Then I got to thinking- maybe it wasn't that way at all. Maybe the Nithians created the gnolls not simply as servitors (in emulation of the hutaaka), but as a warrior army, which they promptly sicced on Traladara, in an effort to retake the region for themselves?
In fact, the more I think on this, the more I like the idea. The gnolls were such a success (as a warring race) that their creation was sped along, and they were very quickly sent out on their mission, to destroy the Traladarans and hutaakans.
Any thoughts?
I had never looked at the dates, but you are right, 50 years sounds like an awfully short time for the Gnoll race to escape and breed into vast hordes, no matter how fast they breed.
The idea of a huge army created by the Nithians has a certain Star Warsy feel to it (Clone Army, anyone?). I like it
OTOH, I'm not sure I'm confortable with the Traladara invasion being a planned attack by Nithia. Not saying I don't like it either, but i'm going to have to chew on that one for a while.
An alternative would be that the Gnolls were bred to fight against other raiding humanoids, which was a huge problem for Nithia, even at the peak of their civilization. _Then_ the army got out of control and went rampage all over the Known World. What do you think?
Havard
OTOH, I'm not sure I'm confortable with the Traladara invasion being a planned attack by Nithia. Not saying I don't like it either, but i'm going to have to chew on that one for a while.
Well, I hadn't worked out any particulars yet, but I can see your point. IIRC, it isn't until c.750 or so that the Nithians began to lean towards Entropic ways.
On the other hand, perhaps it was some faction or other, not wholly (or even partially) endorsed by the prevailing Nithian rulers that were responsible.
An alternative would be that the Gnolls were bred to fight against other raiding humanoids, which was a huge problem for Nithia, even at the peak of their civilization. _Then_ the army got out of control and went rampage all over the Known World. What do you think?
That's an idea. Come to think of it, the gnolls seem particularly well suited to northern climes (their fur, their bestial nature, their natural weaponry and such). Maybe they were intended for the more northerly Nithian expeditions- the Nithians got as far as the lower reaches of Norwold, IIRC. The gnolls would have made excellent "shock troopers" in such climates. Perhaps the Nithians were getting ready to stage a large scale invasion of the "barbaric" (ie, Antalian) Northlands, but the gnolls got away from them (perhaps a mortal and future "Ranivorus" was whispered to and aided by priests of Thanatos, and took his people down a different route than the one planned by his Nithian overlords?)
Originally posted by Cthulhudrew
Havard said:
Well, I hadn't worked out any particulars yet, but I can see your point. IIRC, it isn't until c.750 or so that the Nithians began to lean towards Entropic ways.
On the other hand, perhaps it was some faction or other, not wholly (or even partially) endorsed by the prevailing Nithian rulers that were responsible.
Seems likely. The HWA adventures indicate that the Entropic Immortals were involved in the creation of the Gnolls, so they were probably trying to spread their influence even before 750, even if that was the date when the Entropic influence really started to get ahold of Nithian society.
Gnoll Army purpose
That's an idea. Come to think of it, the gnolls seem particularly well suited to northern climes (their fur, their bestial nature, their natural weaponry and such). Maybe they were intended for the more northerly Nithian expeditions- the Nithians got as far as the lower reaches of Norwold, IIRC. The gnolls would have made excellent "shock troopers" in such climates. Perhaps the Nithians were getting ready to stage a large scale invasion of the "barbaric" (ie, Antalian) Northlands, but the gnolls got away from them (perhaps a mortal and future "Ranivorus" was whispered to and aided by priests of Thanatos, and took his people down a different route than the one planned by his Nithian overlords?)
That would make sense. OTOH, I am not against the idea of having the Nithians plan an attack on Traladara (even before succumbing to Entropy), but at one point, I) believe that at one point, the Nithains lost control over the Gnoll army. What happened after that, was just plain chaos. Ranivorus may have been the Gnoll leader who rebelled against the Nithians and took "control" (as much as that is possible) over the Gnoll hordes.
This may have been what helped Ranivorus gain immortality.
I also used Orcus (Oruguz), as the Gnoll King who lead the actual invasions of Traladara (and fighting Halav), Ranivorus may have been sort of an über-leader of the Gnolls, perhaps not even entering Traladara. What do you think?
Havard