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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

