Alghoul

Alghouls are a sub-species of necrophage, and the biological cousins of ghouls, distinguished by their darker visage, larger size and strength, colourings, and intelligence. After the Northern Wars, their numbers spread rapidly through the Northern Kingdoms, due to lack of control and widespread famine which attracted the corpse-eaters.^[1]

What distinguishes an Alghoul from a regular ghoul in terms of physical characteristics? toggle section

Alghouls, a sub-species of necrophage, are biologically related to ghouls. They are identifiable by their darker color, larger size, and greater strength. The key distinction lies in their intelligence, as alghouls, unlike ghouls and graveirs, can plan and strategize, making them a greater threat. They typically lead ghoul packs, posing a danger to lone travelers, caravans, and farmsteads.

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What caused the rapid spread of Alghouls through the Northern Kingdoms? toggle section

The swift proliferation of Alghouls in the Northern Kingdoms resulted from the aftermath of the Northern Wars. The ensuing famine and lack of control attracted these necrophages, leading to their rapid spread.

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What makes human flesh irresistible to Alghouls? toggle section

Alghouls develop an insatiable craving for human flesh after years of consuming corpses. This makes human flesh irresistible to them, leading them to prey on the living. They are often found in areas with fresh bodies like cemeteries and battlefields. Alghouls also exhibit greater intelligence than ghouls, capable of planning and leading ghoul packs.

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How does an Alghoul's diet evolve over time? toggle section

As a sub-species of necrophage, Alghouls are primarily corpse-eaters. Their diet evolves in response to the availability of corpses in their environment. For instance, their population surged after the Northern Wars, when widespread famine led to an increase in available corpses.

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The Witcher

Journal Bestiary entry

Alghouls are ghouls which had been devouring corpses for so many years that human flesh becomes irresistible and they begin to prey on the living. They are seen in crypts and on battlefields, frequently surrounded by ghouls. Simple folk do not notice the differences between these two types of scavengers - unlike witchers, who know that the alghoul is a more aggressive and challenging opponent.

Locations

Crypts and cemeteries
Swamp (between the Kezath obelisk and the collapsed tower)
Vizima cemetery

Source

The Tome of Fear and Loathing, volume II
Side Effects premium module: The Book of Alghouls

Notes

Their remains will not contain Alghoul marrow until you have the Alghoul bestiary entry.
Ozzrel, a trophy quest is an alghoul.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

A bestiary entry can be obtained by reading Ghouls and Alghouls.

Bestiary entry

An alghoul's basically a badarse ghoul
– Yarpen Zigrin, dwarven warrior

Alghouls differ from normal ghouls in size, strength, coloring and, most importantly, intelligence. Whereas ghouls and graveirs are primitive creatures unfit to plan even the simplest ambush, alghouls and their kindred (such as cemetaurs) are capable of forethought, and are thus much more dangerous.

Ghouls seem to possess wits enough to at least know a brighter mind when they see it, and so let alghouls and cemetaurs lead their packs. A pack so led will terrorize all in its path, attacking not only lone travelers but also caravans and even farmsteads. When encountering such a pack the alghoul should be eliminated as a first priority, leaving the other beasts for once their leader is gone. One be particularly careful when fighting alghouls around dusk and at night, when they fight with doubled strength.

During combat alghouls and cemetaurs try risky maneuvers aimed at knocking their opponents to the ground so the others can finish the job by tearing them to shreds. Like a normal ghoul, an injured alghoul can fall into a frenzy and attack with blind fury. An experienced witcher knows to get out of its way on such occasions and strike from behind, while for an inexperienced witcher, such a turn of events often marks the end of his Path.

Combat tactics

Alghouls are smarter and more powerful than ghouls, making them the greatest threat in a ghoul pack. An otherwise coordinated pack becomes less so once the alghoul has been dealt with. Axii forces the spines on an alghoul to retract after a few seconds, with the added benefit of temporarily stunning the creature.

An alghoul can emit a piercing scream to stun nearby victims, as well as send nearby ghouls into a raging frenzy. When enraged, an alghoul grows spines on its back. This makes attacking it a very dangerous proposition, as the spines are harmful if you use melee attacks.

Associated quests

Trivia

The name of the alghoul could be a reference of the star Algol in the Perseus constellation, also called the "Demon Star". Algol derives from the Arabic "raʾs al-ghūl", meaning "head of the ghoul" (meaning "head of the demon" or "head of the ogre" in Western translations). In Greek Mythology, the star represents the head of the gorgon Medusa in the hand of the hero Perseus.
According to John of Brugge, alghouls are compared to the "panthera tigris that in Zerrikania dwells". Panthera tigris is the binomial nomenclature for the tiger.^[1]