Three Jaws tribe

The barely remembered lore of the Three Jaws tribe speaks of a time when the gnolls were led by three warriors, brothers of peerless skill and savagery among all the tribes. Supposedly the Three Jaws conquered all the gnolls of Pale Mountain, drove the other races from the surrounding Agawu Highlands, and took hundreds of slaves. How long ago this time of gnoll glory was or how it ended none—not even the Three Jaws—can say.

Today, the members of the Three Jaws view themselves as the elite of the local gnoll tribes.  While their skill as warriors and berserkers is impressive, little in the lands or wealth they hold distinguishes them from the other gnolls of Pale Mountain. Only the appearance of Three Jaws warriors sets them apart, the tribe’s members having a long tradition of adorning themselves with trophies and precious ornaments collected from their fallen foes through piercings, skin pockets, and similar painful disfigurement. Their current leader, Hakkur, wears the crown of his father through his shoulder and four bejeweled rings in his face—items many whisper grant him all manner of magic protections.

Symbol: This pack doesn’t bear a standard so much as living “banners” of their tribe. They typically adorn themselves with objects from defeated enemies. Ears are the most heavily pierced, usually with fangs, claws, and bits of weapons seized from fresh kills.

Size of Tribe: 25 gnolls, 11 flinds, 6 goblin slaves (bought at great expense due to the continent between the Two Kingdoms and the lands of the Haeno), 15 guard hyenas.

Leader: Hakkur (CE male flind barbarian 5), brutal hulking chieftain and slayer of death worms.

Notable Members: Chinew (CE male gnoll barbarian 2), hunt leader and second-in-command; Lakkur (CE female flind barbarian 1, cleric of Khro 3), Hakkur’s sister.

Lair: A small collection of huts built by the Three Jaws spans the banks of a cascading feeder stream that runs from the upper reaches of Pale Mountain. Patrols of warriors guard the encampment, while groups of hunters prowl the nearby slopes—the Three Jaws make little distinction between intruders and prey. Within the camp, chief Hakkur makes his home in a grim tent crafted from sewn-together animal pelts and the skins of intruders. To the chieftain’s pride, the skins of his father and younger brother provide the door flaps to his home. Outside, Hakkur keeps the cramped hut of his six remaining goblin slaves. He once had 10, but in the 4 months since the goblins’ capture several have died from the poor conditions, the tantrums of gnoll warriors, and battles they engage in for the chieftain’s entertainment.

Society: Three Jaws life revolves around hunting trophies, with the term “hunting” referring to ambushing and killing any humanoid they encounter—but other gnolls and, in particular, members of the Circle tribe are prized above all.  Hakkur organizes daily hunting parties, usually sent forth under the command of the tribe’s second, Chinew.  When the Three Jaws discover and murder a beast or foe, they quickly strip the body of its distinctive adornments, fangs or teeth, and weapons. Then, back home, warriors often pierce their bodies with their new trophies.

Treasures: Each warrior of the Three Jaws has precious metals and gems affixed to his body worth a total of about 5 gp. The warriors carry such adornments not as currency but as trophies of their past kills and for the flashy sparkle.  Gold teeth or earrings still bearing a scrap of tattered skin make far more impressive trophies than otherwise indistinguishable fangs or fingers.

Service to the Carrion King: Known as deadly warriors, the Three Jaws serve at the forefront of the Carrion King’s legions. Their self-inflicted deformities strike fear in the hearts of their enemies and other tribes of gnolls. When a tribe under the Carrion King’s command displeases him, it’s often a member of the Three Jaws he sends to exact punishment.

Adventure Hook: The Three Jaws tribe has a reputation for savagery and making attacks on non-gnoll communities throughout the Pale Mountain region. In recent months, though—owing to the support offered by the Carrion King—the merciless raiders have become increasingly deadly. While striking back against the gnolls might prove a daunting task, many mercenaries have come to the region to do battle, rumors of the copper and precious jewels the gnolls weave into their flesh inspiring the greed of many sellswords. Unfortunately, the Three Jaws prove dangerously capable of defending their trophies.