[RPG] What are the funerary rites of Gnoll worshipers of Erythnul

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I'm playing a Gnoll Cleric who worships Erythnul in a D&D 3.5e game. Sadly one of my party members died in our last session (he's not a Gnoll). I would like to do something with his body (not just leave it where it fell).

What are the funerary rites of an Erythnulian Gnoll?

As a lore question, material from other editions is fine.

Best Answer

I can not say if there is any canon about the specific combination of gnoll and cleric of Erythnul. However, a Pathfinder third party publisher has a large page regarding gnolls, where they state the following (emphasis mine):

Gnolls treat their dead like they would any other dead creature and engage in cannibalism, but they may offer a brief ceremony for a revered member of the pack prior to devouring the fallen gnoll.

Additionally, if we look at the wiki on Erythnul it states that (emphasis mine):

In the least violent services to Erythnul, shrill reed instruments are played discordantly while gongs clash and drums pound. During major rites, a fire is built and victims are sacrificed. One famous rite is the "Bloody Howl," when soldiers captured from the previous battle are killed in order to bring Erythnul's favor just before the next one.

Prayers to Erythnul are customarily rhyming chants with gory subject matter.)

Combining the two, I can imagine 2 scenes (depending on what is available):

Scenario 1 (No prisoners):

You (as the cleric) would construct a funeral pyre and burn your party member (to perform something as close to the 'major rites' that one can get). You could then take part of the roasted party member and consume his flesh (to appease the Gnoll side of you).

Scenario 2 (Prisoners were taken at whatever incident killed your party member):

You would herd the prisoners into a small encirclement, where you would burn them alive, accompanied by either chanting or instruments (drum/gong). You would then at some point consume part of your party member before adding the remainder of his corpse to the burning area.

PS: I never realized how... 'savage' Gnolls can be before trying to answer this question.

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