Troll - Revision history

Bennettj: /* Regeneration */

2026-04-30T16:13:03Z

Regeneration

Tao alexis at 18:50, 5 March 2025

2025-03-05T18:50:21Z

Tao alexis: /* Regeneration */

2025-03-05T18:47:03Z

Regeneration

Tao alexis at 18:46, 5 March 2025

2025-03-05T18:46:28Z

Tao alexis: /* Nature */

2025-03-05T18:36:21Z

Nature

Tao alexis at 18:35, 5 March 2025

2025-03-05T18:35:51Z

Marcule at 16:25, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T16:25:16Z

Marcule at 16:16, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T16:16:37Z

Marcule at 16:07, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T16:07:28Z

Marcule at 16:06, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T16:06:04Z

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 To render a troll temporarily unresistant, it must be reduced to below -4 hit points. However, even at this stage, the troll is not dead — it will revive as soon as its regeneration restores it to -3 hit points or higher. If left unchecked, even a severely mutilated troll will recover within minutes, making it nearly impossible to permanently kill by wounds alone.
-A troll’s body can be hacked apart, reducing it to -10 hit points with [[Weapons List|weapons]], yet this is only a delay. Within three rounds, the troll will regain consciousness and begin healing once more. This brief window is often the only chance to destroy it permanently: the only certain way is to either immerse them in acid until the creature is completely dissolved or to burn them in a sustained fire for at least one hour.
+A troll’s body can be hacked apart, reducing it to -10 hit points with [[Weapons List|weapons]], yet this is only a delay. Within three rounds, the troll will regain consciousness and begin healing once more. This brief window is often the only chance to destroy it permanently: the only certain way is to either immerse them in [[Acid (substance)|acid]] until the creature is completely dissolved or to burn them in a sustained fire for at least one hour.
 A large bonfire is recommended, as trolls burn slowly, like damp wood, producing thick black smoke. If even a single arm or leg escapes the flames, it may remain alive and dangerous, potentially regrowing into a new troll. Once the hour has passed, there is a 10% chance that some part of the troll remains intact. If so, the fire must be rebuilt and sustained for another 20-30 minutes until complete incineration is ensured.

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 }}
 '''Trolls''' are a species of mutant humanoid with origins that remain unknown, a mystery that has confounded scholars for millennia. While often mistaken for [[Giant|giants]], [[Ogre|ogres]] or corrupted demi-beings, trolls bear no biological link to any of these groups. Their grotesque physiology and unnatural resilience set them apart, making them one of the most enigmatic creatures in existence.
 __TOC__
 The greatest challenge to understanding trolls lies in their extraordinary regenerative properties, which make post-mortem examinations nearly impossible. A severed limb will often continue to function independently, and even a seemingly destroyed troll may reconstitute itself unless extreme measures are taken. Because of this, scholars attempting to study trolls must rely on arcane containment methods, magical stasis and specially designed tools that can suppress the creature's unnatural vitality. These difficulties have significantly hindered scientific inquiry, leaving many unanswered questions about the species' evolution, life cycle and possible origins.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:47, 5 March 2025
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	See [[Bestiary]]		See [[Bestiary]]
		+
		+	[[Category: Reviewed]]

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 | hpdie = 2d4
 | attack = '''3''': two [[Claw (attack)|claws]]; [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]]
-| dmg = 5–8/5–8 & 2–12 (or by weapon type)
+| dmg = claw (5–8); fangs (2–12); club (2-7)+3
-| special = [[Club (weapon)|club]], [[Infravision|infravision]], [[Regeneration|regeneration]], [[Strength (ability stat)|strength]]
+| special = [[Infravision|infravision]], [[Regeneration|regeneration]], [[Strength (ability stat)|strength (18/60)]]
 }}
-'''Trolls''' are a species of mutant humanoid with origins that remain unknown, a mystery that has confounded scholars for millennia. While often mistaken for [[Giant|giants]], [[Ogre|ogres]], or corrupted demi-beings, trolls bear no biological link to any of these groups. Their grotesque physiology and unnatural resilience set them apart, making them one of the most enigmatic creatures in existence.
+'''Trolls''' are a species of mutant humanoid with origins that remain unknown, a mystery that has confounded scholars for millennia. While often mistaken for [[Giant|giants]], [[Ogre|ogres]] or corrupted demi-beings, trolls bear no biological link to any of these groups. Their grotesque physiology and unnatural resilience set them apart, making them one of the most enigmatic creatures in existence.
+__TOC__
-The greatest challenge to understanding trolls lies in their extraordinary regenerative properties, which make post-mortem examinations nearly impossible. A severed limb will often continue to function independently, and even a seemingly destroyed troll may reconstitute itself unless extreme measures are taken. Because of this, scholars attempting to study trolls must rely on arcane containment methods, magical stasis, and specially designed tools that can suppress the creature’s unnatural vitality. These difficulties have significantly hindered scientific inquiry, leaving many unanswered questions about the species’ evolution, life cycle, and possible origins.
+The greatest challenge to understanding trolls lies in their extraordinary regenerative properties, which make post-mortem examinations nearly impossible. A severed limb will often continue to function independently, and even a seemingly destroyed troll may reconstitute itself unless extreme measures are taken. Because of this, scholars attempting to study trolls must rely on arcane containment methods, magical stasis and specially designed tools that can suppress the creature's unnatural vitality. These difficulties have significantly hindered scientific inquiry, leaving many unanswered questions about the species' evolution, life cycle and possible origins.
 == Origin ==
 Legends and folklore abound with conflicting theories, some claiming that trolls are the remnants of ancient experiments, others that they are the descendants of a forgotten primordial race. However, without definitive evidence, such claims remain speculative, adding to the deep and enduring mystery that surrounds these creatures.  It has been posited that these creatures are hylomorphic in construction, composed of both human-like material and wooden matter. This theory suggests that the presence of trolls in virtually every part of the old world confirms that their origin most likely dates back to the [[Hyborian Age]], predating the last ice age, a period beginning roughly 30,000 years ago.
-The troll’s physical properties are thought to be related to some unnatural magical precipitate within its fibrous tissue, granting it its regenerative capabilities and extraordinary resilience. It is believed that trolls live for as long as six to seven thousand years, though no evidence has confirmed whether they eventually die of old age.  It's not known whether trolls breed, as no juvenile trolls or reproductive behaviors have ever been documented. Some have suggested that trolls do not reproduce in any conventional biological sense, but instead occur through [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis abiogenesis], arising spontaneously from lifeless matter under unknown conditions.
+The troll's physical properties are thought to be related to some unnatural magical precipitate within its fibrous tissue, granting it its regenerative capabilities and extraordinary resilience. It is believed that trolls live for as long as six to seven thousand years, though no evidence has confirmed whether they eventually die of old age.  It's not known whether trolls breed, as no juvenile trolls or reproductive behaviours have ever been documented. Some have suggested that trolls do not reproduce in any conventional biological sense, but instead occur through [[Abiogenesis (effect)|abiogenesis]], arising spontaneously from lifeless matter under unknown conditions.
 == Nature ==
-The myth that trolls "turn to stone" when exposed to sunlight appears to have originated as a metaphor rather than a literal truth. This belief likely arose during the last century's large-scale efforts to eradicate trolls from civilized Europe. The phrase refers to the troll’s instinctive reaction to danger—when caught outside during daylight, they become motionless and rooted to their surroundings, blending into the environment like petrified wood. This strategy allowed them to avoid detection by patrols. However, there is ample evidence that trolls remain active during the day, capable of destruction and violence, making travel in troll-controlled lands dangerous at all hours.
+The myth that trolls "turn to stone" when exposed to sunlight appears to have originated as a metaphor rather than a literal truth. This belief likely arose during the last century's large-scale efforts to eradicate trolls from civilised Europe. The phrase refers to the troll's instinctive reaction to danger — when caught outside during daylight, they become motionless and rooted to their surroundings, blending into the environment like petrified wood. This strategy allowed them to avoid detection by patrols. However, there is ample evidence that trolls remain active during the day, capable of destruction and violence, making travel in troll-controlled lands dangerous at all hours.
 Despite their towering size, trolls are emaciated creatures, with little flesh covering their branch-like bones. They are far less robust than humans, their wiry forms built for speed and agility rather than brute strength. There exist numerous species and variations of trolls, each adapted to different environments. They stand on the balls of their feet, moving with a lithe, quick gait, striking with unnatural speed when attacking.
-A troll's hide resembles gnarled, living wood, its surface rough, tough, and knotted with brown and black growths. Some trolls have patches of living green moss clinging to their bodies, while others exhibit a discernible grain pattern in their hardened flesh. An oily secretion seeps from knobs on their upper chest and throat, giving them a foul, resinous odor. Their hair is composed of thin, vine-like tendrils, draping down from their scalp in tangled strands. As trolls age beyond four or five centuries, this growth fades to a silvery-grey, further blending them into the landscapes they haunt.
+A troll's hide resembles gnarled, living wood, its surface rough, tough and knotted with brown and black growths. Some trolls have patches of living green moss clinging to their bodies, while others exhibit a discernible grain pattern in their hardened flesh. An oily secretion seeps from knobs on their upper chest and throat, giving them a foul, resinous odour. Their hair is composed of thin, vine-like tendrils, draping down from their scalp in tangled strands. As trolls age beyond four or five centuries, this growth fades to a silvery-grey, further blending them into the landscapes they haunt.
-== Minor Advantages ==
+A troll’s body can be hacked apart, reducing it to -10 hit points with [[Weapons List|weapons]], yet this is only a delay. Within three rounds, the troll will regain consciousness and begin healing once more. This brief window is often the only chance to destroy it permanently: the only certain way is to either immerse them in acid until the creature is completely dissolved or to burn them in a sustained fire for at least one hour.
-== Regeneration ==
+A large bonfire is recommended, as trolls burn slowly, like damp wood, producing thick black smoke. If even a single arm or leg escapes the flames, it may remain alive and dangerous, potentially regrowing into a new troll. Once the hour has passed, there is a 10% chance that some part of the troll remains intact. If so, the fire must be rebuilt and sustained for another 20-30 minutes until complete incineration is ensured.
-The only sure way to permanently kill a troll is to immerse it in acid, or to place it within a sustained fire that will burn continuously for at least one hour.  It is recommended that this be a large bonfire; some have said that an arm or leg, untouched by the flame, can come alive spontaneously and attack.  Once an hour has passed, if the troll is not eaten entirely away or reduced completely to ash (a 10% chance), the fire must be rebuilt and sustained for another 20-30 minutes, until it is finally safe.  A troll burns like a dense, damp wood, producing much smoke.
+If a troll is attacked with an axe, its wounds may cleave entire limbs from its body. The severed limb will immediately seek to escape, moving at 3 [[Combat Hex|hexes]] per round. Meanwhile, the troll's main body will seal the wound shut, suffering no additional damage. If left unchecked, the escaped limb will eventually regenerate into a full-grown troll, making containment and immediate destruction of the severed part essential. A [[Sword of Sharpness|sword of sharpness]] or [[Vorpal Blade|vorpal blade]] can produce similar results.
-If a troll is attacked with an axe, any [[Wounds|wound]] that is caused will cleave a limb from the body.  The wound will quickly seal up, causing no damage, while the limb will seek to escape, where it will eventually grow into a full-fledged troll.  This limb can move fairly fast, 3 [[Combat Hex|hexes]] per round.  It must be caught, contained and then disposed of, as described above.  Using a [[Sword of Sharpness|sword of sharpness]] or [[Vorpal Blade|vorpal blade]] will produce similar results.
+For reasons not fully understood, multiple trolls do not arise from a single troll's scattered remains. Instead, it appears that the troll's essence — its soul or life force — transfers between its severed parts. As long as the main body remains intact, the troll's soul will not abandon it. However, if the body is beyond saving, the soul will seek refuge in the largest surviving fragment, allowing regeneration to continue.
-For reasons that are unclear, multiple trolls will not arise from the body parts of one troll.  Rather, the essence of the original troll seems able to transfer from part to part.  If one part escapes, the troll's soul will find it; but it will not abandon it's main body until there is no chance this body will survive.  The soul is alive within the troll, until every part of the troll is destroyed.  There are some who argue that even then, the soul will "find a way."  Perhaps, they say, this is how abiogenesis in some random part of the world occurs.
+Some scholars believe that even total destruction may not truly kill a troll. They argue that if a troll's body is burned away or dissolved completely, its soul may somehow "find a way" to manifest again elsewhere. Some whisper that this could explain abiogenesis — the spontaneous generation of trolls in distant, uninhabited parts of the world.
 See [[Bestiary]]

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 Despite their towering size, trolls are emaciated creatures, with little flesh covering their branch-like bones. They are far less robust than humans, their wiry forms built for speed and agility rather than brute strength. There exist numerous species and variations of trolls, each adapted to different environments. They stand on the balls of their feet, moving with a lithe, quick gait, striking with unnatural speed when attacking.
-A troll’s hide resembles gnarled, living wood, its surface rough, tough, and knotted with brown and black growths. Some trolls have patches of living green moss clinging to their bodies, while others exhibit a discernible grain pattern in their hardened flesh. An oily secretion seeps from knobs on their upper chest and throat, giving them a foul, resinous odor. Their hair is composed of thin, vine-like tendrils, draping down from their scalp in tangled strands. As trolls age beyond four or five centuries, this growth fades to a silvery-grey, further blending them into the landscapes they haunt.
+A troll's hide resembles gnarled, living wood, its surface rough, tough, and knotted with brown and black growths. Some trolls have patches of living green moss clinging to their bodies, while others exhibit a discernible grain pattern in their hardened flesh. An oily secretion seeps from knobs on their upper chest and throat, giving them a foul, resinous odor. Their hair is composed of thin, vine-like tendrils, draping down from their scalp in tangled strands. As trolls age beyond four or five centuries, this growth fades to a silvery-grey, further blending them into the landscapes they haunt.
 == Minor Advantages ==

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 == Minor Advantages ==
-Trolls have '''infravision''' and are often heard moving about at night.  Their brawn is formidable, for they possess a '''strength of 18/60''', with bonuses of +2/+3 [[Roll to Hit|to hit]] and [[Damage (hit points)|damage]].  Trolls have been known to '''use clubs''', causing 2-7 damage, or 5-10 with strength bonus, in place of a claw attack.  If so, they will still have three attacks per round (claw, weapon & bite).
+Trolls have '''[[Infravision|infravision]]''' and are often heard moving about at night.  Their brawn is formidable, for they possess a '''strength of 18/60''', with bonuses of +2/+3 [[Roll to Hit|to hit]] and [[Damage (hit points)|damage]].  Trolls have been known to '''[[Club (weapon)|use clubs]]''', causing 2-7 damage, or 5-10 with strength bonus, in place of a claw attack.  If so, they will still have three attacks per round (claw, weapon & bite).
 == Regeneration ==

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 }}
-'''Trolls''' are a species of mutant humanoid with uncertain origins, one that has puzzled scholars for millenia.  While often confused with [[Giant|giants]], [[Ogre|ogres]] or corrupted demi-beings, trolls have no biological link to any of these. Because of the troll's nature, post-mortem examinations of the monster are extremely difficult, requiring complex methods involving magical stasis and unnatural tools.  Because of this, troll studies have lagged far behind.
+'''Trolls''' are a species of mutant humanoid with uncertain origins, one that has puzzled scholars for millennia.  While often confused with [[Giant|giants]], [[Ogre|ogres]] or corrupted demi-beings, trolls have no biological link to any of these. Because of the troll's nature, post-mortem examinations of the monster are extremely difficult, requiring complex methods involving magical stasis and unnatural tools.  Because of this, troll studies have lagged far behind.
 == Biology ==
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 The myth telling that trolls "turn to stone" when confronted by the sun seems to have arised from the last century's wide-scale efforts to eradicate trolls from civilized Europe. The description is metaphorical, in that trolls caught outside during the day would become rooted "like stone", so as not to be discovered by patrols.  There remains plenty of evidence to show that trolls can be destructive during daylight hours and that it is not safe to travel in troll-controlled lands during the day.
-Despite their size, trolls are emaciated creatures, with little flesh on their branch-like bones.  In build, they are approximately half as robust as a human. There are numerous forms and species.  They stand on the balls of their feet, and are lithe and quick when they attack ('''wary stride''' = 1.5).  Their hide is wooden and tough, and is coloured with brown and black knots and occasionally living green moss. There is a discerable grain in its "flesh."  An oily substance suppurates from knobs on the troll's upper chest and throat.  A thin, straggling patch of vine-like plants drapes from the troll's head, giving the impression of hair.  Once trolls age to four or five hundred years, this growth turns silvery grey.
+Despite their size, trolls are emaciated creatures, with little flesh on their branch-like bones.  In build, they are approximately half as robust as a human. There are numerous forms and species.  They stand on the balls of their feet, and are lithe and quick when they attack ('''wary stride''' = 1.5).  Their hide is wooden and tough, and is coloured with brown and black knots and occasionally living green moss. There is a discernable grain in its "flesh."  An oily substance suppurates from knobs on the troll's upper chest and throat.  A thin, straggling patch of vine-like plants drapes from the troll's head, giving the impression of hair.  Once trolls age to four or five hundred years, this growth turns silvery grey.
 == Minor Advantages ==

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 Most dangerous, however, is the creature's ability to '''regenerate.'''  This restores '''3 [[Hit Points|hit points]]''' that the creature has lost, per [[Combat Round|round]].  requiring no effort or rest. To render a troll unresistant, the creature must be reduced to less than -4 hit points.  Even then, the troll is not "dead."  It will revive once regeneration restores it to -3 hit points or more.  By hacking at the creature, it's nominal hit points can be reduced to no less than -10 points with [[Weapons List|weapons]]; whereupon it will regain consciousness in but three rounds.  Still, this gives time to strike the troll with [[Oil Flask|flasks of oil]] or reduce it with [[Acid (substance)|acid]], either of which will reduce the troll's hit points to as much as -100.  Even then, slowly, the creature's regeneration will eventually restore it to life.
-The only sure way to permanently kill a troll is to immerse it in [[Acid (substance)|acid]], or to place it within a sustained fire that will burn continuously for at least one hour.  It is recommended that this be a large bonfire; some have said that an arm or leg, untouched by the flame, can come alive spontaneously and attack.  Once an hour has passed, if the troll is not eaten entirely away or reduced completely to ash (a 10% chance), the fire must be rebuilt and sustained for another 20-30 minutes, until it is finally safe.  A troll burns like a dense, damp wood, producing much smoke.
+The only sure way to permanently kill a troll is to immerse it in acid, or to place it within a sustained fire that will burn continuously for at least one hour.  It is recommended that this be a large bonfire; some have said that an arm or leg, untouched by the flame, can come alive spontaneously and attack.  Once an hour has passed, if the troll is not eaten entirely away or reduced completely to ash (a 10% chance), the fire must be rebuilt and sustained for another 20-30 minutes, until it is finally safe.  A troll burns like a dense, damp wood, producing much smoke.
 If a troll is attacked with an axe, any [[Wounds|wound]] that is caused will cleave a limb from the body.  The wound will quickly seal up, causing no damage, while the limb will seek to escape, where it will eventually grow into a full-fledged troll.  This limb can move fairly fast, 3 [[Combat Hex|hexes]] per round.  It must be caught, contained and then disposed of, as described above.  Using a [[Sword of Sharpness|sword of sharpness]] or [[Vorpal Blade|vorpal blade]] will produce similar results.