"Gnolls are rumored to be the result of a magical combination of a gnome and a troll by an evil magic user."
- Tom Moldvay, Basic Rulebook
How did I forget about this?
Was the concept so horrible to envision that my mind erased it as a defensive measure?
Been playing on and off since 79, didn't notice that about Gnoles until a decade ago when someone pointed it out online. I think it may be that that the hyena-humanoid is so visually striking that it erased it. I do know that the word Gnoll comes from Dunsany, though his gnoles aren't really described physically from what I remember and don't resemble either creature in any case.
ReplyDeleteHe lives!!!!
ReplyDeleteI like to think the little smidge of thanks I sent your way brought you back! thanks Al!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back. Also, I like how Moldvay specifies "evil" magic user.
ReplyDeleteI wondered about tis a while back and Ken St Andre suggested another literary connection for gnolls in the comments: https://mikemonaco.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/gnolls/
ReplyDeleteIf you stat that by finding the middle of two stats...what does that look like?
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