#mukhan

[gnollforhire]

Clan Mukhan: Gnolls and Gender

Hyænuic tradition defines a third gender, ihru, being between that of male and female. They are named after Hyænu’s fourth concubine, Ihr, who was said to have possessed both traditional sets of genitals and impregnated Hyaenu with the seed through which the Gnoll race was conceived. (Her first three concubines impregnated her with the seeds of stars, land, and animals/plants, respectively.)

Ihru individuals may be assigned male or female at birth but come to assume non-traditional gender roles, often serving as mediators for internal clan disputes and emissaries during times of warfare. The term may also be applied to individuals born with intersex conditions.

During the height of Gnoll society, ihru were fairly common, constituting as many as one in five of all Gnolls. However, with the rise of Yeenoghu and the destruction of Hyaenuic belief, the ihru were widely persecuted, and those that were not executed, like other Hyænu believers, were forced to flee.

Early in Tisrah’s life, Yengra almost immediately identified Tisrah as ihru, but avoided referring to them as such to avoid upsetting Tisrah’s father, Kabli, who was raised around humans and held more hostile views towards non-“traditional” (human) sexualities and gender identities. It wasn’t until after the raid that Yengra began to openly share with Tisrah the history behind their ihru identity. (She had previously used the term with Tisrah, but with very little explanation, and encouraged them not to express it around other clan members. She later expressed to Tisrah that she regretted this decision.)

[gnollforhire]

Character Profile: Tisrah Mukhan

Tisrah Mukhan identified as neither male for female from young age. Even other members of the Mukhan clan, who primarily identify each other by their unique smell, admitted that Tisrah gave off neither a predominant “male” nor “female” scent. Tisrah later learned that they are ihru, a third gender in the nearly-forgotten ancient Gnoll tradition. Tisrah’s human-raised father, Kabli, often criticized them for their non-traditional gender indentity. Despite having a flirtatious personality, Tisrah’s rocky upbringing led to them becoming avoidant of adult relationships, romantic or friendly, largely due to fear of rejection.

Because they were the runt of their litter, Tisrah was deemed unfit for hunting and combat (which is still not as favored with Mukhan as with other gnoll clans). Tisrah saw this as a secret blessing, as it allowed them to explore other interests. They accompanied their mother, Yengra, on many trading ventures and, over several years, developed a disarming personality and a keen business acumen. More importantly, they soon discovered (though messing around with their family’s stock of bartered items) that their true passion lay in music. Their favored instrument is the lyre, as they find it helps put common-race customers at ease - a critical obstacle to overcome for any Gnoll seeking contact beyond violence.

Following Mukhan’s diaspora, Tisrah went into business for themself as an adventurer while covertly gathering information on their missing siblings and relatives. Through trading and performing, Tisrah has set up an information network with a few trusted informants, hideouts, and equipment caches. It is their hope that they can reunite the surviving Mukhan and, one day, fulfill the promise of their founder by restoring the old goddess and liberating the Gnoll race from Yeenoghu’s demonic thrall.

Physical Description

Though they stand at six and a half feet, Tisrah is a full head shorter than most gnolls. Like every gnoll in the Mukhan clan, they are covered in a long, sandy brown coat similar to brown hyenas. Atypical of other gnolls, Tisrah takes great pride in a visual expression of their individuality - even if it is often met with confusion and hostility.

Tisrah possesses a long mane treated with a variety of dyes (presently two-tone blue and red) that is parted to the right side. Additionally, their right ear has four piercings, one of them being a ruby stud. They are often seen with makeup, favoring dark blue eyeshadow with black eyeliner and mascara. Due to the inhospitable treatment they receive from most humanoid races, Tisrah wears a bemused (but not resentful) neutral expression on their face. They are also of a fairly slim build, though this difference is unnoticeable to those who lack frequent contact with gnolls.

Because equipment in their size is hard to come by, Tisrah often sports male-fitted armor, and currently favors a tight-fitting leather cuirass with matching pants and boots. Despite this, Tisrah always keeps an eye out for possible new outfits and costumes (for musical performances or otherwise) and can often be seen bartering for clothing and accessories - at least when they aren't turned away for being a gnoll. They wear a longsword at their back, but only out of necessity, as their preferred weapons are throwing daggers and their own mettle.

[gnollforhire]

Clan Mukhan: History

Clan Mukhan (often corrupted in Common to Muckhand) is the last surviving remnant of an ancient, once-vast clan of Gnoll tradition-keepers that has long since disappeared. Since their exile, Mukhan has been dwindling in numbers over several generations, and is now on the verge of annihilation.

They are the only Gnoll clan, to their knowledge, that has successfully preserved knowledge of their species’ heritage before the coming of Yeenoghu. One Gnoll lineage, though outwardly posing as Yeenoghu worshippers out of safety, was able to quietly continue their worship of the old Gnoll goddess Hyaenu*. This eventually culminated in a violent exodus from Gnoll clandom at large, led by a stalwart matriarch, Mukhan, for whom her clan is named after. Through years of silent outreach, Mukhan was able to coordinate several dissenters and converts spread across several clans to unite into a sizeable force. Her ultimate goal: to lead a revolution to dethrone Yeenoghu and shake the influence of demonic corruption that his worshippers have spread in favor of a return to Hyænuic traditions.

This revolution would not come to pass. Mukhan was betrayed by one of her closest contacts, and a massive force of Yeenoghu worshippers tracked down and ambushed Mukhan’s followers during the night. Though some were able to escape the onslaught, the newly founded Clan Mukhan suffered hundreds of casualties that night, including Mukhan herself.

In accordance with matrilineal tradition, the survivors looked to Mukhan’s eldest living daughter, Hyzuk, for guidance. Some say Hyzuk was still too young to take up the mantle of Matriarch, and lacked the resolve of her mother to continue the revolution in her footsteps. Others concur that Mukhan’s forces were rendered far too weak by this point for the revolution to still be feasible. Regardless of her rationale, Hyzuk thought it best for Clan Mukhan to move on from the struggle for Gnoll independence and seek their fortunes in the world at large.

In the years to come, Clan Muhkan developed a fearsome reputation among the upper classes of Faerûn. They became contract headhunters by trade, for various governments, nobles, and rebels alike. However, in the last few generations, Mukhan has made an effort to transition wholly into a mercantile, semi-nomadic lifestyle. They often masked their presence as assassins by posing as traveling merchants, so the move was not a difficult one. In addition to their ability to survive in the wilderness, they have picked up knowledge of several languages through their missions and forged important contacts that allow them to travel freely throughout the land, in spite of the general wariness and prejudice most races harbor towards Gnolls.

In spite of their efforts to change their ways, Mukhan’s bloody past managed to catch up with them. Not over a year ago, an emissary of a Faerûn noble (and former client) approached Mukhan to renew an old contract with the aim of assassinating a political rival. Mukhan’s current matriarch, Yengra, politely declined, informing them they were no longer in the headhunting business. Sensing the emissary’s obvious displeasure, Yengra thought it best to leave the area and lay low, fearing reprisal.

Her judgment did not betray her. After tracking Mukhan’s caravan for several days, a band of hired Human mercenaries waited for the ideal moment for the clan’s guard to finally relax. As with Mukhan’s foundation so many generations ago, they struck during the night and dealt a heavy blow. Much of their treasure and material possessions were lost, and those who did not die or scatter to the wilderness were captured and forced into slavery. The few individuals of Mukhan who remain free now dedicate themselves to reuniting their clan, in the dim hopes that their hard-earned heritage will not be lost to the ages.

*Some D&D manuals briefly mention Gorellik as the previous chief deity of the Gnolls before being supplanted by Yeenoghu. According to Mukhan knowledge of Gnoll lore, this is an inaccuracy put forward by the findings of other races. Gorellik was a minor deity at best in the original Gnoll pantheon that Hyænu was at the pillar of. To be specific, he was one of Hyænu’s seventeen concubines. Like, not even the first. The fourteenth. It’s like saying Christians worship one of Jesus’ high school boyfriends. Jesus, people.

[gnollforhire]

Going through my old backstory notes and would you believe I had bios written/brainstormed for sixteen of Tisrah’s old clan members. Sixteen what the fuck @ 2015 me