graceful portal
I'm not asking how to run Gnolls - the enemy type - I'm more wondering how to include them in my first echelon Story in a meaningful way.
Currently I'm at "they are a threat to nearby society and need to be rooted out like a pest."
Any idea what else to do with them?
grand vessel
I always used them as a sort of bad omen of more demonic things to come. Sort of like an apocalyptic horde that leave nothing other than destruction and carnage in their wake.
Also in their lore there is something about them once having tasted immortal flesh and always hungering for more. So some rituals to bring down an immortal and feast on them could also be a plot for the Gnolls.
hearty widget
I’d ask, are they naturally occurring in your world or are they from the Abyss like in the descriptions?
Because if they’re from the abyss, like Flelb says, how they got here and where they’re coming from could be a crucial question for the Hero’s to answer because if they’re here, what else has gotten through/could get through if the Hero’s don’t close it
graceful portal
That approach makes sense.
I want to keep my game as closely to Orden as I can, so yes, they would definitely be abyssal in origin.
That gives me good starting points for a special objective encounter 🤔
ripe osprey
I really like the "feast on immortal flesh" angle but I would take it a step further like the kuo toa - maybe they want to feast on anything that is venerated. A new gladiator champion? Let's go eat him. A popular bard? Snack time. The princess is visiting to go to university? Ambush, kidnap, eat.
keen salmon
I used gnolls in my campaign by giving them an abyssal artifact that made their overcharged their frenzy, causing reckless attacks and even cannibalism within their camp. The party had to infiltrate the camp to take the artifact from the leader
graceful portal
Love that idea, especially the cannibalism. Really hone in on how feral they are
keen salmon
Love that idea, especially the cannibalism. Really hone in on how feral they are
There was a bigger plot going on and the gnolls were a maguffin holder. I also used them as the first encounter, they attacked the tavern at night with the heroes inside!