Two fun gnolls for you!
Hiya. I took some time to write up two crazy gnolls for your game. The first is a Were-Hyena Gnoll; the second is a Gnoll Paladin with a twist.
[GNOLL #1]
NAME: Bultungin (Bornu/North-east Nigerian word for "I change myself into a hyena")
CONCEPT: Gnoll Were-Hyena, afflicted lycanthrope. Strong, Intelligent, Wise, but completely arrogant and uncharismatic. Believes he is the new evolution of gnolls, with the amazing ability to turn into a 4-legged animal at will. Well-Rounded Melee Brute, No Spellcasting.
Stats behind spoiler block:
[sblock]NAME: Bultungin (Bornu/North-east Nigerian word for "I change myself into a hyena")
Were-hyena Gnoll [as werewolf]
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid (Gnoll) [Shapechanger], Hybrid Form
Hit Dice: 2d8+2d8+28 (49 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30'
Armor Class: 24 (+5 Dex, +5 Natural, +4 Chain Shirt), Touch 15, Flat-Footed 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+8
Attack: Claw +10 melee (1d4+7), or Masterwork Battleaxe +11 melee (1d8+10/x3), or Masterwork Mighty (+5) Composite Shortbow +8 ranged (1d6+5/x3)
Full Attack: 2 claws +10 melee (1d4+7) and bite +5 melee (1d6+4), or Masterwork Battleaxe +11 melee (1d8+10/x3), or Masterwork Mighty (+5) Composite Shortbow +8 Ranged (1d6+5/x3)
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Curse of Lycanthropy (Su)
Special Qualities: Alternate Form (Su), Darkvision 60 ft. (Ex), Damage reduction 5/silver (Ex), Lycanthropic Empathy: Hyena Empathy (Ex), Low-Light Vision (Ex), Scent (Ex)
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +5 (Base F/R/W: 6/3/0)
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 20, Con 24, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 06
Skills: Spot (7 ranks): +10, Listen (7 ranks): +10, Control Shape (7 ranks): +10
Feats: Weapon Focus (Battleaxe), Track, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (Bite)
Languages: Gnoll, Common
Challenge Rating: 5? I'm not sure on this.
ECL: 7 (4 HD, +1 LA from Gnoll, +2 LA from Afflicted Lycanthrope)
Were-hyena Gnoll (Hyena ("Wolf") Form)
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid (Gnoll) [Shapechanger], Wolf Form
Hit Dice: 2d8+2d8+28 (49 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 40'
Armor Class: 20 (+5 Dex, +5 Natural), Touch 15, Flat-Footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+8
Attack: Bite +10 (1d6+10)
Full Attack: Bite +10 (1d6+10)
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Curse of Lycanthropy (Su), trip
Special Qualities: Alternate Form (Su), Darkvision 60 ft. (Ex), Damage reduction 5/silver (Ex), Lycanthropic Empathy: Hyena Empathy (Ex), Low-Light Vision (Ex), Scent (Ex)
Saves: Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +5 (Base F/R/W: 6/3/0)
Abilities: Str 24, Dex 20, Con 24, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 06
Skills: Spot (7 ranks): +10, Listen (7 ranks): +10, Control Shape (7 ranks): +10
Feats: Weapon Focus (Battleaxe), Track, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (Bite)
Languages: Gnoll, Common
Possessions:
Masterwork Battleaxe: 310gp
Masterwork Mighty (+5) Composite Shortbow: 750gp
60 Arrows: 3gp
Chain Shirt: 100gp
Amulet of Natural Armor +1: 2000gp
Gauntlets of Ogre Power +2: 4000gp
Pocket change: 37gp.
[/sblock]
Description:
Bultungin considers himself the paragon of all gnolls: bitten by a natural were-hyena, he now has the ability to shapeshift into a preternaturally strong hyena himself. His hybrid form is even more feral than the standard gnoll's appearance: his body is rippling with muscle and more hyena-like; his maw is covered in thick hairy hide and holds enormous fangs; and his voice is a cackling, laughing rasp, a mockery of the gnoll and common languages even by gnollish standards. While he considers himself the most important gnoll ever to live, his lycanthropic affliction makes him a social outcast amongst gnolls; and despite his unusually strong intellect, he does not lead any tribe.
Bultungin believes he is the next stage in gnoll evolution, and wishes to spread his lycanthropic "blessing" to all other gnoll peoples. Unfortunately, whenever Bultungin manages to physically intimidate a socially weaker gnoll into this process, his rites of gnoll ascension (more like savagery) often end up killing his brethren before the lycanthropic affliction sets in. This only furthers Bultungin's belief that he is the fittest of all gnolls, and allows him to remain unique in his abilities.
The were-hyena has entirely abandoned his natural form, perferring to stay only in hybrid or animal forms. All of his equipment (save for his Amulet of Natural Armor and Gauntlets of Ogre Power) melds with his animal form when he shapeshifts into a slavering, muscular hyena. The barkwood amulet around its neck and enormous rusted bands around its forepaws tell any adventurer that this is no ordinary hyena. When travelling as a hyena, Bultungin typically stalks his prey in the shadows, but has a bad habit of marking his territory by spraying the ground and taking enormous gouges out of nearby trees with his mighty paws, making him an easy mark to track.
Tactics:
Bultungin, like many other gnolls, prefers to ambush his opponents. However, with his damage reduction and huge Constitution, Bultungin is much tougher than standard gnolls, so he is not adverse to toe-to-toe combat. He begins combat by leading off with his well-crafted shortbow, preferably from the shadows, and then either charges to engage with his battleaxe or continues to snipe with his bow. If the target looks particularly susceptible to being torn off his or her feet, he will assume his hyena form in order to make good use of his free Trip (Ex) ability (with his enormous strength stat, his trip checks are difficult to resist at +7).
Starting Ability Scores (45 point buy):
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 17, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 08
+1 Con at HD4.
Gnoll stat bonuses: +4 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha
Lycanthrope stat bonuses: +2 Str, +4 Dex, +4 Con
==
Str 24, Dex 20, Con 24, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 06
[GNOLL #2]
NAME: Sisi (Zimbabwe name for hyena meaning "The Purifier", a pun on his infected status)
CONCEPT: Gnoll Paladin infected with Cackle Fever. While he is personally immune to its effects, he is nonetheless a carrier of this inhaled disease. Cackle Fever's symptoms include "random outburts of hideous laughter"; for this reason, the Paladin believes that those he infects are actually being blessed by his patron hyena-gnoll god, and attempts to spread this power. Defensive/Tactical Melee Brute, no Spellcasting.
Stats behind spoiler:
[sblock]NAME: Sisi, the Purifier (Zimbabwe name for "hyena" with the meaning "The Purifier", a pun on his infected status)
Gnoll Paladin
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid (Gnoll)
Hit Dice: 2d8+4d10+24 (58 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20'
Armor Class: 23 (+9 Magic Full Plate, +3 Magic Shield, +1 Dex), Touch 11, Flat Footed 22
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+10
Attack: Flail +11 melee (1d8+5), or Trip (melee touch +11, Trip check +9 [+13 when Enlarged]), or Disarm (+21 [+25 when Enlarged])
Full Attack: Flail +11 melee (1d8+5), or Trip (melee touch +11, Trip check +9 [+13 when Enlarged]), or Disarm (+19 attack roll [+23 attack roll when Enlarged])
Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Smite Evil 1/day (+3 Attack, +4 Damage) (Su)
Special Qualities: INFECTED: Cackle Fever (Inhaled, Fort DC 16, Incubates 1 day, 1d6 Wis dmg) (Ex), Darkvision 60' (Ex), Aura of Good (Ex), Detect Evil (Sp), Smite Evil (Su), Divine Grace (Su), Lay on Hands: 12 hp/day (Su), Aura of Courage (Su), Divine Health (Ex), Turn Undead 6/day @CL1 (Su)
Saves: Fort +14, Ref +6, Will +3 (Base F/R/W: 7/1/1)
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 12, Con 18, Int 13, Wis 08, Cha 16.
Skills: Spot (5 ranks): +4, Listen (5 ranks): +4, Diplomacy (6 ranks): +9, Ride (4 ranks): +6, Handle Animal (4 ranks): +7
Feats: Combat Expertise, Improved Trip, Improved Disarm
Languages: Gnoll, Common
Challenge Rating: 6
ECL: 7 (4 HD, +1 LA from Gnoll, +2 LA from Afflicted Lycanthrope)
Possessions:
Masterwork Flail: 308gp
6 Javelins: 6gp
+1 Full Plate: 2500gp
+1 Heavy Steel Shield: 1020gp
Heavy Warhorse: 400gp
Bag of Holding Type I: 2500 gp
Potion of Enlarge Person: 250gp
3x Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 150gp
Pocket Change: 66gp[/sblock]
Description:
Sisi is a patron saint (at least in his eyes!) of his lord, the god of hyenas and gnolls. Infected at an early age with Cackle Fever, his mind slowly deteriorated into the slightly deranged state it is in now. Fortunately, his devotion to the gnollish faith and an extremely unusual amount of selflessness towards other creatures led him down the path of the Paladin, and he is now immune to the effects of the lingering disease. Ignorant of the plague that follows in his wake, Sisi continues his travels in order to spread the word of his god. When a subject becomes infected with his carried disease and begins to burst out in terrible laughter, he loudly praises his Lord of Hyenas for His blessing.
While a Paladin, Sisi is also a Gnoll; thus, Sisi has great sympathy for his own race, which he views as simply misunderstood. The conflict of alignment (Sisi is Lawful Good by necessity, whereas most gnolls are evil) is not of concern to him: he believes that gnolls are only acting out against oppressors and feels that the race is entitled to attack any other humanoids due to their victimization at the hands of the other "racist" humanoids.
Sisi prefers to look the part of the typical warrior gnoll, wearing heavy armor and carrying a flail as his primary weapon. Those who see him in combat, however, realize that Sisi is no ordinary combatant. He fights with grace and tactical skill, preferring to disarm or subdue his opponents rather than destroy them. Unfortunately, other gnolls see his roundabout tactics as wimpy or wussy, even making the brilliant (in gnoll standards) pun on his name: Sissy!
Tactics:
Sisi is unusual in that he does not often strike from an ambush vantage point, as many other gnolls do; rather, he approaches his targets confidently and attempts to match them in a contest of direct skill. He will use his flail, large Strength, and Improved Disarm / Improved Trip abilities to hamper his foe and gain a strong advantage before engaging them in true melee combat. If injured, Sisi will drink a potion or use his Lay on Hands ability to cure himself. When possible, Sisi makes use of his Heavy Warhorse mount to charge foes he believes cannot be "saved" to the Way of the Gnollish God. If Sisi is about to engage an opponent he knows to be his superior, he will quaff his Potion of Enlarge Person prior to the engagement in order to gain even more of an advantage in Tripping and Disarming.
Starting Ability Scores (45 point buy):
Str 16, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 12, Wis 09, Cha 18
Gnoll stat bonuses: +4 Str, +2 Con, -2 Int, -2 Cha
+1 Con at ECL 4.
==
Str 20, Dex 14, Con 18, Int 10, Wis 09, Cha 16.
Yay!
-Thikket
