Page 49 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

gnolls are involved with, not knowing if their references to being Zausra’a killed and devoured all three of her siblings, one in the
hungry are a general demand for more ‘payment’, or a more womb, one on the birthing mat, and on the day she took her
immediate threat. Mathius has begun only sending his most rst steps (chasing down her sister who learnt to walk the day
expendable cronies into the sewers, knowing it is only a matter of before). Her mother took this as an auspicious sign of greatness in
time before one of them doesn’t make it back out. her future. On the eve of her third birthday, they journeyed to a
e self-proclaimed sewer lords are no longer content with scraps, gathering of clans feasting in the ruins of a city sacked by orcs. Her
however; they want the city. mother declared for all to hear that Zausra’a was Hwu’uat, and that
all must fall in line or challenge her claim. She faced the leaders of
Iwa Eeni the three clans present in single combat, Grazzar of the Aohkar,
Kikizi of the Drra, and Tzoma of the Haumt’ki, beating them to the
Amongst gnolls, demonic possession is normally viewed as a favor ground and biting o their noses to mark their defeat, but allowing
from their gods. A er all, a demon will make its host behave more them to live to serve as her personal retinue, a duty they perform
aggressively, enhancing its animal savagery and, from a gnoll’s with near-fanatical loyalty.
perspective, what could be better?
Zausra’a scorns the males of the clan, permitting none in her
Any member of the Iwa Eeni (‘Rock Ghosts’) could be possessed presence and threatening with death any who dare to speak
by the demon known as Bowda at any time, although it seems to when she might hear it. It is whispered by some that she prefers
favor the clan’s shaman, Graon. e demon’s presence weakens the company of hyenas at night, and they point to the large
and tires its host over time, however, so Bowda its between the numbers of crocotta accompanying her as proof. Her mother is
shaman and other clan members to keep its collection of hosts in the only one she will allow to question her decisions but, even
the best possible condition. Bowda rewards the gnolls’ service with so, in recent years her in uence is waning over her increasingly
enhanced senses, and some basic divination, gi ing them extra unpredictable daughter.
insight into the goings on in the area to more accurately locate
passing traders and caravans, allowing them to plan the most ose who have observed Zausra’a’s rise to prominence watch e
e ective attacks. Taza Hwu with caution; while she lives, the united clans are a near-
unassailable threat and a death sentence to any village which falls
As with all things, however, Bowda does not do this out of the in her path. However, the inevitable power vacuum when she dies
goodness of its heart (not that it has one), but is manipulating the could drench the land in even more blood and chaos.
Iwa Eeni towards its own purpose. e slaves caught by the gnolls
are primarily traded with a group representing the Brabus family,
a powerful family of dark elves who dwell in the unfathomable
underground depths. In their excavations and expansions, the dark
elves are, unknowingly, nearing a subterranean altar (of unknown
but ancient origin) dedicated to Bowda, and a constant supply of
fresh slaves ensures that, sooner or later, they will stumble across it.
Should the dark elves, with their predilection for demon worship,
discover and make the proper sacri ces at the altar, Bowda’s full
power shall be unleashed on the world.
Unaware that they are pieces in a much larger game, the Iwa Eeni
simply view Bowda as a blessing, and a sign that theirs is the
pinnacle of the gnoll way of life.
Taza Hwu

e Taza Hwu (‘three clans’) is a huge plains clan, made up of
several hundred gnolls of three separate groups united under the
savage claw of Zausra’a, declared Hwu’uat, queen over all gnolls.
Too large to be constrained to a single territory, e Taza Hwu
roves the land, recognizing no borders and seeing all gnolls as
Zausra’a’s rightful subjects. Zausra’a’s vision of a united gnoll race is
a terrifying prospect, but all who have stood against her have been
swept aside, with not a trace of them le for the crows.
Years ago, a er a brutal battle with the Shield-Biter orc tribe,
Zausra’a’s pregnant mother, Vitizi found herself alone, and clanless.
As she prepared for a lonely death, she had a dream of hyenas
picking over the bones of the world under the shadow of a gnoll
with three heads.

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Chapter 2: Gnolls