Ghuuna (template)
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Ghuuna
Ghuuna are related to gnolls in much the same way that lycanthropes are related to other types of humanoids. However, ghuuna are a modified type of quasi-lycanthropy created by the demon lord Yeenoghu that affects only gnolls, causing them to shapechange into a hyaenodon form.
In humanoid form, ghuuna appear to be bulky gnolls. In this form they typically shun armor and usually carry swords as weapons, but this varies per individual. In hyaenodon form, ghuuna can deliver a crushing bite that inflicts a condition called "ghuunism" among their peers in the same manner that lycanthropy is spread.
Ghuuna sometimes live among and work with gnolls. Only gnoll shamans and strong chieftains have more clout in a gnoll band than ghuuna do. Female ghuuna are nearly the only respected females in a gnoll band. Ghuuna keep slaves as gnolls do. They rarely intentionally infect other gnolls, considering their condition as a point of pride.
Ghuuna speak Gnoll.
SAMPLE GHUUNA
Here is an example of a ghuuna using a gnoll as the base creature and a hyaenodon as the base animal.
Ghuuna, Gnoll Form
Medium Humanoid (Gnoll, Shapeshifter)
HD: 2d8+2 plus 5d8+20 (58 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft (6 squares)
AC: 17 (+3 natural, +2 leather armor, +2 heavy steel shield), touch 10, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+6
Attack: Battleaxe +3 melee (1d8+2/X3) or shortbow +1 ranged (1d6/X3)
Full Attack: Battleaxe +3 melee (1d8+2/X3) or shortbow +1 ranged (1d6/X3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: ---
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 5/cold iron or magic, darkvision 90 ft, hyena empathy, immune to silver, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8 Ref +4 Will +1
Abilities: Str 15 Dex 10 Con 13 Int 8 Wis 13 Chr 8
Skills: Hide +3, Listen +5, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness, Iron Will (B), Power Attack, Run, Track (B)
Environment: Warm plains
Organization: Solitary, pack (2-5 plus 1-2 hyenas or 1 hyaenodon per ghuuna), or band (1-10 ghuuna plus 10-100 gnolls)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +4
Ghuuna, Hyaenodon Form
Large Humanoid (Gnoll, Shapeshifter)
HD: 2d8+2 plus 5d8+25 (58 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft (10 squares)
AC: 20 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +8 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+16
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+8)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+8)
Space/Reach: 10 ft/5 ft
Special Attacks: Disease, ghuunism, trip
Special Qualities: Alternate form, damage reduction 5/cold iron or magic, darkvision 90 ft, hyena empathy, immune to silver, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +12 Ref +7 Will +3
Abilities: Str 27 Dex 16 Con 21 Int 8 Wis 13 Chr 8
Skills: Hide +6*, Listen +5, Spot +6
Feats: Alertness, Iron Will (B), Power Attack, Run, Track (B)
Environment: Warm plains
Organization: Solitary, pack (2-5 plus 1-2 hyenas or 1 hyaenodon per ghuuna), or band (1-10 ghuuna plus 10-100 gnolls)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +4
This bulky humanoid is much taller than a human. It has gray skin, a furry body, and a hyena-like with a reddish-gray mane. A savage intensity burns in its eyes.
Ghuunas in gnoll form are larger than average gnolls, and tend to intimidate their lesser cousins. This sample ghuuna stands 8 feet tall and weighs 350 pounds.
COMBAT
In animal form, ghuuna attack foes with their savage bite, trying to infect them with disease. In either form, ghuuna fight like a pack, using numbers to their advantage.
Alternate Form (Su): A ghuuna can assume the form of a hyaenodon.
Disease (Ex): Red ache; bite, Fortitude DC 15, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d6 Strength. The save DC is Constitution-based. Humanoids with the gnoll subtype are unaffected by this disease; instead, they are subject to ghuunism (see below).
Ghuunism (Su): Any humanoid with the gnoll subtype hit by a ghuuna's bite attack in animal form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract ghuunism. If the victim’s size is not within one size category of the ghuuna the victim cannot contract ghuunism from that ghuuna. Unlike lycanthropes and the curse of lycanthropy, afflicted ghuuna can pass on ghuunism.
Hyena Empathy (Ex): Communicate with hyenas, dire hyenas, and hyaenodons, and a +4 racial bonus on Charisma based checks against hyenas, dire hyenas, and hyaenodons.
Trip (Ex): A ghuuna that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+11 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the hyaenodon
Skills: *In hyaenodon form, a ghuuna has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.
CREATING A GHUUNA
“Ghuuna” is an acquired template that can be added to any humanoid with the gnoll subtype (referred to hereafter as the base creature). Becoming a ghuuna is very much like multiclassing as an animal and gaining the appropriate Hit Dice.
Size and Type: The base creature’s type does not change, but the creature gains the shapechanger subtype. The ghuuna takes on the characteristics of a hyaenodon (referred to hereafter as the base animal).
A ghuuna uses either the base creature’s or the base animal’s statistics and special abilities in addition to those described here.
Hit Dice and Hit Points: Same as the base creature plus those of the base animal. To calculate total hit points, apply Constitution modifiers according to the score the ghuuna has in each form.
Speed: Same as the base creature or base animal, depending on which form the ghuuna is using.
Armor Class: The base creature’s natural armor bonus increases by +2 in both forms.
Base Attack/Grapple: Add the base attack bonus for the base animal to the base attack bonus for the base creature. The ghuuna’s grapple bonus uses its attack bonus and modifiers for Strength and size depending on the ghuuna’s form.
Attacks: Same as the base creature or base animal, depending on which form the ghuuna is using.
Damage: Same as the base creature or base animal, depending on which form the ghuuna is in.
Special Attacks: A ghuuna retains the special attacks of the base creature or base animal, depending on which form it is using, and also gains the special attacks described below.
A ghuuna spellcaster cannot cast spells with verbal, somatic, or material components while in animal form.
Disease (Ex): Red ache—bite, Fortitude DC 15, incubation period 1d3 days, damage 1d6 Strength. The save DC is Constitution-based. Humanoids with the gnoll subtype are unaffected by this disease; instead, they are subject to ghuunism (see below).
Ghuunism (Su): Any humanoid with the gnoll subtype hit by a ghuuna's bite attack in animal form must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or contract ghuunism. If the victim’s size is not within one size category of the ghuuna the victim cannot contract ghuunism from that ghuuna. Unlike lycanthropes and the curse of lycanthropy, afflicted ghuuna can pass on ghuunism.
Special Qualities: A ghuuna retains all the special qualities of the base creature and the base animal, and also gains those described below.
Alternate Form (Su): A ghuuna can shift into animal form as though using the polymorph spell on itself, though its gear is not affected, it does not regain hit points for changing form, and only the specific animal form indicated for the ghuuna can be assumed. It does not assume the ability scores of the animal, but instead adds the animal’s physical ability score modifiers to its own ability scores.
Changing to or from animal form is a standard action. A slain ghuuna reverts to its humanoid form, although it remains dead. Separated body parts retain their animal form, however. Ghuunas find this ability difficult to control (see Lycanthropy as an Affliction, 3.5 Monster Manual page 178).
Damage Reduction (Ex): A ghuuna in any form has damage reduction 5/cold iron or magic.
Darkvision (Ex): A ghuuna has darkvision at a range of 90 feet in any form.
Hyena Empathy (Ex): In any form, ghuuna can communicate and empathize with normal hyenas, dire hyenas, or hyaenodons. This gives them a +4 racial bonus on checks when influencing the animal’s attitude and allows the communication of simple concepts and (if the animal is friendly) commands, such as “friend,” “foe,” “flee,” and “attack.”
Immunity to Silver (Ex): A ghuuna takes no damage from silver weapons of any type.
Low-Light Vision (Ex): A ghuuna has low-light vision in any form.
Scent (Ex): A ghuuna has the scent ability in any form.
Base Save Bonuses: Add the base save bonuses of the base animal to the base save bonuses of the base creature.
Abilities: All ghuuna gain +2 to Wisdom. In addition, when in animal form, a ghuuna's physical ability scores improve as follows: Str +12, Dex +6, and Con +8.
In addition, a ghuuna may also gain an additional ability score increase by virtue of its extra Hit Dice.
Skills: A ghuuna gains skill points equal to (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per hit dice (5) of its animal form, as if it had multiclassed into the animal type. (Animal is never its first Hit Die, though, and it does not gain quadruple skill points for any animal Hit Die.) Any skill given in the animal’s description (Hide, Listen, and Spot) is a class skill for the ghuuna’s animal form. In any form, a ghuuna also has any racial skill bonuses of the base creature and of the base animal. In hyaenodon form, a ghuuna has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.
Feats: Add the base animal’s feats (Alertness, Run, Track) to the base creature’s. If this results in a ghuuna having the same feat twice, the ghuuna gains no additional benefit unless the feat normally can be taken more once, in which case the duplicated feat works as noted in the feat description. This process may give the ghuuna more feats than a character of its total Hit Dice would normally be entitled to; if this occurs, any “extra” feats are denoted as bonus feats.
It’s possible that a ghuuna cannot meet the prerequisites for all its feats when in humanoid form. If this occurs, the ghuuna still has the feats, but cannot use them when in humanoid form. A ghuuna receives Iron Will as a bonus feat.
Environment: Same as either the base creature or base animal.
Organization: Solitary, pack (2-5 plus 1-2 hyenas or 1 hyaenodon per ghuuna), or band (1-10 ghuuna plus 10-100 gnolls).
Challenge Rating: By class level or base creature, +3.
Treasure: Standard.
Alignment: Usually chaotic evil.
Advancement: By character class.
Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +3. In addition, a ghuuna’s character level is increased by the number of racial Hit Dice the base animal has (5).
Originally found in Dragon Magazine #89 (“Creature Catalog”, September 1984, Tomas Willis).