![[Yeenoghu.png|500]] **Prince of Gnolls, Gnoll Lord, Lord of Savagery, Beast of Butchery, Ruler of Ruin, Destroyer** **Alignment**: Chaotic Evil --- ### Overview **Yeenoghu** was a demon lord and the chief being worshiped by gnolls. Dedicated only to destruction, the Ruler of Ruin sought the collapse of civilization and would brutally butcher all that stood between him and his rabid slaughter. Yeenoghu appeared as a gnoll-like creature, 12–14 ft tall, with a grinning skull-like face and burning emerald or amber eyes atop an emaciated form. He had a mangy yellow crest of fur with scabby patches of hair, pale grey hide, blackened spines, and wielded a three-headed flail in his paws. In personality, Yeenoghu embodied killing. He had few ambitions beyond the visceral thrill of rending flesh and drinking hot blood, craving utter defeat and annihilation of all who stood against him. He took pleasure in terror and sorrow before death, despised civilization, would not rebuild what he destroyed, and was capable of subtlety and trickery, though he usually chose not to employ it. A defining belief among his followers was that hyenas who devoured the corpses of Yeenoghu’s kills were divinely transformed. --- ### Domain and Influence Yeenoghu’s home plane was the Abyss, and his realm was known as **Death Dells**, the **422nd layer** of the Abyss. He rarely remained there for long, wandering the Abyss constantly. He was remarkable among demon lords for his active influence on the Material Plane. He guided gnolls through omens such as bloody trails, laughter heard on the wind, strange winds, and mental messages. He could not enter the Material Plane on his own and required his followers to summon him. Once summoned, he typically went on a rampage destroying civilizations. As he rampaged, hyenas followed him, devouring the corpses of those he killed until they became bloated and immobile. Hyenas that consumed corpse flesh killed by Yeenoghu might be transformed into demonic forms, most commonly gnolls and then leucrotta. --- ### Symbols and Icons ![[YeenoghuSymbol.png|300]] Yeenoghu’s symbol was a triple-headed flail. --- ### Worship and Tributes Yeenoghu was worshiped by: - Gnolls - Flinds - Hill giants Gnolls revered the transformation of hyenas into gnolls as divine work of their demon lord. --- ### Clergy and Cults Yeenoghu granted his worshipers rituals that allowed them to: - Bestow corpses with abyssal energy - Transform hyenas into gnolls - Raise fallen gnolls as skeletal witherling servants - Grant enchanted flails to flind champions --- ### Powers and Abilities Yeenoghu wielded a three-headed flail and possessed the power of a demon lord. His influence extended into the Material Plane through omens, summoning, and the transformation of beasts into demonic warriors. --- ### Treatment of the Faithful Devotees of Yeenoghu were empowered to carry out slaughter, perform abyssal rituals, and spread his taint through transformation and destruction. --- ### Myths and Legends Yeenoghu’s worship centered around his role as demon prince of gnolls and his singular pursuit of destruction. His rampages, followed by hyenas that later became gnolls or leucrotta, were core to gnoll belief. He was noted as not being in the same league as Orcus or Demogorgon in strength or influence. --- ### Encounters with Yeenoghu Encounters tied to Yeenoghu often involve: - Widespread slaughter and destruction - Bloody trails, winds, and laughter as omens - Transformed hyenas becoming gnolls - Gnoll warbands acting with overwhelming brutality --- ### Conclusion Yeenoghu is the demon prince of gnolls, a savage and destructive demon lord whose realm of Death Dells, triple-headed flail, and influence over gnoll creation define his place in Abyssal lore.