A Suncrown merchant enjoys a day in her garden.
Suncrown Gnolls, also known as Gazbar gnolls, are a gnollish ethnic group native to Bulwar. Their packs have inhabited Bulwar since the Age of Monsters, with the areas of settlement being Raxaklu (modern Jaddanzar), the Šad Sur, Anzarzax, Xharraranaz, Imulušes and the Harra oasis.
History[]
Gnolls first appeared in Bulwar sometime during the Age of Monsters, around 948 BA, as a remnant of the horde of Rahkor. They swept through the unprepared and drained Bulwari cities. They rampaged through the subcontinent, placing a large sector of the population into slavery. Shortly after they split into various groups which came to rule and dominate large areas of Bulwar for over around three centuries.The most relevant of these, is the Ever-Greater True Gnoll Kingdom of Proxacha, as the packs which would succeed them would bulwarise the most heavily into the Suncrown gnolls.
This period of powerful gnollish states was shattered by the first Xhaz, leading to a need for greater integration between the gnolls and the Bulwari cultures, for the sake of gnollish survival. This was aided by the occasional unity found against outside threats, such as the invasion by Castan II, which caused some Bulwari city-states such as Duklum Tanuz to ally with many of the gnollish powers to stand against them.
By the Age of Petty Kingdoms the Suncrown Gnolls had adopted a bulwarised culture and language, some are known to have converted to the Sun Cult and many were either traders or skilled warriors.
In the Imperial period and the Bulwari Renaissance period many gnolls reached positions of power in the human Akalates, like Matriarch Yzz in Suranšes or Packlord Trouk in Šinazanšes.
By 600 AA the Suran plain was in full control of the Suncrown gnolls, who ruled over petty kingdoms of similar size and strength, known as Merchant Queendoms. Xharraranaz and Anzarzax were two most important ones of the period. This era is often said to be the height of the Suncrown gnoll’s influence and power in Bulwar.
Around the year 1000 AA, the Suncrown rulers of Anzarzax were overthrown by a Xhazobkult gnoll matriarch who’s conquest of the surrounding areas displaced many Suncrown gnolls. Surviving Suncrown gnolls fled primarily to Akalšes and Raxaklu, which later also fell to Anzarzax; prompting the remaining Suncrown gnolls there to also flee to Akalšes .
During the Jaherian Eastern Campains, Suncrown gnoll’s are known to have fought in the service of the at-the-time King of Akalšes in Rahen.
Between the years of 1020 and 1444 AA, a steady stream of Suncrown gnolls continued to trickle into Akalšes, forming sizable minorities across the Akalate.
By 1444 AA the majority of the Suncrown population was located in Akalšes, and were primarily worshippers of the New Sun Cult, with the next highest concentration being found in the Šad Sur.
Suncrown gnolls were recorded fighting against the Jaddari during their conquest of Akalšes, particularly in the Last Charge of the Anahallapti.
Faith and Culture[]
Suncrown gnolls are, in part, defined by an at-large adherence to the Bulwari Sun Cult and its tenets; contrasting with many other gnollish groups in and around Bulwar, many of which adhered to the Xhazobkult and later Kvangahga, as well as a general heavy influence by various Bulwari cultures, notable in both customs and linguistics.
Before Age of the Phoenix, and thus the cementing of the Anti Slavery taboo as religious practice, Suncrown Gnolls where some of the largest conductors of the slave trade, particularly during the height of the Merchant Queendoms, who where some of the few powers willing to partake in the shunned trade, and acted as an funnel for Raheni and Sarhaly slaves.
It is known that the Suncrown sect of the Sun Cult believed that slavery was acceptable, so long as the slaves were not Bulwari, with Bulwari peoples being indentured servants, at the most.
Appearance[]
Suncrown gnolls tend to be tall, wiry, and with quite rounded ears. They are usually a pale brown in colouration, with faint brown spots on their short fur. Many of these traits are shared with their Sandfang cousins.