Like I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm new to Dark Sun and I have a couple of questions. I'm eagerly awaiting my books, but since I want to start PC character creation soon, I figure if I know these few answers it might make things easier.
One thing I noticed in Bloodsand Arena was the Gith. They have the racial power of the Githyanki in the MM, but they have no picture. I'm assuming Gith is what Githzerai/Githyanki are called in Dark Sun, yet in another thread I read talking about Dark Sun Encounters, you weren't allowed to make a Githzerai PC. I felt I had to ask because maybe the Gith aren't the same thing.
In the Creature Catalog thumbnails, it looked as if there were Gnolls in Dark Sun too. Do they have a different name, or are there no Gnolls? I only ask because I might have a player interested in being a PC Gnoll, and I want to know if it would work or if we should scrap the idea.
Gith(pic 28) are basically degerated decendents of Githyanki. They fill the shoes of orcs, gnolls, etc on Athas.
Surprised there's no gnolls, I'm guessing its part of the cleansing thing that happened? Gnolls, being human hyenas, would make a great race for athas.
My guess is the fur. You don't see alot of furry creatures among the creatures of Athas. Heck even dwarves lose their beards!
Based on cannon there are no Gnolls on Athas. With that said what you do in your game is your own business. The picture(pic 63) you refer to is from a section on re-skinning monsters to fit on Athas.
Gith(pic 28) are basically degerated decendents of Githyanki. They fill the shoes of orcs, gnolls, etc on Athas.
I've never seen anything in either box set saying they were wiped out or anything, they're just not mentioned. I don't think it's so much canon as optional.
Also, a friend of mine with a DDI subscription said the Dark Sun art gallery features a gnoll in there.
Looking at where hyenas live (all over Africa, the middle east, parts of India), Gnolls wouldn't be out of place on a desert planet, fur or not.
Gnolls are mentioned to roam the Hinterlands west of the Forest Ridge. Guess they're back in.
Hm, need ot check my original boxed set to see if they were in or not, can't recall.
but yes they are perfect for Athas!
vicious pack survivalists AND worship a demon lord...and Athas does connect to the Elemental Planes/elemantal chaos and thus, the Abyss.
Critters who live in the desert have fur!! adaptations have made polar bear fur fantastic stuff
trap heat better than almost anything we can create with our 21st century tec, and block searing ultraviolet light
likewise the foxes coyotes, rabbits, small animals like meerkats etc who al live in deserts will surely have adapted fur for the heat AND at night desets get bitterly cold.
I'm also considering how much more creepy they might look without hair! Lots of bone piercings and brandings. Eesh.
In 4e, gnolls are mentioned to roam the Hinterlands west of the Forest Ridge. Guess they're back in.
Indeed, as well as roaming the Dragon Horns, near Tyr itself.
I mean, considering that both roam the wastes in small, familial groups, I'd imagine that gnoll packs and elf clans clash over resources constantly. Gnolls would likely prey on elves (meat is meat), and elves kill gnolls as revenge for dead kin or preemptively protecting their own, possibly also because gnoll meat is better than no meat.
Here's an interesting idea: gnolls and elves share a deep mutual hatred.
I mean, considering that both roam the wastes in small, familial groups, I'd imagine that gnoll packs and elf clans clash over resources constantly. Gnolls would likely prey on elves (meat is meat), and elves kill gnolls as revenge for dead kin or preemptively protecting their own, possibly also because gnoll meat is better than no meat.
I pity the elves of athas, they are hated and loved (only as food though).
It's Athas. Whatcha gonna do?
Kill them before they can kill me!!!
Cannon may have been the wrong word to use.
It was. The word you want is 'canon.' ;)
As for the Gith, they're a separate race from the Githyanki/zerai (the 4e book says they're possibly a descendant of marooned Githyanki). They're actually picture #28 in the CC art gallery. Fairly low level, savage and cunning, and just ugly enough to be Athasian.
Initially I was shocked because I thought they had been wiped out in the Cleansing Wars, but I went and looked back at the history and didn't see anything. As I digested the book more and more I begun to really like the idea of gnolls in Dark Sun.
In my campaign Gnolls will be a race that honors the mutations given by the Pristine Tower (I thought of that before I read the Beast Barrens/Prisitine Tower section). So they would be at odds with the minotaurs there. Also the gnolls would congregate around the sunwarped flat areas and any areas of defiled ground.
Trying to think how to make them more athasian I decided to change their demonic heritage. They would basically worship defilers and their defiling magic would have a sort of mutating bent to it.
I like the idea that someone mentioned below about gnolls chewing bones to make weapons, I think it fits well.
Here's some other ideas that play on the original Gnoll theme:
Followers of the Prince of Destruction: Anything and everything to do with the Demon Prince of Corruption is the norm for Gnolls. Those that can elevate beyond this "normal" stereotype become the leaders and warlords of the society. They use cool heads, deep thought and powerful psionics to control their fellows and spread their corrupting influence.
Eater of Souls: Raddu76's first excellent ideas about worshiping defilers got me thinking about the "war" between primal spirits and defilers. What about a race that not only defiles, but specifically consumes spirits by "cooking them in crock pots". They trap and capture primal spirit using defiling and psionics, and then consume these spirits using vile rituals - gaining their power in return?
This would make an excellent adventure for Gulgan templars, and seperates Gnolls from Belgoi, slightly.
The Champion of Gnolls: Maybe there was a Champion devoted to destroying the Gnolls... and she lost. Or maybe didn't quite finish her goals, and instead became consumed by the Gnolls and their power. Maybe this champion was an expert demonologist. The Gnolls have now become followers of the Champion, like the Sorcerer-Kings - and this new Champion has became consumed with envy to become immortal like the rest of her comrades. She's now the Sorcerer-Queen of the Gnolls, and has made pact after pact with demons to remain immortal for thousands of years.
Cannon may have been the wrong word to use.
It was. The word you want is 'canon.' ;)
Thank you, I Was about to say the same thing.
I'm seeing an encounter with a band of gnolls. The minions bite attack has a mutating effect, causing the victims body to convulse and mutate before their eyes. It could be an attack against Fortitude that leaves the victim stunned (I'm not good with the conditions) in shock, save ends.
Their defiler change lords has a secondary effect, other than defiling, of causing mutations in their allies, bulging muscles, sharp claws, whiplike tails, etc, that allow extra damage.
Edit: Or THIS!
I think he used to hold the title of the Ugliest Dog until he passed away, I think he's adorable though, in a hellhound sort of way.
I realized today at work that the hairless desert gnolls may look a little like this.
I think he used to hold the title of the World's Ugliest Dog until he passed away, I think he's adorable though, in a hellhound sort of way.
LOOOL
He looks athasian though :D.
Wow. Awesome.
I'm seeing an encounter with a band of gnolls. The minions bite attack has a mutating effect, causing the victims body to convulse and mutate before their eyes. It could be an attack against Fortitude that leaves the victim stunned (I'm not good with the conditions) in shock, save ends.
Stunning is really powerful. Stunning (save ends) is reallly really powerful. Besides... I don't think that's the effect you want to convey.
What you should do is something that attacks from the players to their allies. You can allow the monsters to "curse" enemies, and give the monsters a standard action to attack from a "cursed" creature... or something like that.
I would love to see some neat "mutational" Dark Sun diseases... something that's infectious could be awesome.
Dark Sun Outbreak!