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Tr                                                        w
          Trollsolls
                                                                    who have baited trolls with the intention of waiting for ho have baited trolls with the intention of waiting for
                                                                      rst light and the expected petri  cation rarely live to regret  rst light and the expected petri  cation rarely live to regret

             e hill quakes, a lone edi  ce in the otherwise featureless meadow.
           e hill quakes, a lone edi  ce in the otherwise featureless meadow.   their mistake; unfortunately, a troll does not turn to stone heir mistake; unfortunately, a troll does not turn to stone
                                                                    t
          An intake of breath like grating stone elicits little more than an ear
          An intake of breath like grating stone elicits little more than an ear   in sunlight.
                                                                 in sunlight.
          twitch from the goat grazing at the summit. A scrubby briar quivers
          twitch from the goat grazing at the summit. A scrubby briar quivers
                                                                   ere are some things that trolls invariably have in common.
          and is uprooted, falling along with a shower of pebbles, rolling down
          and is uprooted, falling along with a shower of pebbles, rolling down      ere are some things that trolls invariably have in common.
                                                                   ey are all large creatures, though some signi  cantly larger than
          the increasingly vertical surface. A lumpy,   ve-pronged object vaguely      ey are all large creatures, though some signi  cantly larger than
          the increasingly vertical surface. A lumpy,   ve-pronged object vaguely
                                                                others – again, this is dependent on their environment. A swamp
          resembling a rocky hand the size of a man’s torso plants itself on the
          resembling a rocky hand the size of a man’s torso plants itself on the   others – again, this is dependent on their environment. A swamp
                                                                or forest troll has less use for sheer size, blending in as they do in
                                                                or forest troll has less use for sheer size, blending in as they do in
          ground in a shower of soil. Another gropes and paws blindly, pinning
          down its bleating quarry. Heaving its bulk upright, the craggy   murky water and woodland respectively, and so range from around
          form reveals itself. Brushing dust o   its enormous nose, it yawns   eight to ten feet tall. Hill and mountain trolls, however, can easily
          thunderously, revealing gravestone-slab tusks lining its cavernous   be mistaken for their namesakes (and take pains to ensure they
          maw before biting down.    e bleating is immediately cut short; a   are), so size is paramount, and they can easily reach twenty or even
                                                                twenty-  ve feet tall.
          trickle of blood dribbles from mossy lips.    e lone hill settles, silent.
             is is a troll.                                     Culture
          Enormous, adaptable, stealthy and practically immortal, trolls are
          the ultimate ambush predator. Nowhere is entirely safe – a troll can   Some comfort for travelers and adventurers can be found in the
                                                                fact that trolls are extremely unlikely to be found in large groups;
          blend into and inhabit any kind of habitat and will develop features
          that hone its survivability, camou  age and natural weapons.    is   in fact, you would be most unlucky to encounter more than one
          adaptability (and their inde  nite lifespan) is borne from their   or two in an entire area. Trolls live in small family groups in a
                                                                large territory, though a breeding couple will likely separate for the
          regenerative capabilities – a troll is able to re-grow any and all of its
          limbs, up to and including its own head (though a common cause   majority of the season to cover more ground and blend in better
                                                                with their surroundings – stealth is di   cult in numbers. A pair
          of death is starvation or dehydration before it is able to accomplish
          this). Areas with known troll populations have their children   will produce one o  spring who will stay with its mother until it
          taught the old rhymes and stories, and carry matches in their   is mature (at around     een to twenty years of age). When ready,
                                                                the adolescent troll may join a small group of similarly aged and
          pockets and glass vials around their necks, for only the devastating
          power of   re and acid can truly thwart a troll. Smug trophy hunters   adapted creatures until each establishes its own territory.
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        Chapter 9: Trolls
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