Editing Gnoll (section)

=Family Tree=
Though usually ignored, there are a few different branches of the family tree.

'''Flinds''' are the most well-known branch, appearing in the editions on and off throughout the years. Originally introduced for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons#AD&D 1st Edition|AD&D 1st Edition]] as part of the [[Fiend_Folio#1st_Edition|Fiend Folio]], Flinds were conceived of as smaller, less imposing, but smarter, gnoll-kin. In this edition, Flinds looked like lions instead of hyenas. They were the more rational and reasonable gnoll-kin, and had a dedicated article, "The Sociology of the Flind", in [[Dragon Magazine]] #173. They're mostly remembered for being cannibalistic ("flind" apparently means "eater of gnolls" in the gnoll tongue) and for wielding ''solid-iron nunchuks'' called "flindbars", which gave them the aggravatingly cheap ability to force your PCs to save vs. wands in AD&D to avoid having their weapons yanked out of their hands. When [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] rolled around, flinds didn't reappear until the [[Monster Manual#Monster Manual III (3.5E)|Monster Manual III]], where their character was reversed - they became bigger, stronger, tougher and even ''nastier'' versions of the common gnoll, although they were still smarter. [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]] preserved this, although it obscured their return in [[Dragon Magazine]] #369 as the "Havoc Gnolls". In [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]], flinds didn't appear until [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Books|Volo's Guide to Monsters]], where they essentially became the gnollish equivalent of [[Blackguard]]s; demon-blessed champions of [[Yeenoghu]] specially selected to lead gnollish warbands.

'''Ghuuna''' are a gnollish [[therianthrope]] subspecies introduced in [[Dragon Magazine]] #89 pg. C-9 and C-10, gifted with the power to turn into hyenadons (or dire hyenas, in more modern interpretations); they could spread this amongst their own race like lycanthropy, but rarely did so, as they revelled in being special. Ghuunas never really caught on.

'''[[Shoosuva]]''' are undead demons born from gnollish souls, who first appeared in [[Dragon Magazine]]#63 - as part of the first elaboration on gnollish culture and mentality. They are described as resembling huge, emaciated hyenadons glowing with eerie yellow light, and possess [[ghoul]]-like abilities, such as paralytic attacks. They mostly went ignored afterwards; a 3e translation finally arrived in [[Dungeon Magazine]] #112. Volo's Guide to Monsters saw them promoted to their first ever official splatbook appearance, although with a few tweaks - like the loss of their paralytic attacks in favor of a toxic tail stinger.

In [[Pathfinder]] book ''Pathfinder Lost Omens: The Mwangi Expanse'', the kholo clans of the Mwangi Expanse have the most notable split, divided into four subraces based on the four species of hyena.
* '''Ant Gnolls''' are based on Aardwolves. Foreigners often disbelieve these insect-hunting gnolls as actually being gnollkin whatsoever, since they average at only three feet tall!
* '''Great Gnolls''' are the obligatory Spotted Hyena gnollkin. The largest, strongest and most aggressive of the kholo subraces, it's implied that the gnolls of other lands in [[Golarion]] are Great Gnolls who migrated out of the Mwangi Expanse and then lost their way, falling into the clutches of the cult of [[Lamashtu]].
* '''Sweetbreath Gnolls''' are based on the Striped Hyena, and in particular that hyena's association with sexual magics in African folklore (with maybe a dash of the Roman view of hyenas as [[vampire]]s). Aside from their distinct striped fur patterns, they are also distinguished by their mystically imbued sweet-smelling breath, which can enthrall prey.
* '''Witch Gnolls''' are based on the Brown Hyena, and seem to have absorbed the more mystical associations of hyenas, specifically the idea of hyenas imitating voices to lure victims to their doom. They are distinguished by their dark brown, shaggy-furred pelts and their ability to produce "truly uncanny" sounds, most notably by mimicking the voices of others.