Physical Form
Gnolls are a tall species originating from the Byspell Plains, with the appearance of bipedal canines - their appearance is quite reminiscent of hyenas, with thick fur, large rounded ears, and short tails. Their sharp-toothed jaws are capable of producing a very strong bite. Their hands resemble paws, but with slimmer fingers more suitable for grasping and manipulating, and the thumb characteristic of all Dûnan species. A gnoll's thick fur gets even thicker during the shorter days, allowing them to weather the colder temperatures with ease, and this extra length gets shed back down when the weather warms back up. Their fur is also quite water resistant, making them particularly suited for long-term outdoor living. A gnoll's feet have short claws for better grip and sturdy paw pads for comfort during long periods of travel. Female gnolls are larger than males, and tend to be more dominant in social settings as well as contests of physical strength.
Typically gnolls have fur that is some shade of brown, with a striped or spotted pattern. A variety of additional patterns and features abound - dark or light points, "socks", and dark, light, or white patches of fur can all be commonly found among the population. The fur around the face tends to go grey as the gnoll ages. Gnoll eyes are generally brown, amber, or golden in color.
Gnolls are generally 5'6" - 6'8" feet tall and 180 - 360 lbs on average. Females are noticeably larger and heavier than males.
Lifespan and Reproduction
Gnolls typically live from 60-70 years of age. They enter the preteen stage at 9, hit puberty around age 12, reach adulthood at age 16, are considered middle aged at 35, and are considered elderly at 55.
Gnoll pregnancy lasts roughly 7 months, and has roughly equal odds of yielding one or two children. Gnoll females have a fertile period yearly during the autumn months, timing their childbearing for the warmer months to improve their offsprings' odds of survival.
Diet
Gnolls enjoy a mostly carnivorous diet, and may consume cooked or raw meat. Their strong jaws are capable of cracking bone, which they often do to access the marrow within. Gnolls may supplement their diet with fruits or vegetation as they please with no ill effects, though long-term lack of meat will eventually render them critically malnourished.
Notable Attributes and Abilities
Gnolls are swift on their feet and steady on the trail. Their claws dig into the terrain when they run, lending them extra speed and maneuverability and keeping them surefooted. A gnoll may comfortably spend all day traveling, stopping only to sleep or eat. Gnolls also have excellent reflexes, which they may put to good use outmaneuvering opponents in battle.
Gnolls have a powerful bite force capable of cracking bone. It is difficult to pry their jaws apart if they are latched onto something, and many leverage this feature when hunting for food.
Gnolls have an excellent sense of smell, which allows them to track prey, identify allies from enemies, and even detect subtle changes in an individual's scent that could indicate emotion or health status. Gnolls have been known to even detect pregnancies extremely early, much to the confusion and wonder of women of other species.
Gnolls have excellent darkvision, allowing them to hunt at whatever time of day pleases them and keep watch in the night if necessary.
Culture
The typical gnoll family group consists of a matriarch, her female relatives, the males they've taken for partners, and any children born to those couples. A gnoll mother will care for her pups while they are nursing, but the father is typically expected to take over the role of primary parent once the pups are weaned, freeing up the mother's time to once again participate in hunts. Males are typically expected to leave the family when they come of age, either marrying into a new family, or joining a bachelor pack of other young men who have yet to find a partner. Arranging the marriage of a particularly handsome or skilled male to another family is also a somewhat common practice that can strengthen the alliance between two groups.
Races
Eris (AIR-is): Eris gnolls hail from the Erimead Plains. They are middling height and somewhat thinly built, and their fur is typically tawny, grey, or brown, with dark spots and stripes and a distinctive "mask" marking around their eyes.
Laelan (LAY-lan): Laelan gnolls originate from the eastern outskirts of the Virie Basin Forest. They are the tallest and lankiest of the gnoll races, with the tallest of them reaching nearly 7 feet in height. Laelan fur is a reddish brown, with darker patches on the legs, neck, and muzzle.
Picta (PIK-tuh): hailing from the Shattered Coast, Picta are the shortest of the gnoll races. Their fur is pale, with splotches of dull grey and brown, and it is particularly thick, allowing them to survive the cold weather of their homeland and blend in with the snow while hunting.
Thalla (THAY-luh): originating from the Byspell Plains, Thalla are the original race of gnoll. They are tall and stocky, with tawny or brown fur that is spotted or striped in darker brown.