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Troll

"Think before you act. If thinking does not help, think longer. If that still does not help, find a comfortable place to sit."

—The Ponderings of the Masked Fellows, an excerpt by Ghan the Elder, a Troll philosopher

Trolls, or the Tral-ūn, “Broken Ones”, as the Orcs call them, are a peculiar, isolated race from Southern Keleva. They’re a people of a quiet nature and unusual disposition, misunderstood and maligned with apprehension and a shadowy history. Scars and brutishness remain, but through great effort, they’ve overcome the challenges that lurk in the past. Now, Trolls believe only in what lies before them.

Description

Trolls are not an entirely organic Kynd, with all possessing a mask* composed of a strange, bone-like substance. Their large, angular skulls protrude both tusks and long sabre-teeth, and jagged ossicones extend from their chin and forehead. The rest of their bodies are mostly natural, with: hulking forms, slouched postures, arms that extend down the ankles, and a great deal of hair. Their hairy coats are often black or gray, and their skin is composed of faint blues. All trolls possess a prehensile tail, though the length varies largely. Still, even amongst these more monstrous features, flecks of artifice split through—bleeding a congealed black substance that stinks of unknown.

*These masks are the face of the Troll. Removing the mask reveals it's connected to the head via flesh and sinew.

A troll’s mask is unique to each individual. These masks carry with them various oddities, multiple eyes and elongated noses are prevalent. Despite any one mask’s distinctive visage, it is ultimately identical in its effect. Though immensely strong, Trolls cannot access the full extent of their strength; physically unable to exert the full force of their muscles—comparable to regular Kynd—though still making them excellent laborers.

These cursed objects aren’t without use: letting Trolls communicate via short-range telepathy in lieu of their inability to speak regularly. Using this ability is accompanied by a low humming noise which resonates from the mask, growing louder or softer depending on the emotion expressed. Being cursed also means Trolls cannot be cursed again, forgoing the infection of Vampirism, Werebeasts, or any lesser curse. They are however susceptible to the Death-Touch and may rise as undead, though the latter will decay their excess muscle before they have the chance to use it.

Moreover, Trolls lack many basic biological functions that are found within other Kynd. They lack the facilities—as inhibited through their mask—to swallow food or drink water, notably lacking a digestive tract and reproductive organs. Trolls do however possess respiratory & circulatory organs.* Morticians within South Keleva have performed autopsies on the cadavers of naturally-passed Trolls, and have been left perplexed at the nature of their anatomy.

*Trolls also do not develop genetic diseases like dwarfism or chromosomal disorders. They are, in a sense, "genetically perfect."

Unusually, Trolls do not give rise to progeny in any conventional sense, lacking sex altogether. Instead, Trolls create new Trollings through a process of great internal mental exertion; wherein sustained concentration, extraordinarily hard, for an enormous length of time, may physically manifest a smaller member of their Kynd. Fortunately, for the Kynd populaces which they inhabit—these great thoughts come to most trolls only rarely.*

*Trolls may only produce two (2) Trollings in their entire lives.

Life expectancy: 120 years
Height: 6'5"—7'2" ft. [1,9—2,18 m.]
Weight: 250—300 lbs. [113—136 kg.]
Language: Telepathy
Demonym: Tral-ūn

Troll skin tones.

Culture

Trolls are generally docile, contemplative people, a temperament that stands in sharp contrast to their imposing appearance. They are patient and slow to anger, often preferring to observe before acting. Among themselves, Trolls are surprisingly sociable, with their telepathy allowing seemingly silent gatherings to remain lively.

Trolls are most commonly found throughout the southern lands alongside Orcs and Goblins, rarely forming large nations of their own. Instead, they live in small communities woven into the settlements of other peoples. They tend to value cooperation and communal living, with little importance placed on individual wealth or status.

Shamans are especially prominent among Trolls, acting as spiritual leaders and keepers of old customs. Troll communities often look to them for guidance, particularly concerning their masks and the strange magic surrounding their existence.

With neither voices nor visible expressions, Trolls have developed their own means of expression. Painting, carving, decoration, and elaborate markings are widespread, and many Trolls gradually decorate their masks throughout their lives. What may appear crude or meaningless to an outsider can carry considerable significance among Trolls.

History

Sometime after The Moonshattering, an enigmatic tribe of Trolls were said to have migrated into the Boglands, bringing with them the rare Ockerina Blossom flower, sowing its seeds as they passed through the region. Unverified accounts from Lach elders tell of interactions with this tribe, their Bogland ancestors receiving an ominous warning of a great “Song’s End.” Today, the Ockerina Bloom stands as the only remnant of these Bog Trolls and their message, now simply another mystery buried beneath the damp earth.

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