intents and purposes a pure Drake.<ref name=":64" /> The fertility spell simply appears to allow a normally incompatible male to impregnate a female as if the two were the same species, without actually resulting in a half-breed.

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[[Chapter 2.42]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)|Chapter 5.54]]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.26]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.40]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23 L]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.43]]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref> and the Gnolls still have not entirely forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.14 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.25]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_%E2%80%93_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-11-21T11:20:15Z

Streetwind: Attempting to fix some broken links I couldn't help but introduce...

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them around at least 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter_2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.17]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.20]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.39]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Two Gnolls have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> His opinion hasn't made it far beyond Pallass' walls, though.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is probably true for Gnoll/Drake pairings. There is a passing mention made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son,<ref name=":6" /> and one Drake soldier mentions being born to a Drake mother and a Gnoll father.<ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref> However, at least in the latter case, special fertility magic was required to allow conception, and the resulting offspring was for all intents and purposes a pure Drake.<ref name=":64" /> The fertility spell simply appears to allow a normally incompatible male to impregnate a female as if the two were the same species, without actually resulting in a half-breed.

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)]]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.26]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.33]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.29]]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23 L]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.36]]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 – The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref> and the Gnolls still have not entirely forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.14 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.21]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_%E2%80%93_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-11-21T11:04:20Z

Streetwind: Fixed a number of references pointing to the wrong chapter due to the chapter title/URL mismatch of early book 2. Standardized link format in preparation for an attempt to get some order into the chaotic references list.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[[Chapter 1.13]]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[[Chapter 1.26]]</ref><ref name=":19">[[Chapter 3.35]]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[[Chapter 4.08 T]]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[[Chapter 1.20]]</ref><ref name=":8">[[Chapter 2.08]]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them around at least 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

There is less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans.<ref name=":63" /> Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[[Chapter 3.27 M]]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[[Chapter 3.22 L]]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[[Chapter 1.34]]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[[Chapter 6.10]]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[[Chapter 2.13]]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[[Chapter 1.31]]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[[Chapter 1.32]]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[[Chapter 4.16]]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[[Chapter 3.36]]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[[Chapter 5.06 M]]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[[Chapter 3.38]]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[[Chapter 5.42]]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[[Chapter 6.28]]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat (also called estrus). They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[[Chapter 5.49]]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[[Chapter 1.29]]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[[Chapter 3.42]]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[[Chapter 3.37]]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[[Chapter 4.19]]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[[Chapter 3.39]]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[[Chapter_2.01]]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[[Chapter 2.17]]</ref><ref name=":17">[[Chapter 2.20]]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[[Chapter 2.39]]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[[Chapter 2.34]]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Two Gnolls have recently bucked this trend, and managed to obtain a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /><ref name=":63">[[Chapter 6.38]]</ref> Drake Magus [[Grimalkin]] of [[Pallass]] considers the entire affair to be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy - that Gnolls have stopped being able to become [Mages] only because something or someone convinced them that they couldn't.<ref name=":63" /> His opinion hasn't made it far beyond Pallass' walls, though.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[[Chapter 1.36]]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[[Chapter 4.36 O]]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[[Chapter 5.57]]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot normally interbreed.<ref name=":13" /> The same is probably true for Gnoll/Drake pairings. There is a passing mention made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son,<ref name=":6" /> and one Drake soldier mentions being born to a Drake mother and a Gnoll father.<ref name=":64">[[Interlude - Embria]]</ref> However, at least in the latter case, special fertility magic was required to allow conception, and the resulting offspring was for all intents and purposes a pure Drake.<ref name=":64" /> The fertility spell simply appears to allow a normally incompatible male to impregnate a female as if the two were the same species, without actually resulting in a half-breed.

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[[The Depthless Doctor]]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[[Chapter 1.12]]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[[Chapter 5.16 S]]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] once bemoaned the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[[Chapter 5.48 G]]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[[Chapter 4.40 L]]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[[Chapter 4.09]]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[[Chapter 6.03]]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[[Glossary]]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[[Chapter 5.39]]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[[Chapter 5.53]]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[[Chapter 6.23 D]]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[[Chapter 2.35]]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[[Chapter 4.33]]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[[Chapter 3.10]]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[[Chapter 6.09]]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[[Chapter 5.01]]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

There is a curious incongruency, though, in regards to achieving significant rank or status in a Gnoll's chosen city of residence. Because that status, no matter how important it might seem to city's dominant culture, does not translate into Gnoll hierarchy at all - not unless it also grants the Gnoll worth in the eyes of other Gnolls. And this even extends to Plains Gnolls. Even a well-known City Gnoll senator might instinctively know themselves way down the social ladder when meeting a Plains Gnoll with actual pull in the Gnoll hierarchy.<ref>[[Interlude – Numbtongue (Pt.1)]]</ref> Perhaps the ties that bind Gnolls together are not so easily severed even for those who willingly and vocally choose to do so...

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Plains Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there,<ref name=":6" /> and have developed many qualities of City Gnolls, such as being generally more open-minded towards other races.

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[[Chapter 4.43]]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[[Chapter 4.06 KM]]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[[Chapter 5.54 (Rewrite)]]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[[Chapter 2.22]]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[[Chapter 5.34]]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[[Chapter 2.33]]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[[Chapter 2.29]]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[[Chapter 2.28]]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[[Chapter 3.23]]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[[Chapter 6.08]]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[[Chapter 5.50 G]]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[[Chapter 4.27 H]]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[[Chapter 5.24 L]]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[[Chapter 2.07]]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[[Chapter 1.14]]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Since their period of heat only affects them about twice a year, this would mean that most sexual encounters are of a purely recreational nature. Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[[Chapter 2.36]]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[[Chapter 5.45]]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[[Chapter 5.07]]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[[Chapter 2.05]]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[[Chapter 2.02]]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[[S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 4.38 B]]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />
* Woven Bladegrass Tribe<ref>[[Chapter 6.49]]</ref>

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike,<ref name=":18" /> and skinned for their pelts.<ref name=":65">[[Chapter 6.30]]</ref> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[[S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[[S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[[S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes,<ref name=":40">[[Chapter 4.26 M]]</ref><ref name=":29">[[Chapter 5.18 S]]</ref> and the Gnolls still have not entirely forgotten the mistreatment suffered in ages past.<ref name=":65" />

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[[Chapter 2.00 G]]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.3)]]</ref> Those few Gnolls that do travel are individuals, and might be [[Feshi|sent to attend a prestigious academy]], or simply decide to strike out on their own.

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[[Chapter 2.21]]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[[Chapter 1.35]]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[[Chapter 1.21]]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_%E2%80%93_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[[Chapter 6.15 K]]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[[Chapter 5.26 L]]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[[S01 - Mating Rituals]]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[[Chapter 5.46]]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[[S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[[Chapter 1.03 D]]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[[Chapter 4.31]]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[[Chapter 6.21 D]]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[[Chapter 3.18 T]]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[[Chapter 1.28]]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[[Chapter 5.27]]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[[Chapter 2.09]]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[[Chapter 4.18]]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[[Chapter 1.23]]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[[Chapter 4.24]]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[[Chapter 1.22]]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[[Chapter 2.23]]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-07-02T13:43:05Z

Streetwind: Removed excess words (Oops)

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them around at least 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.10 Chapter 6.10]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.28 Chapter 6.28]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Depthless_Doctor The Depthless Doctor]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.03 Chapter 6.03]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.23_D Chapter 6.23 D]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.09 Chapter 6.09]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.01 Chapter 5.01]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.08 Chapter 6.08]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.15_K Chapter 6.15 K]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.21_D Chapter 6.21 D]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-07-02T13:41:35Z

Streetwind: Better height/weight estimates after recent details on Minotaurs; minor rewordings of some sections; tribal war paint; hyenas do exist in Innworld; and added a missing source.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and the source text has many examples [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|examples]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|notably]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|larger]] than that. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is several inches above six feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would place them around at least 250 pounds. Or more, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just dark pupils and colored cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> This implies short, stubby digits in lieu of a Human's longer fingers. However, they are said to be reasonably dexterous for what they are.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.10 Chapter 6.10]</ref> Throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> even when well-meaning probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
* '''Smell:'''
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />
* '''Hearing:'''
Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>
* '''Sight:'''
Gnolls have very good eyesight and can make out rough details even in pitch-black darkness.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.28 Chapter 6.28]</ref>

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Depthless_Doctor The Depthless Doctor]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref name=":62">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.03 Chapter 6.03]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of loyal commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" /> Some even strike out on their own and travel the world, picking whatever occupation suits their fancy - perhaps even that of a pirate captain.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.23_D Chapter 6.23 D]</ref> But these cases are even less common than City Gnolls, making them a rare sight abroad.

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.09 Chapter 6.09]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.01 Chapter 5.01]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the more reclusive tribes openly interact with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes often are as pragmatic as they are, and generally delivered deadpan - a sly ambushing of their conversation partners, who might need a heartbeat or two to catch up to what was said.<ref name=":61">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.08 Chapter 6.08]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]].<ref name=":62" /> No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Or perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas - which for that matter have only been seen on Chandrar,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.15_K Chapter 6.15 K]</ref> not on Izril.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Tribal warriors will paint their fur when they expect to see battle.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.21_D Chapter 6.21 D]</ref> The exact details of the patterns used are a complex topic, as they depend on the individual Gnoll's tribe and social status. City Gnolls do not wear such paint - or at least, any Plains Gnoll would consider the presumption to do so a grave insult.
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Most Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref>
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Erin Solstice/Quotes

2019-05-09T09:28:26Z

Streetwind:

== [[Erin Solstice]] Quotes ==

=== Volume 1 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/07/27/1-00/ To Herself]) “Ever since I came to this world everything’s been going wrong, huh?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/08/13/1-05/ To Herself]) “It could be flour. Or—alternatively, it could be cocaine.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/08/20/1-07/ To] [[Relc Grasstongue|Relc]]) “…Are you sure you’re not a dragon?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/09/07/1-12/ To Herself]) “Horses eat grass, but I’ll pass, so I’ll go to the city fast. Or I’ll die of starvation! And once I’m there I’ll eat ten pears and—hey, is that a Goblin?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/16/1-21/ To Herself]) “[[Klbkch|That]] lying, pasta-eating snake-ant jerk!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/16/1-21/ To] [[Krshia Silverfang|Krshia]]) “You know! Riding the cotton pony! It’s that thing ladies have! The waterfalls of hell! The blood baptism! The get-out-of-swim-class card! The proof of womanhood! The part of the month where blood comes out of your—”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/19/1-22/ To Herself]) “I hate all bugs. Except for Klbkch. No, actually, I hate him too. At least bugs don’t lie to my face.
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/19/1-22/ To] [[Pisces]]) "And then I’m going to feed you until you explode like one of the flies."
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/10/23/1-23/ To Herself]) “Stupid worlds that don’t have ice cream. Stupid Gnolls who act nice and look at me like I’m insane. How does anyone live without ice cream and cookies?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/11/13/1-26/ To] [[Pawn]]) “I don’t even know what it means to be human. All I know is that there’s a big hole in my heart. Because Klbkch and the Worker died. I don’t know who I am or what I’m doing. I’m just—sad.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/11/13/1-26/ To] [[Pawn]]) “I just am. That’s how it works. You don’t get to choose to be someone. You just are. Even if you’re not special. Even if you don’t want to be. You just are.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/12/11/1-31/ To] [[Pisces]]) “In case anyone’s wondering, I cannot shoot blood out of my crotch.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2016/12/25/1-33/ To] [[Pisces]]) “[[Toren|It’s]] weaker than I am! I punched it this morning and its head came clean off!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/04/1-34/ To] [[Krshia Silverfang|Krshia]]) "Oh, um, yeah. I’m from another world. Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/22/1-37/ To] [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria]]) “Um…Elen síla lúmenn’ omentielvo? Is that right?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/22/1-37/ To] [[Calruz of the Beriad|Calruz]]) “Um. Do you like mazes?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/22/1-37/ To Herself]) “Winter is coming.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/31/1-40/ To] [[Toren]] & [[Rags]]) “The king is smart and uses his head. For if he moves, he’ll soon be dead.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/01/31/1-40/ To Hersefl]) “Great. My undead skeleton sucks at chess.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/02/25/1-43/ To Herself]) “I am a queen. And this is my inn.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/03/01/1-44/ To] [[Skinner]]) “Come on. Let’s end this.”
=== Volume 2 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/03/25/2-05/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) "Um, you know how you were talking about survival and all that? Well, just imagine the coffins as one big…diaper.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/03/28/2-06/ To] [[Krshia Silverfang|Krshia]]) “I just want to sit by myself and not do anything. Just sit and play chess, okay? I’ll be better once I’m at the inn. Once I’m home.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/15/2-13/ Thoughts]) If she saw a stuffed yellow bear she was going to lose her mind. But Hawk was real in a different way. He wasn’t like Rabbit, more like the rabbit-version of Usain Bolt. Yeah, that was probably closer.
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/15/2-13/ To] [[Selys Shivertail|Selys]]) “But it looks so fluffy and poofy and—”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/15/2-13/ To] [[Selys Shivertail|Selys]]) “Right, right. But [[Hawk|he’s]] so fluffy.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/04/22/2-15/ To] [[Pisces]]) “Okay. You’ve officially made the most horrible thing in existence. Undead spiders. Good for you. Now take it out of my inn.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/03/2-19/ To] [[Frost Faeries]]) “Frost Faeries. Bringers of Winter. I invite you in. I open my doors to the Fey, and offer you this simple banquet.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/07/2-20/ To] [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria]]) “Oh, I come from another world. Ryoka does too.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/10/2-01-t/ To] [[Toren]]) “That’s it. Out! Shoo! Don’t come back until later, and stop being…creepy! Understand?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/14/2-21/ To] [[Brunkr]]) “My name is Erin Solstice. This is my inn. And. You. Are. Trespassing.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/17/2-22/ To Herself]) “Minotaur! Punch! Punch! Minotaur…[Minotaur Punch]!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/17/2-22/ To] [[Moore]]) “…Hodor?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/17/2-22/ To] [[Jelaqua Ivirith|Jelaqua]] & [[Seborn]]) “Really? I mean…oh. That’s cool? I mean, not cool exactly, but it’s nice? Not that being Human is cool or nice or not being Human is bad, but—um. Sorry. Thanks for helping, and uh, nice to meet you?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/31/2-26/ To Herself]) “I’ve just been plagiarized! Again!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/31/2-26/ To] [[Halrac Everam|Halrac]]) “Hey, look! A keg! I wonder what’s in it?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/05/31/2-26/ To] [[Halrac Everam|Halrac]]) “Come on, it’s only a drink! Just a few flowers—more than a few! It’s not a drug if it’s magic, and you’re not overdosing or whatever! Come on, wake up!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/18/2-30/ To] [[Reynold Ferusdam|Reynold]]) “But sort of incorrect? Do you always travel around like this? How do the ghost horses work? What if you get attacked? Do you want some of this cheese? There’s lots.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/21/2-31/ To] [[Magnolia Reinhart|Magnolia]]) “I want to protect the people around me. That’s all. I have friends. I don’t want them to die. I want to help them, and some day find a way home. And live in peace. That’s all.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/21/2-31/ To] [[Magnolia Reinhart|Magnolia]]) “If I punch you, would Ressa kill me?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/06/21/2-31/ To Herself]) “I think I really hate [[Magnolia Reinhart|her]].”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] [[Klbkch]]) “Don’t worry! I’m going to bring a frying pan and a knife.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] [[Lyonette de Marquin|Lyon]]) “I didn’t say you were. But we’re all working in this inn together, Lyon. I own it, but I need your help.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To] [[Lyonette de Marquin|Lyon]]) “Some monsters are horrible, but this is magic. And we’re on an adventure, right?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/08/2-35/ To Herself]) “Snow Golem brain-snow.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/07/15/2-37/ To] [[Jerad Riels|Jerad]]) “Oh hey. I’m lost. My skeleton ran off. Can you help me?”
=== Volume 3 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/09/26/3-16/ To] [[Grev]]) “You’ve caused enough trouble for your sister. Try and run off and I’ll throw the plate at you next time. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll take this fork and shove it—”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/25/3-32/ To] [[Pisces]]) “Yeah, shut up, Pisces! You were nicer back when you were in Wistram.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/25/3-32/ To] [[Pisces]]) “Because other people were jerks to you. I get it. But you still became sort of a jerk yourself, you know.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/25/3-32/ To] [[Pisces]]) “You. Ceria told me about how you used to duel people, and cast magic. You sounded cool.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/25/3-32/ To] [[Mrsha]]) “Mrsha! Calm down. It’s good to see you! Please get off. Please?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/25/3-32/ To] [[Lyonette de Marquin|Lyon]]) “I’m back! Hey Lyon, did you miss me?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/11/28/3-33/ To] [[Zel Shivertail|Zel]]) “Whoa. You’re tall. Um. Hi. I’m Erin Solstice. I sort of own this inn, but I’ve been gone…wait, did you say Shivertail? Are you related to Selys?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/02/3-34/ To] [[Klbkch]]) “Isn’t it? Us Humans are so intriguing. Except that I think Antinium are way more interesting.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/02/3-34/ To] [[Klbkch]]) “Something. Anything. Give your time to someone else to talk, give a bit of trust, or a helping hand. Give them a second, and maybe you’ll get something back.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/02/3-34/ To] [[Klbkch]]) “Then you don’t. Maybe you’ll never get anything no matter how much you give. Maybe you’ll never be friends. That’s how it works. But to make a friend, you have to try. Just try.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/02/3-34/ To] [[Termin]]) “Okay, don’t pet the beaver. Well, can’t we get rid of it?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/02/3-34/ To] [[Ceria Springwalker|Ceria]]) “Can you get rid of it? You can talk to animals, right? Can you get it off the road so Termin can keep going?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To] [[Krshia Silverfang|Krshia]]) “But I need to say it. I hired Lyonette, and I know you were upset. It must be so hard—if I can do anything, I will. That’s what friends are for.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) Christmas! It’s Christmas soon! You must come back with presents! We will have party! Can you take carriage back? Tell Reynold he is invited too!
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To] [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]]) Come, please! Party is in two days! Come for Christmas! Tell Magnolia she is Scrooge! Ressa is cool.
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To Herself]) “One bee, two bee, three bees…this one’s twitching. Ew. Four bees, five bees, ooh, big bee! Seven bees…”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To] [[Brunkr]]) “Have faith in me. I want to help. And I know what I’m doing.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/16/3-38/ To] [[Krshia Silverfang|Krshia]]) “That’s just who I am. A silly believer.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2017/12/30/interlude-4/ To Herself]) “It looks like it’s going to be an interesting year.”
=== Volume 4 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/02/13/4-12/ To] [[Bird]]) “Bird! Guard! Bird House! I pay, you shoot! Birds! Bird!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/03/17/4-19/ To] [[Griffon Hunt|Gold-rank]] [[Halfseekers|Adventurers]]) “Will do! Oh, by the way, did Lyonette tell you all about what I wanted to talk to you earlier about but never got the chance to talk about?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/04/14/4-28/ To Everyone]) “Make way! Cake! Make way for the cake! Oh, hey Mister Zel and [[Ilvriss Gemscale|you]]. Do I know you? And hi Klbkch! You and your [[Xrn|friend]] will want to eat this. Wait, do I know you?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/04/17/4-29/ To] [[Venitra|Regrika]]) “It was your smile. You smiled like Mrsha does when she’s been naughty. Kids are bad liars. And so are you.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/05/12/4-34/ To] [[Zevara Sunderscale|Zevara]]) “Did you think that was a joke? That I wasn’t serious? I am. Unless the Goblin is attacking me or other people, or stealing or—or being a jerk, I won’t let you harm them.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/05/12/4-34/ To] [[Zel Shivertail|Zel]]) “Why did you do it? Stand up for me? And why were you sure I’d give [[Redfang Elite Warriors|them]] a place to stay?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/05/12/4-34/ To the] [[Halfseekers]] & [[Drassi]]) “I am. I believe in people. I believe that Goblins are more than monsters. Because they act like people. They might act like monsters, but—don’t people say that about Selphids? To a Human like me, a Drake might be a monster. Or a Gnoll. But they have feelings. And so do the Goblins. They might not speak, but they cry. And I think that if you can cry, you’re a person.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/05/29/4-40-l/ To] [[Purple Smile]]) “Hey, it’s you! Scary-purple-smile-guy! How’s it been? You’re here for food, right? Where’s Pawn? Not with you this time? Well, come on in and—”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-41-l/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]]) “You sure? Right, just don’t serve [[Jelaqua Ivirith|her]] anything strong, okay? Feed her, don’t let her drink. A happy Selphid’s a fat Selphid. Or something.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To] [[Apista]]) “Sting me and Lyonette will have to sweep you up, Apista. Understand?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To Everyone]) “Good. Now, the first person who moves I will personally break their arm. No one stands, draws a sword, or does anything until I say they can. Got it? Good.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To] [[Redfang Elite Warriors|Redfang Goblins]]) “Thank you. And I want you to know that I had a friend, once. Her name was Rags and she was a Goblin. She and I didn’t always understand each other, but I thought of her as a friend, as a person. I think you’re people too.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To] [[Mrsha]]) “It’s not wrong. Anyone would hate them for that. Hating Goblins isn’t wrong. But hating all Goblins, hating [[Redfang Elite Warriors|these]][[Redfang Elite Warriors| Goblins]]—that’s not right, either.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To] [[Mrsha]]) “Listen, Mrsha. I am going to tell you something important. Something you have to learn. And it’s this: people are not the same. Understand?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/02/4-42-l/ To] [[Mrsha]]) “No, no they aren’t. But some people think that way. In fact, most of us do it. We don’t mean to, but we do. And that means we judge everyone by the actions of a few. Like Goblins. They are not all the same.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/05/4-43/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) “So what do you want? Hey, didn’t I throw a pan at your head once?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/05/4-43/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]] & [[Mrsha]]) “Go on. Or Mrsha will eat it. Mrsha, no. You’re getting your own. See? Ishkr has it right there. Be a good girl and sit down. Not on the table.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/12/4-45/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) “No Firebreath Whiskey for you, Mister. You came here drunk and you had an entire mug of the stuff earlier. I’m cutting you off.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/06/12/4-45/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) “Too bad. You can have this drink instead if you want. It’s a specialty of the inn. Faerie Flower ale. Here, try it. It makes you feel better. Or worse.”

=== Volume 5 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/10/5-00/ To herself]) “Whoa. Mayonnaise diplomacy. I’ve seen everything.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/10/5-00/ To] [[Hawk]]) “Aw, what the heck. I like new places. You said this place is called Pallass? I always wanted to see a Walled City. Let’s go exploring!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/14/5-01/ To] [[Hawk]] & [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) “I’m just saying, it sounds like a joke! A Human, a Rabbit-dude and a Lord of the Wall walk into a bar. Or through a magical portal. There’s a joke there somewhere!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/17/5-02/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]]) You see Lyonette, there’s one good way to make angry people less angry at you and that’s to pretend to be as stupid as they think you are. Like a dumb Human tourist.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/17/5-02/ To] [[Zevara]] & [[Venim]]) “I get it. With great door teleportation must come great responsibility, huh?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/21/5-04/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]]) “It’ll totally work! It has to work! It’s already working! It’s the most amazing idea I’ve come up with yet! Lyonette, this is going to blow people’s minds!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/28/5-07/ To herself]) “I should probably get my own room. Yup, yup. Why do I sleep down here anyways? Because the kitchen floor is soft? Well, it is, actually. But I need a dressing room, at least. The actors could use one and so could I.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/28/5-07/ To][[Jelaqua Ivirith|Jelaqua ]]) “Nope. [[Rabbiteater|He’s]] good at most things and he likes to eat. He’s a hard worker and the other Goblins like him because he doesn’t get on their nerves. He’s a Hufflepuff, poor guy.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/07/28/5-07/ To] [[Falene Skystrall|Falene]]) “Oh! Right. It probably is. I don’t use the names of wines. I just call them by how they look. I’ve got red, off red, sort of red, greenish yellow, maroon…hey, why do we call all those wines white if they look green? What about green wine? What’s wrong with calling it that?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/21/5-13/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]] & [[Mrsha]]) “Well, looks like it’s time to go. That parade sure was fun, wasn’t it? Ending sort of sucked, though. Hey, is that really the [[Liscorian Army|army]]? They look like jerks.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/21/5-13/ To] one of [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss's]] escorts) “Sorry, but I’m in a hurry. Besides, Ilvriss isn’t my Lord of the Wall or whatever. He’s cool. I’m cool. We’re on a level.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/08/28/5-15/ To] [[Redfang Elite Warriors|Redfang Goblins]]) “That’s what you should be. That’s what I tried to get Selys to do. You should be adventurers. Goblin adventurers.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/09/29/5-24-l/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]]) “I know, but it’s a good job! I don’t know what I would have done without you. Never go on vacation again, okay? Kidding! But not really.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/06/5-26-l/ To] [[Pawn]]) “Pawn, I love you like the son I don’t plan on having, but you can’t just sit here. People need you. All the Soldiers and Workers in your unit have stopped eating.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/06/5-26-l/ To] [[Pawn]]) “There’s that handsome face. Mandibles. Whatever. Good job, Pawn.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/16/5-29/ To] [[Earlia]]) “Hello there! The Wandering Inn provides you with a Hobgoblin escort to and from the dungeon plus emergency rescue! And we have a boat. Three, actually. Want a lift?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/16/5-29/ To] [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]]) “It helps! Okay! Here goes! Mad, mad—table flip! Getting really angry! I’m awakening my warrior instincts! You can’t stop me! This is not my final form! Graaah!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/06/5-35-h/ To] [[Pallass|Pallass's]] Guards) “Hey! I know there are Drakes watching this door! Get out here! Liscor’s under attack! Again!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/10/5-36/ To] [[Headscratcher]]) “Pawn to F4. Bird’s Opening. That’s what it’s called. Bird uses this opening all of the time. Because of the name.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/17/5-38/ To] [[Zevara]]) “There’s a big, bad army of Goblins up north. Got it. What does that have to do with the Goblins here? Goblins are not alike.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/17/5-38/ To] [[Halrac Everam|Halrac]]) “Come with me. So Bird can apologize. And before that, so you and I can explain what he did wrong.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/17/5-38/ To] [[Bird]]) “Very bad, Bird. As bad as bad can be. I brought Halrac here so you can apologize. He might not forgive you. That’s how bad it was.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/27/5-41/ To] [[Cave Goblins]]) “Try to stab me and I’ll hit you. Don’t stab me and I’ll feed you. Okay? Give me ten—five minutes.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/11/27/5-41/ To] [[Cave Goblins]]) “Food. Is good. Food makes people feel better. I can’t save Mrsha or Ceria. I can’t fight Raskghar. But I bet I can feed you. And I just bet you’ll stay for that. What do you say?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/08/5-44/ To] [[Embria Grasstongue|Embria]]) “You don’t have to follow my orders. I just thought you’d want to be part of my plan. I don’t need you. I could use your help, but you need me more than I need you. So…see you maybe?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/08/5-44/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) “You think I can’t help? I can’t fight, but I can think! And my plan needs you, Ilvriss! It needs you, and Klbkch, and Zevara—it needs everyone! Only I can pull it off. Because I’m ''me''!”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/08/5-44/ To] [[Ilvriss Gemscale|Ilvriss]]) ''“I am Erin Solstice! I’m the craziest Human you know! And I have a plan! I can save the Gnolls! I can save Ceria! I can save Mrsha! Look me in the eye and tell me I can’t!”''
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2018/12/25/5-49/ To herself]) “And [[Rabbiteater|Hufflepuff]] takes the lead.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/22/5-54-2/ To] [[Liscor's City Watch|Guardsmen]]) “Am I going to be on a watch list? Or will this be on my permanent record? Do you have records? Wait—am I already on your watch list? Hey, do I have a file and if I do, can I see it?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/22/5-54-2/ To] [[Headscratcher]]) “It’s not your fault what other people do, Headscratcher. It’s not your fault what they do. Only what you do.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/22/5-54-2/ To] [[Redfang Elite Warriors|Redfang Warriors]]) “It’s all happening. And I want it not to. I want time to stop. I want to be here—even here, forever. I don’t want to know what happens next. Why can’t things stay the same? Forever?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/01/22/5-54-2/ To] [[Redfang Elite Warriors|Redfang Warriors]]) “At least tonight…at least one more day.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/02/05/5-57/ To] [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]]) “It’s funny. I was an honest [Innkeeper] before all of this. I had to go to prison to become a [Criminal]. [Thug]. Whatever. This is a [Thug]’s life, y’know?”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/02/05/5-57/ To] [[Zevara Sunderscale|Zevara]]) “I can’t deal with them. And I can’t get them to go. So…take me back to jail. I hear we’re getting beef stew for dinner.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/02/12/5-59/ To] Everyone) “Alright Gangnam style! Follow me, everyone!”

=== Volume 6 ===
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/03/30/6-03/ To] [[Mrsha]], [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]] and [[Numbtongue]]) “You’re more than guests. More than friends. You’re family.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/03/30/6-03/ To] [[Mrsha]], [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]] and [[Numbtongue]]) “But you’ll always be welcome here. Forever. No matter what happens. Wherever I go, whomever I become—I’ll always welcome you. That’s what family means. More than friends. This is your home. If you want it to be.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/03/30/6-03/ To] [[Mrsha]], [[Lyonette du Marquin|Lyon]] and [[Numbtongue]]) “I’m Erin Solstice. I come from another world. We call it Earth. I have a home there. Parents. I had another life there until I came here. By accident. Maybe by a spell. My world is nothing like this one. It’s beautiful and stupid and different. It’s home. And I want to go back one day.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ To] [[Venim]]) “This isn’t over. I’ll be back. And if you ever hurt Numbtongue—that’s the name of the ‘monster’ by the way—I will kick your scaly butt. Have a nice day.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/23/6-10/ <nowiki>To the [Mages]</nowiki>]) “[[Pisces|You]] could use some abs. You too, Ceria. Typhenous is old so he’s fine, and Moore’s cool since he can lift cows, but the rest of you need to work out.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/27/6-11/ To herself]) “Stupid Ilvriss. I’m not marrying you. You can have it back when we see each other again.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/05/04/6-13-k/ To herself]) “Stupid uptight Drake guards. It’s my door! Security risk, am I? Your face is a security risk! That’s what I should have said. Boom! Nice one, Erin. High-five, self-five!”
[[Category:Quotes]]

Gnolls

2019-04-29T11:59:38Z

Streetwind: Pallass mini-arc update

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, they are said to be quite dexterous,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.10 Chapter 6.10]</ref> and throughout the story, Gnolls are seen using tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes without any apparent disadvantage. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Depthless_Doctor The Depthless Doctor]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a tribal Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Tribal Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are rarely allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another; particularly within a tribe, but to some extent even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.03 Chapter 6.03]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls with intact tribal affiliations marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of habitual commitment to their tribes and their species, and don’t conform to the typical inward focused social behavior. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls (see below), forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
The vast majority of Gnolls lives in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are friendly towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Sometimes, though rarely, a Gnoll might leave their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls,<ref name=":9" /> who are referred to as Plains Gnolls by comparison.<ref name=":60">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.09 Chapter 6.09]</ref> There is no active shunning involved; Plains Gnolls and City Gnolls will still talk to each other.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

The City Gnolls themselves, meanwhile, have a different perspective. They cherish their personal freedom, not being required to submit themselves to their tribe’s needs, and not having so many... connections, to potentially thousands of family members.<ref name=":60" /> And perhaps they disagree with the traditions of Gnollkind, as well. Perhaps they feel that an established city is a more comfortable place to live than a temporary camp. Perhaps they feel that their tribe would not provide them with the means and the approval to follow unusual dreams - like those of the Gnoll who lives in Pallass, the ‘City of Inventions’, and tries to develop a means to fly without magic.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.01 Chapter 5.01]</ref> Or perhaps they harbor unusually well developed xenophile tendencies. City Gnolls are certainly much more at ease talking to strangers and integrating with - or even marrying<ref name=":60" /> - other species than their tribal cousins. And naturally, any Gnoll children born to City Gnolls are never exposed to the traditional way of tribal life, and thus they automatically are also City Gnolls.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" /> Still, they admit that they have come to cherish the bonds they have built there.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There is occasional name-calling between City Gnolls and Plains Gnolls over their lifestyle choices,<ref name=":60" /> but not to the point of open hostility.<ref name=":9" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. The City Gnolls of Pallass are noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source. And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnolls tend to be intensely committed to whatever they are doing, but that does not mean that they have no sense of humor. [[Rufelt]] can barely contain his mirth at the best of times, for example. It’s just that their sense of humor is... a little odd in the eyes of other species.<ref name=":28" /> Gnoll jokes are as pragmatic as they are: dry, ironic, and usually delivered deadpan.<ref name=":61">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.08 Chapter 6.08]</ref> They enjoy wordplay a lot, drawing statements into the absurd by making unexpected juxtapositions or exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":61" /><ref name=":28" /> When amused, they laugh loudly and heartily, showing lots of teeth.

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which [[Elia Arcsinger]] slew [[Velan|Velan the Kind]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of [[Az’kerash|the Necromancer]] a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: feline ear positions but canine tail tells in body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Rufelt Owelt

2019-04-29T11:16:52Z

Streetwind: added Personality

{{Infobox_character|name = Rufelt|species = [[Gnolls|Gnoll]]|gender = Male|status = Alive|affiliation = Tails and Scales|family = [[Lasica Feltail]] (Wife)|occupation = Bartender|residence = [[Pallass]]|first appearance = [https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ Chapter 6.09]}}'''Rufelt''' is a [[Gnolls|Gnoll]] that lives in [[Pallass]] as a City Gnoll, and works as a [Bartender] at the Tails and Scales tavern, with his wife, [[Lasica Feltail|Lasica]].

== Appearance ==
He has dark, near-black fur, with streaks of grey in the blackness of his fur.<ref name=":0">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ Chapter 6.09]</ref>

== Personality ==
Rufelt is very positive and easygoing. He chooses to take odd situations with humor, and is seen almost constantly grinning, laughing, or cracking little jokes.<ref name=":0" /> He states that he would step forward to lift the spirits of anyone he found crying in the streets, even if it was a total stranger and there was nothing to gain from it.<ref name=":1">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/23/6-10/ Chapter 6.10]</ref>

== Background ==

== Chronology ==

== Powers and Abilities ==

=== Classes/Levels: ===
* Upgraded [Bartender] class, Lv. ? (30+)<ref name=":1" />

=== Skills: ===
* [Bartender’s Gift]<ref name=":1" />

== Trivia ==

== Quotes ==
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ To] [[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) “Nonsense. It would be my honor, yes? And the snack is on me. Come, I insist. I have candy.”
* ([https://wanderinginn.com/2019/04/20/6-09/ To] [[Erin Solstice|Erin]]) “Anything you want, ask for it and I’ll mix it up. My [Bartender] senses tell me you don’t get drunk, so I’ll take that as a challenge.”

== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]
[[Category:Pallass]]

Gnolls

2019-04-03T14:27:17Z

Streetwind: Updated for 6.03

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than Humans or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, throughout the story, Gnolls are able to hold tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes, and operate them without any apparent disadvantage in manual dexterity. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

== Subraces ==

==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Depthless_Doctor The Depthless Doctor]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. This is an expression of their social inward focus (see Social Identity, below), as well as their pragmatism, and their directness. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are simply not allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another, even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is seldomly bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never considered the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" />

Krshia later did invite Erin to visit the Gnoll lands.<ref name=":59">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_6.03 Chapter 6.03]</ref> Not to participate in the gathering, though - she would have to remain on the outside of that.<ref name=":59" /> It is the first instance in the source text of a Gnoll showing this level of openness to an outsider, even if Humans aren't banned from visiting per se.<ref name=":59" /> However, in light of [[Hawk|Hawk's]] experiences,<ref name=":44" /> it was perhaps wise of Krshia to offer to be Erin's guide.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only very few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of commitment to their tribes and their species. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls, forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
Gnolls live in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are neutral towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Some Gnolls have given up their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls.<ref name=":9" /> They are not actively shunned; tribal Gnolls still talk to them.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. Senator Errif of Pallas, a true City Gnoll, is noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source.<ref name=":52" /> And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnoll humor is dry, ironic, and - at times - difficult for other races to grasp.<ref name=":28" /> As non-native speakers, they enjoy wordplay in Common, drawing statements into the absurd by exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":28" />

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which Elia Arcsinger slew Velan the Kind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the Terandrian Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of the Necromancer a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== Humans ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: canine body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-03-19T09:24:30Z

Streetwind: Implemented three suggested changes.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than [[Humans]] or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, throughout the story, Gnolls are able to hold tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes, and operate them without any apparent disadvantage in manual dexterity. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

=== Subraces ===
==== [[Raskghar]] ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />

==== [[Drowned People|Drowned Gnolls]] ====

Like many other humanoids, Gnolls can also go through the strange processes involved in becoming one of the Drowned People.<ref name=":58">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Depthless_Doctor The Depthless Doctor]</ref>

== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. This is an expression of their social inward focus (see Social Identity, below), as well as their pragmatism, and their directness. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are simply not allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another, even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is not bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never thought about the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" /> Regardless of her worth or deeds, she is simply not a Gnoll, and never will be - never ''can'' be. She has no place in their society beyond that of an outside ally. An ally of the highest standing, greatly valued, but forever at arm’s length.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only very few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of commitment to their tribes and their species. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls, forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
Gnolls live in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are neutral towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Some Gnolls have given up their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls.<ref name=":9" /> They are not actively shunned; tribal Gnolls still talk to them.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when tribal Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Among those who have spent most, if not all of their lives among native Common speakers, it's sometimes possible to find Gnolls with a better grasp of the language. Senator Errif of Pallas, a true City Gnoll, is noticably more eloquent than any of the tribal Gnolls in the source.<ref name=":52" /> And a Drowned Gnoll on board a deep-sea freebooter has seamlessly adopted her fellow sailors' way of speaking.<ref name=":58" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnoll humor is dry, ironic, and - at times - difficult for other races to grasp.<ref name=":28" /> As non-native speakers, they enjoy wordplay in Common, drawing statements into the absurd by exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":28" />

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which Elia Arcsinger slew Velan the Kind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result forever redefined what the word "war" meant for both Drakes and Gnolls.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war that they have been involved in since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the [[Terandia|Terandian]] Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of the Necromancer a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== [[Humans]] ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: canine body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-03-17T08:55:33Z

Streetwind: Removed a piece of unnecessary speculation.

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than [[Humans]] or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, throughout the story, Gnolls are able to hold tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes, and operate them without any apparent disadvantage in manual dexterity. Additionally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

=== Subraces ===
==== Raskghar ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />
== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. This is an expression of their social inward focus (see Social Identity, below), as well as their pragmatism, and their directness. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are simply not allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another, even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is not bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never thought about the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" /> Regardless of her worth or deeds, she is simply not a Gnoll, and never will be - never ''can'' be. She has no place in their society beyond that of an outside ally. An ally of the highest standing, greatly valued, but forever at arm’s length.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only very few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of commitment to their tribes and their species. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls, forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
Gnolls live in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are neutral towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Some Gnolls have given up their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls.<ref name=":9" /> They are not actively shunned; tribal Gnolls still talk to them.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnoll humor is dry, ironic, and - at times - difficult for other races to grasp.<ref name=":28" /> As non-native speakers, they enjoy wordplay in Common, drawing statements into the absurd by exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":28" />

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which Elia Arcsinger slew Velan the Kind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result was what Drakes and Gnolls now remember as The Great War.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the [[Terandia|Terandian]] Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of the Necromancer a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== [[Humans]] ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: canine body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-03-16T11:06:20Z

Streetwind: Fixed typos in references

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than [[Humans]] or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, throughout the story, Gnolls are able to hold tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes, and operate them without any apparent disadvantage in manual dexterity. Most likely, Gnolls have a digitigrade stance, due to their ability to move well on all fours.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /> Finally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

=== Subraces ===
==== Raskghar ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />
== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. This is an expression of their social inward focus (see Social Identity, below), as well as their pragmatism, and their directness. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are simply not allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another, even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is not bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never thought about the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" /> Regardless of her worth or deeds, she is simply not a Gnoll, and never will be - never ''can'' be. She has no place in their society beyond that of an outside ally. An ally of the highest standing, greatly valued, but forever at arm’s length.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only very few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of commitment to their tribes and their species. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls, forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
Gnolls live in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are neutral towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Some Gnolls have given up their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls.<ref name=":9" /> They are not actively shunned; tribal Gnolls still talk to them.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnoll humor is dry, ironic, and - at times - difficult for other races to grasp.<ref name=":28" /> As non-native speakers, they enjoy wordplay in Common, drawing statements into the absurd by exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":28" />

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which Elia Arcsinger slew Velan the Kind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result was what Drakes and Gnolls now remember as The Great War.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the [[Terandia|Terandian]] Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of the Necromancer a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Chapter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Chapter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== [[Humans]] ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Chapter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: canine body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-03-15T15:11:39Z

Streetwind: Aaaand it's done. May require minor tweaks here and there, perhaps, but I've been fussing over this for over a month, and it's high time to get some fresh eyes on it. Hope you all like!

One of the many [[races]] of the Innworld, and one of the three dominant races on the continent of [[Izril]]. They are a tribal, semi-nomadic people of hunter-gatherers that resemble large, bipedal hyenas. In ages past they have narrowly avoided extinction, and since then have been sharing southern Izril with the [[Drakes]], with whom they are loosely affiliated. Their main claim to fame these days is the sterling reputation of their bowmakers and traders. In current affairs on the world stage, Gnolls play next to no role, usually only being mentioned in passing - and even then only when Drakes are brought up.

It would be easy to mistake Gnolls as uncultured, savage half-beasts, mere relics of a more primal age who have only survived to this day on the coattails of the Drakes. The majority of the world does so. But the truth is rather more complex. Theirs is a reclusive, pragmatic, self-sufficient, fully civilized, and highly organized society that keeps its substantial ambition as close as they keep to each other.

Gnolls are first mentioned in [[Chapter_1.12|Chapter 1.12]], and first appear in person in [[Chapter_1.13|Chapter 1.13]]. Gnolls in the main cast of The Wandering Inn include [[Krshia Silverfang]] and [[Mrsha]].
== Physiology ==
=== Appearance ===
A Gnoll resembles a large, anthropomorphic hyena.<ref name=":0">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.13 Chapter 1.13]</ref> They are the largest bipedal non-monster race native to Izril, and among the largest in the entire world. Only [[Antinium|Soldier Antinium]] and [[Minotaurs]] are directly confirmed as larger.<ref name=":37">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.26 Chapter 1.26]</ref><ref name=":19">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.35 Chapter 3.35]</ref> Few Gnolls are less than six feet tall,<ref name=":0" /> and [[Krshia Silverfang|many]] [[Brunkr|exceed]] [[Garusa Weatherfur|seven]] [[Regrika Blackpaw|feet]]. Based on this, it can be speculated that their racial median is somewhere around six and a half feet.

In addition to their height, Gnolls have a distinct, thickset build.<ref name=":7">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.08_T Chapter 4.08 T]</ref> Not like the mountains of muscle that are Minotaurs, but they are still ''strong''. Stronger than [[Humans]] or Drakes, easily. Both [[Erin Solstice|Erin]] and [[Ryoka Griffin|Ryoka]] have separately been reminded of bears when considering their build.<ref name=":1">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.20 Chapter 1.20]</ref><ref name=":8">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.09 Chapter 2.09]</ref> And their hugs are apparently just as crushing.<ref name=":1" /> Erin’s first real conversation with Krshia involves her knees buckling when the Gnoll gives her a friendly clap on the shoulder.<ref name=":1" />

No mention is made of the weight of a typical Gnoll. However, based on the size and build, rough estimates would put them in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Plus/minus a fairly wide range, depending on the individual. Their fur alone probably adds a solid ten pounds on top of what a comparably built Human might weigh.

The source writing subtly suggests that there is much less sexual dimorphism among Gnolls than there is among Humans. Females are just as often seen reaching exceptional heights and strength as males - perhaps almost more so. Erin could not initially tell that Krshia was in fact female, and only realized it the second time they met.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Female Gnolls are said to wear breast bands for modesty,<ref name=":4" /> implying that they have Human-like breasts up on their chests, but they may be less well developed and/or been covered by clothing, explaining Erin’s confusion.

Gnoll fur is thick, shaggy, wiry, and scruffy.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" /> It comes in a large variety of colors, from black over grey to blond, in all shades of brown, and even reddish-orange tones. It can be uniform, or have markings in the form of spots, stripes, or mottling. Very rarely, it might be pure white, but that is an unnatural color and carries a deeply negative significance among Gnolls.<ref name=":21">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.27_M Chapter 3.27 M]</ref> In spring and fall, Gnolls shed profusely as they change between summer and winter coats.<ref name=":1" />

Gnolls have large, jagged, bone-crushing teeth in the typical hyena fashion.<ref name=":0" /> Their faces feature damp noses<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.22_L Chapter 3.22 L]</ref> and whiskers.<ref name=":0" /> Gnoll eyes have no whites, just pupils and cornea.<ref name=":14">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.34 Chapter 1.34]</ref> Their highly mobile ears, while often mentioned in relation to body language, are never actually described in detail in the source text. If following the hyena analogy, Gnoll ears could be quite large, round with a slight tip, and furred both inside and out.

Gnoll hands and feet are exclusively referred to as ‘paws’ in the source material, including by Gnolls themselves.<ref name=":3" /> However, throughout the story, Gnolls are able to hold tools, weapons, musical instruments, and other devices made for Humans or Drakes, and operate them without any apparent disadvantage in manual dexterity. Most likely, Gnolls have a digitigrade stance, due to their ability to move well on all fours.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /> Finally, Gnolls feature large retractable claws on all four paws,<ref name=":3" /> in the typical feline fashion. This is unlike real hyenas, whose claws do not retract.

Gnolls also have bushy tails, which are of significant importance to their body language, together with their ears.<ref name=":15">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.13 Chapter 2.13]</ref>

It is said that Gnolls have a certain bestial air around them,<ref name=":12">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.31 Chapter 1.31]</ref> and Humans in the story are often very uncomfortable in their presence when not used to dealing with them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8" /> The fact that Gnoll smiles are ''very'' toothy<ref name=":38">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.32 Chapter 1.32]</ref> probably doesn’t help...

=== Physical Qualities ===
==== Speech ====
Gnolls have loud, deep voices,<ref name=":0" /> even the females.<ref name=":28">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.16 Chapter 4.16]</ref> Their speech is frequently accented by various growling noises,<ref name=":32">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.36 Chapter 3.36]</ref> depending on how well a Gnoll speaks Common, and how agitated they are.

==== Senses ====
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell.<ref name=":0" /> Much like dogs, they can identify people by scent even before they enter a room,<ref name=":20">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.06_M Chapter 5.06 M]</ref> determine someone’s emotional state or physical health, tell if they have been in a fight recently,<ref name=":1" /> track by scent, and many other things. Young Gnolls have the best noses.<ref name=":9" />

Gnoll hearing is very acute as well;<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.38 Chapter 3.38]</ref> it is roughly four times as good as the average Drake or Human.<ref name=":6" /> Trying to whisper while a Gnoll is nearby is usually doomed to failure, as they will hear you anyway.<ref name=":11" /> Gnolls themselves can whisper among each other, though; it’s just a matter of lowering their voices enough.<ref name=":35">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.42 Chapter 5.42]</ref>

In contrast to smell and hearing, Gnoll vision appears to be of similar quality to that of Humans. The source text mentions neither advantages nor disadvantages.

==== Lifespan ====
The source material never addresses the aging process or the life expectancy of Gnolls. Considering this, it is likely to be similar to that of Humans, as large differences would have been worth mentioning.

==== Reproduction ====
Gnolls have the standard two mammalian sexes, male and female, and give live birth. No mention is made in the source text about the typical number of children per pregnancy.

Female Gnolls do not menstruate the way humans do.<ref name=":4" /> Instead, once or twice per year, females go into heat. They generally enjoy the experience, much to the envy of a certain innkeeper.<ref name=":4" />

Male Gnolls are equipped similarly to canines, and as a result, a single joining can last up to an hour.<ref name=":13" />

Gnoll children look like vicious puppies.<ref name=":12" /> They start out life as quadrupeds, and are awkward on two legs for many years.<ref name=":9" /> They take much longer than a Human child would to make the transition. For example, Mrsha still prefers to be on all fours at the age of six, even though she can already walk on two legs. For most of their childhood, they remain fairly chunky,<ref name=":9" /> until they hit a growth spurt. As teenagers, they already tower over most humans.<ref name=":43">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.49 Chapter 5.49]</ref>

==== Diet ====
Gnolls are obligate carnivores.<ref name=":6" /> They must consume meat regularly in order to acquire essential nutrients which their bodies cannot produce internally. However, modern Gnolls have adapted to safely eat a wide variety of other foods as well. In the story, they are seen enjoying things like bread,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.29 Chapter 1.29]</ref> cheese and dairy,<ref name=":3" /> pasta,<ref name=":5" /> lettuce and onion,<ref name=":15" /> and many mixed dishes.

Still, Gnollish cuisine remains heavily meat-focused. A popular snack food is specially prepared kind of raw meat.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":12" /> When cooking, many Gnolls prefer their meat hot, but rare enough to be bloody.<ref name=":15" /> Traditional Gnollish dishes include kebabs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.42 Chapter 3.42]</ref> marinated beef and vegetables,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.37 Chapter 3.37]</ref> meat-stuffed tortellini,<ref name=":5" /> fish soup with dried beef<ref name=":9" />, meatballs,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.19 Chapter 4.19]</ref> and silkap - a thick paste of rendered fat, pork meat, spices, milk, and onions.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls like their food strongly flavored,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.39 Chapter 3.39]</ref> but not as spicy-hot as Drakes would prefer.<ref name=":16" /> They also lean towards stronger alcohols<ref name=":30">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.02 Chapter 2.02]</ref> - perhaps they simply need more to get drunk, due to their high body mass. Among non-alcoholic beverages, Gnolls favor tea. They have a number of traditional herbal blends, often quite strongly flavored.<ref name=":6" /> Some of them have interesting beneficial effects, such as acting as a contraceptive.<ref name=":13" />

In contrast to Drakes and Humans, Gnolls are not above eating people.<ref name=":44">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.17 Chapter 2.17]</ref><ref name=":17">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.20 Chapter 2.20]</ref> Little information is provided about how widespread the practice is, but outside of some especially backwater tribes in the deep south, it appears to be a form of capital punishment. Humans might hang a serious criminal offender; Gnolls might serve them to the offended parties for dinner.<ref name=":17" />

=== Magical Qualities ===
As a tribal culture, Gnolls have access to tribal magic.<ref name=":14" /> This means that a special caster class, a [Shaman], can channel the mana of nearby tribe members to invoke magical effects.<ref name=":6" /> The more tribe members are nearby, the more powerful the [Shaman] becomes. It has been said that Gnolls are apparently very good at tribal magic,<ref name=":45">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.39 Chapter 2.39]</ref> perhaps even more so than other tribal cultures.

Classic [Mages] or variations thereof do not currently exist among Gnolls. Wistram, the academy of magic, maintains that this is because the entire race is magic-deficient.<ref name=":14" /> The Gnolls themselves have never accepted this claim, and have sought to prove otherwise<ref name=":39">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.34 Chapter 2.34]</ref> - but so far with little success. Any Gnoll who attempts to gain a magic class either becomes a [Shaman], or fails entirely.<ref name=":6" /> This has been going on for at least a few centuries now, and the Gnolls have no idea why.<ref name=":6" /> But they maintain that, in the past, even Gnoll [Archmages] have existed.<ref name=":6" />

Very recently, a single Gnoll managed to acquire a caster class other than [Shaman].<ref name=":20" /> The ramifications of this are still outstanding.

=== Special Abilities ===
Gnoll children walk on all fours when they are young,<ref name=":9" /> but eventually graduate to walking on two legs as they get older. However, even adult Gnolls can still move on all fours if they choose to - and they are actually faster than on two legs that way.<ref name=":10" /> Although few Gnolls ever leave their tribes, and even fewer of them are found in Human cities, Gnoll [Runners] have been mentioned as far north as Invrisil.<ref name=":19" />

=== Weaknesses ===
A Gnoll’s fur makes them susceptible to injury by fire. Erin has gone as far as calling Gnolls “highly flammable”.<ref name=":49">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.36 Chapter 1.36]</ref> This quality also makes it rare for Gnolls to engage in metalworking and smithing, as they tend to get burned frequently in the process.<ref name=":6" />

An unknown effect currently prevents all Gnolls from picking up magic classes other than [Shaman].<ref name=":6" />

=== Subraces ===
==== Raskghar ====
An ancient, subterranean offshoot of the Gnoll race, Raskghar were thought to be long extinct until a population of them was discovered in Liscor’s dungeon.<ref name=":18">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.36_O Chapter 4.36 O]</ref> The specific details of their creation are unknown even to the Gnolls, but it somehow involved willingly giving up their identity as people and choosing to become monsters instead. Raskghar are larger and stronger than true Gnolls, but cannot level, and possess only animal-level intelligence outside of full moon periods.<ref name=":18" />

==== Half-Gnoll ====
[[Keilam]], a former member of the [[Halfseekers]], was half Gnoll, half [[Beastkin|Cat-Tribe Beastkin]].<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.57 Chapter 5.57]</ref> He is described as having inherited more of the feline side, but with enough Gnoll to make him an outcast among Cat Beastkin.

A passing mention is made of a married Gnoll/Drake couple who have a son.<ref name=":6" /> It is unknown if this child is adopted, or from a prior marriage, or if he is actually half Gnoll, half Drake.

Krshia has implied that Gnolls and Humans cannot interbreed.<ref name=":13" />
== Behavior and Culture ==
=== Personality ===
Gnolls in general are wilder, more primal, more attuned to survival, less used to living in safe environments (like cities) than other races.<ref name=":3" /> This reflects in their habits and mannerisms, making them attentive, guarded, methodic, and distrustful of strangers.<ref name=":0" /> They are considered prideful,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.12 Chapter 1.12]</ref> and as a result, can be touchy<ref name=":12" /> and stubborn<ref name=":53">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.16_S Chapter 5.16 S]</ref> when approached the wrong way. However, in contrast to Drakes, this pride is less about race-wide patriotism and more about the individual’s integrity and worth. Gnolls also lack the short fuse and inherent belligerence of the Drakes,<ref name=":50" /> and are often seen reacting to and addressing issues in a methodical and organized manner.<ref name=":33" /> Next to a Drake, they might be seen as a voice of reason - perhaps this is why [[Olesm Swifttail|Olesm]] bemoans the lack of Gnolls in Liscor’s ruling council.<ref name=":18" /> But once railed, their temperament is no less intense, and they keep grudges for their entire lives if they are not settled.<ref name=":22" />

Gnolls are pragmatic and grounded, and look at what is, not what could be.<ref name=":43" /> It’s deeply ingrained into their way of life, and is an anchor to cling to when facing despair.<ref name=":49" /> Their pragmatism trumps even things like prejudice; Gnolls do not see race as much as others might when it comes to making friends.<ref name=":1" /> After all, a single decent person should not be blamed for the past failings of their people as a whole.<ref name=":18" />

Gnolls are generally straightforward with their words and actions, and don’t beat around the bush<ref name=":0" />. Being blunt with them can be the right approach in many cases.<ref name=":33" /> When a Gnoll is not being direct, they may not be speaking freely, or may be trying to hide something.<ref name=":41" />

Towards strangers, a Gnoll tends to be taciturn, curt, and closed off.<ref name=":51" /> This goes double when a higher-ranking member of the tribe is present; then most Gnolls will leave all talking to them and not say anything at all. This is an expression of their social inward focus (see Social Identity, below), as well as their pragmatism, and their directness. In contrast to Dullahans,<ref name=":50" /> though, Gnolls have no inherent trouble addressing strangers when it suits them. For example, if a Gnoll hopes to sell you something, or if they think there is some other form of worth in knowing you (see Merit, Worth, Leadership, below), they can be quite welcoming all of a sudden.<ref name=":1" />

Among good friends or members of their tribe, a happy Gnoll is a gregarious, boisterous creature, who will express themselves loudly and physically,<ref name=":9" /> freely dispensing friendly pats, pokes, hugs, and slaps that make smaller races wince.<ref name=":1" /> When a Gnoll is sad, they’ll rarely cry; their grief is quiet, private, and turned inwards.<ref name=":17" /> An annoyed Gnoll has urges to smack the other party around a bit,<ref name=":3" /> kick some shins, pull some ears, or other such things - and frequently acts on them.<ref name=":6" /> A properly angry Gnoll, by contrast, keeps themselves tightly in check. At that point, the tension is too high for mere smacking,<ref name=":41" /> and any physical altercation is likely to get violent in a hurry. This trend continues to its logical extreme: a silently seething, perfectly still Gnoll is the worst news of all.<ref name=":17" />

Gnolls are pack creatures,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.48_G Chapter 5.48 G]</ref> and having a pecking order comes natural to them. As a result, they are very conscious about figures of authority,<ref name=":18" /> and offer adequate formal deference as a matter of course where appropriate. However, they are not hung up on specific ranks and titles like Drakes are. It’s all about the difference in personal influence between two people - and Gnolls quickly drop all semblance of formality around those they consider their equal, even in nominally formal settings.<ref name=":28" />

More than anything else, however, Gnolls are ''focused'' and ''serious''. When they’re doing something, they give it their full and undivided attention, sometimes to the point of severity. Their task is serious business. Their tribe is serious business. Their vocation is serious business. Their grudges are serious business. Their history is serious business.<ref name=":6" /> Ball games are serious business.<ref name=":31" /> Even their dating is serious business.<ref name=":54">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.40_L Chapter 4.40 L]</ref> That’s not to say they cannot enjoy themselves, or have a sense of humor; it just means that a Gnoll does not mess about. A Gnoll ''commits''. Their personal pride and sense of duty will not allow anything less. In the entire source text, there is not a single lazy or frivolous Gnoll to be found anywhere, unless you count the youngest children. Even the corrupt Gnoll senator in Pallas pursues his path with dedication, generally putting himself forward as the speaker for the assembly.<ref name=":52" />

=== Social Identity ===
Gnolls are an extremely tightly knit people. For all their readiness to overlook race in making acquaintances,<ref name=":1" /> Gnolls ultimately like to be among, and work with, Gnolls. They don’t enjoy mixing and working with other races all that much.<ref name=":46" />

Tribes like the Silverfangs, who came to Liscor by their own choice,<ref name=":39" /> can be seen as somewhat of an exception. Tribes in the wild are more reclusive, and some tribes deep in the Gnoll heartlands may be actively hostile towards foreigners.<ref name=":44" /> But even the Silverfang Gnolls stick to their own part of Liscor, settling in sort of a ‘Gnoll ghetto’ instead of integrating themselves into Drake society,<ref name=":24" /> and unofficially govern themselves despite living under Drake law.<ref name=":6" />

It’s a recurring undercurrent in their portrayal that non-Gnolls are simply not allowed to penetrate their society to any measurable depth. For example, the concept of sharing a secret with literally every Gnoll under the sun while at the same time telling literally no one else makes perfect sense to a Gnoll.<ref name=":14" /> There seems to be no active malice or racism in this, nor any unhealthy amount of patriotism, as might for example be in Drakes shunning foreigners. It’s just that Gnolls have very close ties to one another, even across tribes.<ref name=":25" /> And that means that there is a fundamental gap between a Gnoll and a non-Gnoll, one that goes well beyond merely “they look different from us”. An outsider cannot begin to understand the way Gnolls feel connected to one another - and even if they did, they still could not connect the same way.

This gap is not bridged even when it comes to close friends and allies of other races. For example, Ryoka Griffin received warm (if initially wary) hospitality from the Stone Spears tribe,<ref name=":9" /> and amazed them with her stories; and she was declared a “friend to all Gnolls” by the Silverfang tribe of Liscor.<ref name=":56">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.09 Chapter 4.09]</ref> Yet, when Ryoka returned from her errand, the Stone Spears tribe would have been perfectly happy to let her walk past without meeting again. It took Ryoka’s active calling out for a hiding Gnoll to reveal herself.<ref name=":51" /> And while Krshia will honor her word and make all sorts of preferential treatment available to Ryoka and her close associates,<ref name=":5" /> and even speak of her in front of the Gathering of Tribes, the Gnoll did not extend an invitation to Ryoka to join the gathering and meet other tribes. If the author’s intent was to not have Ryoka there, it would have been easy to have her simply refuse to attend, based on her antisocial personality. But it never came to that. Even when Ryoka outright asked for friendship as the only payment to even the score between them, Krshia never thought about the possibility of inviting her.<ref name=":56" /> Regardless of her worth or deeds, she is simply not a Gnoll, and never will be - never ''can'' be. She has no place in their society beyond that of an outside ally. An ally of the highest standing, greatly valued, but forever at arm’s length.

Love is perhaps the only force in the universe capable of letting a Gnoll grow truly close to a member of another species, as there are canon examples of Gnolls marrying Drakes.<ref name=":6" /> However, as these examples are only mentioned in passing, it is unclear what degree of acceptance the non-Gnoll receives from their spouse’s peers. And as [[Drassi]] tells it, such pairings often come with significant expectations of conformity to Gnoll social norms. Whenever she dated a Gnoll, he would invariably start talking about the importance of his tribe, and the commitments expected of her.<ref name=":54" />

There is an opposite face on the coin of this social inward focus, however. As much as it stunts their ties to other races, it strengthens the ties among Gnolls themselves. Apart from the Antinium, there is perhaps no other species in Innworld that coordinates and operates together as naturally, effectively, and at the same massive scale as the Gnolls do.

The kinship that Gnolls feel towards each other is incredibly strong, to the point where murder is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":25" /> Gnolls will disagree with each other, perhaps get in a fight, perhaps even kill each other if they meet on the field of battle on opposing sides. But they would never secretly plot another Gnoll’s death through underhanded means. That would be a direct violation of everything it means to be a Gnoll.

Gnolls also tend heavily towards nepotism in their social networking.<ref name=":4" /> When Krshia sources goods for Erin and friends, or refers them to other traders, she involves exclusively Silverfang tribe Gnolls.<ref name=":5" /> Only if none are on hand that fit the bill, the selection expands to Gnolls from other tribes, or tribe-less City Gnolls. And only if there are none among those who can do the job or provide the goods, only ''then'' are other sources even considered.

Core values among Gnolls are adaptation and personal growth,<ref name=":55" /> as well as self-sufficiency.<ref name=":57">[https://wanderinginn.com/2018/10/19/glossary/ Glossary]</ref> Another core value is teamwork.<ref name=":57" /> This looks like a contradiction at first, but makes perfect sense to a Gnoll. The self-sufficiency and personal growth comes in at the individual level; the teamwork is for the tribe, and the species. A Gnoll strives to be the best they can be at their chosen path of life, both in order to gain standing (see Merit, Worth, Leadership further below), and in order to be strong for each other, and for all of Gnollkind.

During the first Antinium War, the Gnolls reacted faster to the new threat than anyone else,<ref name=":47" /> despite being ostensibly splintered into countless individual tribes with no central government. They assembled twenty thousand elites from across many hundreds of tribes before the invaders even set foot in their territory, promptly wiped out an Antinium force four times their number in a single day, and finished raising a regular army six figures strong a mere week later.<ref name=":47" /> And where the Drakes failed to mount an effective defense of their lands, the Gnolls succeeded.<ref name=":47" /> This illustrates how each individual Gnoll, and each individual tribe, will set aside their personal business and grievances at the drop of a hat to honor the bonds of kinship to their species as a whole - and with what surprising speed and efficiency the Gnolls can organize themselves at any scale.

Gnolls can also make declarations of intent ''as a species''. An individual tribe may go to war or make peace as they wish; but when Gnolls as a whole declare war, then literally every tribe will be acting in unison.<ref name=":18" /> No matter where they live, no matter their individual relationship with the offending party, no matter their own agenda or standing among the tribes. And such a war does not end until every tribe agrees that it should end.<ref name=":18" /> The Raskghar are currently the target of such a war,<ref name=":18" /> and the Selphids<ref name=":6" /> and Drakes<ref name=":18" /> have been one at some point in the past. Wistram is currently the target of a species-wide boycott.<ref name=":22" /> And every Gnoll abides by it - even those who might privately disagree, if there are any. A species-wide declaration is the highest, most serious response the Gnolls have, and the duty to uphold it supersedes personal interest.

Cooperation among Gnolls is not the same as cooperation among Drakes, who steer their society through bureaucracy<ref name=":53" /> and military protocol.<ref name=":52" /> It is not the same as cooperation among Antinium workers, who lack the concept of individuality and are mere extensions of their Queen’s hive mind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.39 Chapter 5.39]</ref> It is not the same as cooperation among Goblins, who have learned to copy each other on instinct to produce spontaneous, dynamically emerging feats of coordination.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.53 Chapter 5.53]</ref> Cooperation among Gnolls is the result of every single, individual, self-sufficient Gnoll wordlessly and voluntarily dedicating themselves to their people, through their personal senses of duty and pride, and through their unspoken bonds of kinship. They certainly don’t always agree with each other about which is the best path forwards...<ref name=":6" /> but you can be sure that every Gnoll contributes in their own way, even if (to an outside observer) they seemingly only go about their daily lives. The only reason that the Silverfang tribe is even in Liscor in the first place, for example, is because they hope to address one of the major problems currently holding Gnolls back as a species.<ref name=":6" />

Only very few Gnolls fall out of this pattern of commitment to their tribes and their species. Those who do generally leave their tribes and become City Gnolls, forever regarded as outsiders by those they leave behind.<ref name=":9" />

=== Tribal Life ===
Gnolls live in scattered tribes in the southern half of Izril.<ref name=":46" /> They make up a third of the population down there.<ref name=":46" /> Many hundreds of different tribes currently exist,<ref name=":47" /> each self-sufficient in their own territory. Some tribes are neutral towards non-Gnoll outsiders, some are hostile.<ref name=":44" />

Gnolls do not build cities like other species;<ref name=":47" /> in fact, they rarely ever build any permanent structures at all.<ref name=":43" /> They are outdoor creatures, and don’t like solid buildings and closed rooms very much.<ref name=":26" /> Instead, they erect encampments of sturdy hide tents and huts reminiscent of Mongolian yurts, arranged to provide protection from the weather.<ref name=":9" /> The size of these huts can vary greatly, from small personal homes to large communal areas for the whole tribe to share.<ref name=":9" />

Gnolls are at least partially nomadic.<ref name=":39" /> Many tribes move at least once per year, employing carts, sleds, and sleighs to transport their entire encampment.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.35 Chapter 2.35]</ref> Where the Gnolls erect their camp next is governed by their current needs and focus, often centered on natural resources - the kind that can be hunted, cut, or mined.<ref name=":9" /> Gnolls don’t waste anything they harvest or hunt.<ref name=":9" /> Tribal Gnolls also raise livestock, but generally do not farm crops.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.33 Chapter 4.33]</ref> Livestock can be moved with the camp, while planted fields cannot.

In a tribal camp, Gnolls share responsibilities; everyone does everything, to some extent.<ref name=":34" /> As a result, Gnolls pick up a few levels in a wide variety of classes early on in life. While this makes them adaptable and self-sufficient, it may also mean that they later level their chosen ‘main’ class more slowly.<ref name=":34" /> All ages contribute: children help out with tasks around the camp,<ref name=":9" /> and elders stay active in the affairs of their tribe until they die.<ref name=":48" />

Traditional tribal remedies include ointments that work a little bit like weak healing potions.<ref name=":9" /> However, the tribes are no limited to just that, and in fact have have made some unique advancements in medicine and healing. For example, the rare [Bone Surgeon] class is said to be only found among tribal Gnolls.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.10 Chapter 3.10]</ref>

==== City Gnolls ====
Some Gnolls have given up their tribe and live in cities of other species.<ref name=":9" /> In doing so, they cut their ties to Gnoll society, and are considered outsiders among tribal Gnolls.<ref name=":9" /> They are not actively shunned; tribal Gnolls still talk to them.<ref name=":9" /> Nevertheless, the term “City Gnoll” is sometimes used with pity, disdain, or confusion.<ref name=":6" /> Why would anyone forsake the bonds between Gnolls for ''that''? They just don’t understand.

A decade ago, the Silverfang tribe sent a large part of its crafters and tradesmen to live and work in Liscor.<ref name=":39" /> Although that ostensibly makes them City Gnolls too, they have not forgone their affiliation with Gnoll society - they just happen to live there temporarily, because their mission requires it.<ref name=":6" />

=== Tribal Politics and Organization ===
There is no indication in the source text about a centralized Gnoll government. They do not have written law,<ref name=":36" /> and each tribe is self-sufficient, self-governing, and autonomous within its territory. That the Gnolls are still able to organize to the impressive degree shown in the source is a testament to the strong bonds of kinship between them, and the ability of magical communication between [Shamans].<ref name=":6" />

When two tribes do meet, there are a number of traditions and formal ceremonies to observe, which differ depending on the purpose of the meeting.<ref name=":36" /> When disagreements between two tribes cannot be resolved, the chieftains will formally declare war to each other in a face-to-face meeting, after which the tribes part for one full day before hostilities begin.<ref name=":36" /> Peace is equally negotiated in a face-to-face meeting of the chieftains.<ref name=":36" /> One of the main customs of peaceful meetings between Gnoll tribes is a mutual exchange of gifts.<ref name=":36" />

There is one institution, though, which does come close to being a centralized organ of coordination: the Gathering of Tribes.<ref name=":3" />

The Gathering currently meets every ten years.<ref name=":3" /> In the past, the intervals used to be longer. [[Teriarch]] remembers how the Gnolls used to meet only every one hundred years, then every fifty years, then every twenty.<ref name=":45" /> The progressive shortening of the interval over the centuries has not been explained outright in the source text, but it can be theorized to be linked to the rebuilding efforts after the near-extinction of the Gnolls during the Human invasion of Izril.<ref name=":18" /> Krshia has stated that the tribes are still not back up to their historic strength,<ref name=":18" /> but also implied rather heavily that they have been growing rapidly, and that they have ambitious plans for the coming decades.<ref name=":18" /> Whatever the reason may be, the Gnolls certainly see a far greater need to coordinate at a large scale today than they used to in centuries past.

During the Gathering, the Gnoll tribes exchange information, forge alliances, and coordinate the efforts of their species as a whole.<ref name=":3" /> As mentioned before, custom dictates that Gnoll tribes exchange gifts upon meeting peacefully,<ref name=":36" /> and the Gathering is no different. Only here, since literally all tribes are meeting all others, each tribe attending is expected to bring a gift to be given to all Gnolls - to the entirety of their species.<ref name=":39" /> The quality and worth of that gift is subject to every other tribe’s scrutiny, and if it is a good one, the tribe offering it will rise in standing and gain influence in the Gathering.<ref name=":39" /> Similarly, a poor gift reflects poorly onto the tribe. Evaluation of the gift is not simply based on quality or usefulness, but also how difficult it was to obtain.<ref name=":34" />

With the current rapid pace of the Gatherings, tribes tend to invest the majority of the intervening decades towards procuring a worthy gift. For example, the Silverfang tribe decided right after the previous gathering to send a sizeable portion of its traders and crafters to Liscor, in order to amass the monetary resources required to purchase a suitable gift.<ref name=":39" />

=== Merit, Worth, Leadership ===
Gnoll society is, at its core, a meritocracy. The custom of exchanging gifts, the concept of putting aside both personal gain and inter-tribal strife at the drop of a hat in favor of aiding the species as a whole, the strong focus on honesty, integrity, and paying one’s debts - it’s all an expression of one specific core concept: ''Worth''. Individuals gain influence by having worth in the eyes of their peers. Those with the highest worth generally become leaders among Gnolls.<ref name=":17" /> And just like how an individual Gnoll has worth to their tribe, each tribe has worth to the species as a whole.<ref name=":39" /> The tribes with the highest worth, again, become leaders - they are the ones that everyone listens to at the Gathering of Tribes, letting them steer the future of all Gnolls into the direction they consider best.<ref name=":39" />

Generally, Gnolls are matriarchal, and most leaders and figures of influence are female.<ref name=":35" /> But merit and worth are regarded higher still than this tradition, and as such, males can also become leaders.<ref name=":35" /> If a male is clearly a better leader, and has brought much fortune to the tribe, then even the nominally more dominant females will defer to his worth. [[Urksh]] of the Stone Spears tribe was a male Gnoll chieftain,<ref name=":9" /> as was [[Kerash]], the legendary warrior-chieftain who some outsiders had called the first ‘King of the Gnolls’.<ref name=":27" />

There are few, if any, structures beside worth that determine social rank and leadership. There is no such thing as a Gnoll nobility.<ref name=":55">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.43 Chapter 4.43]</ref> No Gnoll is regarded as better than others merely by virtue of their birth. Gnolls are also firmly opposed to the idea of slavery<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.06_KM Chapter 4.06 KM]</ref> - the concept of putting another person to work for your own gain and not giving them recognition for their efforts runs counter to the concept of worth.

City Gnolls have trouble achieving leadership roles in Drake society, as they usually are a tiny minority, and Drakes are possessive and racist. In the Drake military, Gnolls are rarely ever promoted.<ref name=":28" /> And in civil administration, Gnolls do not get any official representation. This even includes cases like Liscor, where the merchant guild’s interests are represented by a Drake who has less mercantile prowess than some of the (here quite significant) Gnoll population.<ref name=":40" /> However, in Pallas, a democracy, a City Gnoll has managed to get elected as senator.<ref name=":52">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.54_(Rewrite) Chapter 5.54]</ref>

This lack of official representation, combined with their social inward focus, has led City Gnolls to form unofficial “shadow councils”, which administrate Gnoll affairs in secret.<ref name=":6" /> These councils consist, again, of those Gnolls who are considered to have the most worth. Officially, City Gnolls defer to Drake laws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.22 Chapter 2.22]</ref> but effectively, they govern themselves. It is not the most well-guarded of secrets, as some Drakes in high-ranking positions are well aware of these structures.<ref name=":18" /> But then again, those [[Olesm Swifttail|Drakes smart enough to pick up on it]] are usually also smart enough to see the value in their existence.

=== Trade, Debt, Guilt ===
Fair exchanges are a cornerstone of Gnoll culture. “Everything is give and take”, in Krshia’s words.<ref name=":3" /> A favor rendered should be repaid in kind. A request should be made in tandem with an offer of recompense. Intentionally cheating another party in barter for goods, services or favors is frowned upon - it is a violation of the bonds of kinship. Polite little untruths, too, are considered a Human oddity, and not something a Gnoll would speak.<ref name=":14" /> Not that Gnolls are not capable of straight-faced lying when it suits their goals, of course,<ref name=":3" /> but those are carefully considered.

Because of this cultural honesty, Gnoll crafters and traders have a reputation of being straightforward and trustworthy.<ref name=":38" /> And indeed, there are many famous Gnoll merchants and traders<ref name=":22" /> - it’s one of the few ways in which the reclusive species openly interacts with the rest of the world. Tribes often settle near natural resources to exploit them; for example, the [[Stone Spears Tribe|Stone Spears tribe]] was engaged in gemstone mining.<ref name=":9" /> It can be speculated that the Gnolls produce, move, and trade a lot of the raw materials that come out of southern Izril.

Mercantile habits and terminology appear in Gnollish day-to-day life. They teach math via coin changing,<ref name=":20" /> and use expressions like “counting your coins” instead of “counting your chickens”.<ref name=":6" />

When an exchange cannot be immediately made fair - for instance because one party cannot repay a favor rendered at that moment - then debt is accrued. Gnolls take debts ''very'' seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even.<ref name=":39" /> If a Gnoll owes you a debt, you can be certain that they will be a loyal ally, even if you are an outsider.<ref name=":39" /> On the flipside, if you owe a debt to a Gnoll, then the same expectation is placed upon you.<ref name=":41" /> Debts must be honored. And a debt can be a great many things.

In their exchange-oriented cultural thinking, the concepts of ‘debt’ and ‘guilt’ are at least very closely related - or might in fact be considered the same thing.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls are normally very systematic and rational in how they judge guilt and responsibility.<ref name=":37" /> However, if debt and guilt are roughly the same thing, and debt is transferable, then so is guilt.<ref name=":41" /> Preventing what a Gnoll considers justice not only annoys said Gnoll - it will literally mean that the unpaid debt is now on your shoulders, and yours to pay off.<ref name=":41" /> Gnolls take debts very seriously, and will constantly look for ways to get even. This can extend all the way to “blood for blood” revenge.<ref name=":42" /> Don’t think about waiting it out, either, because Gnolls can keep grudges for as long as they live.<ref name=":22" />

Payment for a debt doesn’t necessarily have to be money, nor does it have to be the same thing that caused the debt - although a life for a life, and other such things, is definitely an acceptable option.<ref name=":17" /> But while fair, it is not the optimal outcome, since it doesn’t restore what was lost. It just causes equal loss to the other party. Whenever possible, what the Gnolls are really looking for is, again, worth.<ref name=":41" /> A debt can be paid with anything of sufficient worth, even the kinds of debt that are actually serious guilt. All it takes is enough worth to weigh up against the guilt. The Gnolls do not shy away from comparing the value of people’s lives to the value of secrets and material wealth.<ref name=":25" />

=== Prejudices and Superstitions ===
Gnolls are a suprisingly laid-back and fair people when it comes to prejudices. They do not blame individuals for the transgressions of their race,<ref name=":18" /> they have no problems with homosexuality or interspecies couples,<ref name=":30" /> and gender segregation is a foreign concept to them.<ref name=":27" /> In their meritocratic society, an individual’s actions and worth speak louder than their race, gender, origins, beliefs, or anything else. And when a Gnoll does take issue with something they see, they generally don’t heckle, or make a scene about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.34 Chapter 5.34]</ref> They just walk off. ...Well, most of the time, anyway.<ref name=":0" />

There are, however, certain superstitions. And at least in these, Gnolls are just as susceptible as Humans to discriminating against those they believe to be responsible, even without direct proof. Younger Gnolls are more likely to blindly believe in such tales, while the elders tend to be more measured.<ref name=":41">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.33 Chapter 2.33]</ref><ref name=":35" />

The prime example of this in the source text is white fur. It is said that no Gnoll has white fur, except those touched by disaster.<ref name=":41" /> Those who have lost their tribe. Those who have survived calamity. And those who bring it.<ref name=":41" /> This superstition is not wholly unfounded: Mrsha, who used to be brown, actually turned white when she became the [Lone Survivor]<ref name=":21" /> of the Stone Spears tribe, which was ambushed and slaughtered by a Goblin army.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.29 Chapter 2.29]</ref> There is clearly a real, supernatural effect involved in the appearance of a white Gnoll.

However, Gnolls in the source text rarely question the exact circumstances of how Mrsha gained her fur color. Instead, they repeatedly make her coloration the scapegoat for just about anything and everything at their convenience,<ref name=":41" /><ref name=":21" /><ref name=":35" /> regardless of whether she was even present when it happened. After Mrsha actively saved the lives of a number of Gnolls, the worth she gained through that act seems to have superseded most of the animosity towards her - but, of course, now the Gnolls simply attribute the doom of their enemies to her fur color instead.<ref name=":31" />

=== Language ===
Gnolls are one of the minority of races in Innworld that are confirmed to have their own, unique language.<ref name=":9" /> It involves a lot of growls, howls and other such noises. It is unlikely that other races can learn to properly speak Gnoll, or at least, not without an extremely strong accent. Only a few transliterations of Gnoll words into English letters exist in the source text, and most of them are names.

Gnolls can also use howling as a means of quick and efficient communication across a large area.<ref name=":33" />

All Gnolls encountered in the source text so far have been able to passably speak Common, with the exception of Mrsha, who is mute. This suggests that all young Gnolls are systematically taught Common as they grow up, even among the tribes. Perhaps it is a matter of their own language being limited to simple concepts, like it is with Goblins; or perhaps Gnolls simply place a high value in being able to understand and be understood by the other races. There is no conclusive explanation in the source text.

However, when Gnolls do speak Common, it is immediately clear that they are not native speakers. They struggle with vocabulary and tenses on occasion, even after living among other races for years.<ref name=":34" /> They also use awkward grammatical patterns, completely eschew contractions, employ oddly specific qualifiers, and have a strong tendency to frame statements as rhetoric questions. Usually they end in an affirmative, to underline the amiable intent, but when the Gnoll is upset or angry, this often changes to a negative.<ref name=":51">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.28 Chapter 2.28]</ref>

A typical example, as provided by Krshia: “I will be there. But I go to The Wandering Inn now. To hear what may be heard. And to pick up the Mrsha child, yes?”<ref name=":6" />

In addition, Gnolls speak Common with a distinct, ‘growly’ accent.<ref name=":32" />

Gnolls have their own writing system, too. Interestingly, it is stated in the source that it is fairly similar to Human and Drake scripts, and easy to learn for those races.<ref name=":48">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.23 Chapter 3.23]</ref> Since Gnolls have traditionally had a habit of not writing down stuff,<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":36" /> perhaps this script is a relatively recent (in historical terms) development, and is assimilated from other cultures that the Gnolls have met.

=== Humor ===
Gnoll humor is dry, ironic, and - at times - difficult for other races to grasp.<ref name=":28" /> As non-native speakers, they enjoy wordplay in Common, drawing statements into the absurd by exploiting the language barrier.<ref name=":28" />

=== Hospitality ===
As might be inferred from their formal traditions for tribal meetings,<ref name=":36">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.50_G Chapter 5.50 G]</ref> Gnolls are big on hospitality. Each and every guest will be offered food and drink, no matter the time, place, or occasion. And “offered” means they’ll ''insist'', and can get quite pushy about it.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.27_H Chapter 4.27 H]</ref> Don’t even think about getting away without partaking. The host will feel disappointed at minimum, and potentially even insulted, when their offerings are left untouched.<ref name=":18" />

Between Gnolls, it is perfectly normal to lick your plate clean when eating something that another Gnoll made.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.24_L Chapter 5.24 L]</ref> Showing your host that you liked their food this much is sure to please them greatly.

=== Clothing Habits ===
Gnoll fur insulates quite well, and they change coats twice a year to be better adapted to the weather.<ref name=":4" /> Often, Gnolls can be seen wearing only what’s absolutely necessary to be modest in public - meaning a loincloth, and on females, additionally a breast band.<ref name=":4" /> Some continue to do this even in deep winter.<ref name=":24" /> However, Gnolls can and do wear clothing,<ref name=":6" /> and manufacture all sorts of articles, even boots.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.08 Chapter 2.08]</ref> If not for warmth, then perhaps Gnolls wear clothing for utility purposes, or to signal their craft or their social status, or perhaps even out of vanity.

Interestingly enough, Gnoll clothing is said to be far more similar to Human clothing in style and form than it is to the designs of their Drake neighbors.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.14 Chapter 1.14]</ref>

=== Sexuality ===
Gnolls are casual, open, and unbiased about sexuality, even involving same-sex or interspecies pairings.<ref name=":30" /> When a Gnoll gets laid, the whole tribe can smell it on them the day after.<ref name=":13" /> Their noses are too good to try and hide it, so they simply don’t consider it a private matter. They don’t even mind loudly talking about it in public.<ref name=":13" /> Voluntary abstinence is an odd concept to them; sex is fun, after all, so why would someone not be interested? That’s just unnatural and unhealthy!<ref name=":13" /> Gnolls do pair off for marriage and raising a family,<ref name=":31" /> but among singles, promiscuity is the rule, rather than the exception.<ref name=":13" /> Unwanted offspring is controlled by means of contraceptive teas.<ref name=":13" />

Gnolls appear more adventurous in bed than other species<ref name=":13" /> - or at least, they’ll admit to it more readily than others.

=== Upbringing ===
Gnoll upbringing is very hands-off. Youths are given extreme freedom to choose how they want to grow up, and Gnoll parents refuse to make decisions for them.<ref name=":34">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.36 Chapter 2.36]</ref> Even the very young can do practically whatever they want... until they annoy an adult.<ref name=":9" /> Then Gnoll upbringing suddenly gets very “hands-on”, in the sense that the child gets smacked. That’s how they learn boundaries.<ref name=":9" /> More serious offenses may earn the child a spanking - and Gnolls have strong arms and don’t believe in light punishments.<ref name=":21" /> It is said that Gnoll children quickly learn not to cry over little things.<ref name=":21" />

The great freedom children enjoy comes earmarked with an asterisk or two: in the tribes, they have to help the adults out with simple tasks when called upon.<ref name=":9" /> And all children must attend their lessons on maths, language, and other such things. Yes, even you, Mrsha.<ref name=":20" />

Gnoll children don’t usually have many toys due to the nomadic tribes’ need to keep their baggage light for moving about.<ref name=":31">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.45 Chapter 5.45]</ref> So they play with whatever they find in the wilderness, or simply with each other. But there are always balls, and games of catch.<ref name=":31" /> Gnolls like balls. Gnoll children ''really'' like balls. They love to run and chase and catch.<ref name=":31" /> As a result, Gnolls manufacture a huge variety of balls with different traits, serving many different purposes.<ref name=":31" />

=== Signature Weapon ===
Throughout the source text, Gnolls are seen swinging around just about every kind of weapon in existence, often based on what’s most practical for the current job at hand. But there is one weapon that Gnolls will favor regardless of practicality. One weapon that is so ubiquitous among them that it gives the species as a whole a reputation.

Gnolls get ''weird'' about bows.<ref name=":5" /> The entire race is crazy about them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.07 Chapter 5.07]</ref> Carrying a well-made bow past a group of Gnolls will turn heads, and may even be a conversation starter between complete strangers.<ref name=":5" /> And not just among the tribes, either - even a city-dweller can shoot with high precision,<ref name=":20" /> frequently engaging in sport shooting for practice.<ref name=":5" /> Gnolls so elderly that they can no longer pull back a normal bow will try to obtain a crossbow instead, if they can afford the rarity.<ref name=":6" /> But given the choice, a real, proper bow is what any Gnoll desires.

It’s a good match, too. The large size and great strength of a Gnoll allows them to use bows that are larger and sturdier than what most other races could wield,<ref name=":42">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.06 Chapter 2.06]</ref> with a much higher draw weight behind the string. This should allow them to achieve a higher maximum range than smaller species, and penetration comparable - or even superior - to crossbows. It also allows for larger, heavier arrows,<ref name=":33">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.03 Chapter 2.03]</ref> which are more precise at range and only amplify the other advantages even more. Add the ability to out-sprint other species on all fours<ref name=":10" /> to dictate range at their leisure, and a unit of Gnoll [Archers] becomes a terrifying force on any battlefield.

Such is the reputation of Gnolls and their [Bowmakers] that everyone else defers to their expertise in questions of analysing feats of archery, such as the controversy surrounding the famous yet unlikely shot with which Elia Arcsinger slew Velan the Kind.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.5) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.5)]</ref>

=== Known Gnoll Tribes ===
* [[Silverfang Tribe]]
* [[Stone Spears Tribe]]
* Blackpaw Tribe<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.38_B Chapter 4.38 B]</ref>
* Hawkarrow Tribe<ref name=":7" />
* Fletchsing Tribe<ref name=":16" />
* Longstride Clan<ref name=":28" />
* Vaskia Skyhunter Tribe<ref name=":29" />

== History ==
The Gnolls do not write down their history, but instead keep it through oral tradition<ref name=":18" /> - a task that generally falls to the tribe's [Shaman].<ref name=":6" /> But while tradition is a major cornerstone of Gnoll culture, even some Gnolls themselves admit that this method is flawed, and much detail has been lost over the millenia.<ref name=":6" />

=== Ancient Origins ===
Gnolls are among the oldest species in Innworld. They predate recorded history - not just their own, but ''anyone’s'' recorded history.<ref name=":6" /> As the Gnolls recall it, they were present during all of history’s major eras and ages, which they have given names: the Sunset of Flame (presumably the end of the reign of [[Dragons]] on Izril, though not specifically explained), the Rain of Scales (details unknown), the Age of Theft (the [[Selphid]] slave empire), the Twilight of Magic (the fall of the [[Half-Elves]]), and many others.<ref name=":6" /> The current age has also been named by the Gnolls: the Waning World.<ref name=":6" /> This is based on the fact that, while Gnolls have historically been a world power, they have declined immensely since the Human invasion of Izril, and have not been able to return to their former strength.<ref name=":6" />

Gnolls have historically been found on all continents,<ref name=":6" /> but it is implied that they originated on Izril<ref name=":18" />. Both Gnolls and Drakes lived on the whole continent,<ref name=":18" /> but Gnolls were always more numerous in the north<ref name=":18" />. This could mean that the forested rolling hills of the north are the cradle of Gnollkind, while the Drakes originated in the swampy prairies of the south.

At some point in the past, Dragons ruled Izril, and kept their descendants, the Drakes, as slaves.<ref name=":25" /> The Gnolls, meanwhile, were hunted as food by Dragons and Drakes alike.<ref name=":18" /> To escape this predation, the Gnolls fled and hid wherever they could - ultimately, even underground.<ref name=":18" /> First in caves, then ever deeper. But Gnolls are outdoor creatures,<ref name=":26" /> and the darkness and confinement did not sit well with them. A number of Gnolls lost their minds, and eventually changed - they gave up their levels and their sentience, becoming a semi-feral, subterranean offshoot of the race that the Gnolls dubbed the Raskghar.<ref name=":18" /> They began to hunt the Gnolls, and the Gnolls fought back, declaring a total extermination war that is still in effect today.<ref name=":18" />

=== The Great War ===
The Gnolls, victorious over the Raskghar, eventually returned to the surface when the Dragons no longer ruled the continent.<ref name=":18" /> But they did not forget what had driven them underground, and they never forgave the Drakes. Eventually, this led them to declare war on the Drakes, too.<ref name=":18" /> As it was with the Raskghar, when the Gnolls declare war as a species, they mean business.<ref name=":18" /> The result was what Drakes and Gnolls now remember as The Great War.<ref name=":18" /> It lasted for several hundreds of years, and spanned the entire continent of Izril, causing unimaginable bloodshed between the two races. No other war since, not even both Antinium Wars combined, has come anywhere close.<ref name=":18" />

The Gnolls even broke the great Walled Cities of the Drakes.<ref name=":18" /> The ones the Drakes built to withstand the Dragons themselves,<ref name=":27" /> which would later successfully repel the Black Tide of the Antinium<ref name=":47">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.1) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.1)]</ref> - they fell to the vengeful Gnolls. Not just one, but many of them.<ref name=":18" /> And with each Walled City that fell, the Drakes lost something that they could never rebuild, lost population they could never recover, while the Gnolls just lived anywhere they pleased and raised new warriors.<ref name=":18" /> Slowly, generation by generation, the Gnolls were winning. And had the war continued as it was going, the Drakes might not exist anymore today.

=== Decline ===
But then, the [[Terandia|Terandian]] Humans invaded, bringing with them magical artifacts of unbelievable power.<ref name=":27" /> And they attacked both Gnolls and Drakes indiscriminately, taking merciless advantage of the fact that both of Izril’s major native races had already torn their lands and resources, and each other, to pieces over centuries of total war. The Humans just had to mop up what was left. Both Gnolls and Drakes were driven into the south.<ref name=":18" />

This southern retreat played out differently between the Drakes and the Gnolls, however. Southern Izril had always been predominantly Drake lands.<ref name=":18" /> And they still had Walled Cities there, where they could retreat and regroup. Not so the Gnolls. The north was their ancestral home, and the vast majority of their holdings. They fought tooth and nail for it.<ref name=":18" /> When Gnolls declare war, they mean business. They, as an entire species, almost fought down to the last Gnoll. They very nearly went extinct in the process.<ref name=":18" />

Afterwards, what little remained of the Gnolls made grudging peace with both Humans and Drakes,<ref name=":18" /> and retreated into the wilds, focusing entirely on themselves and their survival. It marked the end of Gnolls as a world power - as anything other than a footnote to the Drakes, really. Even today, the Gnoll tribes are still not back up to the strength they had before the invasion,<ref name=":18" /> and the world has largely forgotten that they were ever relevant.<ref name=":6" />

=== Resurgence ===
Recent generations have seen the Gnolls finally start making strides to re-establish themselves.<ref name=":18" /> However, there have also been setbacks, such as the death of the famous warrior-chieftain Kerash at the hands of the Necromancer a hundred years ago;<ref name=":27">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.3) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.3)]</ref> their current inability to obtain most casting classes and the subsequent falling out with Wistram;<ref name=":6" /> and of course the two Antinium Wars and all the chaos and destruction they wrought across the last decades.

== Relations ==
Many other races dismiss Gnolls as crude, uncivilized barbarians,<ref name=":6" /> and do not pay much attention to them. Unsurprisingly, the Gnolls do not appreciate the sentiment.

=== [[Drakes]] ===
Gnolls currently have a formal cooperation agreement with the Drakes,<ref name=":23">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S02_%E2%80%93_The_Antinium_Wars_(Pt.2) S02 - The Antinium Wars (Pt.2)]</ref> with whom they share southern Izril. In the eyes of the world, they are essentially allied; in fact, Gnolls generally get tacked onto the Drakes as if an afterthought. “Drakes and Gnolls” do this, “Drakes and Gnolls” will react that way, and so on. In truth, the cooperation doesn’t go nearly that far. For example, it does not extend to following the Drakes into their feud with the Humans.<ref name=":18" /> The agreement was only signed quite recently, during the first Antinium War, and is little more than a generic non-aggression pact.<ref name=":23" /> During that war, the Gnolls mainly defended their own holdings, never counterattacking, and only participated in coalition efforts to destroy the Antinium when it benefited them as well.<ref name=":23" /> The Gnolls are also not integrated into Drake society, but rather have their own lands, and keep separate from them by their own choice even when they do decide to settle in a Drake city.<ref name=":24" /> Which happens very rarely to begin with. Finally, evidence suggests that, despite the treaty, there is occasional strife between Drake city-states and individual Gnoll tribes.<ref name=":40">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.26_M Cahpter 4.26 M]</ref><ref name=":29">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.18_S Cahpter 5.18 S]</ref>

=== [[Humans]] ===
Gnoll relations with Humans are strained, and many Gnolls harbor more or less open resentment towards them.<ref name=":0" /> This is due to the Human invasion and subsequent conquest of northern Izril, which involved falling into the backs of the Gnolls while they were close to winning a war against the Drakes, and nearly resulted in their extinction.<ref name=":18" /> However, there is currently a formal (if grudging) peace treaty in place.<ref name=":18" /> When the Drakes and Humans feud and clash in the Blood Fields, the Gnolls abstain from participating.<ref name=":18" /> However, the Gnolls have never forgotten their ancestral lands in the north, and have designs to eventually return - be it in peace or in war.<ref name=":18" />

=== [[Antinium]] ===
Few, if any, mentions are made in the source text about Gnoll-Antinium relations. The only direct statement made on the topic is that the Gnolls feel hemmed in by the land claimed by the Antinium Hives.<ref name=":6" /> But it’s probably a safe bet that there is no love lost between the two species.

=== [[Goblins]] ===
Gnolls consider Goblins to be naturally occuring pests<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.00_G Cahpter 2.00 G]</ref> and don’t really think about them beyond that... unless a large tribe or Goblin Lord needs to be dealt with.

=== [[Raskghar]] ===
The Gnolls are formally at war with the Raskghar. An eternal, no-holds-barred, species-wide, total extermination war. It was declared thousands, if not tens of thousands of years ago, but since it was never cancelled, it is still in effect.<ref name=":18" /> After Raskghar were discovered in Liscor’s dungeon, a number of Gnoll adventurers journeyed there for the express purpose of fighting them.<ref name=":16" />

=== [[Selphids]] ===
Gnolls don’t like Selphids.<ref name=":21" /> We can assume that, in addition to being squicked just like everyone else by the concept of a parasite moving a dead body around, Gnolls can also smell said dead body constantly. Gnoll history further remembers them being enslaved by Selphids in ages past, and joining the war to overthrow them.<ref name=":6" />

=== [[Wistram]] ===
The Isle of Wistram is under a formal, species-wide boycott, due to the rude humiliation and dismissal of one of their best [Shamans].<ref name=":3" /> No Gnoll will travel there, or trade with them, or with anyone known to sell to them.<ref name=":22" /> Wistram would never openly admit it, but rumors among students say that this boycott actually causes significant problems for the academy.<ref name=":22" />

=== Others ===
Gnolls have very few other political relationships, as they rarely ever leave Izril in the current age.<ref name=":22">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_%E2%80%93_Wistram_Days_(Pt.3) S03 - Wistram Days (Pt.3)]</ref>

== Trivia ==
* In real life, hyenas are sometimes described as being dog/cat hybrids. This is a gross oversimplification. But Gnolls in Innworld actually do possess certain cat/dog hybrid traits that are not found among real hyenas. Including, but not limited to: canine body language,<ref name=":2">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.21 Chapter 2.21]</ref> feline retractable claws,<ref name=":3">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.35 Chapter 1.35]</ref> seasonal shedding,<ref name=":1" /> and a habit of howling at the moon.<ref name=":4">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.21 Chapter 1.21]</ref>
* But don’t go comparing Gnolls to dogs, as this is very offensive to them.<ref name=":6">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Interlude_–_Krshia Interlude - Krshia]</ref>
* Gnolls are not considered [[Beastkin]]. No reason is provided. Perhaps only animal-people tribes native to [[Baleros]] qualify for the descriptor. Perhaps Gnolls are sufficiently different from actual hyenas. Or, perhaps Innworld’s fauna does not in fact feature any hyenas at all.
* Certain atavistic behaviors, like shaking one’s fur dry, are a faux pas among Gnolls.<ref name=":26">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.26_L Chapter 5.26 L]</ref> Others, like scent marking, are apparently okay.<ref name=":13">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S01_-_Mating_Rituals S01 - Mating Rituals]</ref>
* Scritching behind the ears is considered an intimate act. Children will allow it more readily, but among adults, doing it without permission is very rude and presumptuous.<ref name=":10">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.46 Chapter 5.46]</ref>
* There is a false rumor that Gnolls will bite your face off if you offend them.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/S03_–_Wistram_Days_(Pt.2) S03 – Wistram Days (Pt.2)]</ref> In truth, Gnolls are less bad-tempered than for example Drakes, [[Centaurs]] or Minotaurs.<ref name=":50">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.03_D Chapter 1.03 D]</ref>
* When a Gnoll dies, everyone attending the funeral places a gift with the departed.<ref name=":25">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.31 Chapter 4.31]</ref>
* Gnolls have access to special Skills for unarmed fighting with their claws,<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_3.18_T Chapter 3.18 T]</ref> and potentially even their bite, since hyena jaws are among the strongest in the world IRL. However, no Gnoll appearing in the source text so far has made use of such Skills.
* Gnolls don’t take to adventuring as much as humans,<ref name=":46">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.28 Chapter 1.28]</ref> but there are still numerous teams in the south.<ref name=":16">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_5.27 Chapter 5.27]</ref>
* Many Gnolls don’t like cats.<ref name=":24">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.10 Chapter 2.10]</ref> But as usual, there are some exceptions.<ref name=":6" />
* More often, they keep dogs as pets.<ref name=":5">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.18 Chapter 4.18]</ref> They find them easy to train because dogs see Gnolls as natural pack leaders.<ref name=":5" />
* Gnollish table manners apparently leave something to be desired.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.23 Chapter 1.23]</ref>
* Gnolls love a nice hot bath as much as anyone else.<ref name=":11">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_4.24 Chapter 4.24]</ref> Unfortunately for them, they have to pay double admission for Liscor’s bathhouse, like other furred species.<ref>[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_1.22 Chapter 1.22]</ref> They probably clog the drains quite severely... and smell like wet dogs.<ref name=":2" />
* Gnolls in Liscor are forbidden from recreational communal howling, unless it’s a full moon.<ref name=":4" />
* The mountain range bisecting Izril in the middle is called ‘Grisrith’ by the Gnolls.<ref name=":9">[https://thewanderinginn.fandom.com/wiki/Chapter_2.23 Chapter 2.23]</ref> In their culture, it is a place where myths and legends roam above the clouds.
* Initially, the incident at Wistram was supposed to be 20 years ago.<ref name=":3" /> Newer chapters have revised that to 40 years ago.<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
<references />[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Gnolls]]

Gnolls

2019-03-14T11:26:42Z

Streetwind: Added history and relations, rest still not done. References now placed after punctuation.

Gnolls

2019-03-13T16:15:17Z

Streetwind: First part of massive overhaul. Not even close to done!