True...again I guess it boils down to faithfulness to the original design of a monster as created by its author vs "realism" vs (for me) playability and interest as an opponent that adds something interesting and different to an encounter or set of encounters.
For this critter, I can accept that ghuunism is more of a demonic gift/buff than usual, which explains why it has heightened sense and increased darkvision. This also creates some playability possibilities with at least some differential in darkvision stats from the usual/monotonous 60ft.
Okay, I've added
Keen Hearing and Smell to the
Ghuuna.
That just leaves the
Description…
A ghuuna is a gnoll with the ability to fully or partially transform into a demonic hyena the size of a horse. They shun the use of armor or shields in their humanoid form and are usually armed with the largest sword they can find. Like werewolves, ghuunas often form packs that may include hyenas and giant hyenas.
Gift of Crocutanthropy. Ghuuna are similar to lycanthropes in many respects, including being forced into their beast or hybrid form during a full moon, but are not vulnerable to silver weapons; instead being harmed by special forms of iron. A nonmagical silvered blade is as useless as a steel one when fighting a ghuuna.
Ghuunism is considered a blessing by gnolls, a gift from their Demon Lord, giving ghuunas a high position as champions and leaders in gnoll society. Ghuunas are jealous of their status so rarely create potential rivals by afflicting other gnolls with their crocutanthropy. Most ghuunas are natural born shapechangers whose gift can only be removed with a wish, but a remove curse can strip an afflicted crocutanthrope of ghuunism.
That'll do as a start. It needs another section about them answering to a shaman/priest of the Gnoll Lord.
Hmm…
Beasts of the Gnoll Lord Since a ghuuna was granted its powers by the demonic Gnoll Lord, some priests and shamans of the Beast of Butchery have a special spiritual authority over them. This manifests as the ability to cast geas on a ghuuna once a day as an Innate Spellcasting ability. The most powerful gnoll clerics can use geas on ghuunas multiple times a day and have other powers over them, such as dominate person or locate creature.
Not sure about the red bit as it isn't in the original monster, which just increased the X/day of the
quest for a powerful shaman's influence over ghuuna. Was wondering about mixing it up a bit.
