Troll

Troll

Species	humanoid
No. Appearing	1–3
Behaviour	solitary
Range	alpine, barrens, steppe, woodland
Size	8½ ft. tall
Weight	350-400 lbs.
Intelligence	5 to 6
Armour Class	4
Hit Dice	6+6
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	11
THAC0	17
Hp/Die	2d4
Attack Forms	3: two claws; fangs
Damage	claw (5–8); fangs (2–12); club (2-7)+3
Special Attacks	infravision, regeneration, 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 giants, 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.

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 behaviours have ever been documented. Some have suggested that trolls do not reproduce in any conventional biological sense, but instead occur through 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 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 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.

Advantages

Trolls possess infravision, allowing them to detect heat signatures in complete darkness, making them exceptionally dangerous night stalkers. They are often heard moving through the wilderness after dusk, their guttural sounds echoing in the gloom before they strike.

Their physical strength is formidable, boasting a strength of 18/60, granting them a +2 to hit bonus and +3 damage bonus in melee combat. While their natural attacks — claws and bites — are lethal on their own, trolls have also been observed wielding clubs as weapons. A troll attacking with a club inflicts 2-7 damage (or 5-10 with strength bonuses) in place of one claw attack. Even when armed, a troll retains its three attacks per round — one claw, one weapon strike and a bite — making it a relentless opponent.

Regeneration

The most terrifying trait of trolls is their regeneration, a supernatural ability that allows them to restore 3 hit points per round, without requiring effort or rest. This makes them extraordinarily difficult to kill by conventional means.

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, 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 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.

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 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 or vorpal blade can 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.

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