Gnoll Marauder

Gnoll Marauder (CR 7)

Chaotic Evil - Medium - Humanoid (Gnoll)

Lore:	Know (Local)
13		29
Basic DC		Full DC

Initiative

11

Perception:
21	+11
Passive	Active

Ambush:

10+

on a d20

Senses:

• Standard Senses
• Low-Light Vision

Movement Types:

• Walk 40 ft.

Defense

AC

24

Man Def

23

Monster Health
113	56	11
Hit Points	Bloodied	Hit Dice

Saving Throws
Fort:	+9
Refl:	+4
Will:	+4

Strong Against:

Weak Against:

Offense

Size:	Medium
5 ft.		5 ft.
Space		Reach

To-Hit

+12

Man Off

+11

Action

0

Points

Standard Attack (Melee):

• 1x Gnoll Spear +12 (2d8+4/19-20 x2)
  as piercing (physical, common)
  plus Snapping Bite

Full Attack (Melee):

• 3x Gnoll Spear +12 (2d8+4/19-20 x2)
  as piercing (physical, common)
  plus Snapping Bite

Standard Attack (Ranged):

• 1x Gnoll Javelin +12 (2d8+4/19-20 x2)
  as piercing (physical, common)
  (Increment: 30 ft.; Max Range: 150 ft.)

Full Attack (Ranged):

Siege Damage: Not siege capable

Statistics

20

STR

14

DEX

14

CON

9

INT

14

WIS

7

CHA

Skills:

• Acrobatics: 11
• Perception: 11
• All other skills: 6 (no ranks)

Languages:

Feats:

Special Abilities

Snapping Bite (Ex) Free Action 1/Rnd after standard or full attack

Any time the gnoll takes a standard attack or a full attack, it may also attempt a snapping bite attack on the same target. This attack may only be used once per round. Snapping Bite +12 (2d6+2/x2), as crushing (physical, common) damage

Distracting Flanker (Ex) Automatic with Flank

Any time a gnoll marauder and an allied gnoll are flanking a target, BOTH gnolls gain +2 AC and Maneuver Defense against that target's attacks. The gnoll maurauders harry the target any time it attempts an offensive maneuver, protecting itself and its ally. Note that Distracting Flanker only provides an AC and Maneuver Defense benefit against any target this gnoll marauder happens to be flanking. If an enemy who isn't flanked, or is flanked by different gnolls, attacks the gnoll marauder, Distracting Flanker provides no benefits. Note that all gnolls are aware of how Marauders protect their fellows, and will seek to take advantage of it if possible.

Gnoll Marauder

Gnolls are a race of hulking humanoids that resemble hyenas in more than mere appearance; they show a striking affinity with the scavenging animals, to the point of keeping them as pets, and reflect many of the lesser creatures' behaviors.

Gnolls are capable hunters, but are far happier to scavenge or steal a kill than to go out and track down prey. This laziness impels them to acquire slaves of whatever type is available, whom they force to dig warrens, gather supplies and water, and even hunt for their gnoll masters.

Creatures other than hyenas and other gnolls are either meat or slaves, depending upon the temperament of the tribe. Even a dead or fallen comrade is a fresh meal for a gnoll, who might honor a distinguished tribe member with a brief prayer, or thoroughly cook one that has died of a wasting disease, but otherwise view a dead gnoll as little different from any other creature. The more "civilized" gnolls do not eat their prisoners, but instead keep them as slaves, either to defend or improve their lair or to trade with other tribes or slaver bands.

Gnolls relish combat, but only when they have the obvious advantage of numbers. In other situations, they prefer to avoid combat except as a means of winning a kill from another hunter, or as a clever ambush to bring down a large meal. These hyena-men see no value in courage or valor, instead preferring to flee once it becomes clear that victory is not possible, noting that it is better to run with tail tucked away than to lose one's tail entirely.

Combat Tactics

Gnoll marauders will use javelins if they cannot close to melee with their targets, but they prefer melee.

In combat, gnoll marauders will use acrobatics to tumble, avoiding attacks of opportunity as they position themselves for flanks. Because of their high movement speed, they will avoid the penalty for tumbling more than half speed (-5) whenever possible.

Gnolls will make aggressive use of flanks to buff their to-hits and defenses.

If the fight begins to turn against them, gnoll marauders have the nasty habit of turning their attention to the strongest target, in hopes that, by taking that target out, the other enemies will flee.

Out of Combat

Gnolls live in large, loose, rambling encampments, in things sort of like yurts made of wood, bone, and raw, rotting skins. If they have been in one place for more than a few days, their burrowing instincts will prompt them to begin digging warrens under their yurts, and if they have been in place for a while the tunnels and chambers beneath are usually even larger than their territory above. Slaves are seen everywhere, miserable and bedraggled.

They typically have a few large cooking pits where they char meat, and large open areas in which they circle and snarl, or preen. From these semi-nomadic camps, they strike out in loose bands, of varying composition and size, to prowl and hunt all their territory. Gnolls are strong and vicious, and if they were better organized could be a major threat, but as they are, even orcs can easily drive them away with numbers and tactics. Woe betide the weak and unwary when gnolls are around.

Rewards

XP: 3,200

Treasure: Sellable Goods worth 2,875 gp.

Weight: 70 lbs.     Volume: 2.8 cu. ft.

Optional Treasure Rules: Roll a d20 on Table 1 below once per encounter (NOT per creature). Any items discovered are in addition to the normal treasure for the encounter.

Table 1: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 10	Nothing Found
11 - 14	1 Languid Remnant (tier 1)
15 - 17	1 Pale Remnant (tier 2)
18 - 19	1 Bright Remnant (tier 3)
20	Roll on Table 2
###	Nothing to see here!
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 2: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Languid Remnants (tier 1)
6 - 10	3 Pale Remnants (tier 2)
11 - 14	1 Intense Remnant (tier 4)
15 - 17	1 Blazing Remnant (tier 5)
18 - 19	1 Vital Remnant (tier 6)
20	Roll on Table 3
###	Or here. Move along.

Table 3: Remnant(s) Found
1 - 5	3 Bright Remnants (tier 3)
6 - 8	3 Intense Remnants (tier 4)
9 - 11	3 Blazing Remnants (tier 5)
12 - 14	3 Vital Remnants (tier 6)
15 - 17	1 Prime Remnant (tier 7)
18 - 19	1 Mythic Remnant (tier 8)
20	1 Empyrean Remnant (tier 9)