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Grollen in the Steel Realms
Approximately 2m – 2.3m tall,
@RP Impact:
The [contentblock id=playlink1] is the defacto starting point for characters and races of the Steel Realms Setting (planet of Helca). Where the appears notes a Role-Playing challenge/opportunity.
The Grollen of the realms a fierce, prideful peoples. They are descendants of ancient Gnolls but consider themselves a separate race. At one time they ranged across the entire realms, but their numbers are diminishing due to competition. Grollen warriors are some of the few who can stand toe-to-toe against the fearsome Ork. They are desired for their fighting prowess by the other races though little else. Wherever they go, a party, mad sounds, dancing, violence, and broken crockery is sure to follow…
Shrouded History: They were not as they once were. Grollen were once the mortal enemies of… all. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but it is known that they once fought for the gods of evil and darkness and were as great a foe as the Orrish. But the Grollen walked from the dark and into the light. Their very countenance has changed from the ancient depictions of them.
Unwelcome:
Accepted
Welcomed:
Children of the Moon Mistress: They venerate Ezrilus the Moon Mistress as their patron goddess. In their past, the warlords ruled the clans and families, but since adopting (or rather being adopted) by their new patron, they have reorganized as a matriarchal society – their pack-mothers and seeress’ having control of their migrations and settlements. They channel their rage and fury into moots of howls, dance, feasting and wrestling.
Thirst for Blood: They have an uncontrollable compulsion of blood-lust. All Grollen still possess the deep spark of chaos and violence of their origins. They must make a DC 10 Sanity check when starting battle to avoid falling into a blood-lust frenzy wherein they forgo all tactical advantage in their desire for bloody hand-to-hand melee combat.
Dead on Your Feet: Grollen have a reputation as being very hard to kill. Their fierce loyalty and blood-lust allow them to hold off death to protect their tribe, kin or brethren – committing themselves to their service in afterlife in return for the moon goddess’s inspiration. Grollen choosing to employ this are bathed in soft moonlight, and must make a Constitution check each time they are hit, DC = the last damage they took; a natural 20 always succeeds. Success means they stay conscious and on their feet to the next round. There is no limit to the negatives HP from attacks, as long as the save is made. If the save is failed, or there are no more opponents, they die at the end of the round (no death saves; Spare the Dying will not work, requires Raise Dead or better to overcome). When those with Shared Litany choose this fate, for each other Grollen with Shared Litany for Ezrilus that sacrifice 1 Essence within 5m can join their essence to the effect and the fated Grollen gains 1 Resilience.
Grollen Characters
Players should read the What PC’s should know for Steel Realms.
Character Backgrounds
Dog Soldier
Professional scouts for the armies and forces that maneuver across the lands of Gladnor, as well as the premiere tribal warriors. They are also the ones that serve in Northgate Garrison or in bands in the south sometimes working with the High Kings rangers.
Requirements: CHA 8; -1 Essence (they “tame” themselves); CON 14
Skills: Perception
Languages: Speak Gladnorean (Understandable level)
Combat Discipline The character gains their proficiency bonus on Sanity checks to resist Bloodlust.
Fighting Spirit The Grollen on campaign are renowned for their ability to take punishment and keep going and to come back from the brink of death. On any specific death save check (the final one resulting in death) which may kill them permanently, they gain their proficiency bonus.
Shield Bite: A Grollen on Rampage wearing less than Heavy Armor that successfully bites can choose instead to bite a shield of an opponent. That shield no longer counts in AC, and the Grollen and target both lose half any Dexterity AC adjustment until the Grollen lets go or the opponent spends an action to disarm the shield.
Culture and Society
Tribal Matriarchs: Grollen tribes are organized around a Matriarch.
Knowledge/Facts About/Chronicle of [Thing]
Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
The Grollen of the realms a fierce, prideful peoples. They are descendants of ancient Gnolls but consider themselves a separate race. At one time they ranged across the entire realms, but their numbers are diminishing due to competition. Grollen warriors are some of the few who can stand toe-to-toe against the fearsome Ork. They are desired for their fighting prowess by the other races though little else. Wherever they go, a party, mad sounds, dancing, violence, and broken crockery is sure to follow…
Shrouded History: They were not as they once were. Grollen were once the mortal enemies of… all. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but it is known that they once fought for the gods of evil and darkness and were as great a foe as the Orrish. But the Grollen walked from the dark and into the light. Their very countenance has changed from the ancient depictions of them.
The Grollen correlate to the Gnoll of DnD.
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Broken Origins: Grollen were not always as they are now. It is hinted that once they were servants of evil, in the far reaches of history. Before the great leader Ker-Grol arose, his peoples were vile, evil killers. Dealers of death feared by all. It is said they were once even favored by the gods of evil and great fiends. This is rumor and myth only… but for the Grollen, it is an accepted fact. They believe to have lifted themselves up from the fiendish beasts they once were and are fiercely proud of their race’s accomplishments. But the dark stain of chaos and violence is still their weakness, and without a dark patron behind them to bind them together in purpose, they have seen their numbers decrease as the lands get settled and they must compete.
Into the Light: Once servants of darkness and evil, they threw off the yolk of their masters – Ker-Grol The Fierce slew the Ork champion Brutar Bloodgut and a personal fight, and walked away with his head. He then beat Quall Tolmarein to death, the priest of Everdark who had flogged them into battle for decades, with Brutar’s dented, helmet encased head. After, he ate his heart out of his chest in front of his stunned acolytes. His people turned upon their dark masters in numbers that day and walked out of the darkness in the light of, and howling under, the full moon. They were rewarded with the patronage of the Moon Mistress Ezrilus – who protected them from the curse of the Sun Bane and it is said tempered their evil with her love.
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
Originally gnolls (pre-Grollen) were the chosen of Everdark in the world they left behind. They possessed a blood frenzy straight from the abyss. When they were forced to fight to near extinction in the Valley of Sighs at the Battle of Broken Fang, they sought a new path. Gradually, they would develop their own language, a new culture centered around the frenzy of the feast and not killing, and make new societies led by their devotion to their savior, Ezrilus the Moon Mistress.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Half breeds do happen, but they are the ugliest by all manner of reckoning. Aside from this the female musk is repellent to all other species though it drives male Grollen into sexual ecstasy.